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Stop eating your pet's food

Apparently people are eating their pet's food, and they're getting salmonella poisoning in return...

A scientific reference manual for US judges

Science and our legal system intersect frequently and everywhere - climate, health care, intellectual...

Rainbow connection

On the way to work this morning, I noticed people pointing out the train window and smiling. From...

Neutrinos on espresso

Maybe they stopped by Starbucks for a little faster-than-the-speed-of-light pick me up....

Becky Jungbauer

A scientist and journalist by training, I enjoy all things science, especially science-related humor. My column title is a throwback to Jane Austen's famous first line in Pride and Prejudice

Looking at the world through aldehyde-covered glasses

Nov 06 2009 | comment(s)

I don't know what it says about me that I love this stuff. Probably nothing good.

Perhaps Weird Al Yankovic could do a rendition of CCR's Fortunate Son.

Some folks are born to test emission spectrums
Ooh, those flames are red, white and blue
And when iPod plays "The Elements" song
Ooh, they point the platinum wire at you, Lord

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no laboratory rat, son
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no formaldehyde son, no
Yeah!

Etc...

Can apples have tramp stamps?

Nov 05 2009 | comment(s)

So, back in the 60's, I had a weather changing machine that was, in essence, a sophisticated heat beam which we called a "laser."

Now this "laser" is used ubiquitously for everything from medicine to technology to tattooing fruit. Wait, what? Tattooing fruit?

Up, up and away in my beautiful space elevator

Nov 05 2009 | comment(s)

An elevator to space? No, this isn't a reprise of Charlie and Chocolate Factory. As I mentioned in a blog back in January, an elevator into space is the end goal - a 100,000 km long tether anchored to the Earth as a "lift into space" for cheaper space missions.

For chemists, infectious disease folks/techies, and Josh

Nov 05 2009 | comment(s)

For chemists

For ID and IT

For Josh (and other Ohio natives)

Aggression gene = reduced murder sentence

Nov 05 2009 | comment(s)

Instead of using someone else's urine in random drug testing, perhaps criminals can step it up a notch on the scientific ladder and use someone else's genome.

Can your genes ever absolve you of responsibility for a particular act?

New Scientist features a story that asks that very question, regarding the case of a man whose sentence was reduced because he had "gene variants linked to aggression."