65 posts categorized "Science"

12 July 2008

Science Media Centre New Zealand

Just heard this mentioned on Radio Live, thanks Graeme Hill, and it’s a good thing.


Science Media Centre - www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
The SMC is an independent source of expert comment and information for journalists covering science and technology in New Zealand. Here we feature the opinions of leading scientists on breaking news stories and provide background reports and tools for both journalists and scientists. Our aim is to promote accurate, bias-free reporting on science and technology by helping the media work more closely with the scientific community

05 July 2008

In Conversation - The late great physicist Richard Feynman on ABC

Brilliant, thanks to Phil Plait for finding this;


In Conversation - 26 June 2008 - The late great physicist Richard Feynman

Scientists are sometimes accused of diminishing the beauty of the natural world by explaining it in terms of scientific ideas and processes. Not so, according to the late Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, who says knowledge about the inner structure of flowers only adds to the excitement, mystery and awe

Tags:

16 February 2008

Watch out Phil Plait...

This awesome video shows Wanderer has found the next Bad Astronomer!

31 January 2008

Another President as stupid as George Bush?

It seems hard to believe, but.. 


Mike Huckabee Says [about evolution] "It's Just a Theory" - Sandwalk


Maybe Mr Huckabee should read this



A scientific theory is an established and experimentally verified fact or collection of facts about the world. Unlike the everyday use of the word theory, it is not an unproved idea, or just some theoretical speculation. The latter meaning of a 'theory' in science is called a hypothesis.
www.whatislife.com/glossary/t.htm

10 January 2008

Real Life: Healer Or Hoaxer? Crap documentary or great advertorial?

I just watched “Real Life: Healer Or Hoaxer?” on TVNZ’s TV One. It was billed as an insight into the work of spiritual healer “John of God” (JoG) described in the show notes as: “a man who some call the most powerful spiritual healer since Jesus”. It claimed, in the previews, to ask the question: “Is John of God a miracle worker or a charlatan?”

John of God - Healer or Hoaxer – Top Shelf Productions
Healer or Hoaxer follows these human journeys from a balanced point of view, seeking to answer the question of whether John of God really is one of the world's most powerful spiritual healers, or whether he's just another trickster preying on the weak.

They followed three Kiwis who went to see "JoG" when he visited New Zealand, two of them later following him back to Brazil. As all were facing life threatening illness it’s impossible to criticise them but not the makers of this documentary. As an investigation into the value of Spiritual Healing it was a total waste of  time. There was no attempt to quantify the impact of his treatment beyond, understandable, subjective hopeful comments from the patients involved.

The only seemingly critical element were some insipid non-committal comments from a “scientist”, whose name I didn’t catch*, Mark Wilson (a pyschologist and behaviourist) who added little to the exercise. He offered vague explanations of what could be happening if the spiritual healing was working but no critique of the techniques used and their possible impacts. Sadly for those involved the result seemed to be no measurable physical improvement and certainly no miracle cures. The programme failed to challenge JoG or question the outcome.

THANK THE INTERNET, and YouTube, for allowing us to see James Randi’s analysis of a similar ABC sham documentary back in 2005. Since Randi is expert at exposing the physical tricks used JoG a quick Google search found the article and video below. It’s amazing how the local effort duplicated the lack of investigation seen in sham show which inspired Randi’s comments. He explains how JoG relies on carnival tricks and the natural, physical, responses to them to achieve his short term “cures”. It’s also amazing “Top Shelf” didn’t tackle the issues Randi raises or mention his extensive analysis in an hour, actually 44 minutes + adverts, of air time.

In short it was a crap "documentary" with little evidence of critical thinking and a brilliant "Advertorial" for a charlatan. What a waste of a good opportunity.

"John of God." - A JREF Special Analysis - February 18, 2005
Folks, the page previously prepared for this week's slot has been pre-empted so that I can present my observations — and some of those from the public — concerning the February 10th, 2005, showing of the American Broadcasting Company's "Primetime Live" program. It dealt with a man called "John of God" who works out of Brazil. This was a major show that could have been a useful, productive, and informative program, but failed to reach that standard. Read on…

Below: James Randi on John of God (aka João Teixeira, the miracle man and João de Deus) and criticizes the way the media portrays "psychics."

