http://www.scienceblogs.com A feed of all posts across all blogs in the ScienceBlogs network. en Copyright 2006 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.261 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:08:11 -0500 Coturnix none@example.com <p><strong>Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got. </strong></p> <p> - Art Buchwald</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/clock_quotes_483.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/_725Zz7Olv0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/_725Zz7Olv0/clock_quotes_483.php Clock Quotes Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:08:11 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/clock_quotes_483.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Orac none@example.com <p>Before I try to leave this topic for a while (which, like so may topics in the past, has temporarily taken over the blog for the last few days), one of the comments I've kept hearing since I started <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/really_rethinking_breast_cancer_screenin.php">blogging about the new USPSTF mammography guidelines</a> is something along the lines of, "Well, if the government runs health care, naturally politics will impact any attempts at science-based guidelines. That may be true, but in fact excessive politicization has always been a problem in that area, particularly for breast cancer. There's a good interview with to <a href="http://www.societyandmedicine.columbia.edu/about_biobhl.shtml">Dr. Barron Lerner</a>, associate professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and author of <em>The Breast Cancer Wars: Hope, Fear and the Pursuit of a Cure in Twentieth-Century America</em>. The whole <a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Checking-In-With/breast-cancer-and-politics.aspx">interview</a> is worth reading, but here's one point that I've discussed before:</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/politics_is_always_intruding_into_the_wo.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/politics_is_always_intruding_into_the_wo.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/6Q21GUFDWw4" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/6Q21GUFDWw4/politics_is_always_intruding_into_the_wo.php Cancer Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:00:11 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/politics_is_always_intruding_into_the_wo.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>The vote was 60-39 to bring the health care bill to debate. The Republicans failed to stop health care insurance reform on procedural grounds. </p> <p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34080216/ns/health-health_care/">details. </a></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/dems_win_senate_vote.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/1LBVxI8Rhog" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/1LBVxI8Rhog/dems_win_senate_vote.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:36:44 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/dems_win_senate_vote.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Coturnix none@example.com <p><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pDU4CQWXaNY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pDU4CQWXaNY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object></p> <p>(via <a href="http://deepseanews.com/2009/11/crazy-fish-heads/" target="_blank" title="">Deep Sea News</a>) </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/the_craziest_fish_jaws_ever_vi.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/K6X4t35_sYU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/K6X4t35_sYU/the_craziest_fish_jaws_ever_vi.php A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:03:41 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/the_craziest_fish_jaws_ever_vi.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>Julia ended up with a minor concussion today.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/2012_an_actual_review.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/2012_an_actual_review.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/xgMFgM7udUk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/xgMFgM7udUk/2012_an_actual_review.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:51:10 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/2012_an_actual_review.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>Do not do this at home. This is for certified scientists only. Do not put your finger in this. </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/make_your_own_liquid_nitrogen.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/make_your_own_liquid_nitrogen.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/JjRqBtgY4Sk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/JjRqBtgY4Sk/make_your_own_liquid_nitrogen.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:35:57 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/make_your_own_liquid_nitrogen.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Razib Khan none@example.com <p>Perhaps because we only remember the good stuff? Or only the good suff & famous authors get reprinted. I'm prompted to offer this hypothesis in response to <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/principles/2009/09/mysticism_and_sf.php">Chad Orzel's</a> commentary that there was a lot of bad space opera even during the "Golden Age" of science fiction. I recall that Zadie Smith once noted that 99.99% (or something to that effect) of Victorian fiction is forgotten and out of print. All that remains read are the "classics," so contemporary audiences have a biased perspective as to the median quality of Victorian-era writers. Of course the insight can be generalized to the arts overall; only the good gets reproduced or remembered.</p> <p>To be fair, some science fiction authors, such as George R. R Martin (who also writes other genres obviously), have claimed that the turn away from "hard" sf rooted in physics and engineering is reflective of a cultural shift. In the 1950s the "atomic age" was viewed positively, and the possibilities seemed unbounded. Today a lot of the fiction deeply influenced by science in constructing a story may take a more ambivalent, or even pessimistic, view of how science effects human happiness (e.g., dystopian futures where nanotech gets out of control).</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/why_science_fiction_was_better.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/eq0CQ7yqe8A" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/eq0CQ7yqe8A/why_science_fiction_was_better.php Culture Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:28:45 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/why_science_fiction_was_better.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/the_science_in_the_movie_2012.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/the_science_in_the_movie_2012.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/EqH9IXJfa2Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/EqH9IXJfa2Q/the_science_in_the_movie_2012.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:21:10 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/the_science_in_the_movie_2012.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Coturnix none@example.com <p>Listen to <a href="http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/natureedcast/episode_2_felice_frankel" target="_blank" title="">Nature EdCast podcast about No Small Matter and Picturing to Learn</a>:</p> <blockquote>In today's podcast Ilona interviews Felice Frankel, a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard and a Research Scientist at MIT. Felice is a photographer who is keenly interested in visual communication of complex concepts. To that end, she has written three books about the subject. Felice's recent effort to bring visual representation of science concepts into education culminated in the NSF-funded Picturing to Learn project. Her most recent book, No Small Matter, written with George Whitesides, illustrates nanoscience with metaphor. Listen to this podcast to hear about how creating visual representations of science can change the way science is taught. A full transcript of the podcast is below. [19:23] </blockquote> <p>Felice will be at ScienceOnline2010, leading a session on <a href="http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/Art_and_Science:_Visual_Metaphors/" target="_blank" title="">Art and Science: Visual Metaphors</a>. Her book, No Small Matter, arrived the other day and Bride Of Coturnix and I were oohing and aahing over it - it is beautiful and brilliant.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/interview_with_felice_frankel.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/budlpwGgrI8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/budlpwGgrI8/interview_with_felice_frankel.php SO'10 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:23:30 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/interview_with_felice_frankel.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Coturnix none@example.com <p><a href="http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org"><img border="0" img src="http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/wp-content/uploads/banners/NDL_230x80_b.gif" height="80" width="230" alt="Celebrate the National Day of Listening"/></a></p> <blockquote>The second annual <a href="http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/" target="_blank" title="">National Day of Listening</a> - celebrated on Friday, November 27, 2009 - is just around the corner! With your help, we hope to make the National Day of Listening an ongoing holiday tradition, when all Americans set aside time on the day after Thanksgiving to honor a friend, loved one, or member of their community by interviewing them about their lives and preserving that interview for generations to come. <p>We'd like to ask you to take part in this year's National Day of Listening by conducting an interview with someone you know and blogging about the experience. Here are some tips:</p> <p> 1. Let your fingers do the talking! Include details about why the National Day of Listening is meaningful for you and how you plan to participate.<br /> 2. StoryCorps' <a href="http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/participate/" target="_blank" title="">Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide</a> has all the information you need to get started.<br /> 3. <a href="http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/pledge/" target="_blank" title="">Pledge</a> to participate! Tell us how you plan to get involved, and read about all the other ways people throughout the country are participating.<br /> 4. Post StoryCorps' web banners, logos, customizable web text and Facebook fan button on your blog. Download these materials at our <a href="http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/share/" target="_blank" title="">Share</a> page.</blockquote></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/national_day_of_listening_and.