tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22762850435666258342012-02-16T05:17:44.121-05:00 ** Science On Tap... ** --- Books, writers, links, videos... for those who relish science and nature writing/reportingARJnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4521100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-88622585289299026482010-07-01T15:57:00.016-04:002010-07-28T16:12:06.903-04:00HiatusThis blog is on (likely permanent) hiatus while I turn my energy to a new blog on my first love, mathematics:
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-19483727666082506062010-06-11T06:33:00.004-04:002010-06-11T17:25:14.565-04:00Science Books From BloggersA recent compendium here:
http://tinyurl.com/327mqpf
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Bvar gaJsHost =ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-57775741128508048122010-06-09T07:47:00.002-04:002010-06-10T18:46:32.816-04:00Quote... Unquote“If my mental processes are determined wholly by the motion of atoms in my brain, I have no reason to believe that my beliefs are true… and hence I have no reason for supposing my brain to be composed of atoms.”
–- J.B.S. Haldane, "Possible Worlds" (1927)
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-92179871597805785862010-06-07T06:52:00.001-04:002010-06-07T06:52:00.920-04:00"What Is Information?"Stuart Kauffman on "information" here:
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http://tinyurl.com/2ag5s8v
SvarARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-19944367211429102972010-06-05T10:34:00.004-04:002010-06-05T19:37:13.473-04:00Whoaaaa!!!Check out this little example of human perception/face recognition:
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-12515307596911019992010-05-23T09:13:00.018-04:002010-05-29T14:17:23.632-04:00Martin Gardner 1914 - 2010Feel it necessary to report that Martin Gardner died of natural causes this weekend in Norman, OK., at the age of 95. One of my favorite writers/essayists/thinkers who I blogged on a few occasions here:
http://scienceontap.blogspot.com/2009/07/martin-gardner.html
http://scienceontap.blogspot.com/2009/10/jinn-from-hyperspace.html
http://scienceontap.blogspot.com/2010/04/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-12143292228972150802010-05-14T06:46:00.001-04:002010-05-14T06:47:04.901-04:00Yeah, But We Ain't So Good At Sonar OurselvesFriday Fun....
Leave it to The Onion to scoop The Journal of Marine Biology:
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} catch(ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-43955193552472674282010-05-12T08:44:00.032-04:002010-05-12T20:39:16.065-04:003 For Your MoneySynchronicity of sorts: I've been reading several books simultaneously lately, including Dr. Francis Collins' most recent offering, "The Language of Life." Then yesterday while in the halls of a local Federal Government research lab I looked up and THERE was Francis Collins walking through on a site visit!
Because three of the disparate books (they have nothing in common) I'm reading are SO ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-70275963182706109242010-05-09T10:46:00.039-04:002010-05-09T10:46:00.530-04:00Best of...?
"The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2009" edited by Elizabeth Kolbert
I've mentioned before enjoying anthologies, but one somewhat notable exception to that has been the "Best American Series" put out yearly on a wide variety of subjects. These volumes (selecting some of the very best writing of the previous year from a variety of authors, subjects, and publications) tend to be ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-538960889454100382010-05-07T09:56:00.005-04:002010-05-07T09:56:00.219-04:00Men... Women... ExplainedClifford Pickover explicates the differences between men and women here:
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-28198800036736381872010-05-06T15:59:00.005-04:002010-05-06T15:59:01.217-04:00Wiseman Entertains...A card trick... and more:
I won't say what this video is concerning, so as not to take away from the effect, but it is another wonderful demonstration previously-posted by the always interesting British psychologist Richard Wiseman (for some reason, the audio doesn't seem to work on it, but it isn't necessary):
I won't say what this video is concerning, so as not to take away from the effectARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-62790628629925277922010-05-05T15:01:00.003-04:002010-05-05T15:20:54.550-04:00"Darwinian Evolution In Fast-forward"Good piece here from the always incisive Carl Zimmer on the recent (not-very-surprising) news of weeds developing resistance to Monsanto's widely-used Roundup herbicide (so-called "superweeds"):
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-47478162814229220602010-05-04T15:02:00.005-04:002010-05-04T19:24:00.075-04:00Gleiser's Latest
For the cosmology readers out there, a couple of Web reviews of physicist Marcelo Gleiser's latest book, "A Tear At the Edge of Creation" below.