Real Life: Healer or Hoaxer – TV ONE | tvnz.co.nz
Wednesday January 9 at 9.30pm on TV ONE
Real Life features some of the more unusual and moving documentaries you'll ever see, covering people both little and large, facing the world with a different perspective.

* I didn’t record the program so cant check and there is no reference in the details on the program website. If you know leave a comment or email me using the sidebar link and I will update the post. Post amended 10/01/08

07 January 2008

James Randi about Richard Feynman

James Randi tells how he confounded Richard Feynman, just brilliant.

Links with this one where Richard Feynman explains confusion

06 January 2008

Michael Pollan - In Defense of Food

This is nutrition advice I can relate too! No need for Agel in this regime…


Science Friday Archives: Michael Pollan - In Defense of Food

In this segment, Ira talks with author Michael Pollan about his latest book, "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto." He suggests that people can improve their eating tremendously through relatively simple rules, including 'Don't eat anything that your great-grandmother would not recognize as food.' Pollan boils down his philosophy of nutrition to just seven words: 'Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.' We'll find out more about his ideas, and how to apply them to your local grocery store

23 September 2007

RobiNZ CAD Blog: The Flying Spaghetti Monster meets Freewheel

Using DWF + Freewheel to view a deity from any perspective… 


RobiNZ CAD Blog: The Flying Spaghetti Monster meets Freewheel

22 September 2007

3D, isn't always as it seems...

Sadly magician, illusionist, thinker Jerry Andrus died recently. He was a master of illusions which use perspective to fool the mind. About 1 minute into this one look for a city model that defies gravity. You can view the others on his website.

via Bad Astronomy Blog

25 August 2007

Can you resist hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianism?

I bet you can’t resist clicking through to see what it’s about, I couldn’t. 


I see your hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianism and raise you a ribulosebisphosphatecarboxylaseoxygenase - The Loom

14 August 2007

An interview with Freeman Dyson

John found a fascinating interview with one of my favourite scientists; Freeman Dyson.


You must be from away: This I need - #4
Freeman Dyson, Professor Emeritus of Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, once wrote that the extraordinary Richard Feynman was "half-genius, half-buffoon", but later revised this to "all-genius, all-buffoon"…

12 August 2007

A good programme on Bad Science - Radio New Zealand National

“Ideas” cover bad science and how to educate people about good science. Great to hear this sort of discussion on public radio. 


Radio New Zealand National : Programmes A-Z : Sunday Morning with Chris Laidlaw : Sun, 12 August
Ideas for 12 August (will be on-line for listening or download 1 month from broadcast)
This week we investigate Bad Science. (duration: 52'03)


Science has an enormous impact on our daily lives, even if we don't always recognise this. Through every form of media, we are continuously bombarded with information, both scientific and from the realms of pseudoscience. The last two decades have seen the rise and rise of pseudoscience, magical thinking, supernaturalism, and fundamentalist religious movements - all of them often disguised in a mantle of faux scientific respectability.


What is pseudo-science? How do we recognise it? How is it making itself felt in our society? What changes would need to be made to our education system for a scientifically-literate society to emerge? Would a thorough training in critical thinking be enough? Who would try to stand in the way of the emergence of this kind of society?


Chris Laidlaw talks to: Guardian columnist Ben Goldacre; Dr Graham Sharpe, anaesthetist and skeptic; biologist Dr Alison Campbell; Professor Paul Callaghan and Dr Howard Lukefahr from the MacDiarmid Institute; and science students at Victoria University of Wellington.

03 August 2007

Raising money for the Big Bang?

My interest in cosmology and music meant this headline from a New Zealand Symphony Orchestra newsletter appealed.


Raising money for the Big Bang - nzso.co.nz
NZSO players and their friends put their shoulders to the wheel in a Wellington concert that will raise money for some new percussion instruments. There should be something for everyone in this eclectic concert spanning music from the Baroque to the present…

31 July 2007

The Simpsons & string theory?

String theory meets The Simpsons?


How a fake word from The Simpsons ended up in a perfectly cromulent string theory paper – Sciam Observations: Scientific American Blog

21 July 2007

It was today - Apollo 11

Graeme Hill, with Grant Christie, had a great moon astronomy session on Radio Live marking the anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon.

