Links for 2011-03-28

  • "I get probably more than my share of come-ons for various wonder-healing potions. For some reason, people see that I talk about drug discovery and think that I'm sure to be interested in homeopathic wonder water, magnetic healotronic belt buckles, or what have you. I am not. Well, at least not in the usual way that they're presented, as Great New Discoveries that I can order right now, first month's supply is free, and so on."
  • "Debunking crackpot and fraudulent inventions has never been easier than now thanks to the world-shattering invention of the Crackpot Flowchart(TM) from Sciencebase. Based on the 13 unlucky-for-crackpots warning signs published some time ago on ka9q.net, this handy multicoloured flow chart lets you assess that recent email touting the latest ground-breaking breakthrough invention.

    The Crackpot Flowchart(TM) will let you know in an instant whether the invention being touted is not only earth-shattering but whether it will rock the very foundations of modern science itself. No more worrying that you missed out on a Pulitzer, kick the frauds and the deluded into a cracked pot and save the real breakthrough for a sneaky call to the newsdesk at Science and Nature."

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A friend sent a link to this 12-minute long video collection of amazing little machines that are part of a collection of Rube Goldberg-like inventions.
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I am somehow attracted to stories that are both incredibly sad and at the same time incredibly hilarious. A character defect, I know. There must even be some sort of name for the condition, like ludustristophilia. Or something.
USA Science & Engineering Festival Speaker, Dr. James West, an Acoustical Scientist from Johns Hopkins University turned his childhood curiosity into a career of invention!