Science & Technology – Page 10

Flatulent dinosaurs warmed ancient earth

2012-05-08 2012-05-08 Science & TechnologyLeave a comment

An amusing story on Science Daily says researchers have determined that the giant, herbivorous sauropods of the Mesozoic might have been responsible for the era’s warm climate. Well, not the dinosaurs themselves, but rather the methane-producing bacteria in their guts: “A simple mathematical model suggests that the microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs may have produced enough methane to have an important effect on the Mesozoic climate,” said Dave Wilkinson of Liverpool John Moores University. “Indeed, our calculations suggest that these dinosaurs could have produced more methane than all modern sources — both natural and man-made — put together.” So basically, ……… click below for more ↓

So-called psychic healers don’t see auras: they’re just ill

2012-05-06 2012-05-06 Atheism & Spirituality / Faith / Science & TechnologyLeave a comment

A story on Science Daily News this weekend reports that seeing so-called auras may in fact be the result of a neurological disorder, not simply another pseudoscience scam. Self-described psychics who have bilked the gullible based on reading these alleged auras will have some ‘splaining to do. So-called psychic healers – aka charlatans – are likely to be in line for some big lawsuits once this story gets out! The disorder is called “synesthesia.” People who are afflicted by it have regions in their brains cross connected so that they see sounds, taste colors, smell textures and so on. Their ……… click below for more ↓

What is your dog thinking?

2012-05-05 2012-05-05 Science & TechnologyOne Comment

A story on Science Daily News says scientists are using an MRI scanner to look into the thought processes of dogs. As the article notes, “The researchers aim to decode the mental processes of dogs by recording which areas of their brains are activated by various stimuli. Ultimately, they hope to get at questions like: Do dogs have empathy? Do they know when their owners are happy or sad? How much language do they really understand?” I don’t need an MRI scanner to figure this out: food. More food. When do we eat? Can I have some of that? What’s ……… click below for more ↓

Gone to the Dark Side

2012-05-04 2012-05-04 Collingwood / Municipal Politics / Science & TechnologyLeave a comment

Yes, I have been recruited to the Dark Side: I have an Apple iPad now. Well, it’s a loaner, but they’ll have to pry it out of my cold dead fingers if they want it back. Unless they offer me a 64GB model in exchange… And, yes, I have been reduced to the fatuous abuse of capitalization in its name: iPad, rather than a more proper Ipad. You know, you can’t even type Ipad on the device because the auto-correct feature will change it into iPad every time. Sigh. Auto-correct is the reason there are still exorcists in business these ……… click below for more ↓

Analytic thinking can decrease religious belief

2012-04-27 2012-04-27 Atheism & Spirituality / Faith / Religion / Science & TechnologyOne Comment

I read a story in Science News today about a study that shows, “analytic thinking can decrease religious belief, even in devout believers.” “Our goal was to explore the fundamental question of why people believe in a God to different degrees,” says lead author Will Gervais, a PhD student in UBC’s Dept. of Psychology. “A combination of complex factors influence matters of personal spirituality, and these new findings suggest that the cognitive system related to analytic thoughts is one factor that can influence disbelief.” The findings, Gervais says, are based on a longstanding human psychology model of two distinct, but ……… click below for more ↓

Psychiatric help would be better than exorcism

2012-04-14 2012-04-14 Atheism & Spirituality / Faith / Religion / Science & TechnologyLeave a comment

The headline reads, “Exorcist Expertise Sought After Saskatoon ‘Possession’” At least the editors of the CBC News story had the good sense to put the word possession in quotes to indicate it is alleged, not a fact. As did the Toronto Star. However, both news agencies took the story seriously enough to write it up. And then it got picked up by the Huffington Post. Must have been a slow news day (surely there was something about the F35 or robocalls to fill the space…) Like ghosts, spirits, pixies, goblins and other imaginary beings, demons are figments of our own ……… click below for more ↓

Could ‘Advanced’ Dinosaurs Rule Other Planets?

