Friday, February 29, 2008
Why are there Leap Days?
Phil Plait from Bad Astronomy gives a detailed explanation for leap days. Bring along a calculator, there's lots of math in the explanation.
[Hat tip: Pharyngula]
[Hat tip: Pharyngula]
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Your Inner Fish
Neil Shubin, famous for his role in the discovery of Tiktaalik, has written a fascinating book called Your Inner Fish. In the book, Shubin discusses evidence for our common ancestry with fish, and uses this evidence to explain among other things, hernias, hiccups and snoring. [Hat tip: The Pandas Thumb]
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Bionic Eye
From a University of Washington news release, Dr. Babak Parviz, from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle is developing a contact lense that could serve as a future bionic eye.
[Hat tip Quirks and Quarks]
[Hat tip Quirks and Quarks]
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Texas Academy Statement Against Teaching Creationism or Intelligent Design in Science Classes
The Texas Academy of Science issued this statement defining their position against the inclusion of creationism or intelligent design in science classrooms. Here's an excerpt:
"It is the postition of the Texas Academy of Science that because neither creationism nor intelligent design are based on information obtained using scientific methodologies, and because neither has withstood the test of scientific peer review, they are not scientific concepts. It is critically important to recognize that neither of these concepts is falsifiable. Having failed the scientific verification process, both must be excluded from scientific curricula at the primary, secondary and higher education levels. This is not just the position of the Texas Academy of Science, it is the consensus of the U. S. Supreme Court, Judge John E. Jones in Kitzmiller vs. Dover (2004) and 11,000 plus Christian clergy signers of the Clergy Letter Project. Other scientific organizations throughout the United States have formulated position statements calling for the exclusion of creationism and intelligent design from science curricula, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the National Research Council; the National Center for Science Education; the National Science Teachers Association; the National Association of Biology Teachers; the Geological Society of America; and the American Geological Institute. It is the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community that creationism and intelligent design are faith-based concepts that have no scientific merit."
[Hat tip to Greg Laden]
"It is the postition of the Texas Academy of Science that because neither creationism nor intelligent design are based on information obtained using scientific methodologies, and because neither has withstood the test of scientific peer review, they are not scientific concepts. It is critically important to recognize that neither of these concepts is falsifiable. Having failed the scientific verification process, both must be excluded from scientific curricula at the primary, secondary and higher education levels. This is not just the position of the Texas Academy of Science, it is the consensus of the U. S. Supreme Court, Judge John E. Jones in Kitzmiller vs. Dover (2004) and 11,000 plus Christian clergy signers of the Clergy Letter Project. Other scientific organizations throughout the United States have formulated position statements calling for the exclusion of creationism and intelligent design from science curricula, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the National Research Council; the National Center for Science Education; the National Science Teachers Association; the National Association of Biology Teachers; the Geological Society of America; and the American Geological Institute. It is the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community that creationism and intelligent design are faith-based concepts that have no scientific merit."
[Hat tip to Greg Laden]
Scathing Editorial
Editor Marshall Helmberger wrote a scathing editorial in the Timberjay about common creationist tactics. It's an informative read, one that should be read by school board members across this country. Here's a small sample:
"Creationist advocates clearly had a sympathetic judge in the Dover case. They had their day in court, but their arguments were so patently flawed that the judge’s 139-page finding of fact was ultimately scathing. He even recommended some of the pro-creationism school board members be investigated for perjury."
[Hat tip to Greg Laden]
"Creationist advocates clearly had a sympathetic judge in the Dover case. They had their day in court, but their arguments were so patently flawed that the judge’s 139-page finding of fact was ultimately scathing. He even recommended some of the pro-creationism school board members be investigated for perjury."
[Hat tip to Greg Laden]
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Debate or Massacre?
PZ Myers of Pharyngula agreed to debate Geoffrey Simmons, a senior Fellow from the Discovery Institute, and the outcome was rather predictable. Here's a link to the audio, and here's a link to what PZ had to say afterwords.
I think the debate can be summed up best with these words from PZ:
"This is a man who thinks the fact that he isn't drooling and feces aren't dribbling down his leg is a miracle from god. After reading his book, I kind of agree."
What a hoot!
I think the debate can be summed up best with these words from PZ:
"This is a man who thinks the fact that he isn't drooling and feces aren't dribbling down his leg is a miracle from god. After reading his book, I kind of agree."
What a hoot!
Beware of Dogma
The Freedom From Religion Foundation put up this billboard in Madison, Wisconsin to counter the unending deluge of pro Dogma billboards that line America's roads.
What a welcome addition.
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