Beach Volleyball and the Public Understanding of Genetics
Category: Ethics Palace: Where ethical questions go to live or die
Are cameramen genetic predisposed to zero in on wedgies?
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 8:00 AM • 15 Comments •
The World's Fair
All manner of human creativity on display
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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:
"The world is full of light and life, and the true crime is not to be interested in it." A.S. Byatt
Recent Posts
- Thank God for The Daily Show
- Today's challenge: Can you guess where this cup has been?
- Vancouverites? Any lurking here? (Some Vancouver ScienceBloggers hoping to host a little get together)
- Leaked Copy of John Tierney's Next "Environmental" Column
- Likely and unlikely things that Sir Isaac Newton stood on during his lifetime (aka the return of the SCQ)
- Is this the most evil powerpoint slide ever?
- Things to avoid when speaking publicly - the video.
- Applying in academia: The job ad you've had nightmares about.
- This is the course that EVERY academic wishes they could teach.
- Beach Volleyball and the Public Understanding of Genetics
Recent Comments
- atom_x on Vancouverites? Any lurking here? (Some Vancouver ScienceBloggers hoping to host a little get together)
- Peter on Is this the most evil powerpoint slide ever?
- Anthony Floyd on Vancouverites? Any lurking here? (Some Vancouver ScienceBloggers hoping to host a little get together)
- Tobias on Today's challenge: Can you guess where this cup has been?
- PlausibleAccuracy on Vancouverites? Any lurking here? (Some Vancouver ScienceBloggers hoping to host a little get together)
- T.Bruce McNeely on Vancouverites? Any lurking here? (Some Vancouver ScienceBloggers hoping to host a little get together)
- zayıflama on Sentences in review
- Tala on Sentences in review
- NM on Hopefully, the start of a definitive list of things to avoid at all cost when speaking publicly.
- David Jason Hall on Save the Earth: Ban NASCAR
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And so forth...
August 22, 2008
August 20, 2008
Sentences in review
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
Continuing in our series of things I don't understand, let's talk about language. You be the judge.
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 7:15 PM • 2 Comments •
August 19, 2008
Talk about beautiful: Lightning is awesome when you can just sit back and enjoy it slowly
Category: Video links (archive.org samples, for example; Youtube.com; others...)
I just saw this video at McSweeney's (which in turn got it from Today's Big Thing). It's quite the stunner, watching the lightning seek out ground and then BOOM....
Posted by David Ng at 11:54 AM • 2 Comments •
Corporate or chemistry icon? No contest people.
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
Recently used this graphic at a student conference opening, and it was met with a surprisingly good reaction. Weird how no matter how hard you look at this, you can't get past the Disney influence....
Posted by David Ng at 10:41 AM • 5 Comments •
August 18, 2008
Superpowers: Also hereditary
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
Let's start this off with a mini-meme. Do you, or anyone you know, have apparent "superpowers"? This request is not as weird as it seems - let me explain....
Posted by David Ng at 2:11 PM • 29 Comments •
Science. History. Ears. Happy Together.
Category: Podcastia
When I was young, back in 2004, we got our history from books and we liked it that way. Then along came podcasts....
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 9:00 AM • 2 Comments •
August 15, 2008
Jesus speaks to a geneticist
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
JESUS: What is cloning? GENETICIST: That is a very good question indeed. In short, cloning is the experimental act of producing an identical copy. It can refer to copying something as small as a specific piece of DNA, or as...
Posted by David Ng at 7:28 AM • 1 Comments •
August 14, 2008
A GAP ad celebrity speaks to a geneticist.
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
CELEBRITY: Who are you? GENETICIST: I am a geneticist. CELEBRITY: Like, is that a big word for someone who is not as cool as me?...
Posted by David Ng at 7:23 AM • 2 Comments •
August 13, 2008
Local Knowledge, Agricultural Edition: Podcasts
Category: Podcastia
I don't make it a point to keep up with the goings on at Lower Blakemere Farm, Blakemere, Herefordshire (UK). But they have a very well-developed series of podcasts that let me do so anyhow. Here then, with a great...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 8:00 AM • 0 Comments •
Old MacDonald speaks to a geneticist
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
OLD MACDONALD: Do you want to buy some beef? GENETICIST: If the beef is not tainted with mad cow, then I would be very much interested in purchasing your beef. However, as there have been a few recent outbreaks of...
Posted by David Ng at 7:20 AM • 0 Comments •
August 12, 2008
Preparing for the Environmental Fight Over Nukes and Coal
Category: Nuclear Energy
Virginians show promise of rebuffing new nuclear plants and coal-fired facilities
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 4:00 PM • 5 Comments •
Bono speaks to a geneticist
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
BONO: Why am I so weary? GENETICIST: From a genetic point of view, I would say that your weariness is a reflection of your metabolism. That is, your ability to pull energy from the food you eat, and the ability...
Posted by David Ng at 2:31 PM • 0 Comments •
Urban and Industrial Environments
Category: NatureLand: What They Used to Call the Environment
MIT Press publishes a series called Urban and Industrial Environments. Several of the "author-meets-blogger" books were from that series. The main editor is Robert Gottlieb of Occidental College out in California. I was just made aware of a blog for...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 9:00 AM • 0 Comments •
Grimace speaks to a geneticist
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
GRIMACE: What am I? GENETICIST: That is a very interesting question indeed. And we should begin by briefly discussing your known history. According to your records, you were born as "Evil Grimace," with four deft arms, and a penchant for...
