Welcome to Science Spectrum
Learn complex ideas in an accessible way
“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.” — Isaac Asimov (1920–1992)
W e live in an extraordinary time when we can obtain answers to virtually any question at any time, anywhere. Are we any smarter? Is that knowledge more than fleeting, or just another case of “easy come, easy go”? Are the “answers” we get even correct?
It’s an existential question of our age, “Where do we go for reliable, accurate, and understandable information?”
Friend and fellow editor Cole Frederick and I met here on Medium and quickly realized two things:
- That we share a similar compulsion to understand how the world works, and
- That we really enjoy sharing that understanding with anyone who is similarly interested — regardless of their formal background in the subject.
As educators, we also share the undeniable conviction that it’s through teaching that we truly learn. Cole, in fact, recently wrote a terrific essay “Learning by Writing” that describes how teaching has informed his journey through the sciences.
We also agree that science, including the mathematical sciences, is simply not accessible enough to a vast legion of folks who find it fascinating, but beyond reach due to a lack of familiarity with concepts, terminology, and symbolic representation. While a Ph.D. program offers an extraordinary depth of knowledge and an array of tools for research and exploration, it should not be a requirement for gaining some insight into the mysteries of our world.
Over the course of many years of writing here on Medium, we’ve noticed that it can be tough to find a consistent source of accessible writing on a vast spectrum of science-oriented subjects that often require years of study to grasp. This is why we started Science Spectrum.
Here you will find that, for the most part, articles are written with both the novice and expert in mind. Readers can get their feet wet, or dive deeper if they’re so inclined.
Perhaps you’re thinking “What is this magic you speak of?” It can take several forms including reference links, additional resources, engaging visuals, survey-style background material, and multipart essays that bring the reader along step-by-step. Last, but not least, it requires good writing.
Science Spectrum is a new adventure for the two of us. Over the next few weeks, we will be adding dozens of stories and building out the publication. In the meantime, you can support our efforts simply by following us on our home page!
Thank you for being here!
Cole & Harlan
If you’d like to write for Science Spectrum, here’s how:
Here is Science Spectrum’s retrospective for 2024:
