He questions why the idea of human nature has become a taboo subject, exploring "hot buttons" like violence, gender and aggression.

BBC: Aventis science prize 2003 - Pinker

This in a city and at a time where all forms of violence or injury or hot-headedness are strictly forbidden.

CNN: Preparing to cover The Hajj

Such dramatic cosmic displays were common in the early universe when the galaxies were young and full of newborn, hot bright stars, but such violence is now rare.

BBC: Hubble spies black hole gobbling galaxy

To today's pulsar astronomer, who has seen it all, even swirling ultra-hot discs surrounding the remnants of extreme stellar violence are old hat.

ECONOMIST: The dizziest, giddiest stars

Two states over, Beth Meeks, executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, shares tales of shelters filling up, of lost funding and growing daily calls to hot lines.

CNN: In Gulf oil disaster, cameras can't capture the human toll