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If you’d like to get letters in the mail from me. I send wine information, general education, as well as news and updates you probably don’t want to miss.
Why Does Hard Cider Taste So Different From the Apples I Eat?
Cider apples, yeast, aroma, tannin, and sweetness explain why hard cider tastes different from an apple. Plus the questions I’d ask in a cider flight.
Why We Think Gemstones Have Powers, From Amethyst to Topaz
My gemstone hobby sent me into the history of protective amulets, crystal meanings, and frequencies. Here's what 20 stones are supposed to help with, how hard they are, and where the science gets interesting.
5 Unsolved Mysteries That Still Give Me the Creeps
An unreadable manuscript, an abandoned colony, a missing hijacker, and two haunting investigations. Five enduring mysteries, the clues we have, and the questions still open.
The Forest Isn't Dying in Fall. It's Feeding an Entire Hidden World.
What happens to fallen leaves? From fungi and springtails to sleeping butterflies, autumn's forest floor supports an extraordinary hidden ecosystem.
Halley's Comet Is Raining Down on Earth This October (Sort Of)
Halley's Comet won't return until 2061, but its debris creates the Orionid meteor shower every October. Here's the strange science and when to watch in 2026.
Why Does Fall Smell So Good? The Weird Science of Autumn Air
Why does fall smell so good? Fallen leaves, soil bacteria, geosmin, and changing weather create the surprisingly complicated chemistry of autumn air.
The Weird Things Tree Rings Can Tell Us
Tree rings can record much more than age. They’ve helped scientists trace droughts, wildfires, volcanoes, landslides, solar storms and even Vikings.
What the Last Day of the Dinosaurs Actually Looked Like
Scientists have reconstructed the dinosaurs’ final day using fish bones, pollen, fern spores, shocked quartz, iridium and glass trapped in fossilized gills.
The Weird Things Solar Storms Can Mess With That You’d Never Think About
Solar storms can affect way more than auroras. From tractors and airplanes to satellites, pipelines, banks, and power grids, the Sun reaches into some surprisingly ordinary parts of life.
Zombie Sea Urchins Are Real, and We’re Turning Them Into Sushi
Zombie sea urchins can survive for years after destroying kelp forests. Urchin ranching turns them into uni while helping restore the ocean.
Phytoncides, Forest Bathing, and Your Immune System
Trees release airborne compounds called phytoncides. Here’s what forest-bathing research really found about NK cells, stress, and immune activity.
What is Web3 and Why Should I Care to Learn About It?
What is Web3, and why should creators care in the age of AI? A look at blockchain, ownership, digital identity, NFTs, and why Web3 may matter more than ever.
Congress Just Said No to Bayer’s Pesticide Shield: What the Farm Bill Fight Means
Congress removed Bayer’s pesticide liability shield from the Farm Bill. Here’s what the decision could mean for farming, soil health, wine, and agriculture.
Quantum Timelines, Parallel Worlds, and the Power of What You Expect
What if the version of your life you experience is shaped by what you expect? A little look into quantum physics, Many-Worlds theory, manifestation, neuroscience, and the strange psychology of belief.
How Yamanaka Factors, Epigenetic Reprogramming, and Longevity Escape Velocity Just Blew My Mind
David Friedberg on Modern Wisdom breaks down Yamanaka factors and epigenetic reprogramming. With human trials starting in 2026, longevity escape velocity feels closer than we think.
Choose Your Energy Wisely: The Science of Why What You Focus On Really Does Grow
Discover the neuroscience behind “what you focus on grows.” Learn how neuroplasticity, gratitude, and choosing your energy wisely reshape your brain and life.
The Weeds We Can’t See: Solar-Powered AI Robots Might Save Our Food
Solar-powered AI robots are already removing weeds without chemicals. Here’s how this shift could change farming, wine, and the future of our food.
Why One Harsh Thought Can Flip the Same Switch as a Real Emergency
Your brain doesn’t always know the difference between a thought and a real threat. Here’s how negative self-talk triggers stress and how to shift it.
AI Hallucinations That Cost Companies Big Time
Companies are trusting AI to rewrite code, summarize incidents, and explain policy. From Amazon, Air Canada, CNET, and Deloitte hallucinations have already cost companies.
Apple, AI, and the Illusion of Consent
As AI shifts from listening to interpreting, the idea of consent quietly changes. This post explores Apple, silent communication, and where privacy really lives.