Fake Banner
The Return Of Karl Popper: Is Social Science Really Different Than Natural Science?

Social Scientist have contended for much of the last century that we cannot approach the study...

Earthquake Rocks the World Off Axis

The recent earthquake in Chile was so big, it altered the earths rotation.  So if you notice...

PMC-BioPhysics: A New Open Access Journal

“I am very pleased to be working with PhysMath Central as I believe open access is the future...

No Ontology without Epistemology: Of God and Mathematicians

On the Big Ideas Blog there is a post about the different types of reasoning, Analytic vs. Synthetic...

User picture.
picture for Hank Campbellpicture for Bente Lilja Byepicture for Steve Davispicture for Gerhard Adampicture for Stephanie Pulford
Nicholas HortonRSS Feed of this column.

I'm a graduate student in mathematics at Portland State University. My areas of study are Quantum Game theory and Mathematical Biology with a focus in Evolution. Outside of Math, my science interests... Read More »

 Blogroll
FDA OK's Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy

FDA OK's Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy

Jan 23 2009 | comment(s)

Here's some good news:

The ultimate goal for the use of GRNOPC1 is restore spinal cord function by injecting hESC-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells directly into the patient’s injured spinal cord.
Panspermia, Red Rain, and Space Bread

Panspermia, Red Rain, and Space Bread

Jan 17 2009 | comment(s)

In an article in the International Journal of Astrobiology, P. McCafferty discusses the possibility of a red, blood-like life form living inside meteors.

This conclusion raises the possibility that, in space, there are objects that contain red, blood-like cells. In other words, comets possibly harbour life. Such an image of a comet, containing a liquid interior teeming with red cells, is difficult to imagine and even harder to accept.

Paleo vs. Neo Carbs (not Cons)

Paleo vs. Neo Carbs (not Cons)

Jan 11 2009 | comment(s)

Dr. Lam has a post on the link between sugar and all the ills of humanity. While I’m certainly for a low sugar diet (and the proscriptions in the post are largely fine), he brings up some points that are just plain weird.

In particular, he quotes (favorably) Robert Crayhon, the dude who created the “Paleo Diet”, in his definitions of what Crayhon calls paleocarbs and neocarbs (no, a neocarb is not a description of Karl Rove):

Glucose Spikes Increase Memory Loss

Glucose Spikes Increase Memory Loss

Jan 09 2009 | comment(s)


John Hawks reviews an article by Roni Caryn Rabin on the connection with glucose metabolism and age related cognitive decline.

The original authors made clear that we remember:

Previous observational studies have shown that physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline, and studies have also found that diabetes increases the risk of dementia. Earlier studies had also found a link between Type 2 diabetes and dysfunction in the dentate gyrus.

Should We Dump the Word “Gene”?

Should We Dump the Word “Gene”?

Jan 08 2009 | comment(s)

Whenever one discusses the underlying genetic influences on human behavior, one is opening themselves up to being labelled a determinist.  Part of the reason for that is a total misunderstanding of what the word “gene” actually means (not to mention the lack of understanding of the difference between a genotype and a phenotype).  But, it isn’t just the public that takes issue with the word “gene”.  So do some biologists, not least of which are geneticists, or in this case, molecular anthropologists.

John Hawks goes into the discussion here, but in the end he favors keeping the word around.
Don't Call Me Rational!

Don't Call Me Rational!

Jan 08 2009 | comment(s)

The ultimate cause of human behavior is the mind. The mind, an emergent property from the workings of collections of neurons, hormones, proteins, and other biochemical agents, controls everything every human does. From their intended actions to their subconscious actions, all of it is controlled by the human analogue of a central processing unit. Cognitive models in the social sciences and particularly in psychology and economics take seriously this point of view of the human decision maker and apply it to political, economic, and other social situations.

One of the major ideas of the subject is that people are equipped with a cognitive “toolbox” that houses tools that help them to solve problems in different environments.