Posted by David Ng at 7:17 AM • 0 Comments •
August 11, 2008
Elmo speaks to a geneticist
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
ELMO: Elmo is not very happy today. Elmo is sad. That is why Elmo is here to see you Mr. Geneticist. GENETICIST: Tell me, little one. Why are you so sad?...
Posted by David Ng at 8:34 AM • 2 Comments •
Von Trapp Children speak to a geneticist
Category: Humor stuff, and in the best of worlds, science humor stuff
(Since I'll be away for the next week or so, I figured this is as good a time as any to reprint a few "speaks to a geneticist" pieces. Hope you enjoy them). LIESL: Why is it that we can...
Posted by David Ng at 7:12 AM • 0 Comments •
August 8, 2008
Colour palettes: Smog edition - (do you think Martha Stewart Inc. will come a calling?)
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
A couple things converging here. Namely, the exterior painting of my home (a nice rustic red colour), and the Beijing Olympic games. As well, you find that household paints these days have the most luxurious names ever, so I figure...
Posted by David Ng at 12:50 PM • 1 Comments •
East coasters versus West coasters: Which do you think are better?
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
(From chrisharrison.net) One of the realities of science academics (well, any academics for that matter), is the likely need to switch locales during your career path. And because of this reality, one often gets into debates about "good" versus...
Posted by David Ng at 10:50 AM • 12 Comments •
Where are the History of Technology blogs?
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
Are there historians of technology blogging about their work and research? 'Lil help?
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 10:00 AM • 2 Comments •
Carnivores, Capitalists, and the Meat We Eat
Category: Industrial Agriculture
"But it's delicious." Here's a link worthy of linking to, eminently linkable: "Carnivores, Capitalists, and the Meat We Eat", by Jon Mooallem, in The Believer some time back (October 2005). It's all about popular meat writing. I take that to...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 9:00 AM • 3 Comments •
August 7, 2008
Maybe we humans know only measurable things
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
The Grass Seed, a graphic story/comic strip by Claudia Davila at Ballyhoo Stories
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 12:00 PM • 2 Comments •
Unintended consequences of growing local: Son eats spinach (or the plight of the picky picky eater)
Category: NatureLand: What They Used to Call the Environment
See this: This glorious piece of work is doing amazing things, amazing things!...
Posted by David Ng at 10:16 AM • 14 Comments •
August 6, 2008
If you think you know life, then please tell me what we have here...
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
Aren't these kind of pretty?...
Posted by David Ng at 12:33 PM • 12 Comments •
McSweeney's Rejects Mike Mussina's Seventh Consecutive Submission
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
Worlds colliding here. According to Mussina (13-7, 3.56), the piece was entitled "Discarded Titles For Hunter S. Thompson's Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas," and included such examples as "Dread And Abhorring In Las Vegas," "Trepidation And Disliking In Las...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 8:30 AM • 1 Comments •
Industrial Strength Art
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
Uncovering new kinds of beauty in unusual, industrial places of the 20th century.
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 8:00 AM • 0 Comments •
August 5, 2008
Wish my music teacher was like this guy.
Category: Video links (archive.org samples, for example; Youtube.com; others...)
Another score at TED talks. "Benjamin Zander: Classical music with shining eyes."...
Posted by David Ng at 3:02 PM • 4 Comments •
Of course, the history of science matters. It just doesn't seem to count is the thing.
Category: The STS Compages
Yesterday, Ben threw out the following question: What does a scientist actually think the history of science offers? To be frank, I don't think it's necessarily a tough question to answer, but I do think that my answer, and...
Posted by David Ng at 2:50 PM • 4 Comments •
Batman and Evolution
Category: Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive
The adaptive behavior of Batman to his cultural ecosystem has yielded some strange variations.
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 11:30 AM • 4 Comments •
August 4, 2008
What difference does the history of science make?
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
And why exactly does it matter? To whom is it important? And where can we talk about it? Scientists speak up.
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 2:05 PM • 7 Comments •
August 1, 2008
A caring scientist's view on things to be afraid of.
Category: About writing generally
The other day I was having a conversation with a number of scientist types, and specifically the topic of movies like Sizzle or Expelled came up. This, of course, led to the whole "framing" thing, which to be frank is...
Posted by David Ng at 12:39 PM • 9 Comments •
Alton Brown, Food Science, Chemical & Engineering News
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
"There is no way to keep a global food system safe. It can't be done and it shouldn't be done. It's bad for economies, bad for the planet, and bad for humans"
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 9:00 AM • 1 Comments •
Archaeopteryx lithographica tangles with the devil
Category: The Art/Science (Non?)Divide Building
Proof of "a threshold species between modern birds and their prehistoric dinosaur relatives" hanging out with Mephistopheles in Flight. Though don't take my use of the word "proof" too sincerely. Archaeopteryx lithographica (Berlin Specimen) [Convergences #33]...
Posted by Benjamin Cohen at 8:00 AM • 0 Comments •
