If you're a fan of "Big Trouble In Little China" (and if you are not, either go rent it and then come back or go read "People" like you should be doing instead of visiting Science 2.0)(1) next to "Chinese people got a lotta Hells"(2) this famous exchange likely sticks in your mind. As they descend into a metaphorical netherworld on their quest (see: anything by Joseph Campbell or Bulfinch's Mythology, if you are more conservative in your reading) the following exchange takes place:
Jack Burton: That is not water.
Egg Shen: Black blood of the earth.
Jack Burton: Do you mean oil?
Egg Shen: I mean black blood of the earth.
Science 2.0 was founded because, contrary to the beliefs of some scientists and some journalists, the public is really, really smart. And they know a lot of science, they just frame it through politics more than they used to because scientists and journalists are less diverse politically than they once were.
The public doesn't trust journalists and, in addition, scientists don't trust journalists. The solution was obviously to make the scientists and the science audience the journalists. Communication was one of my four key pillars in Science 2.0 five years ago and remains the most important today.
Greater virtual realism is always shown in television shows like "Star Trek: The Next Generation" as people who act out an alternate life as a farmer or solve mysteries in the 1800s, and that may happen, but long before that any technology like that will be used by young people to shoot each other.
A recent NY Times article echoes what I said last week in a meeting about a Science 2.0 television pilot - incredibly literate people who know a lot about science can't name a scientist.
It's certainly true. Adult science literacy has tripled since I was an adult, science scores have gone up for American kids every year for the last decade and the American science audience alone is 65 million people.
Science 2.0 is all about making a difference in a positive way, bringing lots of people in the world together to talk with each other about science. We're the only open science site of decent size, meaning you don't have to be famous or bring a large audience to get invited, you just sign up and write science, so participation and communication are key to the Science 2.0 concept.
If you are a European who might be allergic to some compounds in cosmetics, you are out of luck. In 2009, outside a few exceptions, the European Union banned the use of animals in cosmetic testing - though they still allow it in plenty of other things. Heck,
in the UK 91% of basic research using animal testing was found to have a societal benefit and, while that was a failure to animal rights groups who know nothing about science, 91% is jaw-on-the-floor incredible for basic research.
Vermont Should Stop Showing Leadership In Overruling Scientists On Farming
Evolutionary Psychology: Your Parents Income During Pregnancy Made You Gay
Oil Kept Congo From Starving - Western Academics Don't Seem To Like That
China Sells Western Progressives Solar Panels While Switching To Nuclear Power
