Wi-Fi powering devices named one of the year’s game-changing technologies
Nov 19, 2015

University of Washington engineers have developed a novel technology that uses a Wi-Fi router — a source of ubiquitous but untapped energy in indoor environments — to power devices. The Power Over Wi-Fi (PoWiFi) system is one of the most innovative and game-changing technologies of the year, according to Popular Science, which included it in …

Moderate coffee drinking may be linked to reduced risk of death
Nov 18, 2015

By Science Daily In a study reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, people who regularly drank moderate amounts of coffee daily –less than 5 cups per day — experienced a lower risk of deaths from cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, Type 2 diabetes and suicide. The benefit held true for drinking caffeinated and decaffeinated …

The Jew/Atheist Paradox
Nov 18, 2015

by Herb Silverman When I recently wrote about Godless Jews, I cited a Harris survey that surprised a lot of people. The majority of Jews don’t believe in God. They are atheists. What makes this result even more interesting is another finding in a Pew Research Center survey on how Americans feel about different religious …

Mosques told to quiet down 5am call to prayer
Nov 18, 2015

Social media was still trending over the weekend over a ‘court’ decision in the occupied areas to ban three mosques from using a speaker for the call to the 5am prayer. Although the decision was taken earlier this week, the news which travelled to Turkey was not greeted well by some users and was reported …

WATCH: Egypt TV host rags on ‘disgraceful’ atheism
Nov 18, 2015

by Stuart Winer A recent debate about atheists on Egyptian TV deteriorated into a shouting match after the guest nonbeliever objected to the host describing atheist views as “unfortunate.” Human rights activist and declared atheist Ahmed Harqan faced off against two others as a guest on the Al-Assema channel on November 3 for a discussion …

Scientists breach brain barrier to treat sick patient
Nov 18, 2015

by Michelle Roberts For the first time, doctors have breached the human brain’s protective layer to deliver cancer-fighting drugs. The Canadian team used tiny gas-filled bubbles, injected into the bloodstream of a patient, to punch temporary holes in the blood-brain barrier. A beam of focused ultrasound waves applied to the skull made the bubbles vibrate …

The Stealth Attack on Abortion Access
Nov 18, 2015

By MEAGHAN WINTER A YEAR ago, a mother and self-described “God-fearing woman” called me after she had an abortion. She said that earlier, when she found herself unexpectedly pregnant, she drove straight to what she thought was a comprehensive health care provider near her home in Columbus, Ohio. When she asked about abortion, the staff …

Dalai Lama: Stop praying for Paris — humans created this problem and humans must solve it
Nov 18, 2015

By Deutsche Welle Following the deadly Paris attacks, the Tibetan spiritual leader tells DW that people should not expect God to resolve man-made problems, and that a systematic approach is needed to foster humanistic values. For millions of his devotees across the world, the Dalai Lama is the embodiment of humanity and compassion. The Dalai …

Greater than the sum of its parts
Nov 17, 2015

It is rare for a new animal species to emerge in front of scientists’ eyes. But this seems to be happening in eastern North America. LIKE some people who might rather not admit it, wolves faced with a scarcity of potential sexual partners are not beneath lowering their standards. It was desperation of this sort, …

Think religion makes society less violent? Think again. (Op-Ed)
Nov 17, 2015

A city employee removes wooden crosses that were placed in a plaza by organizations protesting against the government inaction over the alarming murder rate in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Sept. 1. (Salvador Melendez / Associated Press) By Phil Zuckerman If it were true that when belief in God weakens, societal well-being diminishes, then we should see …

The Republican Party’s religion problem, in 2 charts
Nov 17, 2015

By Aaron Blake Religiously unaffiliated Americans are fast becoming a bigger force in American politics, while a not-very-religious senator continues to compete unexpectedly for the Democratic nomination.   As The Post’s Sarah Pulliam Bailey wrote a while back, a Pew study shows those who claim to be religiously “unaffiliated” had increased from 16.1 percent of Americans in 2007 to 22.8 percent …

Turkey’s Atheism Association starts petition for ‘equal treatment’ before law and in society
Nov 17, 2015

Turkey’s Atheism Association started a petition at change.org to ensure “equal treatment” of atheists before the law and among members of society, Turkish news website Bianet has reported. The campaign, which aims to collect 5,000 signatures, was organized to make sure atheists’ demands for equal citizenship, both legally and in practice, were heard by the …