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Advancing Science through Conversations: Bridging the Gap between Blogs and the Academy
A postdoc by day and a scientific activist by night, Nick Anthis isn't letting his research in protein structure and function get in the way of defending scientific and social progress.
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Category: Fantastical Fridays
The Scientific Activist will be taking a break from Fantastical Fridays for a while, starting with last week. (Yes, I know, this post is a little late). Things have been pretty busy in the lab lately and that, combined with...
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:36 AM • 0 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
...according the US Department of Education, at least!
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:40 AM • 7 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
It has been known officially since 2002 that the sciences are hard, and, as much as we scientists love it when our friends and family tell us how smart and wonderful we must be since they could never understand what...
Posted by Nick Anthis at 8:10 AM • 3 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
This week's installment of Fantastical Fridays discusses a not-so-impressive finding reported in the media in January 2006. From the archives: (30 January 2006) To all of those who worried about the United States' dependence on Middle Eastern oil, who tried...
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:55 AM • 0 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
Can one summer intern outshine the entire Department of Homeland Security?
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:55 AM • 4 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
Genetic engineering holds a great deal of promise, but it can only be used on things that are "alive". Still, scientists have found other ways to make the stuff of genes, DNA, come alive in more artistic ways.
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:45 AM • 0 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
If you know what I'm talking about, and if you are in fact "cool", then you might also be interested in these recent research findings about the surprising lack of negative health affects associated with marijuana.
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:45 AM • 2 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
Now here's an experiment I would have liked to take part in. Researchers from Johns Hopkins systematically test the psychological effects of the hallucinogenic drug psilocybin, and the results are pretty positive. Not only that, but a significant number of participants rate the experience as the single most meaningful one of their lives!
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:45 AM • 9 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
Now I have an excuse for my behavior the next time I get into a bitter political debate: I can't help being defensive--it's hardwired into me! Those are the findings, at least, of a study led by psychologist Drew Westen.
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:55 AM • 2 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
In NMR, bigger really is better, at least when it comes to magnetic field strength, and the entire field has in some ways become one big manhood size-measuring contest. One group, though, reported earlier this year in Nature Physics that sometimes it may be better to just go natural. Forget about all of the high-tech magnets--just use the big one right under your feet!
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:59 AM • 11 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
Last week's Fantastical Fridays was a big hit, so we'll keep the momentum going with more chemistry this week. Instead of anthropomorphic molecules, though, this one is all about chemicals with downright ridiculous names. If you still have any doubts...
Posted by Nick Anthis at 7:59 AM • 5 Comments •
Category: Fantastical Fridays
Lurking beneath the surface here at ScienceBlogs is a force that compels people to do extremely gimmicky things on Fridays. Since I know that I'm no better than anyone else, I've decided to join in on the fun. Therefore, I...
Posted by Nick Anthis at 8:55 AM • 11 Comments •
