When I come across a science story with a video of the experiment or phenomenon in question, it is hard to pass up. Even if the topic is less familiar, or less obviously connected to my usual themes, the opportunity to show as well as tell is appealing. And so today I find myself writing about bouncing droplets of oil. First, go ahead and watch for yourself. (Video from this story on this paper) Mesmerizing, no? Just me? Actually, I suppose there is a risk it looks too banal; who hasn't seen a ball bounce? You … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Anointing with Oil Again, and Again…
Science Corner: Matters of Representation
Large language models captivate for a variety of reasons; I am particularly intrigued by the fact that we know how to build them even without really knowing how they work. So I tend to gravitate less towards discussions of what they can (or cannot) do and more towards discussions of how & why. (Which may have something to do with the fact that the "what" changes rapidly, while progress on "how" and "why" feels a bit more tractable for an outsider to follow.) Hence my interest in this podcast with Ken Stanley on how … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Matters of Representation
When You’re Not Welcome: A Christian Reflection on Social Exclusion
Growing up, I believed that kindness would be reciprocated. I smiled at strangers, helped others when I could, and tried to make people feel seen and appreciated. I assumed that if I treated others well, they would treat me the same. But life doesn't always play by those rules. One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that people can exclude you—not because of something you did, but simply because you don’t fit a particular mold. Throughout my life, I’ve wrestled with social exclusion—from classmates who overlooked … [Read more...] about When You’re Not Welcome: A Christian Reflection on Social Exclusion
Science Corner: Recombination is Creativity
In order to explore the ideas of Jurassic Park Rebirth, this post contains spoilers for the film. Jurassic World Rebirth, the latest film to spin out of Michael Crichton's novel Jurassic Park, opens with a flashback revealing experiments to create mutant species of dinosaurs which never existed. We are clearly meant to be unsettled, if not outright horrified, by this revelation even before it is underlined by the death of a scientist or technician at the claws of one such creature. (In what I hope is a nod to the … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Recombination is Creativity
Following Jesus Together on Campus
InterVarsity's Faculty Ministry is hosting a Summer Series providing weekly devotions and opportunities for spiritual direction and prayer. If you regularly receive the monthly newsletters Scholar's Journey or Campus Calling - you are already signed up and will receive weekly emails in July and August. If you don't receive those newsletters and would like to sign up, you can do so here: http://eepurl.com/jhA3R-/. _________________________________________________________________________________ Pilgrim … [Read more...] about Following Jesus Together on Campus