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/mt9zoBXAlwU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/mt9zoBXAlwU/national_day_of_listening_and.php Blogging Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:18:21 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/national_day_of_listening_and.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>Cats:<br /> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1JynBEX_kg8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1JynBEX_kg8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p> <p>Dogs:<br /> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LhRDwCJMfmA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LhRDwCJMfmA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p> <p>Bonus Video:</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/who_are_better_conversationali.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/who_are_better_conversationali.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/sR9CPvT18mg" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/sR9CPvT18mg/who_are_better_conversationali.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:44:16 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/who_are_better_conversationali.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Isis the Scientist none@example.com <p>Dr., Mr., and Little Isis are back in the land that transformed the domestic and laboratory goddess from regular old Isis into the world famous, hot science-doing Dr. Isis.</p> <p> <span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><img class="mt-image-center" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 20px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="432" alt="isis 25.jpg" src="http://scienceblogs.com/isisthescientist/isis%2025.jpg" width="266" /></span><br /><b><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/goddess+isis/DJCEEZ007/2Isis2.jpg?o=64">Figure 1:</a> And thus Dr. Isis was created in awesomeness and totally hot science.</b> </p> <p>For the beginning of the week the Isis family is hanging out with some local friends, before heading to see the Isis family or Thanksgiving. Little Isis has already scoped out the movie options here and has asked, "Mommy, can I watch that movie about the big rat?"</p> <p>He meant this:</p> <span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="DISPLAY: inline"><a onclick="window.open('http://scienceblogs.com/isisthescientist/assets_c/2009/11/SantaAndRudolphWallpaper1-22563.php','popup','width=1024,height=768,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false" href="http://scienceblogs.com/isisthescientist/assets_c/2009/11/SantaAndRudolphWallpaper1-22563.php"><img class="mt-image-center" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 20px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="300" alt="SantaAndRudolphWallpaper1.jpg" src="http://scienceblogs.com/isisthescientist/assets_c/2009/11/SantaAndRudolphWallpaper1-thumb-400x300-22563.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><b><a href="http://www.rankinbass.com/images2/SantaAndRudolphWallpaper1.jpg">Figure 2:</a> Santa and Rudolph the red nosed rat.</b> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/isisthescientist/2009/11/that_movie_about_the_rat.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/wwsKGBQ1IEg" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/wwsKGBQ1IEg/that_movie_about_the_rat.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:37:22 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/isisthescientist/2009/11/that_movie_about_the_rat.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Andrew Gelman none@example.com <p>Jimmy points me to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18633328">this article</a>, "Why most discovered true associations are inflated," by J. P. Ioannidis. As Jimmy pointed out, this is exactly what we call type M (for magnitude) errors. I completely agree with Ioannidis's point, which he seems to be making more systematically than David Weakliem and I did in <a href="http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~gelman/research/published/power4r.pdf">our recent article</a> on the topic.</p> <p>My only suggestion beyond what Ioannidis wrote has to do with potential solutions to the problem. His ideas include: "being cautious about newly discovered effect sizes, considering some rational down-adjustment, using analytical methods that correct for the anticipated inflation, ignoring the magnitude of the effect (if not necessary), conducting large studies in the discovery phase, using strict protocols for analyses, pursuing complete and transparent reporting of all results, placing emphasis on replication, and being fair with interpretation of results."</p> <p>These are all good ideas. Here are two more suggestions:</p> <p>1. Retrospective power calculations. See page 312 of <a href="http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~gelman/research/published/power4r.pdf">our article</a> for the classical version or page 313 for the Bayesian version. I think these can be considered as implementations of Iaonnides's ideas of caution, adjustment, and correction.</p> <p>2. Hierarchical modeling, which partially pools estimated effects and reduces Type M errors as well as handling many multiple comparisons issues. <a href="http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~gelman/research/unpublished/multiple2f.pdf">Fuller discussion here</a> (or <a href="http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~martin/Workshop/statistics_neuro_data_931_speaker_04.mov">see here</a> for the soon-to-go-viral video version).</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/appliedstatistics/2009/11/why_most_discovered_true_assoc.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/C7eElbBlE-o" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/C7eElbBlE-o/why_most_discovered_true_assoc.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:22:56 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/appliedstatistics/2009/11/why_most_discovered_true_assoc.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Coturnix none@example.com <p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="OpenLab logo.jpg" src="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/OpenLab%20logo.jpg" width="448" height="73" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p> <p><b>Reminder: Deadline is December 1st at midnight EST!</b></p> <p>Here are the submissions for OpenLab 2009 to date (under the fold). You can buy the <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/631016" target="_blank" title="">2006</a>, <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/1869828" target="_blank" title="">2007</a> and <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/6110823" target="_blank" title="">2008</a> editions at Lulu.com. Please use <a href="http://openlab.wufoo.com/forms/submission-form/" target="_blank" title="">the submission form</a> to add more of your and other people's posts (remember that we are looking for original poems, art, cartoons and comics, as well as essays):</p> <p><strong>Make sure that the submitted posts are possible (and relatively easy) to convert into print.</strong> Posts that rely too much on video, audio, color photographs, copyrighted images, or multitudes of links just won't do (I won't even include them here - there are about 520 posts here so the judges have a lot of good posts to read already so no need to bother them with obviously inappropriate entries).</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/the_open_laboratory_2009_-_one_1.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/the_open_laboratory_2009_-_one_1.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/wyExVUdntG8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/wyExVUdntG8/the_open_laboratory_2009_-_one_1.php OpenLab09 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:27:10 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/the_open_laboratory_2009_-_one_1.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>Cat:<br /> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QSpxzE_PA8M&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QSpxzE_PA8M&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p> <p>Chipmunk:<br /> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a1Y73sPHKxw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a1Y73sPHKxw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p> <p>Yeah, I know, that's probably not a chipmunk. <br /> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/which_is_more_intense_cats_or.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/fr28iJMVwBk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/fr28iJMVwBk/which_is_more_intense_cats_or.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:12:31 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/which_is_more_intense_cats_or.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Abel Pharmboy none@example.com <p>At the recent <a href="http://u2conference.com/"><strong>U2 Academic Conference</strong></a>, I had the opportunity to be at the local premiere of <a href="http://www.sonyclassics.com/itmightgetloud/main.html"><strong>It Might Get Loud</strong></a>, a much-more-than documentary of the electric guitar as told through the careers of Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U2's The Edge, and Jack White of The White Stripes and Raconteurs. For the record, I thought that White was going to be totally out of his league - while I wouldn't call him a "legend" as billed by the producers, I left being incredibly impressed with his background and breadth of abilities.</p> <p>Related to the movie trailer below, I had an exchange with Toaster Sunshine, a musician and scientist who writes the blog, <a href="http://madscientistjunior.blogspot.com/"><strong>Mad Scientist, Jr.</strong></a> (Tagline: "Sticking stuff that wasn't made to be stuck to stuff to stuff that wasn't made to have stuff stuck to it.") The trailer opens and closes with Jack White constructing a primitive electric guitar with a weathered wood plank, a bottle, and some wires and such - Toaster knew exactly what it was and told me how to do it myself.</p> <p><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5sBLir8H2zM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5sBLir8H2zM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></p> <p>However, as a microcosm of our respective lives (Toaster is still in the lab and I am primarily at my computer), Toaster <a href="http://madscientistjunior.blogspot.com/2009/11/with-what.html"><strong>actually made the instrument yesterday</strong></a>.<br /> <blockquote>For the <a href="http://allhandsactive.com/">hackerspace</a>, I send out a lot of emails. Most of them get ignored, but some of them stick. One of the ones that got a reply was a request to tour a museum collection of rare and antique musical instruments that the university's music school owns. In one of the conversations we had with the outreach director of the collection, we decided that co-hosting an educational event that melds technology and music into a workshop for kids and their parents. This is what is referred to as a Make and Take, participants register, pay a fee for parts, come and get taught how to make stuff, and then get to take it home with them afterwards.