The last posts in this series will discuss some of the practical issues of performing research on complex themes. Methodological Stuff: Introduction Patterns Patterns, Objectivity and Truth Patterns…

Whether you agree or not, the funding machine for solar and wind energy is in motion and it is hard to stop - look at the debate over ending ethanol subsidies. One way to make an informed policy…

Researchers say that a protein expressed in the human retina, human cryptochrome 2 protein (hCRY2), can sense magnetic fields when implanted into Drosophila, leading to an interesting topic in…

My old hometown of Vero Beach is now on the map for archaeologists and art historians.   A bone was found and it turns out to be the only known engraving of a proboscidean (so distinguished…

My old hometown of Vero Beach is now on the map for archaeologists and art historians.   A bone was found and it turns out to be the only known engraving of a proboscidean (so distinguished…

Chuck over at Ya Like Dags? just posted a compelling piece called 101 Uses for Shark Puke. His list may not have reached (anywhere near) 101 uses, but obviously the most important use is determining…

When the National Institutes of Health first opened in 1887,  it was called the " Laboratory of Hygiene" and was staffed by one man, 27-year-old Joseph James Kinyoun.  Mission: collect…

When the National Institutes of Health first opened in 1887,  it was called the " Laboratory of Hygiene" and was staffed by one man, 27-year-old Joseph James Kinyoun.  Mission: collect…

A study in Canada says Canadian pre-schoolers prefer to play with kids more like them. Are Canadian parents ingraining bias in their kids?  Or French-Canadians?  Hard to know. Participants…

There is a belief, among progressives of course, that conservatives are more "anti science" - but progressives in science tend to gloss over the anti-science positions of the left, and the anti-…

There is a belief, among progressives of course, that conservatives are more "anti science" - but progressives in science tend to gloss over the anti-science positions of the left, and the anti-…

Abortion is barely a controversy in America these days.  Most people, men and women, are against it for themselves but it has been the law of the land for two generations.   Crazy…

Abortion is barely a controversy in America these days.  Most people, men and women, are against it for themselves but it has been the law of the land for two generations.   Crazy…

By using two types of nanoparticles, drug delivery to tumors could be increased significantly. At the moment, several drug-delivering nanoparticles are already being used in clinical trials to combat…

A paper describing the first evidence of top pair production in association with a energetic photon has just appeared on the Cornell Arxiv. This search has been performed by the CDF collaboration in…

A great title is key to getting lots of views. For my blogs, ones with the fewest views include “Snarky Puzzle Answers”, and “Snarky Puzzle Answers 2”. Do I have high expectations for SPA 3, Revenge…

The Quantum Randi Challenge (QRC), first introduced here, exists in order to stop the spread of pseudo-science by simply teaching quantum mechanics. Here is the official version of the challenge (…

According to Feynman, the 2-slit experiment with electrons "has in it the heart of quantum mechanics" and "is impossible, absolutely impossible, to explain in any classical way". To begin with, it…

When is a multi-million dollar business that charges money before a science article can be seen by the public superior to another multi-million dollar business that charges money before a…

Hate compact fluorescent bulbs?   Outside lobbyists for billion-dollar bulb companies and Treehugger, we can't find anyone who likes the things.   Heck, as long as the government bans…