Links for 2010-02-09 : Uncertain Principles

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"Uncertain Principles" features the miscellaneous ramblings of a physicist at a small liberal arts college. Physics, politics, pop culture, and occasional conversations with his dog.

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Links for 2010-02-09

Category: Links Dump
Posted on: February 9, 2010 7:49 AM, by Chad Orzel

BBC News - More cat owners 'have degrees' than dog-lovers

My favorite bit is the note that "Cat and dog numbers were last estimated in a scientific peer-reviewed journal in 1989," because, of course, peer review is critical to the process...

(tags: pets dog society education social-science)
Bright Idea: The First Lasers -- A history of discoveries leading to the 1960 invention.

An excellent step-by-step history of the development of the laser, including interviews with laser pioneers.

(tags: lasers science history physics optics atoms molecules)
The highs and lows of this year's Super Bowl ads | TV | Crosstalk | The A.V. Club

"I'm pretty sure that the general response to this year's Super Bowl commercials will be mild-to-strong disgust over how anti-woman so many of them were. I know it's the norm for ads during sporting events to play up how "man time" is sacred and "woman time" is lame, but I've rarely seen that theme take such a hostile turn."

(tags: gender television sports society culture avclub)
NASA Launches David Bowie Concept Mission | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

"According to NASA administrator Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden, Jr., the highly experimental glam space program--dubbed Project Starman--has been in development for exactly five years. Though engineers initially feared the mission might "blow our minds," the historic launch ultimately proceeded without incident. "Admittedly, this is a very bold and risky departure for the agency," said Bolden, later adding that Bowie's Ziggy Stardust period and other outer-space-related work has been a major influence on NASA's direction since the early 1970s. "Those familiar with NASA's previous, more conventional research and exploration sensibilities are going to be in for quite a shock. Many are likely to be confused and threatened by the boundary-pushing nature of the project.""

(tags: music space history silly culture onion)
ChatRoulette : The Frontal Cortex

"ChatRoulette is an online version of the friction that cities produce for free. It's like a subway ride on your computer, a chance to bump into strangers on the "street" without leaving your desk. Sure, there are lots of weirdos out there, and plenty of those strangers won't stare back. But every once in a while, a meaningful interaction might occur, as the social slot machine dispenses a few quarters. "

(tags: neuroscience blogs science society internet computing)