While the Apollo images & video are familiar seeing and standing under a Saturn V Rocket, at Kennedy Space Centre, bought home the true scale of the achievement. It also reinforced how insulting the moon hoaxers, de-bunked during the programme, really are.

Dwarfed by a Apollo/Saturn V Rocket
Apollo/Saturn V Rocket
Apollo capsule

Apollo - Man on the moon
This Web site honors those involved in the success of Apollo 11. From astronauts to managers, engineers to contractors, this site ensures that the courageous efforts of those involved in the Apollo program will not be forgotten.

Bad Astronomy Blog » One Small Step…

Radio Live – Streaming Site – Saturday, 12:00 – 13:00 New Zealand Time is Science & Skeptic Hour

Radio Live - Graeme Hill Podcast Feedhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/GraemeHill

04 July 2007

Bad Ad Physics? - Heineken World Rugby Cup 2007 Continental Shift

The Heineken World Rugby Cup 2007 Continental Shift advert shows Rugby teams pushing the continents together to form a mega-continent. Maybe I’m missing something:

  • If you are standing on a continent, and push against part of it, it won’t move at all. Like standing on a bus, pushing against the seat doesn’t move the bus.
  • If you’re standing on one side of a continental divide and push against the other continent, both will move apart, equally, in opposite directions. Stand on a boat, push against another boat, both boats move apart.

Bad Ad Physics or have I missed something really obvious? 

24 May 2007

Climate change, a guide

New Scientist have bundled a collection of articles debunking common climate myths and misconceptions. I’ve shown the titles below but click through to their post for the full introduction and article links.

Climate change: A guide for the perplexed - New Scientist Environment
So for those who are not sure what to believe, here is our round-up of the 26 most common climate myths and misconceptions. There is also a guide to assessing the evidence. In the articles we've included lots of links to primary research and major reports for those who want to follow through to the original sources.

  • Human CO2 emissions are too tiny to matter
  • We can't do anything about climate change
  • The 'hockey stick' graph has been proven wrong
  • Chaotic systems are not predictable
  • We can't trust computer models of climate
  • They predicted global cooling in the 1970s
  • It's been far warmer in the past, what's the big deal?
  • It's too cold where I live - warming will be great
  • Global warming is down to the Sun, not humans
  • It’s all down to cosmic rays
  • CO2 isn't the most important greenhouse gas
  • The lower atmosphere is cooling, not warming
  • Antarctica is getting cooler, not warmer, disproving global warming
  • The oceans are cooling
  • The cooling after 1940 shows CO2 does not cause warming
  • It was warmer during the Medieval period, with vineyards in England
  • We are simply recovering from the Little Ice Age
  • Warming will cause an ice age in Europe
  • Ice cores show CO2 increases lag behind temperature rises, disproving the link to global warming
  • Ice cores show CO2 rising as temperatures fell
  • Mars and Pluto are warming too
  • Many leading scientists question climate change
  • It's all a conspiracy
  • Hurricane Katrina was caused by global warming
  • Higher CO2 levels will boost plant growth and food production
  • Polar bear numbers are increasing

12 May 2007

Richard Dawkins, reason alone?

This is a brilliant interview with Richard Dawkins from “The Agenda”.

Richard Dawkins | Can We Live by Reason Alone?

Tonight on The Agenda: world-renowned scientist Richard Dawkins and his spirited defense of atheism. Plus: Are we good because of God?

Air Date: Thursday, May 10 2007

PS: Delightful to see a long format serious interview. Something that hasn’t been done on New Zealand TV for years…

09 May 2007

Save the Kiwi (Apteryx) from the Flying Spaghetti Monster Kiwi Motivation Test

How could the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) threaten our national icon, the New Zealand Kiwi (Apteryx)?

This submission to a well recognised Government Conservation Agency explains it all:

Hi,

FSMGospelI’m currently reading "The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster” by Bobby Henderson.

It’s the official gospel of the deity known as the “Flying Spaghetti Monster” (FSM) and gives the true story of creation from it’s beginning 5000 years ago to today. While that time period and the process may not quite agree with accepted scientific theory it gives convincing explanations for these anomalies.

Creation, the Big Bang, Dinosaurs, Fossils, Red Shifted Stars, Quantum Physics, String Theory - more correctly spaghetti theory - and the process incorrectly attributed to Evolution are integrated into a total world view guided by the unseen touch of the FSM’s Noodly Tentacles. 

