The Fount of Useless Information
Your place for useless information that just might possibly be interesting.
Dear Future Earthlings
A message in a bottle won’t be enough to communicate with distant generations
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/346713/title/Dear_Future_Earthlings
I don’t think I have blogged on this topic before, but I have exchanged a few ideas on the topic with a friend …
A shock to pollution in chemistry
http://www.sciencecodex.com/a_shock_to_pollution_in_chemistry-103063
I have to say that I didn’t even consider this as a possibility. The idea that meaningful chemistry could happen by shaking a bunch of raw chemicals together in a jar of vibrating …
Do Robots Rule the Galaxy?
http://news.discovery.com/space/do-robots-rule-the-galaxy-121201.html
This article also mentions the rather silly Cambridge Project for Existential Risk but since it touches on a subject I have thought about from time to time (I feel sure I blogged on it, …
Ignoring the Science on Mammograms
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/ignoring-the-science-on-mammograms/
It seems there is a mammography / industrial complex now, as opposed to the ‘simpler’ healthcare / industrial complex. It is now impossible for science to intrude into the thoughts of society here in …
I read an article that talked about carbon ‘reduction’ (the article isn’t really relevant to this post, so I won’t distract you with a link) and decided to climb up on my soap box for a few minutes and rant …
Telomere length linked to risk of dying
Large study examines association between protective caps at end of chromosomes and health
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/346387/title/Telomere_length_linked_to_risk_of_dying
Lots of science stuff today helping to make up, somewhat, from a dearth of blogging last week. This article …
Global drought may have changed less than thought
Simple models have overestimated drying over past 60 years
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/346428/title/Global_drought_may_have_changed_less_than_thought
Once again there seems to be accumulating information that perhaps, just perhaps, we should take a collective deep breath and re-evaluate our …
Nanoparticles Stop Multiple Sclerosis In Mice
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/252967.php
This particular article is more interesting because I have very good friend who has dealt with MS for about 15 years now. I also like the idea that it can probably be widely …
Tiny muscles pull a big punch
Coated carbon nanotubes form the basis of smart new material
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/346486/title/Tiny_muscles_pull_a_big_punch
Though we are a decade (at least!) away from any practical application, I find this quite interesting. I believe that we are starting …
Early Arrival
Premature puberty among girls poses scientific puzzle
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/346459/title/Early_Arrival
I find this article quite interesting on several levels. The list of possible ‘suspects’ is quite broad (no doubt they all have some contribution, very little is black or white …