Why are most stars in binary systems? New Spitzer results may help explain.
Continue reading Spitzer Sees Blobs Where Others Assumed Spheres
Daily Archives: May 20, 2010
Desiree Interviews Massimo Pigliucci
Philosophy professor and author Dr. Massimo Pigliucci joins us to discuss his new book “Nonsense On Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk.” We’ll discuss why people embrace pseudoscientific beliefs, and how it affects our culture.
(Reminds me of this: Massimo Pigliucci: “Politics, Philosophy and Atheism.” Atheists Talk #0074, Sunday June 14, 2009 )
Saving the Saba Bank with Open Access Publishing
The Saba Bank is a major coral reef in the Caribbean which sports a high level of biodiversity but also attracts oil tankers, and is thus an important natural area under threat. The tankers anchor here to avoid paying fees in various ports, but the anchors themselves drag along the reef and cause havoc.
There is now an effort to have the Saba Bank designated as an internationally recognized sensitive area, but one thing standing it the way of this effort is a lack of scientific knowledge of the region.
Open Access Publishing to the rescue!
Continue reading Saving the Saba Bank with Open Access Publishing
False Pearls before Real Swine
“In today’s lecture, I will be casting false pearls before real swine”
… I won’t tell you who said that, but when he did say it, he was in front of a classroom of several hundred Harvard freshmen, and he was referring to the idea of telling little white lies to the unwashed masses in order to achieve the dissemination of greater truth. No one in the room but the wizened teaching assistants, clustered off to the side furtively consuming their lunch in the “no food allowed” lecture hall, got the Biblical reference. There were spit takes.
Continue reading False Pearls before Real Swine
Sue Lowden is against chickens.
buk buk buk
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Apparently, cells have been created from … Science!
Scientists are reporting that they have made a living cell from DNA that was originally synthesized in a lab. This isn’t quite a synthetic organism. But the result is an important, and some would say troubling step on the road to creating life in the lab.
Craig Venter is the scientist behind the effort. Many scientists have strong opinions about Venter, but even his detractors will admit he’s a man who thinks big.
How Inventions Happen
One of the fascinating side stories in Dragnet is the quirky relationship between Bill Gannon and Joe Friday, and in particular, Bill’s reporting of his occasional schemes and Joe’s incredulous reaction to them. …
Giraffe
Evolution vs. Creationism by Eugenie Scott, Second Edition
This is a good day to build a shelf.
Shelf building music:
Antievolution legislation in Missouri dies
Missouri’s latest contribution to ruining science education has died a merciful death before even reaching committee. This did not happen by itself. This happened because we are keeping an eye on them.
We are watching you, Robert Wayne Cooper. And the rest of you. We are watching you too.
Read the happy details at the NCSE web site.
Rovers Set Surface Longevity Record
This just in from NASA:
Continue reading Rovers Set Surface Longevity Record