</blockquote></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/terrasig/2009/11/toaster_sunshine_channels_jack.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/terrasig/2009/11/toaster_sunshine_channels_jack.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/pqX238_7RWE" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/pqX238_7RWE/toaster_sunshine_channels_jack.php Music Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:02:15 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/terrasig/2009/11/toaster_sunshine_channels_jack.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Coturnix none@example.com <p><strong>The Giant's Shoulders</strong> #17 - Darwin Sesquicentennial Edition - is up on <a href="" target="_blank" title="">The Primate Diaries</a></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/todays_carnivals_454.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/llLOJaNfzws" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/llLOJaNfzws/todays_carnivals_454.php Carnivals Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:45:19 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/todays_carnivals_454.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss William M. Connolley none@example.com <p>In shocking <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/21/cumbria-floods-more-rain-barker">news</a> <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/6622961/Cumbria-floods-Gordon-Brown-pledges-extra-1m-for-stricken-area.html">just</a> in, record heavy rain in the Lakes and extensive flooding has <i>not been linked to global warming</i>. Dr Bogus, spokesman for the Made-Up Institute of Twaddle, said "This is completely unprecedented. Normally, any unusual - or even merely somewhat uncommon - weather event is immeadiately linked to global warming. All of the usual Pinko suspects have failed us in this case. The best we have so far is "David Balmforth, a flooding expert at the Institution of Civil Engineers, said deluges on a similar scale will become more frequent as a result of climate change." and that is very weak. But in breaking news, the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/geoffrey-lean/6617386/Cumbria-floods-theres-more-where-that-came-from.html">Torygraph</a> has supplied the void with "The flooding in Cumbria is part of a pattern of weather which shows that global warming is occurring faster than anyone expected, says Geoffrey Lean."</p> <p>Oh lordy, that last one is pretty awful. I was hoping not to have to see it, but now I have. It sez <i>Three factors cause heavier storms as the climate heats up. As it gets hotter, more energy is injected into the climate. There is a sharper contrast between land and the sea (which warms more slowly), causing stronger winds and greater instability. And as the seas do heat, more water evaporates from them - and comes down as heavier rain. </i> Can you see the obvious problem? Yes that's right: if it was correct, there would be an enormous seasonal cycle in rainfall, with far more in the summer than winter. As it happens, there are places where this is true - Cairns, for example, according to [[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_season">Wet Seaason</a>]]. But the UK isn't like that - there is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_United_Kingdom">more rain in winter</a>, as we all knew. Which immeadiately tells you that the primary driver of rainfall in the UK is not temperature. Global warming might produce more rainfall in the UK - but it might not. If you were relying on the interseasonal T-PPN regression as a proxy for the long-term T-PPN relation, you'd predict *less* rainfall as the climate warms.</p> <p>Incidentally, whilst writing this I ran across:</p> <p><a href="http://www.skepticalscience.com/"><img src="http://www.skepticalscience.com/images/Total-Heat-Content.gif"></a></p> <p>Isn't that nice. It's from the <a href="http://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-stopped-in-1998.htm">http://www.skepticalscience.com/</a> site, originally from <a href="http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2009/2009JD012105.shtml">An observationally based energy balance for the Earth since 1950</a> by D. M. Murphy et al..</p> <p>Oh yes: I'll get on to the emails some time.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/stoat/2009/11/floods_not_linked_to_climate_c.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/lgulSwDycOs" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/lgulSwDycOs/floods_not_linked_to_climate_c.php climate grumping Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:24:43 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/stoat/2009/11/floods_not_linked_to_climate_c.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss PalMD none@example.com <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; ">The latest<a href="http://skepticscircle.blogspot.com/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 84, 166); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; ">&nbsp;Skeptics' Circle</a>&nbsp;is up at&nbsp;<a href="http://beyondtheshortcoat.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/the-124th-meeting-of-the-skeptics-circle/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 84, 166); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; ">Beyond the Short Coat</a>. &nbsp;</span><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></font></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; ">The <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/primatediaries/2009/11/the_giants_shoulders_-_darwin.php">Giants' Shoulders #17</a> is also up at scibling Eric Michael Johnson's place. &nbsp;Go and read!\</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></font></div> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/2009/11/skeptics_circle_124_is_up.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/-TPJ9rDH14c" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/-TPJ9rDH14c/skeptics_circle_124_is_up.php meta-blag Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:24:01 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/2009/11/skeptics_circle_124_is_up.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>Mechanical engineer Sangbae Kim looks to animals to inspire his robot designs..</p> <p>Press release from MIT:</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/collectiveimagination/2009/11/from_nature_robots.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/collectiveimagination/2009/11/from_nature_robots.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/YJyXukIQGFM" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/YJyXukIQGFM/from_nature_robots.php robots Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:01:30 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/collectiveimagination/2009/11/from_nature_robots.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Nick Anthis none@example.com <p>In the op-ed pages of The Washington Post today, Elliot Gerson--the American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust--takes a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/20/AR2009112003374.html">bold stand</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>Tonight, 32 young Americans will win Rhodes Scholarships. Their tenures at Oxford are funded by the legacy of the British imperialist Cecil Rhodes, a man whose life would not be honored today were it not for his vision that young people of outstanding intellect, leadership and ambition could make the world a better place.</p> <p>For more than a century Rhodes scholars have left Oxford with virtually any job available to them. For much of this time, they have overwhelmingly chosen paths in scholarship, teaching, writing, medicine, scientific research, law, the military and public service. They have reached the highest levels in virtually all fields.</p> <p>In the 1980s, however, the pattern of career choices began to change. Until then, even though business ambitions and management degrees have not been disfavored in our competition, business careers attracted relatively few Rhodes scholars. No one suggested this was an unfit domain; it was simply the rare scholar who went to Wall Street, finance and general business management. Only three American Rhodes scholars in the 1970s (out of 320) went directly into business from Oxford; by the late 1980s the number grew to that many in a year. Recently, more than twice as many went into business in just one year than did in the entire 1970s.</p> <p>This break in an almost century-old pattern coincided with great increases in occupational earnings differentials, which have continued to grow, seemingly exponentially. It seems quaint, if not unfathomable, that just three decades ago the differentials in earnings -- generally two- to fivefold between business leaders and doctors or lawyers, or five- to tenfold with professors, scientists and public servants -- were often rationalized by Rhodes scholars as reasonable additional compensation to balance the lower standing of business jobs among their peers.</p> <p>When differentials could become a hundredfold or far more -- and as investment banking and similar firms started to recruit young Rhodes scholars who had degrees in math, physics or even history, English and theology -- the yawning prospective wealth chasm understandably became impossible for many to ignore. Even for a few of those most deeply committed to other, more public-spirited pursuits, the lure of such rewards, especially as they are reasonably attainable for people of such high abilities, became much harder to resist.</p></blockquote> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/2009/11/rhodes_secretary_wall_street_m.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/2009/11/rhodes_secretary_wall_street_m.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/Hzf78DxeJt8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/Hzf78DxeJt8/rhodes_secretary_wall_street_m.php Oxford Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:05:10 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/2009/11/rhodes_secretary_wall_street_m.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Eric Michael Johnson none@example.com <p><img class="inset right" src="http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa144/Primate_bucket/RayComfort.jpg" width="200">Now that his plan has backfired drastically (his own website has removed the link to his "Introduction" of Darwin's book) and more people were offended by his distortions than anything else, let me briefly point out some useful information. Comfort makes the following assertions in his introduction:</p> <blockquote>Adolf Hitler took Darwin's evolutionary philosophy to its logical conclusions [and] the legacy of Darwin's theory can be seen in the rise of eugenics, euthanasia, infanticide, and abortion.</blockquote> <p>As the National Center for Science Education has <a href="http://www.dontdissdarwin.com/analysis.php">pointed out</a>:</p> <blockquote>This is simply hyperbole on Comfort's part. This laundry-list of unrelated controversial issues is meant to inflame passions rather than inform.