Science & Society

Some Ideas to Jump-Start Your Holiday Science Shopping

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 wr ...

Blog Post - Michael White - Dec 1 2008 - 2:13pm

Toys Made From Liquid Wood

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 Nativit ...

Article - News Staff - Jan 27 2009 - 3:04pm

Click if you subscribe to evolutionary theory

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, ...

Blog Post - Justin Gerke - Dec 3 2008 - 4:33pm

Stress May Impede Your Memory

Researchers using functional MRI (fMRI) have determined that the circuitry in the area of the brain responsible for suppressing memory is dysfunctional in patients suffering from stress-related psychiatric disorders. Results of the study will be presented ...

Article - News Staff - Jan 27 2009 - 3:04pm

Is Driving And Talking Too Much?

So if you are still unsure whether it's unsafe to drive while talking on a cell phone, come out of your cave.  Multiple recent studies have supported that cell phone use endangers drivers. It seems that every week or so there's a new study out li ...

Article - Chris Rollins - Jan 27 2009 - 3:04pm

Four Former Presidential Science Advisors On The Importance Of Science In The White House

Four living presidential science advisors, Democrats Drs. John H. Gibbons and Neal F. Lane and Republicans Drs. Edward E. David and John. P. McTague, have written an article called "Making a Critical Connection: Science Advice and the Next President&q ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 6 2008 - 11:00am

Consciousness, Meditation And The Dalai Lama

Speaking of  science and religion, I got significantly annoyed by a short piece in Nature magazine by Michael Bond (13 November 2008). Bond reviews two recent books on Buddhism and science: “Mind and Life: Discussions with the Dalai Lama on the Nature of ...

Article - Massimo Pigliucci - Dec 6 2008 - 3:33pm

What is Science 2.0? HHMI's Take

Via Larry at Sandwalk, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute is excited about Facebook, YouTube, and Blogs. What does this have to do with science? Like Larry, I'm still skeptical of what impact this has on what I do in the lab: ...

Blog Post - Michael White - May 15 2010 - 10:09am

Women And Sex- Condoms Decrease Pleasure, Says Kinsey Institute Study

New data from The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University demonstrate that many women think condoms undermine sexual pleasure, but those who use both hormonal contraception and condoms report higher overall sexual satisfaction. The study authors suggest th ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 8 2008 - 5:53pm

Let's Add Some Scientific Blogging Features Again

As December moves along, we're going to be adding a lot of stuff (we hope) but two things are just about ready for prime time- and that's how you can help. Statistics ...

Blog Post - Hank Campbell - Dec 9 2008 - 4:09pm