(This is Gleiser's account of his journey from string theorist and unification seeker to a totally different and "radical" view of the nature of the Universe, wherein a "Theory of Everything" is likely not achievable.)
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-9821671610635998162010-05-01T17:32:00.019-04:002010-05-01T19:13:14.515-04:00Pollan Rules
"Food Rules: An Eater's Manual" by Michael Pollan
Pretty much anything Michael Pollan writes these days is an automatic NY Times bestseller... and rightfully so, given his skills of exposition, especially on the food-related concerns he has now made a career from. You could probably condense all the writing and text in his latest (2009) volume, "Food Rules," into about 25 pages if you chose ARJnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-54891839791789676502010-04-24T10:15:00.023-04:002010-05-03T22:49:55.516-04:00Martin Gardner, AgainVintage Martin Gardner....
Recently finished reading Martin Gardner's last book (2009), another one of his compendiums of previously-published essays entitled, "When You Were a Tadpole and I Was a Fish." I won't do a full review, because readers here already know that any Gardner volume is in my view "A" material, and his essay anthologies, in particular, are slam-dunks (I consider them ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-75896714698967806982010-04-18T09:28:00.001-04:002010-04-18T09:28:00.691-04:00RandomnessRecent article from NPR on "randomness" here:
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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125993584
Rvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "httpsARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-20194479484478556062010-04-12T16:30:00.000-04:002010-04-12T17:25:37.578-04:00"Flyaway"
I haven't read it myself as yet, but "Flyaway" is a highly-rated 2009 volume about the life and times and experiences of a wild bird rehabililtator, Suzie Gilbert. Newly-out in paperback.
a Web review of it here:
http://10000birds.com/review-of-flyaway-by-suzie-gilbert.htm
and some more on Suzie Gilbert here:
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/flyaway
"Flyaway" a ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-4294488912676424552010-04-11T06:15:00.001-04:002010-04-11T17:45:06.127-04:00Sunday Morning PassagesA few more of Chet Raymo's musings for a Sunday morning, on 'pattern' and 'order' and woolly bear caterpillars:
http://www.sciencemusings.com/blog/2010/04/whence-pattern-part-2.html
http://www.sciencemusings.com/blog/2010/04/whence-order.html
http://www.sciencemusings.com/blog/2010/04/communion.html
A couple more of Chet Raymo's musings for a Sunday morning, on 'pattern' and 'order' and ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-43340787394297415452010-03-20T09:01:00.006-04:002010-03-22T21:32:13.641-04:00"The Genius In All of Us"
"The Genius In All of Us" by David Shenk
Certain thematic conflicts in biology arise over and over in popular writing, the most obvious or frequent one being, evolution versus intelligent design. But right behind it, and slightly related, is "nature versus nurture"... are we humans more the product of our genes or of our environment? And unlike scientific controversies that tend to move ARJnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-17146890381369420762010-03-14T19:06:00.005-04:002010-03-15T14:29:39.728-04:00Not For Math-PhobesFirst, an interesting (lengthy) article on problems with statistics in research here:
http://tinyurl.com/ydfvaqj
On a related and slightly less-technical note, just finished reading Jason Rosenhouse's wonderful 2009 volume, "The Monty Hall Problem," devoted entirely to the "Monty Hall" problem from mathematics (one of the most intriguing, well-covered/debated probability problems oft-presented ARJnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-82042855593383965912010-03-09T10:30:00.008-05:002010-03-14T20:02:26.203-04:00"Supernormal Stimuli""Supernormal Stimuli" is Harvard psychologist's Deirdre Barrett latest book, focusing on how our modern technology plays upon and overwhelms our primitive instincts to ill effect.
