All manner of human creativity on display
David Ng is Director of the Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory at the University of British Columbia - this is a just a fancier way of calling himself a science teacher.
Benjamin Cohen is an Asst. Professor of Science, Tech., and Society at the University of Virginia. He studies the place of S & T in environmental history, policy, and ethics. He also writes other stuff.
Trying to find your way around this place? Like most expositions, we offer a map: Map of The World's Fair
Need a car? Of course you do. Try this one:
October 31, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
So here's one from TIME, on population density. I did not realize Dallas-Fort Worth was the fifth largest metropolitan area. I did not know that....
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 11:39 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
Best new job title. Hands down.
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 11:18 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: NatureLand: What They Used to Call the Environment
The Silencer (being performed in Blacksburg, VA, on November 1, 2, and 3, ahead of its London opening in 2007) is a play about Global Warming and Climate Science. How about that, a play about global warming and climate science....
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 10:39 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 30, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
This time it's possible that it isn't really his fault. Dawkins is speaking here at the University of Virginia this Friday, on the rare day that I'm out of town at a conference. I could blame the History of Science...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 1:20 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 27, 2006
Category: Video links (archive.org samples, for example; Youtube.com; others...)
Chances are, this 1952 film from Norman Mclaren cost less than $1.2 billion. Despite that, it won the Oscar for best animation that year....
Posted by David Ng at 12:03 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Nature, as in parts, bits, molecular and stuff
At the beginning of this past week, I did a post on some of the science behind the aroma of coffee, so I thought it would be fitting to talk a bit about wine as well. Not because I'm...
Posted by David Ng at 11:51 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 26, 2006
Category: Ethics Palace: Where ethical questions go to live or die
The new Border Fence Law: What a stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid , stupid, stupid, stupid , stupid idea. Hmmm, a billion bucks or two......
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 7:15 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Nuclear Energy
"Can Nuclear Power be the Solution To Climate Change and Future Energy Demand?"
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 1:09 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 25, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
Yes, Ultraman or "Paul", our new intern could certainly stick it to Mr. Norris. Especially, if what PZ writes about Mr. Norris is true. If you don't believe, then watch the movie below the fold, which has a friend of...
Posted by David Ng at 5:38 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Nature as in Earth, as in Global, as in Global Issues Generally
Yesterday I had an opportunity to listen to and to say hello to Ronald Wright. This is a fellow who has crossed a number of disciplinary boundaries in terms of his writing prowess, and winning lots of literary awards along...
Posted by David Ng at 5:22 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 24, 2006
Category: The Book Building
Adam Gopnik writes in the Oct. 23rd New Yorker about Darwin's writing period after the Beagle and before Origins (which is to say, roughly through the 1840s and into the later 1850s). His essay is more or less an appreciation...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 5:19 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Nature, as in parts, bits, molecular and stuff
So I see Ben has put up a post on the various reviews out there on Dawkins' book, and I noted one comment saying: This is utterly ridiculous. The distilled argument here is that the discussion of religion and...
Posted by David Ng at 3:34 PM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 22, 2006
Category: Ethics Palace: Where ethical questions go to live or die
I saw two more reviews of Dawkins' new and widely discussed The God Delusion recently. Both were critical about the book. Both had points that I thought were very well made. One review is by Terry Eagleton, in the London...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 8:32 PM • 35 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The Film Building
The question humming around ScienceBlogs at this particular moment is about Science TV, so I thought I would pipe up for one of me and my kid's current favourite shows: Peep and the Big Wide World....
Posted by David Ng at 7:09 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 20, 2006
Category: Nature as in Earth, as in Global, as in Global Issues Generally
So a couple months ago, I sat down with some science educator types and we had a bit of a tete a tete over the Science Creative Quarterly, and how surreal it seems to have this sizable readership growing....
Posted by David Ng at 12:49 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 19, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
With the "dressing up as a dinosaur makes for a challenging interview" post yesterday, I thought it would be kind of interesting to hear what other odd or creative interview techniques are out there....
Posted by David Ng at 2:08 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Ethics Palace: Where ethical questions go to live or die
"2009: Genetically Modified Chicken Eggs that will save the world, says Monsanto"
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 9:59 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The Website Building
Ah, if only the science of the google search engine was a little less elusive. But check this out. I was google mining for info on our new intern, and noticed that if you're on google.ca (googling in Canada), and...
Posted by David Ng at 8:08 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 18, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
So after an intensive search, Ben and I have agreed on who to hire as an intern, whose sole task is to look after the upcoming Puzzle Fantastica #2. So please say hello to Ultraman, or just "Paul" as...
Posted by David Ng at 1:14 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
Although, of course, they were made from recycled cardboard boxes. Ben, you see, was a big fan of that "Cars" movie that came out a while ago, and so wanted to have his birthday (held on Saturday)centre around a...
Posted by David Ng at 7:50 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 17, 2006
Category: Nature, as in parts, bits, molecular and stuff
Well, didn't know about this, but quite interesting nevertheless. That's right folks - the Duckbill is getting the royal genomic treatment. Looks like the sequencing has been done (6X coverage), and now they're looking to piece those contigs together. (link)...
Posted by David Ng at 6:01 PM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
In so far, as one of the hats I wear, yesterday I had a meeting to discuss collaborations that would provide a visual art experience capable of focusing on a concept of sustainability. I was hanging out and chatting...
Posted by David Ng at 5:47 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Ethics Palace: Where ethical questions go to live or die
First, check out this Washington Post article explaining that the "FDA Is Set To Approve Milk, Meat From Clones." Second, note that there's a symposium being held in DC tomorrow, "Animal Biotechnology: Considering Ethical Issues," sponsored by the Pew Initiative...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 12:54 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 16, 2006
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
Published, no less, in Nature. Except that this is, of course, a shameless plug for the Science Creative Quarterly, which today has a convincing fake/joke paper on the subject. And how can one be certain that it's fake? Easy -...
