Writing

Exploring ideas about creativity, innovation, and science through short essays.

June 22, 2021

Cabinet of Curiosities: Cultivating a Sense of Wonder

A cabinet of curiosities showcases the wonders of nature in all of its forms. From drawers of shells to the tusks of narwhals, these collections are a microcosm of the real world. The visitor sheds the layer of a passive observer and becomes an active discoverer.

3 min read

June 21, 2021

Cymatics: The Art of Sound

2 min read

June 10, 2021

Uncovering Hidden Order in Organisms

3 min read

May 28, 2021

Self-Organization in Nature

4 min read

April 30, 2021

The Theory of Life

Natural selection is important, but it might not be the defining theory of life. As we will discover in this essay, there are patterns in nature that suggest it follows general laws.

6 min read

April 16, 2021

What the Structures of Trees Teach Us About the Networks of the Brain

Trees and neurons contain such similarities that it is hard to ignore them. What can we learn from these orderly organisms about our messy minds?

4 min read

April 1, 2021

How and Why We Age

5 min read

March 19, 2021

Nike's Secret Innovator: The Customer

3 min read

March 5, 2021

Order Through Chaos

3 min read

February 19, 2021

Slow Innovation

Ideas don't come from random eureka moments. Instead, they linger in the back of peoples' minds for decades before taking shape. It's called a slow hunch. The only way to speed up the incubation period is to get more material to work with.

2 min read

February 7, 2021

The Ultimate Guide to Learn Anything Faster

It isn't enough to understand and memorize to learn. Even if a surgeon can pass a test with flying colors, it doesn't mean they will act well under pressure in the operating room. What sticks is when you solve real-life problems and find solutions outside of a textbook.

10 min read

January 29, 2021

Finding Comfort in Infinity

3 min read

January 22, 2021

Michelin Star Creativity

2 min read

January 15, 2021

The Love That Fueled Da Vinci’s Creations

2 min read

April 25, 2021

How High Performers Practice to Achieve World Class Results

Before a session, high performers think about what they want to achieve. During the practice, they observe themselves objectively. After training, they reflect on what went well and how to do better next time. Those who are the best in their fields practice deliberately.

2 min read