Review here:
http://www.newsbag.org/?p=45761
"Supernormal Stimuli" Deirdre Barrett Harvard psychologist talks about how our modern technology plays upon and overwhelms our primitive instincts.
http://ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-55342461079362000602010-03-07T07:11:00.001-05:002010-03-14T20:01:27.159-04:00"Thinking About Thinking"A meditation for a Sunday morning:
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http://tinyurl.com/yfodh7m
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document.write(ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-47192286418945024852010-03-04T06:32:00.003-05:002010-03-14T20:00:47.085-04:00"You Are Not a Gadget"
Some reviews of "You Are Not a Gadget" the controversial "manifesto" by long-time Web guru and now critic of Web 2.0, Jaron Lanier:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/books/15book.html
http://www.slate.com/id/2239466/
http://tinyurl.com/yegcxqo
http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-Gadget-Manifesto/dp/0307269647
Some reviews of "You Are Not a Gadget" the controversial "manifesto" by ARJnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-66790751816501030952010-03-02T08:39:00.007-05:002010-03-14T20:00:08.576-04:00"Inside the Human Genome"Below, a review of evolutionary geneticist John Avise's "Inside the Human Genome" (a book which notes that in studying the human genome one is struck more by its UNintelligent design, than the intelligent design so heavily touted):
http://tinyurl.com/ykh28j2
An interview with John Avise here:
http://www.physorg.com/news185119921.html
A review of John Avise's "Inside the Human Genome" here:
ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-66157902399198189652010-02-27T07:23:00.004-05:002010-03-14T19:59:30.157-04:00"The Wauchula Woods Accord"
Primates 'R Us...
Washington Post review of "The Wauchula Woods Accord: Toward a New Understanding of Animals" by Charles Siebert, a book exploring the human/great ape borderland, here:
http://tinyurl.com/ylpfaar
Interview with author Siebert here:
http://tinyurl.com/ykb6sud
A recent moving WNYC RadioLab podcast about the life of captive chimp "Lucy" based in part on Siebert's book is hereARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-43502590499050115622010-02-23T08:52:00.002-05:002010-03-14T19:58:39.164-04:00The Science of Life and Liberty
NY Times review of popular science writer Timothy Ferris's latest, "The Science of Liberty," in which he explores the underlying connection between science and "liberal democracy," here:
http://tinyurl.com/ygsumjy
....and a review below of the last offering from Dr. Francis Collins (of human genome fame), "The Language of Life":
http://tinyurl.com/yepggve
http://tinyurl.com/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-85359926928988746832010-02-21T16:15:00.000-05:002010-02-21T16:15:00.738-05:00Back To Roots
The original intention when I started "Science On Tap" was to write science book reviews and link to other book reviews and science essays on the Web. Alas, lack of time, and the sparsity of good science reviews and writing on the Web, quickly made that difficult, so I reverted to linking to current science stories in the news, just to have daily posts.
At least for now though, with other ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-54525941114401514632010-02-20T16:05:00.002-05:002010-02-20T16:05:00.304-05:00ArachnophobiaFear of spiders may develop in the womb (at least for crickets!):
http://tinyurl.com/y9mhbkl
(interesting study)
Arachnophobia
Fear of spiders may develop in the womb (at least for crickets!):
http://tinyurl.com/y9mhbkl
(interesting study)var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-31260639347391568962010-02-20T10:59:00.000-05:002010-02-20T11:04:41.105-05:00Placebo EffectsDuhhh... not quite sure why this is still surprising to some:
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http://bit.ly/9LKNNT
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-7949381963216678102010-02-19T09:13:00.003-05:002010-02-19T09:13:00.993-05:00Engineering
For a Friday video take your pick from any of these 100 TED talks on engineering:
http://toponlineengineeringdegree.com/?page_id=103
or a Friday video take your choice from any of these 100 TED talks on engineering:
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document.write(unescape("%3CscriptARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-34636868849421988622010-02-18T13:53:00.005-05:002010-02-18T13:53:00.214-05:00Ocean AcidificationThe degradation of the oceans, i.e. most of the Earth, by us land dwellers... in case you haven't had your full dose of foreboding news this week, this from Carl Zimmer:
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http:/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-6537283822834216832010-02-18T08:41:00.000-05:002010-02-18T08:41:00.094-05:00The View From SpaceA window on the world (literally):
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/ap_on_sc/us_space_shuttle
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var ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-84561944507049858722010-02-17T15:28:00.001-05:002010-02-17T16:00:06.120-05:00News of the WeirdCompetitive breath-holding (new record set --- almost 20 minutes!):
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http://news.discovery.com/human/breath-holding-human.html
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http://setiquest.org/about
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-72806105559034520132010-02-16T07:09:00.001-05:002010-02-16T07:09:00.071-05:00Thought PuzzlePsychologist Richard Wiseman runs a new Friday puzzle every Friday at his entertaining, quirky blog and gives the answer on the following Monday. His latest one is an especially clever one, but also has caused more dissension than usual:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-62801371207943633312010-02-15T09:54:00.004-05:002010-02-15T14:52:13.931-05:00Brave New World?
