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Hank CampbellRSS Feed of this column.

I founded Science 2.0® in 2006 and since then it has become the world's largest independent science communications site, with over 300,000,000 direct readers and reach approaching one billion. Read More »

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Why Candidates Ignore Science: The Disconnect Between Research And Benefit

Why Candidates Ignore Science: The Disconnect Between Research And Benefit

Aug 02 2012 | comment(s)

For as long as I can remember, academic scientists have said that applied research is great - for someone else.  But for themselves, they want to do basic research and be creative and not have to worry about any applied / societal benefit.(1)

But another election season is here and, despite $140 billion of taxpayer money being spent on research, no one in either party really gives a hoot about science topics and scientists are concerned neither candidate cares.(2)  
It Worked! US Energy Emissions Back At 1992 Levels

It Worked! US Energy Emissions Back At 1992 Levels

Aug 01 2012 | comment(s)

See? America did not need any stinking Kyoto agreement, we just needed for three areas to work in tandem to get greenhouse gas emissions back close to the magic number picked by the Germans and French a decade and a half ago.(1)

The Department of Energy released carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the energy sector  for Q1 of 2012 and they were the lowest since 1992. American energy is positively green again, just like people wanted. We can thank right-wing energy companies for that, because it has primarily happened due to natural gas.
Real-Life Robotech Mecha Have Finally Arrived

Real-Life Robotech Mecha Have Finally Arrived

Jul 31 2012 | comment(s)

Suidobashi Heavy Industry of Japan has finally found a way to make (a) work or (b) laser tag interesting to me; put me inside a giant robot. 

But to get the "Kuratas mecha" you will have to spend $1.35 million. You will want to, because they have a polite, hot Japanese girl in shorts in their video. 

Its diesel engine sends it at an elegant 10 KPH clip, basically a decent walking pace.  But these are too cool to run in.  No one looks cool running so until it can fly or turn into a motorcyle, a cool pace will do.

This thing is huge.  Granted, the girl in the video is probably only 4 feet tall but look at the scale of it:
Aesop's Fable: Is Your Child Smarter Than That Crow?

Aesop's Fable: Is Your Child Smarter Than That Crow?

Jul 31 2012 | comment(s)

If the legend is true, Aesop lived during the sixth century B.C. He was born a slave but was given his freedom as a reward for his wit and intelligence.  

He never wrote anything down but the stories people remembered were so intriguing virtually every moralistic fable before him (and after) got attributed to him.  Now Aesop's Fables number in the 600s.  

One of them, "The Crow and the Pitcher", highlights the 'necessity is the mother of invention' concept. A thirsty crow can't get his beak far enough down into a pitcher of water to drink, so he drops stones in until the water level rises.
Progressive Anti-Science: Biologists Are Just Tinkerers

Progressive Anti-Science: Biologists Are Just Tinkerers

Jul 31 2012 | comment(s)

Do you work in genetics? If so, you are out to ruin the brains of children, according to a claim at Alternet.org.
The Million Song Dataset - Science Concludes Modern Music Too Loud, All Sounds The Same

The Million Song Dataset - Science Concludes Modern Music Too Loud, All Sounds The Same

Jul 30 2012 | comment(s)

Crotchety old men seem to have won this argument.

Modern pop music is too loud and does sound all the same, just like angry old types have been saying for 70 years. 

A team from Spain analyzed music from a 55 year period, using an archive known as the Million Song Dataset, and found that songs have indeed become both louder and more homogenized in terms of chords and melodies.