</blockquote> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/primatediaries/2009/11/ray_comfort_is_a_half_wit_and.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/primatediaries/2009/11/ray_comfort_is_a_half_wit_and.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/SX4tx8kiQvg" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/SX4tx8kiQvg/ray_comfort_is_a_half_wit_and.php History Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0800 http://scienceblogs.com/primatediaries/2009/11/ray_comfort_is_a_half_wit_and.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Orac none@example.com <p>It's time for another installment of that venerable (gasp!) blog carnival of skepticism, science, and critical thinking, <a href="http://skepticscircle.blogspot.com">The Skeptics' Circle</a>. This time, it's the <a href="http://beyondtheshortcoat.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/the-124th-meeting-of-the-skeptics-circle/">124th Meeting of the Skeptics' Circle</a>, and it's finally landed, late but still brimming with skeptical goodness at <a href="http://beyondtheshortcoat.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/the-124th-meeting-of-the-skeptics-circle/">Beyond the Short Coat</a>.</p> <p>Next up, two weeks hence, on December 3, will be TechSkeptic at <a href="http://techskeptic.blogspot.com">Effort Sisyphus</a>. His instructions for submitting your work are <a href="http://techskeptic.blogspot.com/2009/11/skeptic-circle-124.html">here</a>. General instructions for what we look for in a Skeptics' Circle entry are <a href="http://skepticscircle.blogspot.com/2005/10/skeptics-circle-archive-and-schedule.html">here</a>. So, by the way, is the schedule. If you're interested in hosting one of these puppies yourself (and what skeptical blogger wouldn't like to try his or her hand at this at some point?), check out these <a href="http://oracknows.blogspot.com/2005/07/skeptics-circle-reloaded.html">instructions for hosting</a> and drop me a line.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/t_Wu9glJ-DY" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/t_Wu9glJ-DY/124th_skeptics_circle.php Blog carnivals Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/124th_skeptics_circle.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Razib Khan none@example.com <p>No, this isn't about intellectual property issues and piracy. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0007958">Whole Genome Distribution and Ethnic Differentiation of Copy Number Variation in Caucasian and Asian Populations</a>:<br /> <blockquote>Although copy number variation (CNV) has recently received much attention as a form of structure variation within the human genome, knowledge is still inadequate on fundamental CNV characteristics such as occurrence rate, genomic distribution and ethnic differentiation. In the present study, we used the Affymetrix GeneChip® Mapping 500K Array to discover and characterize CNVs in the human genome and to study ethnic differences of CNVs between Caucasians and Asians. Three thousand and nineteen CNVs, including 2381 CNVs in autosomes and 638 CNVs in X chromosome, from 985 Caucasian and 692 Asian individuals were identified, with a mean length of 296 kb. Among these CNVs, 190 had frequencies greater than 1% in at least one ethnic group, and 109 showed significant ethnic differences in frequencies (p<0.01). After merging overlapping CNVs, 1135 copy number variation regions (CNVRs), covering approximately 439 Mb (14.3%) of the human genome, were obtained. Our findings of ethnic differentiation of CNVs, along with the newly constructed CNV genomic map, extend our knowledge on the structural variation in the human genome and may furnish a basis for understanding the genomic differentiation of complex traits across ethnic groups.</blockquote></p> <p>Here's a figure which shows the distributions, CHI = Chinese and CAU = Caucasion.*</p> <p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="cnvperperson.png" src="http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/cnvperperson.png" width="500" height="493" class="mt-image-left" style="float: left; margin: 0 20px 20px 0;" /></span></p> <p>The big picture issue is CNVs may be important in gene expression, the paper cites a number that ~18% of the variance in this may be due to CNVs. An interesting recent case was CNV differences in regards to the gene which <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2007/09/maybe_its_agriculture.php">codes for amylase</a>, with some researchers suggesting this is due to selection for the ability to digest starches for agriculturalists. In relation to the title, there might not be anything there:<br /> <blockquote>A third example of ethnic variation is that the genomic coverage of CNVs in Asians is 1.6-fold higher than that in seen in Caucasians, indicating that genome variants were more common in Asians than in Caucasians. Further sensitivity analysis resulted in an only 1.2-fold elevated genomic coverage of Chinese CNVs compared to Caucasian CNVs. Considering different DNA extraction methods for Chinese and Caucasian samples,<b> the ethnic differences seen in genomic coverage may be partially due to different binding affinities of diverse DNA extracts to the SNP chip array.</b></blockquote></p> <p><b>Citation:</b> Li J, Yang T, Wang L, Yan H, Zhang Y, et al. 2009, <i>Whole Genome Distribution and Ethnic Differentiation of Copy Number Variation in Caucasian and Asian Populations</i>. PLoS ONE 4(11): e7958. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007958</p> <p>* If they use "Caucasian" for European origin people, why not "Mongoloid" for Chinese?</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/chinese_propensity_to_copy.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/MkM2qq0DXG8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/MkM2qq0DXG8/chinese_propensity_to_copy.php Genetics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:54:39 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/chinese_propensity_to_copy.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Ed Yong none@example.com <p class="center"><img class="inset" src="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/upload/2009/11/leafcutter_ants_rely_on_bacteria_to_fertilise_their_fungus_g/Leafcutter.jpg" width="500" height="256" alt="Leafcutter.jpg"/></p> <p class=" "><span>Hardly a natural history documentary goes by without some mention of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafcutter_ant">leafcutter ants</a>. So overexposed are these critters that I strongly suspect they're holding David Attenborough's relatives to ransom somewhere. But there <em>is </em>good reason for their fame - these charismatic insects are incredibly successful because of their skill as gardeners. </span> </p> <p class=" "><span>As their name suggests, the 41 species of leafcutter ants slice up leaves and carry them back to their nests in long columns of red and green. They don't eat the leaves - they use them to grow a fungus, and it's this crop that they feed on. It's an old, successful alliance and the largest leafcutter colonies redefine the concept of a "super-organism". <span>&nbsp;</span>They include over 8 million individuals, span more than 20 cubic metres and harvest more than 240 kg of leaves every year. They're technically plant-eaters, with the fungus acting as the super-organism's external gut. </span> </p> <p class=" "><img class="inset right" src="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/upload/2009/11/leafcutter_ants_rely_on_bacteria_to_fertilise_their_fungus_g/Leafcutter_ants_transportin.jpg" width="200" height="267" alt="Leafcutter_ants_transportin.jpg"/><span>But the partnership between ant and fungus depends on other collaborators - bacteria. Some of these microbes help the ants to fertilise their gardens with valuable nitrogen, by capturing it from the atmosphere (a process known as "fixing"). Adrian Pinto-Tomas from the University of Wisconsin-Madison managed to isolate strains of these "nitrogen-fixing bacteria" from the gardens of 80 leafcutter colonies, throughout South and Central America. </span> </p> <p class=" ">Nitrogen is a scarce commodity for leafcutters, and the leaves they cut have too little of this vital element. And yet, they clearly get it from somewhere. The exhausted leaves they chuck into their refuse piles have higher proportions of nitrogen than those in the gardens, which have higher proportions than those that are freshly harvested or in the local leaf litter. Somewhere along the way, the cut leaves become enriched with nitrogen. </p> <p class=" ">To find out how, Pinto-Tomas searched captive colonies of leafcutters for telltale signs of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These microbes extract nitrogen from the air using an enzyme called, appropriately enough, nitrogenase. The enzyme also speeds up other chemical reactions, including converting acetylene into methane. So the fate of acetylene reveals the presence of nitrogenase, which in turn reveals the presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. </p> <p class=" "><span>And that's exactly what happened - the test showed that nitrogenase was present and active in the gardens of all the 8 leafcutter species that Pinto-Tomas analysed. The enzyme and the bacteria that wield it are particularly active in the centre of the fungus gardens and not at all on the ants themselves, or the leaves they cut. Around half of the garden's supply of nitrogen comes from these bacteria. </span> </p> <p class=" "><span>But finding the bacteria wasn't enough; Pinto-Tomas had to show that these microbes were actually beneficial partners rather than casual stowaways. He did that by sealing the colonies in airtight chambers and pumped in air containing a relatively rare form of nitrogen called nitrogen-15. He found that after a week, levels of this isotope had increased not just in the fungus, but the worker ants and their larvae too. </span> </p> <p class=" "><span><img class="inset right" src="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/upload/2009/11/leafcutter_ants_rely_on_bacteria_to_fertilise_their_fungus_g/Leafcutter-ant.jpg" width="200" height="217" alt="Leafcutter-ant.jpg"/>The ants were clearly reaping substantial rewards from their bacterial tenants. And by denying the ants access to soil or other food sources, Pinto-Tomas showed that they were indeed getting their nitrogen from these bacteria, and not from other sources.