DNA 2.0 created based on "quadruplet" codons in place of triplets:
http://tinyurl.com/yfhsf6j
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-11053664962714882082010-02-11T08:56:00.001-05:002010-02-11T08:56:00.682-05:00"Crackpottery" In Physics?
Of string theory and other controversies in theoretical physics:
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=2720#comments
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=2720#commentsvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-17005205627198188502010-02-10T05:52:00.001-05:002010-02-10T05:52:00.227-05:00Avian Evolution QuestionedBirds evolving from dinosaurs... not so fast. The birds-from-dinosaurs notion continues to be debated, even while accepted by a wide majority of scientists, and despite the "vagaries of the fossil record":
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-88432688164216781642010-02-09T09:48:00.000-05:002010-02-09T09:48:00.335-05:00An Alternative to the Big Bang Theory
A theory of a cyclic "endless" Universe, without beginning:
http://endlessuniverse.net/
http://endlessuniverse.net/var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
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var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-7602120ARJnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-44921812760815619872010-02-08T15:31:00.000-05:002010-02-08T15:31:00.049-05:00Another Approach To Prime NumbersIf you like prime numbers this website may keep you occupied for awhile:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
http://www.sievesofchaos.com/
Ivar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://sslARJnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-68658796509122432922010-02-08T08:57:00.000-05:002010-02-08T08:57:00.351-05:00Diet, Cancer, etc.Some anti-cancer rules from Dr. David Servan-Schreiber:
http://tinyurl.com/yeu72b8
ome anti-cancer rules from Dr. David Servan-Schreiber:
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var ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-56836705090252325542010-02-07T17:22:00.003-05:002010-02-08T06:32:52.656-05:003 Current BooksThree very disparate recent books that look of interest to me:
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1) "The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
A book, being received very favorably, on the ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-70406027427254784932010-02-07T11:25:00.009-05:002010-02-07T11:25:00.399-05:00The Human Brain: Still A MysterySome say the ocean depths are the "last frontier;" some say outer space is, and still others contend the last frontier will actually be the human brain itself. Another article lending some support to that notion:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-68198902415468856632010-02-06T10:15:00.000-05:002010-02-06T10:15:00.231-05:00For The Gardeners Out There"25 plants you should consider growing":
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http://tinyurl.com/yz23ylr
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document.write(ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-13088738811885531822010-02-05T07:36:00.001-05:002010-02-05T07:36:00.233-05:00Short TED TalkFor the Friday video, a recent 3-minute talk from TED talks worth a gander:
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-73498063721577329932010-02-04T16:16:00.001-05:002010-02-05T06:48:06.095-05:00What Next... Testosterone in Slime Mold?
s
For the first time, a study finds the female steroidal hormone progesterone in a plant; its function there and full ramifications not yet fully understood. "The new discovery may change scientific understanding of the evolution and function of progesterone in living things," states the article:
http://tinyurl.com/ylydcxp
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-23334932651005050002010-02-04T08:41:00.000-05:002010-02-04T08:41:00.594-05:00Some Genetics Websites Worth Knowing AboutReported here:
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http://tinyurl.com/ydf8zj7
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='"ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-73742755619403672642010-02-03T08:36:00.000-05:002010-02-03T08:36:00.337-05:00The Mystery of Bird Migration ContinuesNow an olfactory component postulated to account for bird migration:
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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127110423.htm
Nvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-89601847125864755512010-02-02T11:25:00.000-05:002010-02-02T11:25:00.369-05:00Anti-depressants: Still ControversialAnti-depressants: neurochemically effective or just placebos? after all these years, controversy continues:
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http://www.newsweek.com/id/232781
Avar gaJsHost = (("https:" == ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-72087455241814608552010-02-02T07:00:00.001-05:002010-02-02T07:00:00.110-05:00Cell Plasticity Gone WildBrave New World continues....
