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Archive | Science and Such
Killers
My last post was about how we rearrange atoms to make what we want. But that reminded me about a frequent thought I have about how we’re all killers. Here’s how I look at it: The sun is a burning mass radiating energy. That energy comes to the rock known as earth. Some arrangements of […]
Atoms
Just generally musing about how humans haven’t actually added any atoms to the planet. All the plastic, all the emissions, all the disposable diapers, all the steel, the wreckage, the garbage, the skyscrapers, the concrete, glass, photo paper, book bindings, vinyl, paint, light bulb filaments, are made of stuff that was already here. And also […]
Now Open
The Creation Museum. If you don’t want to subscribe for free to the New York Times online, you can read about it here, here, here, etc. One thing that seems to be missing from all these “reviews” and news articles is any sense of outrage or contempt. There’s no good reason that a publication of […]
Our Neighborhood
Link from my brother.
Old Dogs and New Tricks
“Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes It could turn out that Holmes was even more brilliant than we thought. The next big thing in brain health may be, yep, video games. Coming soon after the research showing that video games may […]
Chimps and Lies
Not long ago, in my world-famous Audio Post (link), I mentioned that humans often point to things we do that other animals don’t do. We’re special because of X. The Washington Post reports another chink in the “we’re special†argument (Link). Chimps are fashioning spears, then hunting and killing other animals with them. This goes […]
Gattaca
The President calls for a ban on genetic discrimination. (Link) I betcha this will be a very important topic of our future world. As the (very short) article says, banning this kind of discrimination would have at least two effects: 1. It would eliminate the fear that people might have about getting checked for possible […]
Guide to Political Interference in Science
I got it from Seed (my favorite little science mag, linked on the left of the main page). (link to guide)
Silliest Theory of the Week (Plus Bonus Thoughts!)
Noting that germ-killing products are all the rage, Allen Salkin in the New York Times (link) present us with an example of journalists scrabbling to find an angle to an otherwise boring story. Why are so many people buying (questionably effective) lotions, creams, water ionizers, UV wands, and other weapons of mini destruction? Is it […]