There Are Social and Political Benefits to Having Friends by David Brooks for the New York Times. (Hat tip to Hal Bauer)
David Brooks argued for the benefits of friendship, especially how good friends bring out the best in each other. He proposed, tongue in cheek (I think), a program for bringing people together in circumstances in which they would be likely to become friends. I think it strange to live in a world where the value of friendship is an unfamiliar idea that you have to argue for.
Read Slowly to Benefit Your Brain and Cut Stress by Jeanne Whalen for The Wall Street Journal. (Hat tip to David White)
I think this article, too, is strange. The author cites scientific studies that show the benefits of reading, and specifically of reading from printed books, as if reading were an unfamiliar activity that needs justification.
Eight Things We Can Do Now to Build a Space Colony This Century by Annalee Newitz for io9.
Based on the comments, the most controversial of the eight proposals is to build a sustainable future here on Planet Earth so that the space colonists will have a world to come home to. Some of the hard-core space enthusiasts think this is a false priority.
Phil Ebersole's Blog 