"The editors over at Edge.org asked some of the most influential thinkers in the world — including neuroscientists, physicists and mathematicians — what they believe are the most important scientific concepts of the modern era. (...) The Copernican Principal is the idea that we are not special — that the universe is much larger, and we have a rather insignificant role. "The paradox of the Copernican Principle is that by properly understanding our place, even if it be humbling, we can only then truly understand our particular circumstances. And when we do, we don't seem so insignificant after all." -- Samuel Arbesman (...) Double-blind control experiment: It's a tool that researchers use to prevent against subconscious bias when performing experiments. Understanding the need for double-blind experiments would help the rest of the population understand their inherent subjective, everyday biases, and guard against generalization and impress upon people the need for critical thinking." -- Richard Dawkins - Amira

are the essays in _This Will Make You Smarter_ a compilation of those posted online at edge.org ? - Adriano

yes, most of Brockman's books are a compilation of answers to the Edge's Annual Questions. :-) - Amira