It’s a wonderful book that will result in many converting to “Pastafarianism” but there is a risk. I’m concerned non-believers trying to disprove Pastafarianism may impact our threatened national icon – the Kiwi.

The reason for this is material that appears on pages 47 & 48. Its a rebuttal of Evolution titled “Kiwi Birds: Flight-less?”.  

It explains the Kiwis inability to fly, conventionally attributed to environmental aspects like plentiful ground feed and a lack of predators, is not proven. Prophet Bobby states that in addition to being spherical Kiwis are also extremely lazy. He contends that they can fly but simply lack motivation and choose not too. He argues, “You’ll never see me running but there is a good chance that I could”.

Later on there is a challenge to evolutionists, “Evolution is just a theory”, to test the “Theory of Kiwi Motivation” as summarised below;

  • Requirements: A representative sample of Kiwis, 20 – 30 is suggested, a dump truck and a high cliff.
  • Method: Drive the truckload of Kiwis to a high cliff, dump them over the cliff.
  • Observation; Record how many Kiwis flap their “useless” wings and fly to safety.

For the sake of the tiny Kiwi population it’s imperative that we avoid hordes of evolutionists performing this test. Of course as a Pastafarian I believe that they will fly safely to roost in trees, for the first time, but it’s possible that our deity has made a slight mistake with Kiwi aerodynamics. Unlike many creators he does not claim to be infallible.

Therefore for the sake of all living Kiwis I must ask if any experiment like this, or other tests of motivation, have ever been done and if so what were the results?

Publishing these may save the needless motivation, or worse, of hundreds of Kiwis.

Regards…

Their response should be considered carefully by Pastafarians and misguided Evolutionists alike:

KiwifuglHere is the Linguini theory of creation turned into Raviolli

If creation occurred 5000 years ago, then the ancient seashell fossils in the rocks of Central Otago must have been put there by the evolutionary army. The coal that has been mined on the West Coast for the last 150 years must have been imported from China and buried there and covered with forests to make it look natural.

Coal formation takes millions of years and it is proven to be the fossilised lycopodium forests of the Carboniferous Period which occurred from about 354 to 290 million years ago during the late Paleozoic Era. . Hence our current problem of releasing 'greenhouse gases' into the atmosphere as we dig the stuff up and release it into the atmosphere at an alarming rate.

The ebb and flow of glaciation, marine sedimentary deposition and plate tectonics must have looked like a million super-charged bulldozers given the state of New Zealand currently

  • The size of Mt Cook and the Southern Alps
  • The geological distribution of various rock types hundreds of kilometres apart from the same source
  • The vegetation cover of New Zealand.

We would have truly been the Shaky Isles! The only thing not moving would have been the moon and stars.

Beech forests have been known to cover certain parts of the islands (pollen records)and then after glaciation retreated, slowly advanced over the ground with their short distance seed dispersion mechanism. If your theory is correct, then the forests must have been turbo charged and leaped over a few mountains to attain their current distribution is such a short time-frame.  - If they did not get smacked around by earthquakes and disappearing dinosaurs.

Flying kiwi forebears have long ago decided not to waste their energy on flying.
If the life of a human could be used as an analogy for the evolution of kiwi, then your hypothesis of flying kiwi would be like giving up Rugby at 5 and turning out for the All Blacks at 75 with no training in-between. - You might remember the rules of the game but you wouldn't be any good at it!

Don't throw kiwi off cliffs, its not the height that is the problem - It's the sudden stop at the bottom.

Cheers…

Id_cartoonTo which I responded;

Thanks for your well-reasoned rebuttal. The apparent age, spread and location anomalies can be easily explained by the influence of the FSM's invisible Noodly Tentacles. As he says: Evolution is "just a theory", science is "just a collection of theories" 

Regards…

And got a further response;

Scientific theory is based on a series of incidents that meet % of probability that are generally accepted. If science is a 'just a theory' then things like computers would be just a theory and we would be still communicating using smoke signals. Flight itself is a theory that was scientifically reasoned and with the use of fossil fuels, (millions of years old in theory) the age of air transport has become the norm.

