Science & Society

Science, Technology and Counter Insurgencies

The article, " Rage Against the Machines: Explaining Outcomes in Counterinsurgency Wars, " by Lyall and Wilson III is an interesting read for anyone looking for a scientific explanations as to why insurgencies fought in modernity are losing propo ...

Blog Post - Sina Kashefipour - Dec 7 2009 - 1:06pm

Last Minute Hot On Climate? Cool Copenhagen Awaits

Searches are personal. My first piece in Scientific Blogging was about the Copenhagen Congress. The 11-day conference will start tomorrow. So I did a search for you on climate and energy in my own writing here. At the end included also is the must-read li ...

Blog Post - Hatice Cullingford - Dec 6 2009 - 2:24pm

Cancer Experts Say Media Lacks Healthy Skepticism

In a recent Journal of the National Cancer Institute editorial, doctors expressed concern over the media's coverage of oncology research, citing examples of exaggerated fears, hopes, and a general lack of skepticism in the reporting.  The editorial po ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 8 2009 - 7:11pm

Richard Dawkins Was Right!

    It’s all true! He was right! He was totally, hopelessly wrong about selfish genes, but he was right about memes. Well…he was a little bit right. He was wrong to equate the evolution of memes to the evolution of organisms, meme evolution being Lamarckia ...

Article - Steve Davis - Dec 9 2009 - 2:43am

Clumping, and throughput in public transportation

Several weeks ago, New Scientist ran a story about some mathematical modeling work that a couple of researchers in Mexico did. They modeled public transportation systems, and investigated the clumping effect that causes buses and trains that are supposed ...

Blog Post - Barry Leiba - Dec 9 2009 - 6:21pm

Computer Science Is Too Nerdy For Girls

The stereotype of the nerdy computer scientist who stays up all night coding and has no social life may be driving women away from the field, and  this stereotype can be brought to mind based only on the the environment in a classroom or office, according ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 14 2009 - 4:39pm

James Randi, Global Warming And The Meaning Of Skepticism

James “the Amazing” Randi is an icon of skepticism. The man has done more — over a span of several decades — to further the cause of critical thinking and to expose flimflammery of all sorts than arguably anyone else in the world, ever. That is why I was ...

Article - Massimo Pigliucci - Feb 12 2011 - 7:20pm

Baking with Squid Ink

For most Americans, holiday season is food season. Much of it, like holiday cookies, chocolate santas, mashed potatoes, buttered rolls, is unarguably delicious. Some of it, like fruitcake, is merely something to endure. You can decide for yourself to which ...

Blog Post - Danna Staaf - Dec 20 2009 - 11:09pm

Free Markets Make Resource Development Worthwhile, Economist Says

In order to benefit from their natural resources, states need fewer regulations, lower taxes, and stronger private property rights, according to a new study by a Florida State University economist. The study offers an empirical analysis weighing the econom ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 21 2009 - 7:25pm

Music and Marijuana- Again

A recent study described in the article " Music Linked to Marijuana Use " illustrates just how badly science can run off the tracks. One of the more telling aspects of the study indicated that the surveyed students heard about 40 marijuana refere ...

Blog Post - Gerhard Adam - Dec 22 2009 - 3:03pm