Topic: Richard Dawkins

42 facts about Douglas Adams (+video)

Google's doodle celebrates 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' author Douglas Adams. Here are 42 facts about the humorist, environmentalist, technophile, and all-around hoopy frood who would have turned 61 on Monday.

10 most controversial authors (in recent memory)

These writers have all sold plenty of books – and taken quite a lot of flak.

Douglas Adams: The hitchhiker's guide to humor and science (+video)

Google celebrates Douglas Adams, author of the "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," with a reference-packed doodle.

England census: Why have the ranks of the religious declined?

Sure, fewer Britons registered their faith as 'Jedi Knight' in the 2011 census of England. But it's the 12 percent drop in those identifying as Christians has prompted fresh debate about modern British identity.

Top 10 most looked-up words of 2012? Lots of political malarkey. (+video)

Merriam-Webster released its list of the 10 most looked-up words in its online dictionary. Socialism and capitalism came joint first on a list heavily influenced by Election 2012.

'Socialism' and 'Capitalism' named 'most looked-up' words of 2012 (+video)

Merriam-Webster dictionary announced Wednesday morning for the first time the pair 'Socialism' and 'Capitalism' has been named as words of the year. Also mentioned, 'malarkey' as used by Vice President Joe Biden during a tangle at a debate with Mitt Romney running mate Paul Ryan.

Backchannels Ideas. Big, glib, unsupported ideas

Evgeny Morozov on the cult of 'TED.'

Why Does the World Exist?

A simple question proves thorny in Jim Holt's new book.

Why you should care about Gregor Mendel

Today's Google Doodle reminds us that without the meticulous work of Gregor Mendel, evolutionary biology would make no sense.

Rebecca Newberger Goldstein: secular humanist with a soul

Philosopher and novelist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein is a humanist whose life and work have been shaped by religion.

Atheist confab in Ireland comes as Europe confronts religion in public life

The first World Atheist Convention this weekend in Dublin comes at a time when Islam, the pope, and blasphemy are front and center in Europe.

A "secular Bible" draws readers, controversy

"The Good Book" – intended to serve as a secular Bible – focuses on ethics but not religion.

Bestselling books the week of Sept. 30, 2010, according to IndieBound*

Best books for the next generation: Harry Potter – and "The 9/11 Commission Report"?

British readers had some unusual answers when asked what books they most wanted to pass on to the next generation.

Bestselling hardcover books, according to IndieBound*

Bestselling hardcover books, according to IndieBound*

Bestselling hardcover books, according to IndieBound*

As atheists roll out London ads, believers unruffled

Billboard campaign promotes atheist beliefs on buses.

Can't women write 'large'?

Turkey tightens controls on Internet speech

The country's courts and governments have banned 850 websites this year, including YouTube and Blogger.