Cheers…

So I conclude:

  • Don’t try the Flying Spaghetti Monster Kiwi Motivation test.
  • Save the Apteryx, they need all the help they can get.

Credits: FSM Gospel Debunking by well recognised Government Conservation Agency, FSM Logo & Gospel via http://www.venganza.org/  – Kiwi Photo by Malene Thyssen, www.mtfoto.dk/malene/ via wikipedia, Miracle ‘toon via northcoastcafe

05 May 2007

Religion ends and philosophy begins...

"Religion ends and philosophy begins, just as alchemy ends and chemistry begins and astrology ends and astronomy begins." - Christopher Hitchens


onegoodmove: Lou Dobbs - Christopher Hitchens
Lou Dobbs interviews Christopher Hitchens author of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything…

13 April 2007

Aardvark on New Zealand's response to global warming

Bruce Simpson (aka Aardvark) comes up with some great ideas on how New Zealand should respond to climate change with action and lateral thinking rather than just paying carbon tax. I won’t repeat them here, click thru to read on, it’s worth it.

Where to from here for NZ? - Science and Tech Commentary: Aardvark Daily
It seems that we can't get away from the news about global warming - but I've said enough and figure that it's now time we looked at just how NZ can capitalise on this hysteria in coming years….

12 January 2007

It's not easy being green - Are hybrid cars worse?

Are Hybrid cars the wrong solution?

There is interesting interview in Car Magazine Nov 2006 (pg140) where Rinaldo Rinolfi, VP Fiat Powertrain Technologies, when asked about Hybrids says:

"Hybrids should only be used if there is no other, cheaper, way of making a petrol engine more efficient. Unfortunately for Toyota there is"

Given the strength of diesel in Europe, even the NZ Grande Punto range is nearly all diesel, it’s interesting that Fiats answer is petrol engines.

Fiat Powertrain Research Technology - www.fptpowertrain.com
The main objective of Powertrain Research & Technology is the development and application of innovative technologies for the improvement of the powertrain performance and for the reduction of engine and vehicle emissions and fuel consumption, anticipating the introduction of increasingly stringent emission legislation. As far as conventional powertrain systems area concerned, most of these technologies are based on the integration of mechanical and/or electro-hydraulic actuation systems, with advanced electronics with aim to control the combustion process, the exhaust gas after-treatment system and the power transmission systems. Regarding the new emerging powertrain technologies, the efforts are concentrated on the development of cost-effective hybrid propulsion systems using conventional fuels and tailored for urban transportation. Finally, and as far as the future powertrain technologies are concerned, the work is focused on the development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell propulsion systems aiming to identify the relevant problem areas and explore their industrial feasibility.

In the article he mentions that these efficient smaller capacity petrol engines could match the power/torque/economy of Diesel or Hybrid at less cost. The secret is computer control of combustion to the point where he says:

“When people think of an engine, they see cast iron but the car’s real engine is the computer”

The future may belong to fuel cells but Rinolfi predicts that may not be until 2030 at best.

If you going to have a car which would you think is better for the planet: Toyota Prius or Hummer H3? If you choose “Prius” read on. It seems life isn’t so simple:

An article in the Car Magazine December issue “Shock Study that puts the Prius in it’s place” (pg19) refers to a “Dust to Dust” life cycle analysis of US new cars.

CNW Marketing Research Inc. spent two years collecting data on the energy necessary to plan, build, sell, drive and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage. This includes such minutia as plant to dealer fuel costs, employee driving distances, electricity usage per pound of material used in each vehicle and literally hundreds of other variables.  To put the data into understandable terms for consumers, it was translated into a “dollars per lifetime mile” figure. That is, the Energy Cost per mile driven.

In CNW Research's second annual Dust-to-Dust Energy Cost study, only the Toyota Prius among all hybrids provides better lifetime energy efficiency than the auto industry average of $2.94 per mile.

What's the price of being environmentally green?

For Prius, the cost has come down since the first study by nearly 12 percent to $2.87 per mile. Improved utilization of Toyota's hybrid technology, solid production volume and end-of-life advances in component disposal all contributed to the Prius improvement.

But it and other dual mode hybrids still cost society more in terms of energy consumption over their entire lifetime than many larger, more luxurious albeit lower fuel economy models.

The Hummer H3 SUV, for example, is $2.07 per mile over its lifetime.

