Science & Society
jgerke |
A cyber-war has broken out between creationists and evolutionary biologists. PZ Myers is calling upon those who are critical of creationism/intelligent design to crash an online poll about a zoo partnership. In the few hours after his first call to arms, the YES votes (those critical of creationism) mushroomed from around 200 (20% of the vote) to 18,000 (95% of the vote). Go vote in the poll to take part in this Stephen Colbert-esque demonstration of grass roots power.
Most plastics are based on petroleum. A bio-plastic that consists of one hundred percent renewable raw materials helps to conserve this resource. Researchers have now optimized the plastic in such a way that it is even suitable for products such as Nativity figurines.
Toys have to put up with a lot of rough treatment: They are sucked by small children, bitten with milk teeth, dragged along behind bobby cars, and every now and then they have to survive a rainy night outdoors. Whatever happens, it is vital that the material does not release any softeners or heavy metals that could endanger…
Here some science gift recommendations for this year:
Your Inner Fish, by Neil Shubin - What does our anatomy tell us about our evolutionary past? Shubin is the anatomy teacher I wish I had. He's a fossil hunter and a professor of anatomy, and a fun writer. Read my review here.
Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life, by Carl Zimmer - Zimmer uses one of the most important experimental organisms in biology to take us on a grand tour of some of the big ideas in biology, past and present, from fields as diverse as evolution, systems biology, genetics, molecular biology and microbiology.…
As indicated by the popular vote totals, there is little support for the claim that a coalition government between the Liberal and NDP parties in Canada would be undemocratic. However, this represents a very rough analysis because the Canadian system, like many others, is a first-past-the-post process in which the candidate with the most votes is elected regardless of the margin.
In order to reveal the desire of the electorate more realistically, it is necessary to consider the total votes in each riding rather than at the national scale. I decided to see what would have happened in the…
As indicated by the popular vote totals, there is little support for the claim that a coalition government between the Liberal and NDP parties in Canada would be undemocratic. However, this represents a very rough analysis because the Canadian system, like many others, is a first-past-the-post process in which the candidate with the most votes is elected regardless of the margin.
In order to reveal the desire of the electorate more realistically, it is necessary to consider the total votes in each riding rather than at the national scale. I decided to see what would have happened in the…
Ok, so Canada elected a conservative government again, meaning that the Conservative Party of Canada(a merger of the former right-centre Progressive Conservative Party and far-right Canadian Alliance) won more seats than the other parties. However, they did not win more than all other parties combined, which means that they have a minority government. In such a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party who won the most seats, although his party may still be a minority in parliament.
There is now talk of a coalition government between the left-centre Liberal…
Says our UK Education Minister, Jim Knight:
If we get it right, the lessons learned at school will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Although Euclidean geometry and the dates of the English civil war may fade from memory, the knowledge of how to practise safe sex will not.
This is from a Westminster Hall debate over government plans to extend Sex Education in Primary Schools. Well, naturally politicians don't want a numerate populace who can see that their promises don't add up, or who can look back on history and see that they're following a course that led to crisis last…
Hank |
Thanksgiving doesn't always get the respect it deserves. It's wedged between the heathen/pagan/godless/goth/vampire wanna-be/sexy nurse/sexy witch awesomeness that is Halloween and the rather more religious/overtly commercial/pagan awesomeness that is Christmas.
Not around here. We take our holidays seriously.
Did Science Build a Better Turkey?It doesn't seem so. Hint: shoot your own and it will taste better.
Science Shows You How To Make A Better Thanksgiving TurkeyIf you did opt for the store bought one, here's how to optimize it.
Just In Time For…
spinner |
Thanksgiving is the celebration of family, friends and loved ones. It is a time to reflect on our fortunes and give thanks for what we have. Nonetheless, it is also one of the most stressful times of the year for many people. This stress seems to be centered on the famed Thanksgiving feast. We are haunted by golden brown turkeys which are dry on the inside and mushy pumpkin pie. For many of us, having the perfect Thanksgiving meal is essential to a successful Thanksgiving, so I am here to help. Here are some helpful holiday hints that will make your Thanksgiving go without a hitch.…
This was such a great beginning to a story, I had to include it in a blog. AP's Mike Schneider had this winner posted recently:
The smoked turkey resembles sliced deli meat but stiffer, the candied yams are bland inside, the green beans taste like they've been microwaved to death and the corn bread stuffing has a broth-heavy, institutional flavor.Grandma's home cooking, it's not.
Then again, Grandma's Thanksgiving dinners were never irradiated, freeze-dried, vacuum-packed into plastic pouches and then launched into space to be served 220 miles above Earth. That's what the Turkey Day meals for…