</span> </p> <p class=" "><span>This joint venture with fungi and bacteria must be a key part to the leafcutters' undeniable success. It makes them a super-herbivore. The ants don't fall prey to insecticides produced by plants because the fungus deals with those, and the fungus doesn't have to cope with anti-fungal countermeasures because the ants break those down before plying it with leaves. As a result, both partners can exploit a massive variety of different plants, rather than specialising one any one type. A lack of nitrogen is the big limiting factor, but the ants can clearly overcome that too, with some bacterial assistance. </span> </p> <p class=" "><span>The partnership is probably a boon to other plants too. The leaves that the ants discard have 26 times more nitrogen than the surrounding leaf litter and they fertilise the surrounding soil. It's no coincidence that the diversity of plants tends to skyrocket near a leafcutter garbage dump. </span> </p> <p class=" "><span>The nitrogen-fixers aren't the only bacteria that cement the alliance between ant and fungus. A decade ago, Cameron Currie, who was also involved in this study, showed that leafcutters use another type of fungus as a pesticide. Their gardens are plagued by a different species of virulent, parasitic fungus and to protect their monocultures from these weeds, the ants <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v398/n6729/abs/398701a0.html">use a type of <em>Streptomyces </em>bacteria</a>. It hitches a lift on the ants' shell and it secretes antibiotics that halt the growth of the parasite. </span> </p> <p class=" "><span>These insects really are gardeners <em>par excellence</em>, not only successfully growing a monoculture crop, they also use pesticides and fertilisers. Now if they'd only return David Attenborough's family...</span> </p> <p class=" "><strong>Reference:</strong> Science 10<span>.1126/science.1173036</span> </p> <p class=" "><strong><span>More on ants: </span></strong> </p> <ul> <li><span><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/10/ants_spread_collective_immunity_through_contact.php">Ants spread collective immunity through contact</a></span> </li> <li><span><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/09/ants_herd_aphids_with_tranquilisers_in_their_footsteps.php">Ants herd aphids with tranquilisers in their footsteps</a></span> </li> <li><span><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/08/ants_rescue_trapped_relatives.php">Ants rescue trapped relatives</a></span> </li> <li><span><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/07/foul-tasting_ant_parasitises_the_colonies_of_other_species.php">Foul-tasting ant parasitises the colonies of other species</a></span> </li> <li><span><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/05/the_signals_of_life_-_ants_use_chemical_messages_to_avoid_ge.php">The signals of life - ants use chemical messages to avoid getting trashed</a></span></li> </ul> <p class=" "> </p> <p class=" "><strong><span>Images </span></strong><span>by Jarrod Scott, Cameron Currie and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leafcutter_ants_transporting_leaves.jpg">Bandwagonman</a></span> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/11/leafcutter_ants_rely_on_bacteria_to_fertilise_their_fungus_g.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/YjUC7Hs0svU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/YjUC7Hs0svU/leafcutter_ants_rely_on_bacteria_to_fertilise_their_fungus_g.php Ants Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:30:40 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/11/leafcutter_ants_rely_on_bacteria_to_fertilise_their_fungus_g.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Orac none@example.com <p>A lesson that's worth learning. Of course, I only wish people ignored vaccine denialists; unfortunately, enough people don't that vaccines are a frequent blog topic for me:</p> <div align="center"> <object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ShzHlqdasPQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ShzHlqdasPQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object> <p><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M2PiPEr0h1c&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M2PiPEr0h1c&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /> </div></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/why_people_ignore_vaccine_denialists.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/6Qo3PLfnSfo" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/6Qo3PLfnSfo/why_people_ignore_vaccine_denialists.php Antivaccination lunacy Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/why_people_ignore_vaccine_denialists.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Coturnix none@example.com <p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="scienceonline2010logoMedium.jpg" src="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/scienceonline2010logoMedium.jpg" width="250" height="123" class="mt-image-left" style="float: left; margin: 0 20px 20px 0;" /></span></p> <p>Continuing with the introductions to the sessions on the Program, here is what will happen on Saturday, January 16th at 11:30am - 12:35pm:</p> <p><b>A.</b> <b>Legal Aspects of publishing, sharing and blogging science - <a href="http://blog.stodden.net/" target="_blank" title="">Victoria Stodden</a></b></p> <p>Description: Not giving legal advice, but discussion of CC-licences, copyright, Fair Use, libel laws, etc. Discuss <a href="http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/Legal_Aspects/" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.</p> <p><b>B.</b> <b>Shakespeare wasn't a semantic web guy - <a href="http://sciencecommons.org/about/whoweare/rees/" target="_blank" title="">Jonathan Rees</a></b></p> <p>Description: That which we call a rose, by any other name, wouldn't be identified by a computer as a rose. This talk will go through the Shared Name initiative which promotes community-wide use of shared names for records from public databases. The goal is to have a significant effect on the practice of bioinformatics by making it easier to share and link data sets and tools across projects. Selecting and maintaining names is a serious capacity building problem for moving the RDF world from the hacker and hobbyist community to the regular user. And a growing body of experience emphasizes that for any solution to be generally adopted, it must not only be technically sound, but also serve and empower the community of users. Discuss <a href="http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/Shakespeare/" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.</p> <p><b>C.</b> <b>Citizen Science - <a href="http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/" target="_blank" title="">Darlene Cavalier</a>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/component/content/article/59?template=clear&class=about=">Scott Baker</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/chillnc" target="_blank" title="">Ben MacNeill</a></b> </p> <p>Description: Not so long ago, "citizen scientist" would have seemed to be a contradiction in terms. Science is traditionally something done by people in lab coats who hold PhDs. As with classical music or acting, amateurs might be able to appreciate science, but they could not contribute to it. Today, however, enabled by technology and empowered by social change, science-interested laypeople are transforming the way science gets done. Through a myriad of different projects, citizen scientists are collaborating with professionals, conducting field studies, and adding valuable local detail to research. Discuss <a href="http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/Citizen_Science/" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.</p> <p><b>D.</b> <b>Talking Trash: Online Outreach from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch - <a href="http://theoystersgarter.com/" target="_blank" title="">Miriam Goldstein</a>, <a href="http://lindseyhoshaw.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" title="">Lindsey Hoshaw</a>, <a href="http://www.diveintoyourimagination.com/about/about-annie/about-annie-164.html" target="_blank" title="">Annie Crawley</a> and <a href="http://www.theplasticocean.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="">Bonnie Monteleone</a></b> </p> <p>Description: Debris in the North Pacific Gyre received unprecedented attention in 2009 with voyages from the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Project Kaisei, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Each voyage integrated online outreach into its mission, but emphasized very different aspects of the problem. What are the challenges of creating a major outreach effort from one of the most isolated places on earth? How can scientists, journalists, and educators balance "exciting findings live from the field!" with "highly preliminary unpublished non-peer-reviewed data that our labwork might contradict"? And why is the public so interested in the issue of trash in the ocean, anyway? Discuss <a href="http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/Talking_Trash/" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.</p> <p><b>E.</b> <b>Scientific visualization - <a href="http://whatitslikeontheinside.com/" target="_blank" title="">Tara Richerson (science_goddess)</a></b></p> <p>Description: A picture is not only worth a thousand words---it is also worth a thousand numbers. This session will focus on ways to move from raw quantitative and qualitative data to a variety of visuals that communicate with all audiences. Discuss <a href="http://www.scienceonline2010.com/index.php/wiki/Scientific_visualization/" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/scienceonline2010_-_program_hi_2.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/jGvy5LJe_RA" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/jGvy5LJe_RA/scienceonline2010_-_program_hi_2.php SO'10 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:50:37 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/scienceonline2010_-_program_hi_2.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Mike none@example.com <p>Richard Cohen recently wrote that he would like to see an "Institute for the Study of Sarah Palin" receive funding. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111602630.html">It's a pretty good piece</a> (which just goes to show that even the dumbest squirrel can occasionally find a nut). But I do have one quibble. Cohen writes (italics mine):</p> <blockquote>On the other hand, someone else will point out that the very week Palin is promoting her book, the current president is abroad attending meetings in Asia, including a visit with our Chinese bankers. <em>Could those who fault Barack Obama for being callow and inexperienced imagine Palin meeting with the Chinese or, for that matter, conducting a protracted policy review about Afghanistan?</em></blockquote> <p>To which the Mad Biologist answers:</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/mikethemadbiologist/2009/11/dont_know_much_palintology.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/mikethemadbiologist/2009/11/dont_know_much_palintology.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/fs8CM0Iv_Uc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/fs8CM0Iv_Uc/dont_know_much_palintology.php Creationism Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:03:59 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/mikethemadbiologist/2009/11/dont_know_much_palintology.