So do Hybrids Make Cents or not? Does that mean keeping my old 1.0 litre Fiat, which still does 6.5 l/100km (44mpg), on the road is doing less harm than buying a newer low emission car?

Tags: ,

06 January 2007

Organ Donors needed

I wouldn’t wish this on anyone but it’s a sad fact that some will be in the position where they are potential organ donors. New Zealand is desperate for organ donors but it’s important that if you make the decision to be a donor that your relatives are aware of your wishes. Ultimately they may make the final decision when you are not able.

I understand there are cultural and religious reasons for not donating but I think that it’s something that all should consider. At a time when you are beyond help to give life to others is a wonderful act. I’m a registered donor and only wish I could thank whoever donated the kidney that has kept my mum alive for the last 8 years.

Organ Donor Rates Plummet To Record Low - Xtra News
New Zealand is desperately short of organ donors, according to new figures released on Friday…

22 December 2006

A Virgin Birth at Christmas?

Although not pretty the Komodo Dragon is a cool reptile & Flora might manage something that hasn’t happened for a couple of thousand years (if you believe it did then).

Technology: Science News: Virgin Birth Expected For Komodo Dragon
Flora, a pregnant Komodo dragon living in a British zoo, is expecting eight babies in what scientists said on Wednesday could be a Christmas virgin birth…

UPDATE 23–12–2006: Richard Dawkins has posted about this at:

The Komodo Dragon's Tale - RichardDawkins.net

18 December 2006

Stunning Space Station view of New Zealand

This remarkable image of Christchurch, Kaikoura, Nelson and Wellington from space was NASA’s Image of the day.

Kaikoura From Space 165239main_s116e05983(1024)

STS-116 Mission Specialists Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. (left) and Christer Fuglesang participate in the first of the mission's three planned sessions of extravehicular activity as construction resumes on the International Space Station.

Link to Original Photo by ESA/NASA Hi-res version

via www.spareroom.co.nz & ESA/NASA!

14 December 2006

Santa Claus Physics

Does Santa exist? Maybe, maybe not…

Is there a Santa Claus? - Morph Blog
If Santa ever DID deliver presents on Christmas Eve…

15 November 2006

What's More Likely - Michael Shermer Skeptic

Skeptic Magazine founder Michael Shermer takes us on a hilarious romp through the strange claims we humans put forth as truth…

Skeptic founder Michael Shermer on TEDTalks

This is one of many great talks on the TEDTalks website

12 November 2006

Is there an Artificial God? - Douglas Adams at Digital Biota 2

“My initials are D.N.A!”Many know Douglas Adams for the Hitchhikers Guide but his talents were many, his intellect vast. From distinguishing A from B, the life & thoughts of a puddle, the importance of sand and how to get a coke from 5,000 miles away Douglas takes a unique and fascinating look at the question “Is there an Artificial God?”


Douglas Adams' Speech at Digital Biota 2
Is there an Artificial God?
In honour of Douglas' memory, Biota.org presents the transcript of his speech at Digital Biota 2, held at Magdelene College Cambridge, in September 1998. I would like to thank Steve Grand for providing this to us. Douglas presented this ''off the cuff'' which only magnifies his true genius in our eyes. -- Bruce Damer (T
ext & Audio)

05 October 2006

Kurt Vonnegut on the Daily Show - YouTube

  In a word: Brilliant


YouTube - Vonnegut on the Daily Show

27 September 2006

The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science

British ethologist, evolutionary theorist, and popular science writer Richard Dawkins has established a web resource for his charitable foundation;


RichardDawkins.net - The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science


“The enlightenment is under threat. So is reason. So is truth. So is science, especially in the schools of America. I am one of those scientists who feels that it is no longer enough just to get on and do science. We have to devote a significant proportion of our time and resources to defending it from deliberate attack from organized ignorance. We even have to go out on the attack ourselves, for the sake of reason and sanity. But it must be a positive attack, for science and reason have so much to give. They are not just useful, they enrich our lives in the same kind of way as the arts do. Promoting science as poetry was one of the things that Carl Sagan did so well, and I aspire to continue his tradition.”


RSS Feed: http://richarddawkins.net/feed.php

09 September 2006

A Biofuel Future, not for everyone...

