And the answer to the physics question: because there is an elephant in the way.
Can’t find source for this one: from the internetz?
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October 5, 2011
The most important thing I learned from a teacher. via@boingboing @maggiekb1 @stevesilberman
This paragraph about the unmeasured successes of what good teachers do is just about pitch perfect. The essays that the post refers are also well worth a look.
“The role that teachers play in influencing the lives of their students is something that’s been lost in current debates about education mandates and standardized testing. Teaching isn’t just about making sure kids can pass exams. It’s also about helping future adults find their gifts, discover their interests, and learn who they want to be. That’s a hard thing to quantify. You can’t really put together a concise list of “Children I’ve Inspired” for a CV. But this is the part of a teacher’s job that is the most lasting. What we remember about good teachers isn’t necessarily the dry facts they taught us, it’s the doors they opened, the curiosity they kindled, and the moments where they made us rethink everything.”
Via Boing Boing.
October 5, 2011
For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled. #greatquote
Via “What Do you Care What Other People Think?” by Richard Feynman.
October 5, 2011
An Open Letter to the Human Resources Department of the Superfriends
(Another old humour piece of mine – this one you can find at McSweeney’s)
By DAVID NG
Dear Mr. Superman, Mr. Batman, Ms. Wonder Woman, and other esteemed do-gooders,
Although I have been waiting patiently for a few years in the hope that an advertisement would appear, I feel for the sake of my career that now is a good time to approach you. In essence, I am wondering whether you are, or will be, accepting any new members into your fine organization. More specifically, I am inquiring as to whether you need the services of a geneticist, since that is my particular field of expertise.
Part of the reason I am contacting you now is that I suspect you are possibly hurt by the unwarranted waning in public interest associated with your group, a symptom that likely correlates to the soaring popularity of some of your competitors—the X-Men and Spider-Man, to name two.
Anyway, this is why I think I can help—as a geneticist, I can bring a lot to the table. To me, it’s no coincidence that the X-Men, Spider-Man, and the like are mostly a consequence of fortuitous genetic modification.
More specifically, my knowledge in genetics can directly tackle your weaknesses. For instance, current genetic technologies could be utilized to offset Mr. Superman’s annoying kryptonite problem. Whether it’s the result of something specific in his genetic makeup or the result of the rest of society having some sort of innate immunity, the issue at stake is a difference in biological makeup. This, of course, makes it a perfect candidate for targeted gene therapy.
Mr. Batman could also benefit greatly from a genetic analysis. I would not be surprised if his manic-depressive tendencies are hard to manage and counterproductive to the group as a whole. Here we can perform a few diagnostic genetic tests, which can then go to great lengths to effectively pinpoint and manage these potentially bothersome tendencies.
Even Ms. Wonder Woman could stand to gain from my genetic expertise. Clearly, engaging in intensive hand-to-hand combat with her sizable chest is problematic. But how exactly would you perform breast-reduction surgery—or any surgery, for that matter—when an individual’s magic bracelets are constantly maneuvering to defend against an incoming scalpel? My point is that you don’t have to—I may be able to do something about this by using current genetic-manipulation methodologies.
And just imagine what could be done with cloning. The mind reels, does it not?
Now, with respect to fighting crime, I think that, overall, it wouldn’t take much effort to transform me into a fully functional Superfriend. I already have a well-equipped laboratory facility, which, with your help, could easily be relocated to the appropriate underground cave, glacier, secret island, or space station.
As for a costume, I own several lab coats, which, when worn with a good pair of spandex pants, will, I’m sure, sufficiently instill some semblance of fear into those who choose to do battle with me. I would offer to wear some retro-looking goggles as well, but, unfortunately, I need my prescription glasses, and, well, contacts tend to make my eyes itch.
Although I can’t fly, and I don’t own anything close to resembling a Batmobile or an invisible jet, I do drive around in one of those stylish yet practical Mazda MPVs. If you recall, this is Mazda’s very popular minivan model (you know—zoom zoom!), which would probably look quite superheroish were I to paint some lightning bolts or DNA strands on its sides.
Also, if it helps, I know quite a few physicists who may be able to lend a hand with Ms. Wonder Woman’s embarrassing “the jet is invisible but I’m clearly not” situation.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. David Ng
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, Canada
October 5, 2011
The only responsible way to use physics: is making turtles hug.
Perhaps a commentary on how sometimes science (and esp. some aspects of physics) is not obviously applicable?
Via Rock Paper Cynic.
October 4, 2011
I’m Sorry – New Yorker humour piece is very very funny.
As the senior alderman of the East Chemply, Pennsylvania, Town Board of Overseers, I, Walter K. Heblinger, would like to apologize to my constituents, and most especially to my family and my beloved wife, Kirsten, for sexting a nude photograph of myself to various citizens, and I would particularly like to apologize for circling my genitals, in the photograph, with red lipstick and adding vibrating exclamation points, thunderbolts, and the word “Yowza!”
Believe me, this piece by Paul Rudnick just gets better and better as you keep reading. Plus (if I can be serious for a moment), this might actually be a good thing for folks to read so that they learn some of the nuances of social media. i.e. Digital means forever, and often out of your control. (link)
October 3, 2011
San Diego Waves Glow in the Dark
“When jostled, each organism (warmwater phytoplankton Lingulodinium polyedrum) will give off a flash of blue light created by a chemical reaction within the cell. When billions and billions of cells are jostled — say, by a breaking wave — you get a seriously spectacular flash of light. ~Professor Peter J. Franks of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography”
Via Scuttlefish.
October 2, 2011
Pluto: power up?
First: the context – “Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a fourth moon orbiting the icy dwarf planet Pluto. The tiny, new satellite – temporarily designated P4 — was uncovered in a Hubble survey searching for rings around the dwarf planet.”
Next: the funny: (although note that technically, number of moons don’t actually have anything to do with “planet” designation)
Via Defective Yeti.
October 1, 2011
The buttered cat paradox.
I especially love the fact that there is a devoted wikipedia entry for this. It notes:
“In reality, cats do possess the ability to turn themselves right side up in mid-air if they should fall upside-down. The cat righting reflex is made possible in large part through being able to independently rotate the front and back sections of the body. This allows them to rotate without violating conservation of angular momentum by tucking in the front paws to lower the front section’s moment of inertia and extending the back paws to increase the back section’s moment of inertia. Thus, a cat can turn the front half of its body through a considerably larger angle than the back half.”
October 1, 2011
What if Smurfs were real? Presumably the systematic biology folks would have some words.
What if Smurfs were real? The Smurf is actually the result of a symbiotic relationship between two organisms. We believe that Smurfs put their ’embryos’ in the button of a developing mushroom. From a distance, Smurfs seem like they are wearing a hat and pants but as you can see this is a fallacy. The fungus provides camouflage and protective epidermal layers for the creature, while the creature provides nutrients and mobility for the spreading of spores.
Via Nate Ethallinan.
October 1, 2011
I’ve got my “eye” on you. #amazingphoto
This remarkable image of Leptodora kindtii (giant water flea) by Wim van Egmond is one of many incredible images from the Nikon Small World competition (go and vote for your favourite). In case, you’re wondering – that is, apparently, the flea’s eye.
popperfont.net 