This is why the dolphins don’t play with the narwhals.
By Liz Climo
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Category: *
May 22, 2013
Axis-tilt: is the reason for the season. #awesome
Photo source unknown, via Fresh Photons
May 22, 2013
A sound scientific take on astrological readings
Applicable for all signs:
“The coming year is likely to present challenges; these trials are when your true character will show. Trusted friends can provide assistance in particularly pressing situations. Make use of the skills you have to compensate for ones you lack. Your reputation in the future depends on your honesty and integrity this year. Monetary investments will prove risky; inform yourself as much as possible. On the positive side, your chances of winning the lottery have never been greater!”
By Tim Harrod, via Futility Closet
May 17, 2013
A lovely illustration of “mathgirl.” Not technically a superhero, but in my opinion, just as awesome.
“This is a piece for Delaware Today about young girls losing interest in science,technology, engineering and math related studies. The state’s schools and businesses are hoping to turn all this around. I love it when I come up with a few sketches that I still want to use for something and this was one of those times. A big thanks to AD Kelly Carter!”
By Byron Eggenschwiler, via Fresh Photons.
May 17, 2013
Technology that literally gives you a “pat on your back.”
Patent filed by Ralph R. Piro, via Futility Closet
May 16, 2013
“I would make voting more difficult, not less so.” Wise words from Pete McMartin #bcpoli @VancouverSun
Nicely put by Pete McMartin
“… I would make voting more difficult, not less so, given the sacrifices that have been made to ensure we have that right.
Voting is a bequeathment, not a birthright, and it shouldn’t be seen as an inconvenience to be rectified by iPhone.
It needs defending, not diluting. It needs to be celebrated — not in the flag-waving way of government flackery, but in the hard-eyed way that reminds us how rare and privileged a thing it is.
As for those who were either too lazy, too busy, too complacent or too dissatisfied with the process, or who were so sophomorically cynical about politicians and politics that they couldn’t or wouldn’t get themselves down to a polling station, they should be ashamed of themselves.
There’s a problem with our voting system, all right.
It’s them.”
Read the whole thing here.
May 15, 2013
Science things that are awesome…
(Also, all of these goofy pics are now being archived at a tumblr I just set up – scienceisawesomethatisall.tumblr.com)
O.K. Yesterday was our provincial elections (in British Columbia), and in the end, the Liberal party came out winning. There’s quite a few environmental issues that are in the forefront in my neck of the woods, not the least of which concerns the Northern Gateway pipeline.
The Liberals didn’t actually have the greatest platform on this (at least from an environmental or science policy standpoint), but here’s hoping the public continues to pressure them to do the “best” (re: what scientific expert peer review suggests) thing for the province, and indeed the planet at large.
Last Saturday, my lab opened up the entire ground floor of the Michael Smith Building to the public. This was in conjunction with Science Rendezvous, a cross Canada science festival, and in the case of UBC, organized by the Faculty of Science. In the house (so to speak) were folks from the Beaty Museum, Civil Engineering, Pathology, Physics and Astronomy, as well as the Engineering Physics Robotics lab (who also brought in their 3D printers). We also used the building as ground zero for a number of tours throughout campus.
All in all, a great day (and busy too!). In my space, I actually brought out about a dozen or dissecting scopes and collected a nice jar of pond scum. Kids (and their parents), with some basic instructions, were let loose to find whatever they could find in the pond water. Lots of cooties were found, protozoa and algae abound, but my favourite was this Hydra that I managed to get a decent picture of on my iPhone.
The scientific method – it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty much the best way out there on collecting your thoughts and information to make sound decisions. All the more so, if the decision is high stakes IMHO.
May 15, 2013
Alright, how much fun would a course called “Felt Microbiology 101″ be?
Especially, if you get to play with creations like the below (a giant euglena, giant amoeba, and giant daphnia)
By Hiné Mizushima, via Thinx
May 15, 2013
How about a house where the walls are made of vegetation?
“The “Green box” project rises as the renovation of a small disused garage, accessory to a weekend house situated on the slopes of the Raethian Alps. A structure realized with lightweight metal galvanized profiles and steel wires wraps the existent volume and transforms it into a tridimensional support for the climbing vegetation. It is composed mainly by deciduos vegetation: Lonicera periclymenum and Polygonum baldshuanicum for the main texture on which climb up the secondary texture of Humulus lupulus and Clematis tangutica. On the basement there are groups of herbaceous perennials (Centranthus ruber, Gaura Lindheimeri, Geranium sanguineum, Rudbekia triloba) alternate with annual ones (Cosmos bipinnatus,Tagetes tenuifolia, Tropaeolum majus, Zinnia tenuifolia) and bulbous to ensure a light but continuos flowering.”
Project and text by act_romegialli, via Colossal
May 9, 2013
This solar corona, a la solar eclipse, is truly amazing!
(O.K. This designates my previous instagram post to the “I’m not worthy” category!)
By Miloslav Druckmüller, via Colossal
