Usually I try to pick items with broader philosophical or theological implications, or something with a practical application, in the hopes that everyone can find something they can connect with. But there are days when you just need to stare directly into the mind-melting bizarreness of the world and go 'huh.' Meet Oxytricha trifallax. Where you and I have 23 chromosomes (in duplicate), these guys have 16,000. Then they have a second copy of their genome that's scrambled in some way; the article describes it as … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Genome Shuffle
Interview
Science in Review: Stamp Collecting and Sufficiently Advanced Technology
Earlier this month, we talked about the perception that US science funding is harder to secure than it used to be. There are several tensions at play -- evolutionary increments vs revolutionary leaps, the boldness of youth vs the established old guard -- or at least that is how the discussion was framed. I wonder though if there is another subtext: what is science? De facto, science is whatever we spend our science dollars on. Therefore, we want to make sure that funding covers the complete range of scientific … [Read more...] about Science in Review: Stamp Collecting and Sufficiently Advanced Technology
Engaging Students in the Subject of Truth
To further "flesh out" Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global Worldviews? (InterVarsity Press, 2014), I asked Mary Poplin, PhD, Professor of Education, School of Educational Studies, Claremont Graduate University, to offer a follow-up series focused upon practical illustrations, stories, and resources. This is the "teaser" which includes a call to join the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) in refining our resource material over the course of the coming academic term. Mary Poplin: Many … [Read more...] about Engaging Students in the Subject of Truth
Takeaways from “Is Reality Secular?”
Welcome to the third post in a series in which we explore with Mary Poplin her 2014 publication Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global Worldviews? (InterVarsity Press). In earlier posts Mary provided: perspective on why she wrote Is Reality Secular? a brief snapshot of the four global worldviews she writes about in Is Reality Secular? In this piece Mary Poplin responds to my question, "What do you desire to be the top takeaways for readers of Is Reality Secular?" In future posts Mary … [Read more...] about Takeaways from “Is Reality Secular?”
“Downstream” Author Interview
Over the past several years via the Emerging Scholars Network I've gotten to know David L. O'Hara, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Philosophy and Classics, Augustana College, South Dakota). I particularly appreciate the refreshing manner in which he addresses material on his blog Slowly Percolating Forms. After the release of his new Wipf and Stock publication, Downstream: Reflections on Brook Trout, Fly-Fishing, and the Waters of Appalachia (co-authored with Matthew Dickerson, Ph.D., Computer Science Professor, … [Read more...] about “Downstream” Author Interview