mikedang, Author at Longreads

A Son’s Ambitious Plans to Give His Father Everlasting, Artificial Life

by mikedang July 20, 2017

James Vlahos gave his father eternal life using a little bit of programming.

A Son’s Race to Give His Dying Father Artificial Immortality

by mikedang July 19, 2017October 19, 2022

After his father was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, James Vlahos began programming a chatbot that could emulate his father using stories from his life.

Editor's Pick

Girl Wonder

by mikedang July 19, 2017October 19, 2022

When Meaghan O’Connell finished reading a celebrated young author’s debut novel, she felt a mix of admiration, jealousy, and recognition of the powerlessness that comes with young adulthood.

Editor's Pick

Why Are Humans So Curious?

by mikedang July 18, 2017October 19, 2022

Mario Livio on his new book about human curiosity, his work as an astrophysicist, and why we shouldn’t fear our expanding universe.

Nonfiction, Quotes, Sports

Roger Federer Isn’t Stopping Any Time Soon

by mikedang July 17, 2017January 25, 2023

Federer is the oldest man to win a Wimbledon singles title in the Open Era, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

Editor's Pick

Late in Life, Thoreau Became a Serious Darwinist

by mikedang July 13, 2017February 22, 2023

But he died before he could finish his book on natural history. As Emerson put it, Thoreau “depart[ed] out of Nature before… he has been really shown to his peers for what he is.”

Editor's Pick

The Netflix Prize: How a $1 Million Contest Changed Binge-Watching Forever

by mikedang July 11, 2017October 19, 2022

In 2006, Netflix launched a competition to increase the efficiency of its recommender system by 10 percent, bringing together a ragtag group of engineers from around the world who helped make large strides in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Editor's Pick