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss "GrrlScientist" none@example.com <p><span style="font-size: 10px">tags: <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/identify+these+birds" rel="tag">identify these birds</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/birds" rel="tag">birds</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/mystery+bird" rel="tag">mystery bird</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/bird+ID+quiz" rel="tag">bird ID quiz</a></span></p></p> <div class="centeredCaption"> <p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4117353194_0061c68e09.jpg" width="500" height="335" /></p> <p>[Mystery birds] photographed at Atherton, Queensland, Australia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]</p> <p>Image: <a target="window" href="http://www.avianresources.com/Wild_Birds.htm">Steve Duncan</a>, 26 August 2009 [<a target="window" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4117353194_a078cf2dea_o.jpg" width="800" height="536" />larger view</a>]. </p> <p>Nikon D200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4 & TC17E. </p> </div> <p><span style="color: red; font-size: 14px">Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification. </span><br /> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/11/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_415.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/11/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_415.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/D_kzJixRMQw" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/D_kzJixRMQw/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_415.php Mystery Birds Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:59:33 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/11/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_415.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Ed Brayton none@example.com <p>The Supreme Court has <a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/11/16/High_Court_Turns_Down_Religious_Speech_Appeal.htm">denied cert</a> in the case of <i>McComb v. Crehan</i>, the 2006 case where a valedictorian had her microphone cut off by the school during her speech at a graduation ceremony because she began to talk about her Christian faith, a deviation from the script they had approved (they had rejected the original script and forced her to take out the religious elements). </p> <p>The district court had dismissed her case and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that dismissal. Now the Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal, leaving the lower court rulings in place. That means there were not 4 votes on the court to hear the appeal and that is the end of the case.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/cert_denied_in_religious_gradu.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/cert_denied_in_religious_gradu.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/_G6Ay7s4ITs" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/_G6Ay7s4ITs/cert_denied_in_religious_gradu.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:23:41 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/cert_denied_in_religious_gradu.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Ed Brayton none@example.com <p>The Charleston Gazette of West Virginia <a href="http://wvgazettemail.com/News/200911140678">documents</a> a whole bunch of police officers breaking the law over and over again and just changing to a new department. The chief example is a cop named Matthew Leavitt, who was finally sentenced to two years in prison for assault after a long history of illegal behavior - none of which ever kept him from getting a new job at a different police department. </p> <p>A <a href="http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200911150269">second article</a> gives the timeline for Leavitt, which shows just how easy it is for a police officer to continue to get jobs no matter how many times they get caught breaking the law.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/cops_break_the_law_change_depa.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/cops_break_the_law_change_depa.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/AOn3rrTmVF8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/AOn3rrTmVF8/cops_break_the_law_change_depa.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:16:58 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/cops_break_the_law_change_depa.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Ed Brayton none@example.com <p>This will show you just how strong the faith is for many Catholics. An Italian man has <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2009/11/have-a-dip-the-holy-waters-fine-or-h1n1-means-none-for-me-thanks/1">invented</a> a hands-free holy water dispenser for Catholic churches because congregants were afraid of dipping their hands in the holy water urns:</p> <blockquote>Clever Catholic inventor Luciano Marabese created the electronic holy water dispenser -- a terracotta wall-mounted urn with a sensor-controlled spigot underneath -- after hearing that fellow Italians, wary of contracting the swine flu, were afraid to dip their fingers in the holy water fonts at the entrance of their churches.</blockquote> <p>So, uh, what exactly makes holy water different from regular water? Surely if it has divine properties, at the very least it should be sterile and free of viruses that can kill you, right?</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/oh_ye_of_little_faith.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/n2hfEllHEVU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/n2hfEllHEVU/oh_ye_of_little_faith.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:09:06 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/oh_ye_of_little_faith.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss DrugMonkey none@example.com <p>Canada. <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/drugmonkey/2009/05/oh_doctor_suspects_does_he_thi.php">Again</a>. This time <a href="http://www.whistlerquestion.com/article/20091117/WHISTLER01/911179999/1030/WHISTLER/ecstasy-death-prompts-rcmp-warning">in Whistler</a>: </p> <blockquote><em>A 20-year-old male had been found unconscious by friends. When police arrived, Whistler Fire Rescue Service and Emergency Health Services personnel were performing CPR, but failed to revive the victim, who was pronounced dead a short time later at the Whistler Health Care Centre, Wright said. <p>A second male who was at the same home was hospitalized after he, too, suffered an apparent overdose of MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine). He is expected to make a full recovery, Wright said.</p> <p>Both men had ingested the drug in powdered form. </em></blockquote></p> <p>aaaand...</p> <blockquote><em>Earlier last week, a 17-year-old Fernie male who had also ingested MDMA in powered form almost died, Wright said, emphasizing that there was no connection between the two incidents.</em></blockquote> <p>Three overdoses requiring medical intervention, one death. </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/drugmonkey/2009/11/here_we_go_again_ecstasy_death.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/drugmonkey/2009/11/here_we_go_again_ecstasy_death.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/3qKQI4LHAMw" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/3qKQI4LHAMw/here_we_go_again_ecstasy_death.php MDMA Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:07:07 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/drugmonkey/2009/11/here_we_go_again_ecstasy_death.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Ed Brayton none@example.com <p>About 8 people emailed me a link to <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/area_man_passionate_defender_of">this article</a> from the Onion: Area Man Passionate Defender Of What He Imagines Constitution To Be. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a read. It's just barely a parody.</p> <blockquote>Spurred by an administration he believes to be guilty of numerous transgressions, self-described American patriot Kyle Mortensen, 47, is a vehement defender of ideas he seems to think are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and principles that brave men have fought and died for solely in his head. <p>"Our very way of life is under siege," said Mortensen, whose understanding of the Constitution derives not from a close reading of the document but from talk-show pundits, books by television personalities, and the limitless expanse of his own colorful imagination. "It's time for true Americans to stand up and protect the values that make us who we are."</blockquote></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/hilarious_onion_article.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/hilarious_onion_article.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/6qU3eyDubfU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/6qU3eyDubfU/hilarious_onion_article.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:02:05 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/11/hilarious_onion_article.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>Commentary from the Daily Galaxy:</p> <blockquote>...A robot that can open doors and find electrical outlets to recharge itself. Computer viruses that no one can stop. Predator drones, which, though still controlled remotely by humans, come close to a machine that can kill autonomously....</blockquote> <a href="http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/11/will-nexgen-ai-be-a-threat-to-human-civilization-a-galaxy-insight.html"> Check out this commentary</a> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/collectiveimagination/2009/11/will_nexgen_ai_have_unintended.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/rd9beFAEFVI" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/rd9beFAEFVI/will_nexgen_ai_have_unintended.php Artificial Intelligence Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:38:04 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/collectiveimagination/2009/11/will_nexgen_ai_have_unintended.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss PalMD none@example.com <p>Opponents of science-based medicine like to accuse the rest of us of failing to be "holisitc", of failing to see the whole individual who comes to us for health care. I've argued many times that this is not only wrong, but that so-called alternative docs, by recommending unproven treatments and giving false hope are actually harming their patients. The new USPSTF mammogram recommendations are likely to fuel this debate as well as the one regarding health care reform and rationing. There's already been a great deal of debate new mammogram recommendations, most of it good. For a comprehensive analysis of the topic,<a href="http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/11/really_rethinking_breast_cancer_screenin.php"> go and read Orac's take</a>. </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/2009/11/science-based_medcine_we_are_n.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/2009/11/science-based_medcine_we_are_n.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/36ytZ_W9SuA" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/36ytZ_W9SuA/science-based_medcine_we_are_n.php Medicine Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:32:00 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/2009/11/science-based_medcine_we_are_n.