Archives for November, 2009
Solar Plane: First Runway Test
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 The test saw the Solar Impulse take some slow steps down the runway using four solar-powered electric motors. The plane taxied without landing gear — just like in a normal takeoff. Now that the runway test was successful, the Solar Impulse team will taxi to takeoff speed and let the plane take off for some…
UC Protests Cast Light on Higher Ed’s Financial Woes
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 More on the CA tuition thing: What do you think about this news story? It is a product of Newsy.com, which I think is new.
Pagel on Darwin
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 Mark Pagel, evolutionary theorist extraordinaire, has published an Insight piece in Nature on Natural selection 150 years on. Pagel, well known for myriad projects in natural selecition theory and adaptation, and for developing with Harvey the widely used statistical phylogenetic method (and for being a reader of my thesis) wishes Charles Darwin a happy 200th…
“Time for Atheists to Stop It”
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 I hear the cries and the calls of the religious moderate, and they are as usual correct. We have been too uppity, and I apologize on behalf of all of us. We should have known better, of course but in our exuberance at the publication of books by Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel…
The 150th on the blogosphere
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 With ID proponents increasingly and more loudly decrying Darwin as the reason the Holocaust happened, Bogused-Up copies of The Origin being circulated by Banana Loving Christians, and attacks on real science and real science education in the US continuing as though there were no Constitution or court system telling them to take it down a…
Chin up you YouTube Atheists
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 REMOVED BECAUSE THE “AMAZING ATHEIST” IS A VERY VERY BAD PERSON AND HIS STUFF IS NOT ALLOWED ON THIS BLOG ANY MORE .
Why didn’t Darwin discover Mendel’s laws?
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 Perhaps we are all subject to falling into the trap of what I call the Hydraulic Theory of Everything. If you eat more you will be bigger, if you eat less you will be smaller. Emotional states are the continuously varying outcome of different levels of a set of hormones, forming “happy” or “stressy” or…
For Your Darwin Reading and Listening Pleasure
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 A podcast from earlier in the year, celebrating Darwin’s birthday. A few essays focusing on Darwin’s Voyage on The Beagle Bon Voyage HMS Beagle The Voyage of the Beagle Darwin Crossing The Atlantic Charles Darwin and the Rain Forest Darwin Gets his Wellies Wet South America on Five Dollars a Day Bugs (Darwin) Darwin South…
The people who like Obama more are smarter, female, non-white, not-Southern, not ‘twix poor and rich, liberal dems godless and unmarried.
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 Modally speaking of course. And those are utterly different modes so the title of this post is of course nonsense. But, we do have some interesting data. This is from the Gallup Pole of weekly job approval by demographic groups. The main thing this poll shows is that Obama has high job approval ratings, and…
Reflections on the Origin of Species
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 The The Origin Of Species by Charles Darwin was published 150 years go as I write this. At the time, several different alternative theories of the origin and history of life were being discussed in the West. Some of these theories were theological. Theological ideas included a literal translation of the bible, with the flora,…
Visit the NSF’s Evolution of Evolution Web Site
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 Honoring the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, Evolution of Evolution: 150 Years of Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” is a multi-disciplinary one-stop-shop of resources on evolution and Darwin himself that are available nowhere else–including eye-catching graphics; captivating interviews and essays by a team of international evolutionary experts; fast-read texts; a timeline…
Dr. Mohamed Noor discusses current evidence for evolution and modern evolution theory.
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 Happy Birthday The Origin of Species!!!!
Posted by Greg Laden on November 24, 2009 This is the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species. I will be posting Darwin related items all day. SOURCE OF VIDEO
CERN: “Atoms … we smashes them”
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 The Large Hadron Collider has produced some data!
Top Ten Internet Videos Countdown: #8
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 Global Warming Gate Beginning to Cool Down
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 I recommend the following two blog posts for the latest thinking on the conspiracy to force the anthropocentrical global warming conspiracy on the conspirators.
The Cost of College: California
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 Over the last several years, the cost of a college education in Minnesota has gone up several percent, but the range of services and opportunities one may have access to has not gone up (and in many cases gone down). This is probably true across the country. Right now, in California, there is debate over…
Increasing Diversity among the college ranks
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 Diversity in Science Carnival #4 is at Urban Science Adventures
“Climate Gate” … the latest scandalous outrages
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 A warning before going any further: This blog will not be used as a dumping ground for the text of climategate related “released” emails. I have surveyed my readers and overwhelmingly have been told that people would prefer to not see that. So don’t do that. Now, on with the show…
White Man’s World: A Racist View of Native America?
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 Interview by Jimmy James Bettencourt It was dark and the streets were wet as I pulled out of the ER where I had seen enough carnage for the night and found the highway heading straight into town. Right away there was a sense of trouble and randomness in the air as police cars careened desperately…
Crocodile ancestors found in Sahara
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 A six-metre croc with three sets of fangs is among the five ancient relatives of modern-day crocodiles found in the Sahara Desert, scientists said Thursday. Three of the fossils, discovered by researchers led by Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago and Hans Larsson of McGill University, represent newly named species. The fossil remains were…
The Free Market, Flu Vaccine and The Role of Gummit
Posted by Greg Laden on November 23, 2009 The Free Market is a god-like powerful force that we can rely on to solve our problems, especially those of supply and demand. So if, as the WHO estimates, about 2% of the population is going to be covered by H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine then … shall we assume that the other 98% of the…
California Condors
Posted by Greg Laden on November 22, 2009 Hat Tip: Ana
Dogs & Physics
Posted by Greg Laden on November 22, 2009 Fellow Sbling Chad Orzel’s book, How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, just might be out in time for you to give it to your dog for Christmas! I don’t know what the book is about, but then again, neither does your dog, really. Anyway, check it out, there is a picture of it here.
Tiny Tim on Global Warming
Posted by Greg Laden on November 22, 2009 Let the War on Christmas Begin. Atheist style.
Posted by Greg Laden on November 22, 2009 This week is Thanksgiving in the United States. This means that over the coming weekend many Americans will be putting up Christmas decorations in and outside their houses. Many children will be putting finishing touches on their letters to Santa. The shopping malls will start to fill and while economists examine and measure the retail…
Dems Win Senate Vote
Posted by Greg Laden on November 21, 2009 The vote was 60-39 to bring the health care bill to debate. The Republicans failed to stop health care insurance reform on procedural grounds. details.
2012: an actual review
Posted by Greg Laden on November 21, 2009 Julia ended up with a minor concussion today.
Make Your Own “Liquid Nitrogen” at Home
Posted by Greg Laden on November 21, 2009 Do not do this at home. This is for certified scientists only. Do not put your finger in this.
, which is now available for the 
