Improving Science Education

Improving Science Education

I received an interesting question today from an Alex Ziller in the comments thread of a recent post. Here it is: Do you think blogging actually improves Science? (I know, one should first define…
Bacteria Building Better Bone Replacements

Bacteria Building Better Bone Replacements

Bacteria that manufacture hydroxyapatite (HA) could be used to make stronger, more durable bone implants. Professor Lynne Macaskie from the University of Birmingham this week (7-10 September)…
Making More Efficient Microbial Fuel Cells

Making More Efficient Microbial Fuel Cells

Bacteria that generate significant amounts of electricity could be used in microbial fuel cells to provide power in remote environments or to convert waste to electricity. Professor Derek Lovley…
Coloboma: Humans with "Cat Eyes"

Coloboma: Humans with "Cat Eyes"

As the story was told to me, the realization that my eyes were “different” wasn’t discovered until I’d been home from the hospital for a couple weeks. You know how it is - newborns sleep a lot, and…
The Say of the Week

The Say of the Week

"It is better to treat p values as nothing more than useful exploratory tools or measures of surprise. In any search for new physics,  a small p value should only be seen as a first step in the…
Autism And Anorexia: What’s The Relationship?

Autism And Anorexia: What’s The Relationship?

Until recently, I admired the autism parent community from afar. Like the parents who awakened and changed the schizophrenia treatment world, parents of autistic children have moved both treatment…
Nothing Lifts Sales Like Cephalopods

Nothing Lifts Sales Like Cephalopods

Apparently, for a week in 2006 the UK newspaper The Guardian gave away wallcharts (=posters) as a promotional gambit to drum up readership. It seems the charts were all nature-themed, with a strong…
Einstein has an H’ Index of 1?

Einstein has an H’ Index of 1?

One of the biggest axioms of management is “what cannot be measured cannot be managed”.Unfortunately this is a truism that effects scientists as much as the rest of the world.  The latest trend…
Random Noise #17 : They Sure Fooled Me!

Random Noise #17 : They Sure Fooled Me!

Random Noise #17 : They Sure Fooled Me! Well, they sure fooled me! I like to think that I know a thing or two about science and engineering.  Quite apart from that, I have read enough court…
Problems With Immortality

Problems With Immortality

What is it that makes people want to live forever?  I suppose some of it might be fear of death (or at least the means by which it occurs).  Some of it might be that they just don't want to…
Do I really have time for this?

Do I really have time for this?

Probably not.  However, sometimes when I have too much to do, I actually get more done...  Scientist's in general seem to love to rant about how busy they are.  Especially to each…