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Martin Rees

Martin Rees

5 commentaries

Martin Rees, a cosmologist and astrophysicist, has been Britain’s Astronomer Royal since 1995. He is a former Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and former President of the Royal Society.

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  1. The Biomedicine Threat
    rees4_Andrew Brookes_Getty Images_laboratory Andrew Brookes/Getty Images

    The Biomedicine Threat

    Sep 6, 2019 Martin Rees fears that rapid scientific advances in the field will come with escalating ethical and safety concerns.

  2. Are Moonshots Still Possible?
    op_rees_moon_landing_ Apic_Getty_Images Apic/Getty Images

    Are Moonshots Still Possible?

    Jul 19, 2019 Martin Rees reflects on the legacy of the Apollo program and the future of human space exploration.

  3. Is Immortality Worth It?
    rees3_GettyImages_infinitysymbolclocks Getty Images

    Is Immortality Worth It?

    Jul 11, 2019 Martin Rees warns that increasingly extreme approaches to extending human life are likely to have unwanted consequences.

  4. Risking It All

    Risking It All

    Mar 7, 2013 Martin Rees on how and why nuclear deterrence worked.

  5. Can Science Save the World?

    Can Science Save the World?

    Nov 5, 2008 Martin Rees

  1. milani6_MENAHEM KAHANAAFP via Getty Images_israeliranmissiles Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

    A Dangerous Dance for Israel and Iran

    Abbas Milani sees both countries walking a tightrope to maintain deterrence without provoking a full-blown war.
  2. haldar38_ERNESTO BENAVIDESAFP via Getty Images)_fujimori ERNESTO BENAVIDES/AFP via Getty Images)

    The Bloody Path of Alberto Fujimori’s Neoliberalism

    Antara Haldar assesses the former Peruvian president’s legacy of free-market reform and death-squad dictatorship.
  3. benami218_JALAA MAREYAFP via Getty Images_lebanon israel iran JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

    The Middle East’s Deadly Dream Palaces

    Shlomo Ben-Ami traces the delusions of Arab, Iranian, and Israeli leaders that have kept the region mired in violence.
  4. op_sonin1_ILYA PITALEVSPUTNIKAFP via Getty Images_russiamilitaryproduction Ilya Pitalev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

    Making Sense of Russia’s War Economy

    Konstantin Sonin

    Despite the apparent resilience of Russia's economy, Vladimir Putin’s full-scale war against Ukraine comes at a high economic cost. Not only does it require today’s Russians to live a worse life than they otherwise would have done; it also condemns future generations to the same.

    explains the apparent resilience of growth and employment in the face of increasingly tight sanctions.
  5. krueger79_Omar Martínezpicture alliance via Getty Images_USmexicoshipping Omar Martínez/picture alliance via Getty Images

    America’s Protectionist Policies Are Backfiring

    Anne O. Krueger argue that US leaders' embrace of trade-suppressing measures has done more harm than good.
  6. carvalho2_RAFAEL MARTINSAFP via Getty Images_brazil renewable energy RAFAEL MARTINS/AFP via Getty Images

    Brazil’s Climate Push Must Start at Home

    Savio Carvalho explains why the country must lead by example on decarbonization to become a global green leader.
  7. wei66_PETER PARKSAFP via Getty Images_chinastockmarket Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

    The Global Implications of China’s Stimulus Package

    Shang-Jin Wei explains why the country’s push to revive economic activity depends on boosting domestic demand.
  8. krauze2_Manuel VelasquezGetty Images_sheinbaum YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images

    A New President and a Grim Legacy for Mexico

    Enrique Krauze reflects on the harmful tenure of the outgoing president, who weakened the economy and eroded its institutions.
  9. ahzhang16_CostfotoNurPhoto via Getty Images_china stimulus Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Governance Reform Is Key to Reviving China’s Economy

    Angela Huyue Zhang argues that lasting prosperity depends not on boosting demand, but on a return to bottom-up governance.

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