When you discuss the “peak oil” problem, often Biofuel is mentioned as an answer. While it’s likely to be part of the solution this great post on the Tesla Motors blog explains why it won’t be the solution for everyone. The basic problem is that plants just aren’t that efficient.

If you haven’t already heard of Tesla Motors you soon will. They have announced a radical electric sports car which, if it meets the claims, will revolutionise how people regard electric cars. It looks more than a little like a Lotus Elise because it uses some Lotus technology, engineering and production. This sports car is just the beginning for Tesla, the first of a full model range. To help figure what’s next  they have already released: The Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan

Of course the next thing that will happen, if you believe conspiracy theories are true, is that an oil company will buy and shutdown Tesla…

Ethanol, Ethanol Everywhere, Time to Stop and Think -Tesla Motors blog.

Ethanol (a.k.a. alcohol) will certainly grow as a business and serve as a partial solution to our energy problem, particularly given that it is now taking the place of the gasoline additive MTBE. However, even if large-scale cellulosic ethanol technology is perfected, I don’t believe it can become the primary solution to the world’s energy needs…

19 August 2006

Energy Crisis solved? No, but, yeah, but, no...

The day started with James Howard Kunstler's talk of doom and gloom regarding peak oil and the upcoming energy crisis. Then later Brian Cox lifted the mood with talk of pure scientific research and the impact it’s had on our lifestyle. He pointed out that most the technology we rely on today stems from pure research started by Faraday, Einstein etc a century ago. Then the day ends with Steorn claiming that it’s found a method of generating energy “with a coefficient of performance greater than 100%”. 

From looming energy crisis to a future powered by “free, clean and constant energy“ in less than a day!

I really hope Steorn are right but I also really doubt that it’s true. At first appearance they have an impressive looking website but why there is no real content? Why, if already “independently validated by engineers and scientists”, resort to a silly Internet challenge and publicity stunt?

In fact, I assume, they wouldn’t go this far without robust intellectual protection so why not put the papers on the website for the world to see instead of a video with silly little magnet diagrams and vague talk of walking up & down hills gaining energy? Publish, wait for public scientific review, then reap the rewards of the greatest breakthrough in the history of mankind.

I hope I’m proved wrong and this is the energy source of the future but for now, I’ve got to login and pay the power bill. I think I’ll still be needing it...

Steorn
We have developed a technology that produces free, clean and constant energy.
This means never having to recharge your phone, never having to refuel your car. A world with an infinite supply of clean energy for all.
Our technology has been independently validated by engineers and scientists - always off the record, always proven to work

via www.boingboing.net

UPDATE: Here’s the patent (WO/2006/035419) LOW ENERGY MAGNETIC ACTUATOR - www.wipo.int  listed by slothrop on the Steorn forum

The rock star physicist rocked

I was going to blog about this but this email, sent this morning, says it all…

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Capper
Sent: Saturday, 19 August 2006 10:17
To: Brian Cox
Subject: Thanks, I needed that

I had read of your work & the developments at CERN but was great to hear you on Radio NZ this morning.

Your optimism and positive outlook was a total contrast to James Howard Kunstler's bleak, I'd say Luddite, view of the future that preceded you, much needed.

Yep we have problems, the oil will run out, the globe will warm till one day it's consumed by an expanding dying sun but I suspect humanity will be around in some form to see all these things happen.

Regards,
Robin Capper

Updated Link: Audio is on-line here for 4 weeks from 19-08-2006 - www.radionz.co.nz - Saturday Morning with Kim Hill

8.30am: James Howard Kunstler
Social analyst who is one of the key speakers at the Digital Earth ’06 Summit on Sustainability in Auckland on 27-30 August. His book ‘The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century’ (Grove Press, ISBN 0802142494) explores the rapidly approaching end of the fossil fuel era.

9.05am: Brian Cox
Enjoyed the life of a rock star in the 1980s and ‘90s before becoming one of the world’s leading physicists. Dr Cox is the Royal Society University Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, and is contributing to one of the largest collaborative efforts ever attempted in the physical sciences: the Atlas Project at CERN in Geneva.

05 August 2006

Science on talk radio?

Can it be? Talk Radio is usually thought to be the realm of cranks, intelligent design advocates and conspiracy theorists but there is a small sign of hope…

Astronomy (not astrology) and science feature between 10:00 & 11:00 on Graeme Hill’s Saturday morning Radio Live show.