Turning skin fibroblasts into neurons without any intermediate embryonic state:
http://tinyurl.com/ygolyg2
“This really blew me off the chair," says one researcher. Indeed.ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-88422704604091570032010-02-01T07:34:00.002-05:002010-02-01T07:34:00.387-05:00Chordate/Vertebrate Fossil Record QuestionedYet another reason why I generally refrain from using the words "paleontology" and "science" in the same sentence:
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http://tinyurl.com/ycsygup
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var pageTracker = _gat._ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-14768239830115501902010-01-31T08:32:00.007-05:002010-01-31T15:11:21.601-05:00Mars Rover "Spirit"... R.I.P.Born in 2003, active well beyond her expected life, Mars Rover "Spirit's" productive life is over. It was a great 7-year ride. Congratulations NASA!! Meanwhile, her sister "Opportunity" continues to roam the Martian landscape.
Mvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-71688368739275307002010-01-30T08:27:00.000-05:002010-01-30T08:27:38.929-05:00Remarkable RotifersEd Yong on the incredible bdelloid rotifers who've become famous in recently published research due to their unusual survival/evolutionary strategies:
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http://tinyurl.com/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-20342221206104172272010-01-29T07:44:00.002-05:002010-01-29T07:44:00.169-05:00The Sea Around UsJust another encore of a previous Friday video... David Gallo's 5-minute TED Talk on on the incredible wonder of some deep sea creatures:
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var pageTracker = _gat._ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-84261104566962571472010-01-28T14:51:00.002-05:002010-01-31T18:41:10.627-05:00Sex In SpaceGotta believe a lot of blogs will be linking to this one:
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http://tinyurl.com/2wnns9
Brief report on serious study by NASA of workable positions (they've been tested!) for sex ARJnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-57293901147315052362010-01-28T06:09:00.000-05:002010-01-28T06:09:13.930-05:00A Link To An Incendiary Blog PostAs someone interested in linguistic recursion, I gotta join in... the below blog post has been getting a fair amount of attention around the Intertubes:
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http://faultline.org/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-10684543493317286912010-01-26T19:17:00.001-05:002010-01-31T19:44:25.833-05:00Forensic Science
Interesting article on the 2001 American anthrax attacks... STIIIIIILL, an open case:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
http://tinyurl.com/yawnt3v
Ivar gaJsHost = (("https:" == ARJnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-27596263406689216532010-01-23T09:52:00.001-05:002010-01-31T19:44:59.538-05:00Some Applied ScienceAn artificial nose (for sniffing explosives):
http://tinyurl.com/y8qzr77
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} catch(err)ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-83052253303446053422010-01-22T06:27:00.001-05:002010-01-22T06:27:00.031-05:00On the FringeToday's Friday video: just an encore of a favorite from last year....
(not necessarily for the squeamish!)
Today's Friday video: just an encore of a favorite from several months ago....
(not necessarily for the squeamish!)var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-90752101574209493972010-01-21T11:39:00.007-05:002010-01-21T11:39:00.615-05:00Citizen Science On TapAre you a citizen and you like science? Well, you may want to hook up with "citizen science" projects available here:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/project_finder/
Avar ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-56768781452370891182010-01-21T06:59:00.001-05:002010-01-21T06:59:00.113-05:00Music and Neuro-expectations"Music has a grammar, which, like language, consists of rules that specify which notes can follow which other notes in a piece of music. According to Pearce: "the question is whether the rules are hard-wired into the auditory system or learned through experience of listening to music and recording, unconsciously, which notes tend to follow others."
