Tycho Brahe: Mercury Didn't Kill Him

Tycho Brahe: Mercury Didn't Kill Him

How did Tycho Brahe die? It's been a mystery for over 400 years.  11 days after he took ill, he passed away on October 24th, 1601 and in that wake arose a host of speculations, myths,…
The Cult of Gene-centrism

The Cult of Gene-centrism

  An advocate for gene-centrism recently wrote that the concept is a reductive mechanism for the understanding of evolution. The first part of that statement is correct; it is reductive, and is…
Atomic Theory Of 400 BC

Atomic Theory Of 400 BC

If you've been in science media for any length of time, there are two arguments you will hear invoked to support almost any questionable position; that Einstein did his best work while he was a…
Neil Armstrong: A Man Of Peace For All Nations

Neil Armstrong: A Man Of Peace For All Nations

The first man to walk on the moon passed away today, a few weeks after heart surgery. He was 82.  Neil Armstrong mostly stayed out of the public spotlight - no appearance in "Transformers: Dark…
Social Engineering

Social Engineering

Prior to World War II and dating back to the 1890s, the phrases “social technology” and “social engineering” carried strong connotations of central planning. This became particularly true in the…
A Fly In The Mathematical Ointment

A Fly In The Mathematical Ointment

For about a day I had been trying to read Real Clear Science, particularly the article linked Evolution Debate: Blame Atheists.  Alas, every time I visited the site I got a message: This site is…
Evolutionary Psychology - As it Should Be

Evolutionary Psychology - As it Should Be

Bill Bryson edited a very good book in 2010 titled, “SEEING FURTHER – The Story of Science and the Royal Society”. Each chapter was written by a different author chosen for expertise in particular…
From Russia with Colour – in 1912 !

From Russia with Colour – in 1912 !

This is interesting, on the BBC website: In pictures: Russian Empire in colour photos The first picture is captioned: This vivid colour photograph is 100 years old, a self-portrait by the Russian…
Perspectives - The Electric Telegraph

Perspectives - The Electric Telegraph

Before the telegraph was invented, messages could travel as fast as the fastest mode of transport available. Today, however, advanced communication technologies have changed the scenario to a great…
Preview - The First Hydroelectric

Preview - The First Hydroelectric

“It is said, with prefect truth as regards many matters, that ‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing’, but there is no doubt in my mind that even a little knowledge – provided it be sound…