Grant Christie, an astronomer at the Stardome Observatory, covers the universe (easy eh!) followed by Vicki Hyde, NZ Skeptics Chair-entity, chatting about general science topics, both adding healthy degree of skepticism.

It’s not a call in session but still a welcome feature for talk radio. You can listen on the net via the website but no sign yet of a podcast. Something for Radio Live to consider.

Web: www.radiolive.co.nz

New Zealand Radio Live Frequencies

04 August 2006

Atheist Quotes

My favourite…

But I don't have to know an answer. I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in the mysterious universe without having any purpose — which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell, possibly. It doesn't frighten me
Richard Feynman

See more Atheist Quotes - www.chrisbeach.co.uk

Via Not PC

19 July 2006

Evidence of Evolution & Natural Selection in action...

Darwin Award Candidate?

“Holidaymakers contract malaria after relying on homeopathic pills”

www.nzherald.co.nz

30 June 2006

Bad Astronomy and Superman Returns

SupermnThe Bad Astronomer reviews the current hit movie Superman Returns revealing some “Bad Astronomy, some Bad Physics (duh, he flies), and some Bad Engineering too”.

Superman Returns Review - bad astronomy.com
“This is my first movie review since that nutbag Tom Cruise thetaned his way through "War of the Worlds", and Superman was a lot more fun to review”

25 June 2006

Watch out for Space Rubbish?

NASA are dumping space junk in our region. It didn’t hit New Zealand but 3,900km is getting close!


Radio New Zealand - Rubbish from International Space Station dropped into Pacific Ocean


A spokesperson says the debris that did not burn in the atmosphere; fell into the sea, 3,900km southeast of New Zealand.

16 May 2006

Does this parrot know nothing?

We know about zero, does this parrot?

Researchers explore whether parrot has concept of zero - www.world-science.net
Has a parrot has developed a numerical concept that mathematicians failed to grasp for centuries: zero.

Before the beginning?

Accept the Universe began with a bang and you have to consider what happened before that? Maybe an answer…

Another universe may have preceded ours, study finds - www.world-science.net
Three physicists say they have done calculations showing that before the birth of our universe, which is expanding, there was an earlier universe that was shrinking.

27 April 2006

Komodo Clone or a Virgin Birth?

Komodo Dragon (was about 3m long)For some reason I’ve always been fascinated by Komodo Dragons. One of the best chapters of Douglas Adam’s “Last Chance to see” is about an epic trip to view them in the Flores Island (Indonesia) but I only had to go to Animal Kingdom in Florida. They are endangered but for some reason don’t get the same publicity as cute Pandas etc. It now appears they are trying to help themselves by reproducing without needing a partner…

Some advice from Douglas Adams if you ever meet one:

"Komodo dragons sleep headfirst in large burrows. It is a very, very, very bad idea to even think of pulling its tail." 

New Scientist Short Sharp Science blog: The daddy of dragons
Who’s the daddy? That’s the question being asked by zoologists stumped by the birth of four rare Komodo dragons at London Zoo – with no obvious male contender on the scene

UPDATE 29–04–2006: See the Another Chance To See blog with updates on the endangered species featured in the book

 

22 March 2006

Scientific American are Podcasting

I just discovered Scientific American [Magazine] have a weekly Podcast! Episode One went out on Feb 8th but all are still available along with iTunes and RSS subscriptions.

Scientific American Podcast
Join host Steve Mirsky each week as he explores the latest developments in science and technology through interviews with leading scientists and journalists.

05 March 2006

Makes you think...

Made me think…

10 February 2006

Are Angels OK?

The series “Are Angels OK?” is now available on the Radio New Zealand website.

What happens when you combine the worlds of writers & physicists; Are Angels OK?

Radio New Zealand - Are Angels OK.

Produced by Phil Smith, First broadcast January, 2006
A series of programmes arising from a collaboration between eminent New Zealand writers and physicists. Are Angels OK is the work of The Royal Society, The MacDiarmid Institute and the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University.
The lectures were recorded in November, 2005, by Radio New Zealand at the Te Papa Marae in Wellington.

24 January 2006

Supervolcano — Truth, fiction and everything in between at Yellowstone