Music has a grammar, which, like ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-37447112816435653982010-01-20T08:08:00.001-05:002010-01-20T08:08:00.667-05:00E.O. Wilson in New YorkerE.O. Wilson writes in the New Yorker, of all places, and fiction at that! :
http://tinyurl.com/yf4h9r5http://tinyurl.com/yf4h9r5
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var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-56583986895686334112010-01-19T11:09:00.001-05:002010-01-19T11:09:00.377-05:00Danger of the 'Dilbert' Workplace More on the ill effect of sitting and sedentary lifestyle here:
http://www.physorg.com/news183065121.html
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var pageTracker = _gatARJnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-22165194933522029212010-01-19T05:08:00.001-05:002010-01-19T05:08:00.214-05:00Peter Woit on PhysicsPeter Woit, over at "Big Think," on physics, math, and string theory (from a critical perspective):
http://bigthink.com/peterwoit
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http:/var gaJsHost = (("https:" == ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-59575370104110272022010-01-18T20:53:00.002-05:002010-01-18T21:09:20.571-05:00Sponsors of ....Sorry for the digression, but moving away (faaaaar away) from science for the moment, this list of Rush Limbaugh's sponsors is making its way around the Internet (...just in case anyone is interested):
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-32273836596546445002010-01-18T07:19:00.001-05:002010-01-18T07:19:00.508-05:00Candid Camera Reveals More Tool Use in Crows
Using motion sensitive cameras in the wild British researchers document tool use by crows as previously demonstrated in the laboratory and elsewhere:
http://tinyurl.com/y99uc2f
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-31846326734266508662010-01-18T05:03:00.038-05:002010-01-19T21:45:39.192-05:00The Shape of Things To Come (#scio10 take-away)Today, just my own broad take-away message from this weekend's ScienceOnline 2010 conference...
(If you read a lot of science blogs you'll likely see some wrap-ups to the just-ended conference, or you may already have encountered it on social networking sites -- #scio10 ):
In recent years several writers have criticized the Web, and especially the blogosphere, for 'dumbing down' society; ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-75658137599928013122010-01-16T11:13:00.009-05:002010-01-16T11:13:00.344-05:00Not Exactly, 'What Is the Meaning of Life?'For the physics geeks out there...
"Is physics deterministic?" and other inquiries from Sean Carroll's list of fundamental physics questions to be addressed over the next century:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-24882960759329758952010-01-15T07:59:00.001-05:002010-01-15T07:59:00.289-05:00The Intelligence of Dolphins Friday video: Hunting Strategy of Bottlenose Dolphins
The Intelligence of Dolphins
Dolphin Hunting Strategy
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-47341094527288238202010-01-14T17:47:00.001-05:002010-01-14T21:27:28.203-05:00"The Top 10 Unanswered Questions in the Universe"As formulated by 10 physicists:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/09-10/qq-2010-01-02.html
Avar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http:/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-55223543053923078932010-01-13T15:12:00.000-05:002010-01-13T15:12:11.993-05:00Free Online Learning CoursesA list of free online courses available in math, sciences, psychology, computer science, and much more, here:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
http://www.openculture.com/2007/07/freeonlinecourses.html
Avar ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-3271985306319043482010-01-12T16:41:00.004-05:002010-01-12T16:45:26.133-05:00Data-Mining FeelingsWays of knowing, science, social interaction, data mining, and feelings... all in one post from an astrophysicist...:
http://tinyurl.com/yk6vpf4
Data Mining Feelings
Ways of knowing, science, social interaction, data mining, and feelings... all in one post from an astrophysicist:
http://tinyurl.com/yk6vpf4var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-90475128008557971452010-01-11T20:50:00.000-05:002010-01-11T20:50:01.477-05:00One of the World's Critical Questions..."Why do pigeons walk with bobbing heads?" :
http://tinyurl.com/yel9uut
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-77363563249028041092010-01-11T19:07:00.000-05:002010-01-11T19:07:30.065-05:00TV Watching and Health I don't generally put much weight in epidemiological-type studies, but would concur with the conclusions of this study finding TV watching (and other sedentary behaviors, especially involving sitting) shave years off one's lifespan (correlating with heart disease):
http://tinyurl.com/yb2d6fm
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-40016353059520913342010-01-10T16:36:00.000-05:002010-01-10T16:36:00.950-05:00A Couple More Book Reviews....of "A Brilliant Darkness" (Joao Magueijo) and "Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens" (K.C. Cole) here:
http://tinyurl.com/ydu33c8
A Couple More Book Reviews
...of "A Brilliant Darkness" (Joao Magueijo) and "Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens" (K.C. Cole) here:
