Links for 2011-03-18

"So before we officially announce our winner, let's backtrack and build up some suspense.  The challenge was to come up with a bunch of MacGyveresque experiments to determine as closely as possible the standard second, meter and kilogram using only the materials handy to you on a desert [3] island.

Just about every response we got successfully answered the question, so we had to base our final result on robustness and uncertainties.  We also tended to favor those that did not rest on precise knowledge of one's own height, weight, etc (though there is nothing wrong with these approaches).  So without further ado, the winner is...."

"Could improvisational theater help scientists communicate more effectively? If Alan Alda has anything to say about it, yes. "

"Here's the scenario: You're a college basketball player and your team is down by one. You've got a trip to the NCAA men's basketball tournament on the line, but the clock shows less than three seconds. After your teammate passes you the ball, you dribble twice, pump-fake the defender, and throw up a jumpshot that could win the game.

Now, do you shoot the ball straight at the rim or aim for the backboard? According to researchers at North Carolina State, you better try to bank it in.

After analyzing computer-generated 3-D simulations of more than 1 million basketball shots, a team led by NC State's Larry Silverberg determined that, while it does vary, there are large, identifiable areas on the court where a bank shot can be up to 20 percent more successful than attempting a direct swish."