I have absolutely experienced phantom cellphone vibrations, only I didn't realize that was a legitimate phenomenon. I thought for sure I was feeling something else and just thinking it was my phone because I was distracted or something, which I suppose isn't all that far removed from the proposed explanation in the article. There's already a strong argument to be made that our smartphones, GPS devices, and similar omnipresent gadgets qualify many of us as cyborgs, but this kind of phantom sensation pretty much seals the … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Yep, I’m a Cyborg
Science
Science Corner: SAT, GRE… DNA?
I imagine this study of the genetic contribution to academic achievement will be of interest to many in higher education. As I see it, there are actually two related but distinct takeaways from this research. The first is that academic achievement (as measured by a standardized university entrance test; insert all the necessary caveats) is based on factors like "motivation, personality, [and] confidence" independent of intelligence/IQ. While hardly a surprising result, it's a point that warrants reinforcement. As the … [Read more...] about Science Corner: SAT, GRE… DNA?
Science Corner: Genome Shuffle
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
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
Faculty Interview: Jay McGhee, Natural Sciences
At The Ends and Goals of Higher Education in Twenty-First-Century America: Change and the Calling of the Christian Educator, I had the privilege of getting to know a number of Christians who serve Christ in higher education. One such faculty was Dr. Jay McGhee, who serves as Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, Northwest Missouri State University. In follow-up to our time together, I asked him a few questions regarding his life in higher education. We pray that you will find these words an … [Read more...] about Faculty Interview: Jay McGhee, Natural Sciences