Mar
17
2009
32

Science Blogging: The Future of Science Communication & Why You Should be a Part of it

Over the past few years, a new development has arisen in the world of science amongst those who wish to purvey the wonders of reality to the general public.
I’m speaking of course about the ascension of the Science Blog.
Many articles have been written on the burgeoning importance of science blogs for the processing and dissemination [...]

Feb
06
2009
0

Science in Danger!

Because it needs to be shouted out to the world, I am reposting this from The Panda’s Thumb. I find this utterly baffling. How can any American not see the vast impact of science on our lifestyles, our economy, our health, our environment, and our existence?!
Science Getting the Shaft
US Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Susan [...]

Jan
19
2009
22

ScienceOnline09 - Warm, Fuzzy Feelings

Well, it’s official: Science Online ’09 is sadly over.
I don’t even know where to begin in summarizing this truly wonderful, enlightening, and inspiring experience. For those of you who are unaware of Science Online ’09 (at Sigma Xi in Research Triangle Park, NC), it is an annual conference (an “unconference”) devoted to the world of [...]

Nov
05
2008
9

Proposition 8: Politics, Science and Constitutional Bigotry

Appalled.
That’s the nicest word I can think of to define my feelings about the vote for California’s Proposition 8, which bans marriage between homosexual humans.
As has been discussed all over the digital tubes since last night’s election, the turn against gay marriage was largely funded by the hate and bigotry of the Mormons. I can’t [...]

Nov
02
2008
0

Carnival of Evolution #5 - The Other 95%

Kevin Zelnio over at The Other 95% (and the Discovery Channel’s Deep Sea News) has put together another excellent edition of the Carnival of Evolution. This edition contains much deep delving into the science, both current and past, within the field of evolutionary biology, and it makes for a truly edifying read.
Next up for [...]

Oct
26
2008
1

Evolution in Action: Fruit Flies Evolve Low Oxygen Tolerance in the Lab

In a cool new study in PLoS Genetics, through artificial selection researchers have allowed fruit flies (Drosophila) to evolve tolerance to normally lethal low levels of Oxygen.
To many scientists, this type of research will not be seen as that impressive, as a general finding. Artificial selection has been occurring for millennia, and it is the [...]

Oct
25
2008
0

XKCD: Beliefs

This comic is a bit old, but it’s just so (agelessly) pertinent right now.

Oct
25
2008
7

Jesus and the Dinosaurs!

This has probably been around a while. I’ve had this sitting on my hard drive for ages.  But given my earlier post on Sarah Palin’s utter ignorance of Science and this quote about Sarah Palin from Philip Munger on Salon.com…
“I pushed her on the earth’s creation, whether it was really less than 7,000 years old [...]

Oct
24
2008
52

Sarah Palin: a Blithering Idiot Who Could Destroy Science and Medicine

In one of the single most maddening, ignorant, unfathomably idiotic statements (out of many) I have heard spew through Sarah Palin’s lips, the candidate for the second highest position in the free world uttered a single phrase today that could utterly destroy the progress of medicine and scientific understanding.
In her very first policy speech, Palin [...]

Oct
08
2008
0

Slow down…slow down…arghh…too late.

Do you suffer from premature ejaculation (or more accurately does your wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, hookup, or porn film director suffer from your problem)?
If so, you can probably blame your parents, or their parents, or their parents… you get the picture - it seems to be genetic.
For an entertaining rundown of this current bit of fascinating [...]

Oct
08
2008
86

John Derbyshire Claims Barack Obama Will Kill Science

In an incoherent leap of bad logic, John Derbyshire over at the National Review (I know – why did I even bother reading it?) has come to the conclusion that an Obama Administration will kill science (his article title: “Will Obama Kill Science?”).
However, upon reading his incredibly ridiculous argument, it becomes clear that he only [...]

Oct
01
2008
0

Go One, Go All, to the Third Edition of the Carnival of Evolution

It’s here!
The next edition of the Carnival of Evolution is now live over at the eminent ScienceBlog, Greg Laden’s Blog. Dig in and enjoy.
Within this digital mini-tome is my own recent post Are Human-Caused Ecological Invasions Good for Evolution and Diversity?
CoE#4 will be up in a fortnight, hosted by Mike (Tangled up in Blue Guy) [...]

Sep
18
2008
3

Science Blogging Conference in Research Triangle Park, NC!

I had no idea such a thing existed, but thanks to Bora at A Blog Around the Clock, I am now registered for what seems like a truly enlightening and fascinating conference on science blogging.
It’s called ScienceOnline09 and will be held Jan. 16-18, 2009 at the Sigma Xi Center in Research Triangle Park, NC.
To quote [...]