http://tinyurl.com/ydu33c8var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-50872556510843179662010-01-10T10:24:00.002-05:002010-01-10T15:25:52.070-05:00Clay Shirky on the Internet"This shock of inclusion, where professional media gives way to participation by two billion amateurs (a threshold we will cross this year) means that average quality of public thought has collapsed; when anyone can say anything any time, how could it not? If all that happens from this influx of amateurs is the destruction of existing models for producing high-quality material, we would be at theARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-42442273771091233802010-01-09T16:12:00.000-05:002010-01-09T16:12:00.414-05:00Some Personal Genomics LinksPersonal genomics will undoubtedly be an integral part of human lives at some point in the future; maybe more quickly than some anticipate. Blog entry below that points to some recent readings worth a gander on the 'net:
http://tinyurl.com/yd795md
Personal genomics will undoubtedly be an integral part of human lives at some point in the future; maybe more quickly than some anticipate. Blog ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-5059109321956518782010-01-09T08:11:00.000-05:002010-01-09T08:11:26.295-05:00Evidence-based MedicineGood article on "evidence-based medicine" (EBM) here:
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http://tinyurl.com/yaowus9
I would only add though that even the "double-blind randomized clinical trials," cited as the ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-90838623354818042772010-01-08T07:41:00.000-05:002010-01-08T07:41:00.056-05:00Don't Try This At Home KidsFriday video: Offered up strictly for your entertainment; though I s'pose there may be some science involved here somewhere(???):
Friday video: Offered just for your entertainment; though I s'pose there may be some science involved here somewhere:
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-20081032914932249322010-01-07T16:58:00.002-05:002010-01-07T16:58:00.382-05:00Science On Tap in 2020Interesting Nature piece on what's in store for the year 2020 in several science/policy areas as foreseen by some experts:
http://tinyurl.com/yzf6wms
(I think I find the forecast on "lasers" the most interesting of the bunch.)
Science On Tap in 2020
Interesting Nature piece on what's in store for the year 2020 in several science/policy areas as foreseen by some experts:
http://tinyurl.com/ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-15973087807209992592010-01-07T15:10:00.002-05:002010-01-07T15:19:21.556-05:00Science Online 2010
"Science Online 2010," the 4th annual engaging conference of science communicators/bloggers/educators/journalists held in Research Triangle Park, N.C. each January, is just a week away (Jan. 15-17).
For those who are interested but can't attend (too late to register now) you can follow along much of the happenings at these social network sites:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/scio10 and hashtagARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-90405688426867588762010-01-07T14:53:00.000-05:002010-01-07T14:53:44.334-05:00Okay So You're 98% Chimpanzee... and 8% VirusNew research indicates that as much as 8% of the human genome derives from inserted bornavirus genomic material (different from previously-known retrovirus insertions), which may be a causative factor in various psychiatric disorders:
http://tinyurl.com/yg5v5kc
Okay So You're 98+% Chimpanzee... and 8% Virus
New research indicates that as much as 8% of the human genome derives from inserted ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-35937305308309358962010-01-06T20:14:00.001-05:002010-01-08T17:33:36.711-05:00Mind-bogglingFor those who want to compute the circumference of a circle with outrageous accuracy ;-) ....
Pi computed to 2.7 trillion digits (..."trillion" with a "tr"):
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http://tinyurl.comARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-36872078033742273882010-01-06T15:08:00.000-05:002010-01-06T15:08:00.138-05:00Geometric Patterns in the Mind
Math and hallucinations of the psychedelic sort:
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http://plus.maths.org/issue53/features/hallucinations/index.html
Mvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol)ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-91675267454868545432010-01-06T14:14:00.000-05:002010-01-06T15:07:05.896-05:00"The Human Spark"
PBS's special "The Human Spark" (looking at what makes us human) begins a 3-part showing tonight (in some locales) -- check your local PBS listings:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/humanspark/
PBS's "The Human Spark" (looking at what makes us human) begins a 3-part showing Wed. night -- check your local PBS listings:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/humanspark/var gaJsHost = (("https:" == ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-4934841890613839472010-01-06T09:19:00.005-05:002010-01-06T09:19:00.248-05:00A Little Essay From a Carbon-based Life FormOn the joy of physics and studying the little bit of non-empty space that exists:
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http://blogs.uslhc.us/?p=3488
Avar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-59198980289253654592010-01-05T16:30:00.000-05:002010-01-05T16:30:37.161-05:00New Science Blog from NPR
Thanks to 'Cosmic Variance' blog for making me aware of a new science blog run by NPR with a bevy of contributors that should make for thoughtful reading (K.C. Cole, Stuart Kauffman, Ursula Goodenough, Adam Frank, and Marcelo Gleiser):
dmartin@gpz.orgvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-68076048707807557302010-01-05T16:15:00.001-05:002010-01-05T16:15:00.343-05:00On With TwitterAn interesting take on "Twitter" from the NY Times here:
http://tinyurl.com/yz6luug
I imagine I agree with much said in the piece, though I still wonder if Twitter as we know it today won't have evolved into something totally different and barely recognizable within 5 years' time. If Twitter doesn't 'crash-and-burn' in the next couple years, then it is likely in the infancy of a long-life.
"ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-63616820723289399072010-01-05T14:49:00.014-05:002010-01-05T14:49:00.466-05:00Outside-the-Box Thinker: Thomas GoldThe peculiar life and achievements of science gadfly (and astrophysicist) Dr. Thomas Gold:
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/19733
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=14439
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Gold
The peculiar life and accomplishments of scientific iconoclast (and astrophysicist) Dr. Thomas Gold:
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/19733
http://ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-33769795649590704612010-01-04T11:29:00.002-05:002010-01-04T11:29:00.590-05:00Book Picks From Scientific American
Recent book recommendations from Scientific American HERE.
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-90527984622807855502010-01-03T17:31:00.002-05:002010-01-03T17:53:47.208-05:00Rate of Genomic Change
Study of Arabidopsis yielding better understanding of the surprising rate of genomic mutations (with possible extrapolation to humans):
http://www.physorg.com/news181467990.html
Study of Arabidopsis yielding better understanding of the surprising rate of genomic mutations:
http://www.physorg.com/news181467990.htmlvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-32903665607815347702010-01-03T15:14:00.000-05:002010-01-03T15:14:00.290-05:00Dolphins as 'Non-human Persons'Scientists argue for moral standing for dolphins:
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http://tinyurl.com/y929zwj
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-17868619736411254582010-01-03T13:31:00.002-05:002010-01-03T14:48:44.501-05:00Some Books
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/books/review/Gopnik-t.html?src=twt&twt=nytimessciencevar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
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Good NY Times review (by Alison Gopnik) of Stanislas Dehaene's fascinating "Reading In ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-32592790029621492362010-01-02T16:36:00.001-05:002010-01-02T16:36:00.376-05:00Climate Change, Gate, Warming
Diandra at 'Cocktail Party Physics' addresses the climate change controversy:
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http://tinyurl.com/yk6yr7s
Dvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-88361793298798377562010-01-02T14:05:00.001-05:002010-01-02T14:05:00.556-05:00Biodiversity for 2010... and Beyond2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/
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ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-55541407083815646522010-01-01T06:32:00.002-05:002010-01-01T06:32:00.114-05:00Nurturing CreativityFor the Friday video, one of the top 10 favorite-rated TED talks, Ken Robinson on education and creativity:
For the Friday video, one of the top 10 favorite-rated TED talks, Ken Robinson on education and creativity:
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-78101147458921053432009-12-31T16:55:00.000-05:002009-12-31T16:55:49.362-05:00Good Readin'Utne Magazine lists their top-rated magazines from the last decade:
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document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"))
http://www.utne.com/Media/Best-Magazines-of-the-Decade-6240.aspx
Gvar gaJsHost = (("https:" == ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-49102080888402497542009-12-31T16:37:00.000-05:002009-12-31T16:37:38.410-05:00Statins, Side EffectsJust one anecdotal report (out of many):
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http://tinyurl.com/ybw3yl5
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document.write(ARJnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2276285043566625834.post-14099231801059914952009-12-31T15:36:00.000-05:002009-12-31T15:36:53.626-05:00Planning For Earth's FutureRussians are making tentative plans to 'deflect' an asteroid, 99942 Apophis (estimated to be 3 times larger than the famous 1908 Tunguska meteorite), headed toward earth on a 20-year timetable. I don't expect to still be around at that point, so not too concerned about it, but for those who are, read all about it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/world/europe/31asteroid.html?_r=1&partner=rss&ARJnoreply@blogger.com0