Science & Society

Are you smarter than 90% of the public?

I assume so, given that you're on Scientific Blogging. But if you have any lingering doubts, take the Pew Research Center's Science Knowledge quiz. It's a quick 12-question quiz about basic scientific ideas, kicking off with the great colorf ...

Blog Post - Becky Jungbauer - Aug 22 2009 - 3:19pm

As Obesity Rises, More Young Kids Concerned About Body Image (And Boys Have It Worst)

Obesity has increased dramatically in the last two decades, yet so have awareness campaigns saying appearance does not matter.    The cultural miasma is hardest on its youngest members and even kids aged 10 and 11 are concerned about their image, according ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 26 2009 - 3:10pm

Historically, Taking Economic Advice From The Media Is A Bad Idea

If you listened to the media, a bailout of GM was good for investors.  A few months later, the stock was wiped out.   But if you paid attention to Ford Motor Company while the media ignored them, who said a bailout was a terrific idea for its competitors a ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 26 2009 - 1:05pm

Summer Reading: British Sci-Fi

This summer I discovered a new (to me) literary genre: post-war British Sci-Fi. The decades after WWII were (not surprisingly) rather rough on the Brits, and the zeitgeist found an interesting outlet in science fiction. What makes these books so awesome? P ...

Blog Post - Michael White - Aug 26 2009 - 8:51pm

Scientific Blogging Top 10 Graduate Schools Writing Competition Begins Next Week

Scientific Blogging's University Writing Competition kicks off next Tuesday, September 1st.  There's been a lot of buzz and excitement about our first-ever writing competition that will give one lucky grad student a $2,500 cash prize, and a paid ...

Article - Community Connect... - Feb 24 2010 - 6:53pm

Life Expectancy

Finally an article that blasts the preposterous mythology suggesting that human longevity is a relatively recent phenomenon and primarily due to advances in medical technology. http://www.livescience.com/health/090821-human-lifespans.html In reviewing som ...

Article - Gerhard Adam - Feb 11 2011 - 9:03pm

Challenged: Does Open Access Mean Wider Dissemination For Science Publications?

If you've read this site for any length of time, you know we are fans of open access.    The notion that research funded by taxpayers should be in the hands of billion-dollar media companies who charge scientists to publish and then hold the copyright ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Aug 29 2009 - 6:04pm

Scientific Blogging University Writing Competition- Begins Today!

Today marks the start of the (first) Scientific Blogging University Writing Competition. We decided to do this because, since our inception, the scientific community has been incredibly gracious about embracing Science 2.0. The top question we have been as ...

Article - Community Connect... - Sep 1 2009 - 10:54am

Dumbing down of The Science Channel.

More reality programs, less hard science coverage, and when they do cover hard science it's watered down.  This is all true as the production values of the programs have increased while the science value has decreased.   When the science channel start ...

Blog Post - Hontas Farmer - Sep 2 2009 - 2:43am

Creationists on BloggingheadsTV

What's the quickest way to get scientists and serious science writers to quit coming on your show? Invite the creationists. Discover bloggers Sean Carroll and Carl Zimmer explain what happened: Sean says: ...

Blog Post - Michael White - Sep 3 2009 - 9:10am