Sep
17
2008
1

Biological Databases and the Logos I Designed

I recently designed a couple of logos for Dr. J. Christopher Ellis to adorn his biological database website. I thought I’d throw him a link as well as showcase the two logos I made.
The first is for the frontpage of his site evolveathome.com. I made this using the 3D animation software, Maya 7, and Flash. [...]

Sep
17
2008
0

Tangled Bank #114 is Live

The latest edition of the blog carnival, the Tangled Bank #114 is now up over at Science Made Cool. Go check out the latest in science blogging from the past fortnight.
They have included my own recent post on using the new Vaccine/Autism study, which further confirms the LACK of any connection whatsoever between the two, [...]

Sep
11
2008
2

Doctrine: the Antithesis of Evolution and All Science

Dr. Jim West has implicitly claimed that because evolutionists often defend the theory of evolution so passionately and vociferously (or as he puts it, with “religious zeal”), then that must mean that evolution is “doctrine” 1. (his post title: If It’s Not A Doctrine, Why Are People So Defensive?).
I hear this argument all the time, in [...]

Sep
11
2008
0

Giant Animal Smasher to Search for the Elusive “Darwin Particle”

Thanks to PZ Myers at Pharyngula for finding this one.  I post it here for the simple fact that this is side-splittingly hilarious! Go get your giggles on.
Excerpt:
Malwin dismissed critics who claimed that smashing animals together at high speeds was cruel to the animals. He said, “The animals won’t be feeling anything. The collision will [...]

Sep
09
2008
3

J.J. Abrams New TV Show “Fringe” is a Hunk of Crap (and Bad for Science)

Okay, so let me first state upfront that I am a scientist throughout every level of my psyche. I do not believe in Gods, the paranormal, homeopathic remedies, astrology, magic, UFOs, immortal souls, the chupacabra or any other such nonsense.
That being said, from an entertainment standpoint, I am a huge fan of nearly all science [...]

Sep
09
2008
0

The 95th Skeptics’ Circle - Skeptimedia

Taking the form of Nostradamus’ The Very Lost Prophecies, the 95th edition of the Skeptics’ Circle is now live over at the Skeptic’s Dictionary, hosted by Skeptimedia.
Go now - revel in the prescience of those long lost quatrains - find that hidden meaning you’ve sought - discover the course of the future - and please, [...]

Sep
07
2008
8

Current Headline News Useful for Freshman College Science Courses

As I’ve mentioned before, I am currently teaching an intro level biology course for freshman non-majors. At the moment we’re still talking about the nature of science, specifically focusing on junk science and common misconceptions and misrepresentations of science in the media and in public opinion.
One of the things I’m using is a clip [...]

Sep
07
2008
2

Scathing Remarks on the Carnival of Evolution

Miguel over at No Answers in Genesis Discussion Board recently posted a link to the new Carnival of Evolution blog carnival (which I much appreciate).
One of the commentators, however, had some fairly scathing remarks on the existence of this blog carnival and the subtitle and description. I respond to them here, because he paints an [...]

Sep
03
2008
4

Oh No! We’re Eating the Offspring of Clones!

In a class I’m teaching right now, we’ve been talking about the nature of science and also about the common misconceptions, misunderstandings, and simple ignorance that pervades our mainstream media. Yesterday, I ran across this article on Reuters: Clones’ offspring may be in food supply: FDA.
The first line:
Food and milk from the offspring of [...]

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Sep
03
2008
0

Tangled Bank #113: A Labor Day Carol

The next edition of the Tangled Bank blog carnival, #113, is now up over at En Tequila Es Verdad.
The intro is one of the more entertaining carnival intros I’ve read as of late.
My favorite part (aside from the many awesome links within it), is the description of the time-traveling narrator’s pant besuited appearance before Charles [...]

Sep
01
2008
0

Another Step in the Evolution of Humans and Apes from Ancestral Mammals

One of the most fascinating lines of research within the field of evolutionary biology is the search to find the genes that changed at the split between ancestral mammals and our own closer ancestors, the great apes.
In a fascinating new study in the August 8th edition of PLoS Genetics, Lia Rosso and colleagues have [...]

Aug
17
2008
0

Carnival of the Godless #98

C. L. Hanson over at Letters From a Broad: The Adventures of a Friendly Ex-Mormon Atheist Mom Living in France Switzerland (I love that title) has composed the 98th biweekly edition of Carnival of the Godless, a blog carnival containing a myriad links to thoughts on atheism or tangentially related topics. This edition is particularly [...]

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