Science is looking closely at all sorts of things you probably don't know about! -- Lily Grosh A friend shared this little nugget of wisdom from her daughter and I loved it. Sure, it's not as complete a definition as Francis Bacon or Karl Popper might offer. Nevertheless, it captures an essential feature of science too easily overlooked. We say science deals with facts and proofs, we hear how science is right and just about everything else is wrong, and we get the impression science works exclusively with the known … [Read more...] about Science in Review: The Unknown is Great!
science in review
Science in Review: It Ain’t Rocket Science
Who doesn't love space? We found out this week that a possibly habitable planet is just next door orbiting the star closest to us, and the Internet erupted with travel plans. People who might otherwise be complaining about an extra 10 minutes added to their commute were suddenly contemplating a journey that would take longer than all of recorded human history. Last year, more than four thousand folks paid actual money just for the chance to be considered for a mission to Mars that almost certainly won't happen, probably … [Read more...] about Science in Review: It Ain’t Rocket Science
Science in Review: The Open and Closed Case of Steve v Steve
Exhibit A: During a beach vacation with my extended family, I repeatedly heard my mom, my sister and my wife discussing the complexities of food shopping. These are three intelligent women, each with a Masters' degree in their respective field, each with a minimum of 10 years' experience buying and preparing food for themselves and at least some experience doing so for a family, and yet all three find this basic task increasingly overwhelming. Optimizing for sustainability, personal cost, global resource consumption, … [Read more...] about Science in Review: The Open and Closed Case of Steve v Steve
Science in Review: Have You Tried Turning Science Off And Turning It Back On Again?
Earlier this month, I commented on research into a possible relationship between social stratification and human sacrifice in early civilizations. Anthropologist and ESN blogger Kevin Birth quickly provided a significant critique of the study's methodology and the underlying assumptions. I imagine that kind of discussion might raise a few eyebrows; isn't science supposed to be objective, not to mention correct? If the study really is that flawed, how did it get published in such a prestigious journal? If it is valid, … [Read more...] about Science in Review: Have You Tried Turning Science Off And Turning It Back On Again?
Science in Review: God or Supergod?
This is a spoiler-free reflection on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The Bible is coming to the big screen. You've maybe heard about Risen, the latest dramatization of the life of Jesus. Or Miracles from Heaven, a modern day story of healing attributed to faith. This weekend we get God's Not Dead 2, an adaptation of Christian apologetics. But the biggest Biblical blockbuster, the one that opened on Easter weekend, is Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. It desperately wants to be a passion play (among many other … [Read more...] about Science in Review: God or Supergod?