Topics pertaining to science and technology, current or future.
More of science emulating science fiction: the “miracle pill” is similar in effect to one described in Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat series (as well as at least three other SF books I’ve read, though I don’t presently recall the names of the others). Harrison’s version is a little more poetic though: his pill “leaves …
Continue reading ‘“Boffins invent miracle pill that counteracts effects of booze”’ »
As far as I’ve been able to tell, most climate scientists — the honest ones — seem to agree that global warming should be happening, according to the data they have. They also agree that it isn’t, that the evidence just doesn’t support their models (i.e. their best educated guesses) of what the temperatures should …
Continue reading ‘“Earth may be headed into a mini Ice Age within a decade”’ »
This seems pretty ridiculous to me, but I can see how it might help some people. If it does, I’m all for it.
Ridiculous. The belief that the Earth is less than 10,000 years old is about on par with the heliocentric geocentric model of the solar system — the evidence is pretty damning against both. However, as I suggested recently to a voluble evolution denier, they’re welcome to try. The discipline of science is self-correcting, and will …
Continue reading ‘“Creationists are infiltrating US geology circles”’ »
I often take my computer and do programming in places where I don’t have an Internet connection for a few hours at a time. It generally works out well: no e-mail or IM to distract me, no fascinating web links to follow and spend time reading. Unfortunately it also means that I don’t have access …
Did you ever hear the story about the first man to run a sub-four-minute mile? As I heard it, after he did so, it suddenly seemed that everyone could do it. I’ve also heard that the first man to lift 400 pounds was tricked into it by his trainer, who told him it was only …
Continue reading ‘“A Little Deception Helps Push Athletes to the Limit”’ »
I’m sure this experiment saved on banana costs — and machine repair and replacement costs, apparently — but a little statistical math could have told him the same thing a lot faster. (The comment about the interview with Fox News amuses me, as even more evidence that regular Fox News viewers are on the low …
Continue reading ‘“Virtual cloud monkeys go bananas writing Shakespeare”’ »
I’m almost sorry that I so rarely watch YouTube videos. If I did, I’d probably be thrilled by how much faster they are now. Oh well, I’ll probably see similar speedups in general use such as downloading large files, though I likely won’t notice them.
I’ve previously seen some scientists suggesting that Einstein was wrong about the speed of light in a vacuum being a universal limit. This seems to prove it, at least for particles without mass. As noted in the article, science fiction often relies on as-yet imaginary — though often scientifically plausible — technologies that side-step that …
Continue reading ‘“Particles found to break speed of light”’ »
I don’t know how long this article will stay available, but it’s worth taking the time to glance at, because it explains why teenagers’ minds work the way they do — and why, despite the more-than-occasional stupidity of their actions, the system actually makes them smarter in the end.