For the rest of July, we will be taking a look at the Jurassic Park films, mainly Jurassic Park and Jurassic World. We will be discussing the films in detail, so spoilers are possible but will be kept to a minimum. Risks can be challenging to human perception. Some are obvious, like a 13-foot-tall carnivore with big, nasty, pointy teeth. Just about everyone in the Jurassic Park films appreciates the danger of claws and fangs, even if their safety mechanisms and procedures suggest otherwise (moats or ditches have … [Read more...] about Jurassic July: Safety Not Guaranteed
Movie Reviews
Jurassic July: Velociraptor’s a Pack Hunter
For the rest of July, we will be taking a look at the Jurassic Park films, mainly Jurassic Park and Jurassic World. We will be discussing the films in detail, so spoilers are possible but will be kept to a minimum. Last week, we looked at some of the conflicts in the Jurassic Park stories; conflict is good for narratives, but it isn't necessarily at the heart of science. Collaboration is at least as crucial, probably more so. A diversity of interests and non-overlapping priorities can be useful for refining ideas … [Read more...] about Jurassic July: Velociraptor’s a Pack Hunter
Jurassic July: The Three-Legged Stool of Science
For the rest of July, we will be taking a look at the Jurassic Park films, mainly Jurassic Park and Jurassic World. We will be discussing the films in detail, so spoilers are possible but will be kept to a minimum. When I was a microbiology graduate student, it was generally understood that there were three broad career options: continue on in academia, work for the government, or join the corporate world. Any discussion of one's future plans and goals typically started with a question about that threefold choice. … [Read more...] about Jurassic July: The Three-Legged Stool of Science
Science in Review: The World of Tomorrow, Today
Note: I'm departing a bit from my usual schedule to bring you another sci-fi movie review, this time for Tomorrowland; there will be spoilers. I consider these films to be both contributions to and barometers of the public science conversation. As I watched Tomorrowland with my kids, I kept coming back to the increasingly puzzling notion that it had been "refuted" by Mad Max: Fury Road. While I can certainly understand how a post-apocalyptic story can have a hopeful subtext, I don't see why we can't also have … [Read more...] about Science in Review: The World of Tomorrow, Today
Science in Review: Playing God
Note: This discussion contains spoilers for Avengers: Age of Ultron; I recommend watching the film first. I come to praise Joss Whedon, not to bury him. There is much to enjoy about Avengers: Age of Ultron, and it touches on a number of themes worthy of further exploration. Astonishing visuals do a lot of narrative heavy lifting; the action choreography reveals a lot about the characters and their relationships. Consequently, the film has plenty of opportunities to share what's on its mind. And apparently, that's … [Read more...] about Science in Review: Playing God