Scott Alexander announces the winners and finalists of the 2023 Book Review Contest, providing details about the reviews, authors, and prizes. Longer summary

Scott Alexander announces the winners of the 2023 Book Review Contest, listing the top three winners, finalists, and honorable mentions. He provides details about the prizes, brief descriptions of the winning reviews and their authors, and mentions plans for another contest next year. The post also includes information on how participants can check their scores and thanks those who helped organize the contest. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander argues that concerns about climate change should not deter people from having children, presenting counterarguments to common climate-related reasons for avoiding parenthood. Longer summary

Scott Alexander argues against the idea that people should avoid having children due to climate change concerns. He presents three main counterarguments: 1) While climate change will be bad, it's unlikely to be catastrophic for most people in developed countries. 2) Choosing not to have children might actually harm climate action by reducing the number of future climate-conscious voters. 3) The carbon footprint of having a child is often overstated, and can potentially be offset through donations or other means. He concludes that climate concerns shouldn't prevent people who want children from having them. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander explores research on how high indoor CO2 levels may impair cognition and sleep, suggesting simple solutions like better ventilation. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses recent research on the effects of high indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on cognitive function and sleep quality. He describes how his housemates discovered high CO2 levels in their home and improved their symptoms by increasing ventilation. The post explores studies showing cognitive impairment at high CO2 levels and the potential impact on sleep quality. Scott suggests that nighttime CO2 levels in bedrooms can be particularly high and may affect sleep. He recommends simple solutions like opening windows or using certain plants to reduce CO2 levels. The post ends with a call for readers to participate in an informal experiment on nighttime air quality. Shorter summary