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John Horgan

@jhorganism.bsky.social

840 followers 410 following 110 posts

Battered old science writer, optimist/grouch, peacenik/hockey player, knownothing/knowitall, materialist/mystic. Spouts off at johnhorgan.org.

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John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 2d

Wed. Oct. 8 at 1 pm EST, I'm hosting a zoom talk by Adam Becker on his timely book "More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity." Open to all, zoom link: stevens.zoom.us/j/93759076283

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Carter's Dad @johnmckendry.bsky.social · 4d

I think a certain subset of people who follow me will be interested in this. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be invited to a publicity event with the authors of an Intelligent Design blockbuster, read this.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 13d

I just had lunch with the authors of "God, The Science, The Evidence," which was a huge bestseller in France and is now being released in the US. Here's what happened at the lunch. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

The God Lunch — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025.   In early August I get an email from Jessica, who works for a public-relations firm. She invites me to “an intimate lunch at Le Pavillon—Chef Daniel Boulud’s Micheli...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 5d

Ah, I smile thinking of how Philip Ball would have reviewed "God, The Science, The Evidence."

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 5d

I spent last weekend at "Rat Fest," a gathering of folks into Karl Popper, David Deutsch and "critical rationalism." Here's my take. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

My Weekend at “Rat Fest” — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, OCTOBER 4, 2025. “It feels a little cult-y.” That’s how I respond when Logan Chipkin asks what I think of “Rat Fest.” Let me back up a bit: Last summer, I get an email from someone named Lo...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 9d

Physicist David Deutsch, a proponent of the many worlds theory and critical rationalism, has ardent fans. Here's my take on his book "The Beginning of Infinity." johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

The Infinite Optimism of David Deutsch — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.  I spent last week in Philadelphia at “Rat Fest,” whose attendees share an enthusiasm for “ critical rationalism , ” Karl Popper and David Deutsch. Rat...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 13d

Haha, that makes all too much sense.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 13d

I just had lunch with the authors of "God, The Science, The Evidence," which was a huge bestseller in France and is now being released in the US. Here's what happened at the lunch. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

The God Lunch — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025.   In early August I get an email from Jessica, who works for a public-relations firm. She invites me to “an intimate lunch at Le Pavillon—Chef Daniel Boulud’s Micheli...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 16d

A lecture on the origins of culture ended up feeling like an act of resistance. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

Science as Defiance — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025.   Last week I headed to Manhattan for a scientific lecture. The gathering ended up feeling subversive, like an act of resistance . Here’s the story: My pal Tyler V...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 25d

For 25 cents, a therapist/philosopher gives me advice on how to be chill in this terrible time. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

A Philosophical Encounter in Washington Square Park — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

MANHATTAN, SEPTEMBER 14, 2025.   When I’m blue, I like to go to Washington Square Park in Manhattan and observe the humans. On a recent sunny Saturday, I sit on a bench by the fountain and look a...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · 28d

Reality seems weirder and weirder lately, and not in a good way. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

Is Reality Weird in a Bad Way? — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025.  My daughter Skye comes over for spaghetti and a movie. Skye liked Eraserhead and Blue Velvet , wants to see Wild at Heart , which a friend recommends. I say sur...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Sep 6

The usual ones.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Sep 6

You don’t have to dig deep to find irony in New Jersey. Nuggets of irony lie on the ground, you can scoop them up with a shovel. From my latest column: johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

Ode to Hoboken: I — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, SEPTEMBER 6, 2025.   On a late-summer afternoon I set out from my apartment with pen and notebook in search of insights into Hoboken. By which I mean insights into, like, you know, exis...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Sep 5

You tell me.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 30

You know how your dog, when you point in the direction of the ball, stares at your finger, confused? That's how some people react to poetry. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

What’s Poetry’s Point? A Riff on “Paterson” — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, AUGUST 29, 2025 . I’m not sure how or when I acquired Paterson , the 284-page anti-epic prose-poem by William Carlos Williams. My paperback copy, published by New Directions in 1963, is beat...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 29

We'll see.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 29

Reading "Paterson," the book-length William Carlos Williams poem, makes me wonder: What is poetry for? And: Should I write an epic poem about Ho-Ho-Hoboken? johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

What’s Poetry’s Point? A Riff on “Paterson” — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, AUGUST 29, 2025 . I’m not sure how or when I acquired Paterson , the 284-page anti-epic prose-poem by William Carlos Williams. My paperback copy, published by New Directions in 1963, is beat...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 27

I'm not a shill for science. I'm a science journalist who specializes in pointing out gaps between hype and reality.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 27

I have no regrets about "The End of Science," least of all the title.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 27

"History will judge TAKs, Trump-ass-kissers, to be far more deranged than Trump-bashers like me (unless historians all become TAKs and we descend into a new dark age)." From johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

Holy Shit Science and My Hypocrisy — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, AUGUST 26, 2025 .  My previous post frets over the demise of “Holy Shit Science,” which gives us insights into nature so thrilling that we blurt out, Holy shit! Or words to that effe...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 26

How can I bash Trump for bashing science when I bash science too? Doesn't that make me a hypocrite? johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

Holy Shit Science and My Hypocrisy — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, AUGUST 26, 2025 .  My previous post frets over the demise of “Holy Shit Science,” which gives us insights into nature so thrilling that we blurt out, Holy shit! Or words to that effe...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 21

Thanks John Horgan. I must say, all the John Horgans I know are excellent people.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 20

Seeing science from an historical perspective makes me, Mr. End of Science, even gloomier about science's prospects. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

The End of Holy Shit Science — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

HOBOKEN, AUGUST 20, 2025. My friend Jim is helping me see science’s current troubles from an historical perspective. And that’s making me, the end-of-science guy, even gloomier about science’s prospe...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 16

I was an ironic Broncos fan, but I still felt bad when they lost the 1987 Superbowl. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

Living Ironically — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

WAUWINET, AUGUST 7, 2025.   In 1987 the Denver Broncos made it to the Superbowl. I’d loved the Broncos since I lived in Denver in the late 1970s, so I was very excited. As the Superbowl approach...

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 9

"Irony gets a BAD rap." The typo wasn't ironic.

John Horgan @jhorganism.bsky.social · Aug 7

"Irony" gets a rap rap, but I can't help but see the world ironically: johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...

Living Ironically — John Horgan (The Science Writer)

WAUWINET, AUGUST 7, 2025.   In 1987 the Denver Broncos made it to the Superbowl. I’d loved the Broncos since I lived in Denver in the late 1970s, so I was very excited. As the Superbowl approach...