When I was in graduate school, there was a concern that electronic calculators would profoundly harm children’s ability to do mental calculations. Then, a few decades later, the fear was that violence in video games would lead to increased violence in real life. Now, there is a concern that smartphones are rewiring the brains of…
Technology is, in Andy Crouch’s memorable phrase, “easy everywhere.” Most people I know struggle at some level to regulate time spent online. Our devices lure us, seeming to offer an escape from uncomfortable feelings like boredom, pain, awkwardness and uncertainty. That is no wonder, when the makers of apps and online platforms actively look for…
Psychologists have long been interested in attention. It is a phenomenon at the heart of consciousness and self-awareness. It is real for all of us, but at the same time it is not well understood. We all know what is meant by the word attention, but a simple scientific explanation is elusive. Attention can span…
I grew up in a TV-free home, so when my sisters and I wanted to watch a movie it took an almost-comical level of planning. First, we’d borrow a big, blocky TV from the owner of the local Christian bookstore, who was a member of our church and sold TVs on the side. Then, we’d…
As I write this at the end of February, science journals are full of the consequences of the Trump administration’s actions on science in the United States and elsewhere. With the pace of changes and the court cases launched, it is not clear what the situation will be when you read this, but whatever happens,…
I am the son and grandson of Dutch immigrants to Canada who arrived shortly after the end of the second world war. They took a “kist” across the Atlantic, a large crate containing their modest household possessions. Along with their kist, many Dutch immigrants brought their Reformed Christian tradition. This tradition, sometimes referred to as…
Chemistry is much more than balancing equations and examining molecules – just ask Dr. Peter Mahaffy. Students in his classes at The King’s University don’t study isolated science reactions; they use a “systems thinking” approach to look for the intrinsic connections between scientific concepts, the earth, social systems and people. When I took Mahaffy’s Chemistry…
It is an exciting time to be a physicist. There are a lot of puzzles that need investigating about the cosmos God has put us in. We don’t know, for example, what dark matter and energy are, yet they make up the most significant portion of our world. Likewise, the two overarching theoretical frameworks in…
The other day, I chatted with Abraham Kuyper. The conversation went something like this: Derek: “Hi, Dr. Kuyper. What do you think of Christian Courier?” Kuyper: “Ah, Christian Courier. While I am not directly acquainted with this publication, I can certainly appreciate any endeavor that seeks to bring the light of Christ into the public…
After months of pandemic Zoom meetings, the council members were delighted to gather at the church once more. But when the Chair declared: “It’s so good to all meet face to face again!” I chuckled. Because that wasn’t true. We were gathered in-person around the Council table – but hardly “face to face.” Two members…
The Christian Reformed Church pastors and church members behind Toward CRC Canada believe that Canadian concerns and opportunities have not been taken seriously by the larger U.S. portion of the denomination. In a letter sent to CRCs in Canada, the group claims “that the time has come to create two distinct sister denominations out of…
Daniel Dennett died on April 19 at age 82. There were obituaries in both Nature and Science for this prolific neuroscientist. His insights on consciousness, cognition and philosophy fill books that have been read by many. I have a few in my bookcase, and they are well worth reading. The fact that he received an…
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