Posted by David Ng at 3:48 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
I see Ben has requested sciencebloggers to weigh in on another musical question. This time to see whether there is any consensus in choosing a house band for our consortium - you know, the sort that could maybe write a...
Posted by David Ng at 3:27 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
We need a house band. Scienceblogs needs a house band. And I know what you're all thinking: Phish is the obvious choice. Now, while I admire the force of your collective appreciation for Phish - I'm astounded by it, in...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 7:30 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 14, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
This graphic would suggest so. And on the heels of Friday the 13th, we wonder, we really wonder....
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 1:03 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 13, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
From the ever entertaining (and, of course, useful), PUBMED search:...
Posted by David Ng at 11:27 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
What is it about the Wonder Twins that makes them so ripe for picking on? The Super Friends epsiode: "Wonder vs. Wonder" When it becomes clear that a mission is botched because Wonder Woman is clearly visible in her invisible...
Posted by David Ng at 10:47 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 12, 2006
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
A new list over at McSweeney's, reporting some good data -- "Creationist Astronomers Polled Regarding Pluto's Status". Interesting results, I think you'll find. Very telling....
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 10:39 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: NatureLand: What They Used to Call the Environment
Amy Bentley, a Profesor of Public Health at NYU, has this well-done* review of Food, Politics, Food Politics, Morality of Food Production, the Ethics of Foopd Systems, and what not, at the Chronicle. The books reviewed in her essay are:...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 8:57 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 11, 2006
Category: About writing generally
With all the debate going on around the validity of the current world of theoretical physics, the New Yorker, in a recent issue, weighs in as eloquent as ever:...
Posted by David Ng at 11:16 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
"I'm not entirely sure if I became a rational scientific person by nature or nurture. Whether it is genetic or whether it is the obvious result of too many years of study. Whatever the case may be, I am...
Posted by David Ng at 8:09 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 10, 2006
Category: Ethics Palace: Where ethical questions go to live or die
Since Ben has posted on the new hypoallergenic cat, I thought it pertinent to talk a little about the Granddaddy of transgenic pet services, that is the company known as Genetics Savings and Clones....
Posted by David Ng at 12:13 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 9, 2006
Category: Ethics Palace: Where ethical questions go to live or die
"You're not just buying a cat; it's a medical device that replaces shots and pills..."
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 3:50 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Ethics Palace: Where ethical questions go to live or die
Archer-Daniels-Midland CEO Patricia Woertz blasted ethanol for use in fuesl when she was with Chevron (7 years ago). Now she's acquired a taste for it, as the new CEO of ADM (supermarket to the world). The New York Times reports...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 12:48 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 7, 2006
Category: The Website Building
The big surprise? He's a Popperian. Crap, no. That's not a surprise.
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 10:49 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
Two pieces worth pointing out, in this, our week of Nobel frenzy. One which provides a sentiment we've probably all experience (well, maybe not), and the other... some constructive advice on how to win one....
Posted by David Ng at 11:29 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 6, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
7 Worlds Collide (Neil Finn and Friends, 2001) It's like this - you have the former front man for a moderately successful 80's pop band who is apparently so good at writing melodies, he commands enough respect to form...
Posted by David Ng at 1:54 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Links to Other Conversations and Articles
As ever, it's all about credibility, authority, and trust. And Harry Collins's experiment could've been tougher.
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 9:59 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Video links (archive.org samples, for example; Youtube.com; others...)
The other day, I passed on a link for an Al Gore talk at a TEDtalks event, but in reality, the reason why I initially went to the site was to check out a talk by Hans Rosling. Briefly: Hans...
Posted by David Ng at 8:28 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Nuclear Energy
Let's hope it's the latter, or we'll for sure need some Superhero action, and certainly not the kind that the Wonder Twins espouse (hands down, lamest superheroes if you ask me). Anyway, what do you think? These would be pretty...
Posted by David Ng at 8:24 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 5, 2006
Category: NatureLand: What They Used to Call the Environment
Distributed Generation (DG), another way to reduce energy without the nuclear option
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 10:40 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
Just had to pass this on to readers. Today at the SCQ, there's a lovely piece examining the probability statistics of the card game of War. Using computational models, the author was able to simulate 10 million random games, with...
Posted by David Ng at 5:30 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
You were right about the stars. Each one is a setting sun...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 2:26 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The Book Building
The World's Fair's popularity has skyrocketed over the past few months, and all the more so in the post-Puzzle Fantastica Era. (Data: We have readers almost every single day now. Sometimes even more. Recent problems at the Sb server may...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 9:00 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 3, 2006
Category: Video links (archive.org samples, for example; Youtube.com; others...)
This is from TEDtalks - worth a look for sure....
Posted by David Ng at 8:26 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Nature, as in parts, bits, molecular and stuff
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Jack Horner, a noted paleontologist, best known academically as the discoverer of the Maiasaura, a duck-billed dinosaur that proved that dinosaurs had parental instincts; and also an expert in the arena...
Posted by David Ng at 8:24 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 2, 2006
Category: NatureLand: What They Used to Call the Environment
Do campus sustainability initiatives help? One way to work on energy issues without resorting to problematic nuclear promotion.
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 1:16 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 1, 2006
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
I saw this at Defective Yeti. It is *not* an Onion story. Somehow. I'm reposting the screen shot here, but all credit goes to M.B. And as for categorization, this has to be the very of core of the place...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 2:04 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
For reasons of postal error, I now receive Science every week. Every. Single. Week. Who knew? I have a hard enough time keeping up with the New Yorker's weekly pattern, and now this. These people, you people, just keep doing...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 9:38 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
