Recently in Science! Category

Interesting and frightening news from the world of viruses and bacteria.

Straight out of Gattaca comes news that you can be tracked by the germs you leave behind on surfaces. More on this here.

In a more dangerous to your health than you privacy story, some information on MRSA that both cleared up some myths but also put a real sense of the dangers of the virus into my awareness.

Here's an old-ish story I meant to link and forgot. It's about the genetic makeup of dogs and where they originally came from.

Interesting stuff. We all like to know how we got here, even our puppies.

Our President picked a Nobel Prize-winning certified genius in charge of the Department of Energy. If anyone in the Obama cabinet can help turn the tide on climate change and in running our society's power sources in a smarter way, it's Stephen Chu.

Some good info on the Icelandic volcano situation.

Plus, some fantastic imagery from the Big Picture of Eyjafjallajokull.

For my money though, this is an amazing gallery too.

Know why we're getting our butts kicked in science and technology? Know why the newest gadget is merely an updated Newton and people think that's a good thing?

This nation needs more geeks. I just got my kid some Star Wars toys and we watched Life last night before his bath. I'm doing my part. What about you?

Our knowledge of our solar system expands as the mystery of Jupiter's Red Spot becomes clearer.

This is what the Talibangelical morons want to destroy: the knowledge of all things.

Science!

Little did I know that the UK has tens of thousands of pint glass injuries every year, costing the nation almost 3 billion pounds a year in medical costs. They are now working on a shatter-proof pint glass to reduce these injuries.

Make takes a look at both designs under consideration:

In short, an article that states the obvious: progress happens and you need to prepare your society to handle it as best you can.

That means: no Luddites, no Talibangelical lies, no skimping on teaching kids FACTS. In short, do the complete opposite of what conservatives have tried to do in this nation.

You know what else doesn't help? The media constantly lying, distorting, and hyping the wrong things about science.

I mean, I already knew this nation was filled with people proud of their ignorance. Besides the random Oakland Raiders fans and folks who actually enjoyCeline Dion, you've got the risk of Tea Party Traitors who genuflect in orgasmic glee and supported - and voted for - a complete nitwit for Vice President.

What I did NOT know was that our lack of educated citizens - and geeky folks in particular - was a national security risk. So sayeth DARPA. Read about it here.

Yep, your birther/Talibangelical co-workers, neighbors, and family members are in league with the enemies of America. THEY are the problem.

As for you: go read and play with gadgets!

One of the worst crimes of the Bush years - indeed of any Luddite conservative policy - is that we basically turned off the spigot of new scientific learning through an active policy of fear and loathing of science. The genetic throwbacks ruining our education system are going to destroy a generation of young minds with their creationism and bullshit watered-down science as well.

The Chinese communist system may be lacking in a lot of things, but their ability to turn on their nation's creative juices for researching green energy solutions is one of the reasons that their economy may eclipse our's in the coming years.

And we'll have the conservative's fearful interference and our own spineless response to their anti-American stupidity to blame when it happens.

Here's an ethical dilemma for you: we almost have the science to resurrect extinct animals. Where to begin? The dodo bird? Passenger pigeons? Woolly mammoths?

More importantly, where to end? Do we go so far as to bring back Neanderthals? I'm pretty sure it won't go like Encino Man.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Yeah, another year end wrap-up thingy. The important thing here however, is that we now have national leadership that actually sees science as a GOOD thing. These are good things. Let's hope there is more to come.

The year in science, more or less, according to the most read articles over at Wired.com.

The history of stem cell research - and science in general - has been a rocky one this decade. Here are some of the highpoints and, given the Bush years, the very, very low points of progress in this field.

Honestly, even if the Republicans were giving away a hot dog and a blow job for every vote, their stance on progress would be enough to turn away from them.

Yeah, another reason I can't be a Republican is that I like dinosaurs. And science. Not to mention the concept of reality.

All that aside, this story concerning venom-packing dinosaurs both is exciting and downright frightening. Definitely worth a listen.