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>The Anthropocentric Global Warming Denialist Community is collectively creaming in its collective jeans over the release of zillions of emails that definitively prove that the whole global warming conspiracy thing was made up. Real Climate has the story:</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/global_warming_alarmist_conspi.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/global_warming_alarmist_conspi.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/X7nfEYg-2Qc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/X7nfEYg-2Qc/global_warming_alarmist_conspi.php Global Warming Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:23:33 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/global_warming_alarmist_conspi.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Martin R none@example.com <p><img src="http://scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology/upload/2009/11/why_malt_the_barley_for_beer/180px-GravityTap.jpg" width="180" height="195" alt="180px-GravityTap.jpg"/></p> <p>Dear Reader, usually the deal here on <em>Aard</em> is that I tell you what to think and you reply, zombielike, "Yes... Master... Kill... Kill...". But today, let's turn the tables. I'm going to ask a question about a simple scientific-culinary matter that has baffled me for decades. And I hope someone out there knows enough about yeast to enlighten me.<ol><li>When starved of oxygen, yeast turns sugar into alcohol.<br /> <li>When germinated, barley grains, by means of the enzyme amylase, turn some of their constituent starch into sugar. This process is called malting.<br /> <li>In order to make beer, you must malt the barley. This suggests that yeast cannot make alcohol out of starch.<br /> <li>But Swedish vodka is made from potatoes, which are very high in starch but cannot be malted. This suggests that yeast <i>can</i> make alcohol out of starch.</ol><p>So here's my question: if yeast can make alcohol directly out of starch, why bother malting the barley before making beer? Couldn't you just mix barley flour with water and yeast and put a lid on the slop?</p> <p><b>Update same evening:</b> Dale P and other Dear Readers solved the conundrum för me. Yeast cannot in fact ferment starch. To ferment potato mash, you add enzyme-containing barley malt to it!</p> <p><i>[More blog entries about <a href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/yeast" rel="tag">yeast</a>, <a href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/beer" rel="tag">beer</a>, <a href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/brewing" rel="tag">brewing</a>, <a href="http://www.technorati.com/tags/alcohol" rel="tag">alcohol</a>; <a href="http://bloggar.se/om/j%E4st" rel="tag">jäst</a>, <a href="http://bloggar.se/om/%F6l" rel="tag">öl</a>, <a href="http://bloggar.se/om/bryggerier" rel="tag">bryggerier</a>, <a href="http://bloggar.se/om/alkohol" rel="tag">alkohol</a>.]</i></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology/2009/11/why_malt_the_barley_for_beer.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/dy37WQhzhv8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/dy37WQhzhv8/why_malt_the_barley_for_beer.php Biology Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:21:58 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology/2009/11/why_malt_the_barley_for_beer.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Brian Switek none@example.com <p class="center"><img class="inset" alt="" src="http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/upload/2009/11/photo_of_the_day_770_small-cla/phpcc6284AM-thumb-335x500-22553.jpg" width="335" height="500" /> <br> <center>A group of small-clawed otters (<i>Aonyx cinerea</i>) gnawing on some fishsicles, photographed at the Bronx Zoo.</center> <br> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2009/11/photo_of_the_day_770_small-cla.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/-PDgfV5VIq8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/-PDgfV5VIq8/photo_of_the_day_770_small-cla.php Mammals Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:16:10 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2009/11/photo_of_the_day_770_small-cla.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss revere none@example.com <p>The Norwegian Institute of Public Health <a href="http://www.fhi.no/eway/default.aspx?pid=233&trg=MainLeft_5669&MainLeft_5669=5544:81363::0:5667:1:::0:0">is reporting</a> sporadic occurrences of a mutation in a portion of the flu virus that is involved with the process by which it attaches to cells. I use the word "sporadic" because at this point there is no evidence that the cases where the genetic change has been found are epidemiologically linked. Therefore we don't see it spreading from person to person but rather arising in people after they have been infected. At least that's how it appears from reports, but we have only preliminary information at this point. According to WHO, the mutation <a href="http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/briefing_20091120/en/index.html">has been seen before</a>, again sporadically and as early as April, in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine, and the US. Should we be worried about it?</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/11/trying_to_understand_the_norwe.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/11/trying_to_understand_the_norwe.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/RtDdMSDVJ6E" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/RtDdMSDVJ6E/trying_to_understand_the_norwe.php Swine flu Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:03:38 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/11/trying_to_understand_the_norwe.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Coturnix none@example.com <p><strong>I don't possess a lot of self-confidence. I'm an actor so I simply act confident every time I hit the stage. I am consumed with the fear of failing. Reaching deep down and finding confidence has made all my dreams come true. </strong></p> <p> - Arsenio Hall</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/clock_quotes_482.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/LVpoVvCWj1A" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/LVpoVvCWj1A/clock_quotes_482.php Clock Quotes Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:52:32 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/clock_quotes_482.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Razib Khan none@example.com <p><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/326/5956/1100">Pleistocene Megafaunal Collapse, Novel Plant Communities, and Enhanced Fire Regimes in North America</a>:<br /> <blockquote>Although the North American megafaunal extinctions and the formation of novel plant communities are well-known features of the last deglaciation, the causal relationships between these phenomena are unclear. Using the dung fungus Sporormiella and other paleoecological proxies from Appleman Lake, Indiana, and several New York sites, we established that the megafaunal decline closely preceded enhanced fire regimes and the development of plant communities that have no modern analogs. The loss of keystone megaherbivores may thus have altered ecosystem structure and function by the release of palatable hardwoods from herbivory pressure and by fuel accumulation. Megafaunal populations collapsed from 14,800 to 13,700 years ago, well before the final extinctions and during the Bølling-Allerød warm period.<b> Human impacts remain plausible, but the decline predates Younger Dryas cooling and the extraterrestrial impact event proposed to have occurred 12,900 years ago.</b></blockquote></p> <p><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/11/tiny_fungi_replay_the_fall_of_the_giant_beasts.php">Ed Yong</a> has the <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/11/tiny_fungi_replay_the_fall_of_the_giant_beasts.php">bases covered</a>:<br /> <blockquote>What about humans, those pesky slayers of animals? Some scientists believed that North America's Clovis people specialised in hunting big mammals, causing a "blitzkrieg" of spear-throwing that drove many species to extinction. But these hunters only arrive in North America between 13,300 and 12,900 years ago, around a thousand years after the population crashes had begun.</p> <p>If people were responsible, they must have been pre-Clovis settlers. There's growing evidence that such humans were around, but they weren't common or specialised. They may have contributed to the beasts' downfall, while Clovis hunting technology delivered a coup de grace to already faltering populati0ons.</p> <p>By analysing the sediment at Appleman lake - spores, pollen, charcoal and all - Gill has replayed the history of the site, spanning the last 17,000 years. Her data rule out a few theories, but as she says, they "[do] not conclusively resolve the debate" about climate causes versus human ones. It's possible that similar studies at different sites and other continents will help to provide more clues.</blockquote></p> <p>A complex story like this is perhaps more common than an event such as the extinction of the passenger pigeons. Populations of organisms often go through cycles in census size, whether due to environmental variation or coevolutionary dynamics with parasites. Consider the example of the <a href="http://www.google.com/cse?cx=017254414699180528062:uyrcvn__yd0&q=tasmanian+devil+site:http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/&sa=Search">Tasmania devil</a>, the disease which it is susceptible to is not the doing of humans, but the introduction of dingos (probably by humans) mean that the species is restricted to Tasmania. Additionally, humans have laid claim to much of the habitat of the devil (or what was the habitat of the devil). When a virulent disease hits, the devil has a much smaller margin of error than it had before. It could be that recent megafaunal extinctions are <b>ultimately due to humans, even if they are not always proximately due to humans.</b></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/when_mammoths_roamed.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/QfO4X-gp4Ns" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/QfO4X-gp4Ns/when_mammoths_roamed.php Ecology Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:19:44 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/when_mammoths_roamed.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Razib Khan none@example.com <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/katz_82.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/katz_82.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/BsbcQiRLZms" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/BsbcQiRLZms/katz_82.php Blog Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:55:34 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2009/11/katz_82.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/am-Qdx6vky0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/am-Qdx6vky0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/top_ten_internet_videos_countd.