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Did Music Evolve Before Language?

Did Music Evolve Before Language?

Feb 20 2010 | comment(s)

Did music evolve before language?  It's not a trivial idea and there has been debate about it since literally the days of Darwin - Sir Charles himself proposed the notion in "The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex" that a 'musical protolanguage' model could mean that music came before language.
A Real Dr. Evil

A Real Dr. Evil

Feb 20 2010 | comment(s)

The FBI yesterday released a 104-page report laying out its case the the 2001 anthrax attacks were committed by a US Army bioweapons researcher, Dr. Bruce Ivans. Some are arguing that this report isn't conclusive and that the FBI is closing the case prematurely. I can't speak to that, at least in any informed way, but if the FBI is correct, you've got a chilling, classic evil scientist scenario:
Mathematical Model Gives New Hope To Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Patients

Mathematical Model Gives New Hope To Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Patients

Feb 20 2010 | comment(s)

Doctors can now understand better chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), including how it responds to therapy, thanks to a new mathematical model for the disease developed by scientists in Portugal, Belgium and the United States. The work, to be published in the June edition of the journal Haematologica, also reveals that current therapies – which are not believed to cure CML – with the right protocol can actually get rid of the disease, and provides guidelines on how to do that. CML although rare, because of effective life-extending therapies, is now one of the most common leukaemias in the world

Confusions On Evolution, Creationism, And Falsifiability

Confusions On Evolution, Creationism, And Falsifiability

Feb 20 2010 | comment(s)

Assorted creationists claim variously that creation theories are falsifiable and that evolutionary theories are not falsifiable. Here, I want to quickly point out a few flaws that I see in their arguments. I will discuss these issues in a more general manner in another post that I am currently writing.

Creationism is falsifiable: This essay from the Discovery Institute provides two arguments, neither of which are satisfying.
Kill The Spider - At Least Don't Let Your Brown Recluse Loose!

Kill The Spider - At Least Don't Let Your Brown Recluse Loose!

Feb 20 2010 | comment(s)

When I am out doing bug programs I am often asked (with a slow-down-to-look-at-an-accident wince); “where do you keep all these bugs? Do they stay at your house?” I explain about the shelves with the lights, or the bug room and usually digress into a shopworn lecture on respect and the difference between invited and uninvited guests.

And the position I take on respect is this: that respect is a matter of making good decisions based on your understanding of the situation. The better you understand, the more respectful your decisions will be (unless you’re trying to be bad). The less you understand, the more likely you should be to do nothing – learn more.
Science Imitating Art: Why Is 21st Century Science Obsessed With The Mona Lisa?

Science Imitating Art: Why Is 21st Century Science Obsessed With The Mona Lisa?

Feb 20 2010 | comment(s)

Heads up, banner-plane pilots: you, like so many before you, could lose your job to a sleek, 21st century technology that not only performs better than you, but looks way cooler doing it.
You Telo-Me, I Tell-o You

You Telo-Me, I Tell-o You

Feb 19 2010 | comment(s)

There is a new article out in today’s Molecular System Biology, which has the media saying the typical baloney-filled things like “The Key to Aging Discovered,” “Breakthrough to Immortality,” and “Live Forever?”


Scientist, Hero

Scientist, Hero

Feb 19 2010 | comment(s)

It's often the case that attending a conference like AAAS means you have to choose between competing programs, like the good stuff, the fun stuff and the stuff you will make fun of.  This morning I had one of each at the same time but since I didn't get to the one I would likely have made fun of, I will leave that out.

Instead I had to make a tough call between Eugenie Scott and "How Can Scientists Support Policy Makers?" and "The Science of Superheroes" - Genie won, at least in the beginning.
Why Do Astronomy?

Why Do Astronomy?

Feb 19 2010 | comment(s)

Did you ever wonder why some people become astronomers?  I asked random astronomers at last month's AAS meeting, and in my latest 365DOA podcast, you can find out what each said-- and how each explained their research in 30 seconds or less.  For the big picture, the stories of why ordinary, sane people become astronomers, it turns out we get bit by the astronomy bug early.

Either in elementary school, we've already decided, or in high school, we get inspired.  By the time people hit college, the ones who want to be career astronomers have already decided that's their path.
Metal Foam Could Build Better Bones, Car Bumpers

Metal Foam Could Build Better Bones, Car Bumpers

Feb 19 2010 | comment(s)

A highly elastic composite metal foam could one day be a favorable material for biomedical implants and car bumpers. No, this isn’t a close-up of the surface of a golf ball. It’s a new type of material, one that is porous and elastic, lighter than solid aluminum yet stronger than steel, one that its creators are calling an “ultra high-strength metal matrix composite foam.” A bit of a misnomer, really, considering the foam is made up entirely of stainless steel.