RobiNZ Personal Blog

You can be a super(bug) hero

A few dollars could change the world, save many lives, and you can help Join the fight against superbugs The world is running out of effective antibiotics. In fact, it is one of the greatest threats to health today. For many of us, this means that common infections could once again cause death. A grazed knee or routine surgery could result in an infection that is untreatable. An estimated 700,000 people around the world die every year due to drug-resistant infections and, if new antibiotics are not discovered, this number is predicted to rise to 10 million people a year... Read more →

Make an impact on Earth Day with @kiva

Tomorrow, April 22nd, is Earth Day and The March for Science. As The March for Science calls on our governments this Earth Day to face the facts, in its policy-making, a parallel movement gives you way to directly support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other climate change effects around the world. Kiva offers a simple way for everyone to make a small investment and, via targeted green projects, make a real impact. This Earth Day, lend to a project that helps curtail climate change, get repaid, repeat! Kiva.org/earthday is meaningful way for you to take action today to help... Read more →

Traffic Light Thought–Commuting and The Greatest Story Ever Told…SO FAR @joerogan @LKrauss1

Traffic was lousy this morning, in part due to the wet weather, but I really didn’t care. I had downloaded Joe Rogan’s latest podcast featuring theoretical physicist Prof. Lawrence M. Krauss*. The topic was (nominally) his latest book—The Greatest Story Ever Told…SO FAR—but the discussion was wide ranging and fascinating. It went something like: Symmetry and what it means in this universe A plain language explanation of Gauge Theory Universal laws and impacts of them on our place in the universe The Higgs field and what it really means Life and evolution The evolution of religion, why it exists Progress... Read more →

About the "Food Babe"

Written by a analytical chemist with a background in forensics and toxicology. The "Food Babe" Blogger Is Full of Shit - gawker.com Filed for reference Read more →

Dog sneezes for @DoctorKarl @zanrowe

@DoctorKarl @zanrowe 100% of dogs I know sneeze almost immediately when turned on back, but I only know one dog, Alfie, well enough to test it... (video) Science on Mornings, on triplej Fart breathing, killer nightmares, spider muscles | media | triple j Why do humans need pillows? Why do dogs sneeze when they lie on their back? Why do house flies fly in a box formation? Note: No dogs were harmed in the making of this video, one was slightly confused. Read more →

TEDx Auckland 2015 Victorious? | #TEDxAKL @TEDxAuckland

My notes & photos from TEDx Auckland 2015. I only took the phone (for both notes & photos) and was sitting right at the back of the hall so my shots are a bit ‘distant’. The italics are the speaker profiles sent out by TEDx Auckland The bullet points my OneNote notes taken on the day (which may contain errors) and a few post-TEDx thoughts after. SIOUXSIE WILES Award-winning scientist Dr. Siouxsie Wiles describes herself as a microbiologist and bioluminescence enthusiast but to others she is “that pink-haired science lady”. She believes that playmakers like Lego should lead the way... Read more →

Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast live - NZ Skeptics conference Day 2

A typical Sunday for me includes a bike ride or dog walk listening to podcasts. Today there's no need for ear buds to hear one of them! A live recording of @SkepticsGuide is the kick off for Day 2 of the NZ Skeptics conference #nzskepconf http://www.theskepticsguide.org/ http://conference.skeptics.org.nz/ Read more →

Skeptics Guide to the Universe Live

Now it's the Skeptics Guide To The Universe podcast live private recording with guest rouges George Hrab & Siouxsie Wiles. http://www.theskepticsguide.org/ Read more →

NZ Skeptics Conference

Great turnout for day one of the NZ Skeptics Conference! Read more →

Skeptical Extravaganza #nzskepconf

At #nzskepconf watching @SkepticsGuide & @GeorgeHrab Skeptical Extravaganza #SGULIVE Read more →