December 2 – 6 This week, Cassie explored the freakonomic chain of events that leads from repurposed bednets to the rise of a perilous parasite. Roberta wondered why she can never quite remember what that e-book was about. Richard revealed the dirty secrets of astronomers: “the library is my telescope now.” Michelle introduced us to the […]
25- 29 November This week, we gave thanks. Ann pointed out that sexual harrassment may be a subset of a deeper inability to keep other people from suffering the consequences of your own inner demons. Kant is involved. Jessa identifies a central mechanism keeping us from flying off into virtual existences — that pesky inner […]
11- 15 November This week it was revealed that “assholes and dinosaurs do sometimes seem to be inseparable.” No- shhh. Shh. Don’t. Just read Ann’s post. Erik explained science journalism using the metaphor of toe fungus. Jessa explored whether scientists are public property. I wondered why African Americans, paradoxically, have more robust mental health than […]
It’s a long-standing mystery in public health: despite the inarguably vast number of psychological and sociological stresses they face in the U.S., African Americans are mentally healthier than white people. The phenomenon is formally described as the “race paradox in mental health”. The paradox became apparent in the mid-1990s. Since then, an overwhelming majority of […]
4- 8 November This week, Cassie started losing toenails. Helen pointed out that women have gone into space for decades. Can they finally start being women? Cameron enumerated the measurable health effects of Open Streets days have — plus unicycles. And conference bikes. Ever wonder where the fear of bugs comes from? No one better to […]
October 28 – November 1 This week, Erik told us to eat the most delicious little bastards in the ocean. Why is the moose population dwindling? Roberta investigated. I wonder if we can ever agree on a single truth without paying the price. Ann showed why looking at the universe only in the optical wavelengths […]
My most recent foray down the internet rabbit hole involves the idea that we are now living in the year 1717, rather than 2013. At some point in deep early time, the theory goes, someone (accidentally on purpose?) tacked 297 years onto the calendar. It’s known as the Phantom Time hypothesis, and it was put […]
21 – 25 October What happens to sperm and egg donors in the era of cut-rate genetic testing? Cassie discovers that anonymous donations come with a cost. A growing class of viral clips — generally misinterpreted as cute or funny — actually shows animals in anger, pain, or sexual arousal, says guest poster Whitney Robles. […]