April 6, 2012
Science Debate Dot Org asks the question: In a nationally televised presidential science debate, who would be the best moderator?
I find the suggestions that have been made so far to be interesting. A lot of people seem to be suggesting people who are obviously good scientists, or good…
April 5, 2012
Not really. Do people who design social networking systems really think we LIKE push notifications???????? Seriously?
By the way, I'm working at a place these days that seems to produce a correct and incorrect (and inexplicably so) result on Google Maps at about a 50-50 ratio. This means that…
April 5, 2012
I'm showing you this animation because I think it illustrates the difficulties of explaining things that exist or occur at different scales, and because it's kinda fun:
April 3, 2012
But seriously ... if you have a well, get it capped, please!
April 3, 2012
We are at war. I do not refer to the war in Afghanastan (though that too) but rather to the war between the religious right, Republicans, the 1% and various anti-science forces on one hand and everybody else on the other. Indeed, it is standard political wisdom that Fundamentalist Christians and…
April 3, 2012
I hate when this happens:
April 3, 2012
Huxley's grandfather takes him to swimming lessons every week, and between grand-dad and mom, Huxley goes to a pool about once a month outside of "class." This has been going on for about two years, and Huxley is about two years old. I estimate that this particular toddler has been in the pool for…
April 2, 2012
Suzie Gilbert is the author of Flyaway, which in turn is a chronicle of life as a bird rehabilitation expert. And, she is the newest addition to the Beat Writer's staff at 10,000 birds. You can find her bio at the Beat Writer's Page, and starting on April 6th, she'll be contributing regularly to…
April 2, 2012
NCSE policy director Steve Newton explores the evolution of American creationism and how anti-evolution activities have changed from the Scopes era to the present. Newton explains creationism's many faces, from dinosaurs-lived-with-humans young earthers to "intelligent design" advocates to…
April 2, 2012
On Sunday, I interviewed Maggie Koerth-Baker, the author of Before the Lights Go Out: Conquering the Energy Crisis Before It Conquers Us. The interview was live on radio, but you can listen to it here as a podcast.
Maggie is the science editor at Boing Boing, a journalist, and has had an interest…
April 2, 2012
Oklahoma's House Bill 1551, one of two bills attacking the teaching of evolution and of climate change active in the Oklahoma legislature during 2012, is now in effect dead, according to Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education. Originally introduced in 2011, HB 1551 was rejected by the House…
April 2, 2012
... in the Twin Cities.
Free Libraries Hit Minneapolis Lawns: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com
Hat Tip: Alyson Foster
April 2, 2012
One of my favorite bloggers, Dana Hunter, who blogs with me at FTB.com, is now also blogging at Scientific American at a new blog called Rosetta Stones.
I was five years old, and Mount St. Helens was busy erupting all over my teevee. I made it a get well card. It looked like it hurt. Thus began an…
March 31, 2012
A very interesting perspective. Different kinds of craters results from the intersection of different size impacts and different geological conditions prevailing at the time .
I wonder if that first big meteor would have come in at that angle. Anyway, very cool animation.
March 31, 2012
On Skeptically Speaking:
This week, we're looking into the many strategies that animals employ in the struggle to eat other animals. We're joined by freelance science writer Matt Soniak, to discuss the often complex relationship between hunter and hunted. And on the podcast, biological…
March 30, 2012
I have two only vaguely related items for you, and the first is really two items.
Paul Douglas has written a piece on climate change that you should read. Douglas is the famous Twin Cities meteorologist who worked for several years at our own WCCO. He was a regional celebrity, much loved by all,…
March 30, 2012
Go here and click on the thing. You know Shawn from his book "Fool me Twice."
Like the page then scroll down a page or two to "Fool me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America by Shawn Lawrence Otto" and vote on that one. Forget about all the other books, they suck. YOU MUST DO THIS…
March 30, 2012
A commonly used insecticide, and possibly an increasingly widely used form of that pesticide, could be a causal factor in bee colony collapse. It is not 100% certain that this pesticide's effects can be counted as one of the causes this problem, but there is a very good chance that neonicotinoids…
March 29, 2012
This just in:
Baton Rouge, LA -- (March 27, 2012) -- At Senator Santorum's March 23rd rally in Pineville Louisiana, student activist, Zack Kopplin, had the chance to question the Senator about creationism laws. Kopplin, who has led the effort to repeal Louisiana's creationism law, the misnamed and…
March 29, 2012
How to learn language
Me: "Huxley, this is your milk. I'm going to drink it myself!"
Huxley: "I'm going to drink it ME-self!"
Me: "What?"
Huxley: "I'm going to drink it I-self!"
Me: "Huh?"
Huxley: "I'm going to drink it Huxley-self!"
Me: "Oh, OK, here's your milk!"
March 29, 2012
As many of you know, because you've not seen me around as much as usual, I've been devoting a considerable amount of my time to volunteering for a political campaign in my district. I'm trying to help Sharon Sund replace Erik Paulsen in the Third Congressional District of Minnesota. Erik is the…
March 29, 2012
And now a closer look at Cardiff:
March 29, 2012
Earl Scruggs dies on Wednesday.
March 28, 2012
Marie-Claire Shanahan is going t be interviewing David Dobbs about his book, Reef Madness: Charles Darwin, Alexander Agassiz, and the Meaning of Coral on Skeptically Speaking.
So, that would be one of my favorite people interviewing one of my favorite authors about one of my favorite books which…
March 28, 2012
Coming to a place near you in June.
Info
March 28, 2012
Get your copy here.
March 28, 2012
Climate scientist Michael Mann is no stranger to smear campaigns. Man has the distinction of having made important contributions to climate science, for which he shared the Nobel Peace Prize. He is famous to many of you for having come up with the "hockey stick" metaphor.
Michael Mann is a good…