2012-04-11 2012-04-11 Canadian Politics / Politics / Science & Technology2 Comments

That’s the question asked today in an article posted on Science Daily. To which I might add: Why not? Dinosaurs didn’t die out: they have ruled parts of this planet in the guise of fundamentalist theocracies for decades. They thunder and roar in Iran like rutting Stegosaurs. The Taliban raptor rampaged through Afghanistan until they had to slink back to their caves while NATO knocked them about. But it’s not just theocracies. Brontosaurs stomp about in Republican and Conservative parties in so-called “advanced” nations. Ceratopsians rule North Korea and Myanmar. Living fossils in China still brutalize the Tibetan mammals. If ……… click below for more ↓

Crystal crazy: self-professed psychics on Facebook

2012-03-17 2012-03-17 Atheism & Spirituality / Memes; Internet & Social / Science & Technology2 Comments

The Internet has provided a virtual continent for the colonies of faith healers, psychics, astrologers, UFO hunters, ghost and haunting sightings, crypto-zoologists, promoters of angels, spirits, demons, auras, and a wealth of pseudoscience and claptrap. In a culture where the critical thinking, quest of knowledge and skepticism that characterized the Enlightenment have given way to superstition and fundamentalism, the Net has proven a rich source of believers and followers for the charlatans and hucksters. Facebook and Youtube combine to make the Alexandria Library for the hard-of-thinking. Many of the promoters of this nonsense feed off one another and create their ……… click below for more ↓

Why the Republicans are bad for science

2012-03-14 2012-03-14 Atheism & Spirituality / Faith / Politics / Science & Technology3 Comments

Rick Santorum’s recent win in the Mississippi and Alabama primaries are frightening for anyone who values science and critical thinking. Santorum is not the only Republican who frightens me. They all do. But Santorum most of all. The idea of a right-wing, homophobic, fundamentalist, creationist running the biggest and most powerful nation in the world is scary enough to keep me awake at night. Santorum was the author of a 2001 amendment to the US education funding bill. His pro-creationist proposal was known as The Santorum Amendment. It “promoted the teaching of intelligent design while questioning the academic standing of ……… click below for more ↓

NASA latest target of creationist harridans

2012-03-13 2012-03-13 Atheism & Spirituality / Science & TechnologyOne Comment

A former NASA computer technician has filed an wrongful dismissal suit against his former employer, alleging he was, “discriminated against because he engaged his co-workers in conversations about intelligent design.” Engaged is a mild word. From what I’ve read in more balanced reports, he proselytized and his co-workers complained. The trial began Monday (documents here). David Coppedge admitted he, “…handed out (religious) DVDs on the idea while at work.” But that’s not all. According to this AP story, Coppedge was also involved in political campaigning at work: Coppedge’s attorney, William Becker, contends his client was singled out by his bosses ……… click below for more ↓

That’s not mass, it’s area. Poor science means bad reporting.

2012-03-11 2012-03-11 Language & Grammar / Science & Technology

It will come from space, be as massive as half a football field, have the explosive power to decimate hundreds of square miles of land and will hurtle perilously close to Earth. I cringed when I read this paragraph in a QMI story published in the London Free Press recently, titled “Rock of Ages: Killer Asteroid Likely to Pass in 2013.” So many mistakes in so few words. But it might be a great start for a Roger Corman B-flick script. Of course, “it” will come from space: “it” is an asteroid. Asteroids, says Wikipedia, are, “…a class of small ……… click below for more ↓

Let’s get the terms of this debate correct

2012-02-09 2012-02-09 Atheism & Spirituality / Canadian Politics / Science & TechnologyLeave a comment

There’s a recent story in the Winnipeg Free Press with the headlines that, “Liberals fear pro-lifers trying to take over weakened federal party.” Gawd, I hate such inaccurate, slanted reporting. It’s bad enough when politicians engage in it, but the media should be more objective. Let’s get the terms straight, shall we? Then we can try for objectivity. To call one side “pro-life” is to give credibility to the implication that the other side is “anti-life.” That’s spinelessly accepting a one-sided spin on the debate. It appeals to the emotions, not the facts, and certainly not to logic. Neither side ……… click below for more ↓

Bad Lao Tzu meme adds to growing list of mis-identified quotes online

2012-02-07 2012-03-18 Atheism & Spirituality / Memes; Internet & Social / Personal Reminiscences / Religion / Science & Technology

This bad meme is going the Internet rounds: “If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself, if you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.” Lao Tzu Well, although deep – if a bit saccharine – it’s not from the Tao Teh Ching, the only work that the Old Master (the literal translation of his name) ever produced. The Tao Teh Ching is a notoriously difficult book to translate. Although ……… click below for more ↓