This article into a new area of research, dubbed culturomics, is fascinating. Long before massive digital infrastructure and the concept of ‘big data’, humans have been creating a record. What we thought culturally important to write down tells our story, not just our tales. And more important than anything is to get the measure of…
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Why do we tell stories? When you think about it, storytelling is a weird activity: Rather than engage in ‘productive’ tasks (such as acquiring money, resources or status), individuals choose to spend much of their time listening to and telling stories which seem to serve little purpose other than to entertain and enthrall. This fascination with stories is not…
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At first, “deep time” sounds quite mysterious, like an astrophysical phenomenon. And in reality it is just as intriguing. These initiatives champion the importance of context on a grand scale. It’s about seeing ourselves as part of a continuum; understanding what’s past as part of the future. Particularly for when we need to remember to…
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