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/7AovngK_CmU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/7AovngK_CmU/top_ten_internet_videos_countd.php Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:22:59 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/top_ten_internet_videos_countd.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss David Ng none@example.com <p>... because I have tuesday afternoon cleared for updating the <a href="http://scq.ubc.ca/sciencescouts">science scout</a> site a bit. Plus, although I'm a bit apprehensive jumping into this media (more from a time suck perspective), I am keen to see if it has any utility in general for some of the programs I run.</p> <p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="firsttweet.jpg" src="http://scienceblogs.com/worldsfair/firsttweet.jpg" width="432" height="73" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p> <p>Anyway, say hello <a href="http://twitter.com/dnghub">@dnghub</a></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/worldsfair/2009/11/ok_for_what_its_worth_-_im_fin.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/_MMBQKXrnyo" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/_MMBQKXrnyo/ok_for_what_its_worth_-_im_fin.php Knoxville '82: Where Miscellany Thrive Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:19:24 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/worldsfair/2009/11/ok_for_what_its_worth_-_im_fin.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss ERV none@example.com <p>I am so pissed off. I didnt get out of the lab until quarter till 6 tonight, so there was no friggen way I could get down to OU to see Barker (feed/potty Arnie, feed/potty me, 15 mph on I-35... I would have gotten there by the time his presentation was over. Why the hell is it that on Friday nights I have loose, whatever plans, I can sneak out early at 4, but the Friday I want to leave early, I end up being wrapped up in BL-3 till 5 fourty-fucking-five???? RAAAAAGE!!!)</p> <p>So I was all hyped up for some quality atheist entertainment, and Im at home instead.</p> <p>...</p> <p>So Im going to bitch about w00mynz in atheism.</p> <p>------------</p> <p>PZ is awesome.</p> <p>He gave me (and other female atheists) plugs on Pharyngula, and irl/online interviews when we were nobodies (I HAS BLAG I R FAMOOSE NAU!!!), and he hasnt even been properly certified by <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">SciBlogs REAL Feminists</span><sup style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">(TM)</sup>*!</p> <p>My first link from PZ was on <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/04/future_science_media_star.php">my debate with Lenny Horowitz</a>.</p> <p>Please note he made no mention of 'Guys shes a girl we need to support her!!'</p> <p>He didnt say anything about my gender.</p> <p>Just my arguments and a general 'Hurrah!' for support.</p> <p>*thumbs-up*</p> <p>While later he and I a conversation on <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2008/07/science_saturday_the_young_and.php">bloggingheads</a>-- We both threw back lots of ideas for things to talk about, and PZ was very adamant about giving me an opportunity to talk about being a woman in science.</p> <p>Well, the thing is, I probably have a very different view of that than most people (not just women), so I didnt really want to, but PZ kicks ass and wanted to give me the opportunity.</p> <p>*thumbs-up*</p> <p>I would be <i>crushed</i> if I found out PZ didnt really like (or even listen to) my debate, but felt the need to link to more female bloggers, and I was good enough.</p> <p>I would be <i>crushed</i> if I found out PZ didnt really want to talk to me on blogging heads cause we could clear the air on epigenetics, or he wanted to lol about our antics with Creationists, but just scanned his blog-roll for some female, cause he felt 'man guilt'.</p> <p>So when atheist/skeptical groups are looking for speakers, I want them to say 'Oh Ive heard Abbie gives really good presentations on Creationism... maybe she will give a speech about being a scientist in a Red State!' or 'Weve never had anyone talk about HIV Denial, Abbie would be informative and funny!'</p> <p>I would even be happy if they said 'Abbie is hot! Lets get her to perform a Rock Band concert for scholarships to AAI!'</p> <p><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/11/the_problem_of_the_oblivious_w.php">*wince*</a> I would rather be run over by a bus than be picked randomly off a list of 'FEMALE ATHEISTS' to fill a guilty diversity quota. "Um... I guess Abbie can talk about Creationism... we have 900 other people talking on it... whove been doing it longer... and were at Dover... but... um... shes got a vagina... soooo...."</p> <p>I dont think this is what PZ means in his post at all, but I think it could be an easy knee-jerk reaction for organizers of these events-- "AAAH! We need more women!! Name more women!! Who? Ill Google her! Good enough-- whats another one???", so Im saying it straight up:<br /> <blockquote>You want me for my expertise/perspective/body, fine.</p> <p>Dont ask me just because Im female.</p> <p>That would make me feel stupid, useless, and used.</blockquote></p> <p><br /> <strong>Note--</strong> WOOMYNZ opinions offered on ERV might differ from your local WOOMYNZ, so please consult and react accordingly.</p> <p></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">* WHITE D00D!!! WHIIIIITE D0000000DE!!! D0000000000000DE!! *collapses in a pile of shoes, puke, and delusions*</span><br /> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2009/11/atheists_with_vaginas.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/y_vND15bSjA" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/y_vND15bSjA/atheists_with_vaginas.php Atheism Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:00:47 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2009/11/atheists_with_vaginas.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Ethan Siegel none@example.com <p>Black holes have come up a couple of times <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/11/are_black_holes_forbidden_math.php">this</a> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/11/falling_into_a_black_hole_suck.php">week</a>, and I've always wondered something. When you fall into a black hole, <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/11/falling_into_a_black_hole_suck.php">all sorts of strange things happen</a>. </p><center><img src="http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/upload/2009/11/believe_it_or_not_a_black_hole/black-holes.jpg" width="500" class="inset" title="You'll stay away if you know what's good for you!" alt="black-holes.jpg"/></center> <p>The most well-known one is that nothing -- not even <i>light</i> -- can ever escape once it falls in. Well, my question is, if <b>you</b> fell in to a black hole, as you crossed the event horizon in your sturdy, well-lit spaceship, would the lights stay on or would they go out as you crossed into the black hole? (Ignoring the tidal forces that would rip you and the spaceship apart.) </p><center><img src="http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/upload/2009/11/believe_it_or_not_a_black_hole/131183.jpg" width="500" class="inset" title="Yes, this picture is from Futurama!" alt="131183.jpg"/></center> <p>In other words, you've read the first 1497 pages of the Count of Monte Cristo as you cross the event horizon; will you be able to finish your book with your last remaining moments? </p><center><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="http://static.polldaddy.com/p/2282644.js"></script></center> <p>What do you think? Feel free to discuss below; I'll post the answer with an explanation on Monday!</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/11/believe_it_or_not_a_black_hole.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/8EbEtjJarS0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/8EbEtjJarS0/believe_it_or_not_a_black_hole.php Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:29:45 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/11/believe_it_or_not_a_black_hole.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Luis Azevedo Rodrigues none@example.com <p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><a href="http://scienceblogs.com.br/cienciaaonatural/assets_c/2009/11/PALESTRA_MADEIRA (Large)-22519.php" onclick="window.open('http://scienceblogs.com.br/cienciaaonatural/assets_c/2009/11/PALESTRA_MADEIRA (Large)-22519.php','popup','width=1024,height=999,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://scienceblogs.com.br/cienciaaonatural/assets_c/2009/11/PALESTRA_MADEIRA (Large)-thumb-500x487-22519.jpg" width="500" height="487" alt="PALESTRA_MADEIRA (Large).jpg" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></a></span><br /> <a href="http://www.uma.pt/cem/darwin/actividades_nov.html">"Em Novembro o CEM e a Escola Secundária de Francisco Franco celebram o 150º aniversário da publicação da obra de Charles Darwin, "A Origem das Espécies", com um ciclo de conferências intitulado "Darwin e a Origem das Espécies", a decorrer entre os dias 23 e 25."</a></p> <p> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com.br/cienciaaonatural/2009/11/darwin_150.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/WKle33vnBvY" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/WKle33vnBvY/darwin_150.php Agenda Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:18:52 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com.br/cienciaaonatural/2009/11/darwin_150.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Greg Laden none@example.com <p>I have a few non-authoritative comments regarding recent and current medical developments. This concerns the flu (esp. the H1N1 Swine Pandemic Flu), and the two recent changes in screening recommendations, for breast and cervical cancer and related issues.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/medical_matters_h1n1_science_i.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/medical_matters_h1n1_science_i.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/CzzyaGGjP9c" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/CzzyaGGjP9c/medical_matters_h1n1_science_i.php H1N1 Novel Swine Flu Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:03:51 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/11/medical_matters_h1n1_science_i.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss Coturnix none@example.com <p><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9qwBfBugo_A&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9qwBfBugo_A&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/pets_teach_science_16_golden_r.php#commentsArea?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~4/klgBU8BsqXk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceblogsCombinedFeed/~3/klgBU8BsqXk/pets_teach_science_16_golden_r.php Fun Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:45:30 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2009/11/pets_teach_science_16_golden_r.php?utm_source=combinedfeed&utm_medium=rss