Tensions between the leading Shiite and Sunni powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia, have dramatically escalated following the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, but whatever goals Riyadh is pursuing, it is hardly capable of countering Iran, a US think tank asserted. “By itself, Saudi Arabia is no match for the much larger, more populous Iran — and the end of Western sanctions is only boosting... 

People don’t realize how corrupt science is. They need to know, because science is where the standards of rationality are set for the rest of society. A better realization of what’s going on in science should result in science being criticized for validity and evidence, like everything else in society. The best way to characterize the state of science is with examples. To start with something... 

An Australian company claims it has found an untapped shale oil field with estimated reserves that could potentially put the country next to remarkably oil-rich Saudi Arabia. Still, extracting the discovered treasure poses a huge technical challenge. ­Brisbane-based company Linc Energy has presented two estimates by respected independent consultants claiming that drilling and seismic exploration...