Jesse Hicks

Bad men, maybe, but they practice good chemistry: that’s the goal of one scientist who consults with the entertainment industry on its depiction of science.

With a long history of nebulous definitions, transhumanism today generally refers to a convergence of three technologies: genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics. These technologies, transhumanists believe, will soon enable human beings to radically remake themselves.

How did a seemingly benign chemical and a near-miraculous public-health initiative spark decades and decades debate?

Absinthe, an alcoholic drink introduced to France in the 1840s, developed a decadent though violent reputation. To some the drink symbolized creativity and liberation, and to others, madness and despair. One thing was certain: more than science was behind European responses to its influence.