from the desk of Herb Masters
Hello Science Geeks and Non-Geeks alike,
If you are a science geek I hope you are proud of it. If you aren’t but still think science is one of the best ways to figure out how and what makes things the way they are that is equally cool, and you should also be proud!
I was reminded last week that the world is a dynamic place and subject to change. Some of it we have no control over. Natural disasters can be unavoidable like earthquakes or though they have occurred naturally for centuries and longer, we seem to be making them worse. Some is because we as humans can’t get along as well as many of us think we should. Some of it is undoubtedly due to actions we have taken in the past that some are denying we had anything to do with. Did you catch the weather report from Antarctica?
Now that the corona virus is on everyone’s mind, we also have a lot of bad information out there as well as good, some of it probably outright fraudulent as well as grossly negligent. Consider these… Baseless Conspiracy Theories Claim New Coronavirus Was Bioengineered , Six ways coronavirus will change our world Here’s an article that I think offers a unique take on it and some of our social issues at the same time. While the epidemic may be new, xenophobia has been intertwined with public health discourse for a very long time.
As you should know by now, I am a big supporter of science, reason, and critical thinking. I have been caught up by the turmoil in Washington for the last few months and will only say, politically, that like science without date/evidence, the research needs to be seen. So with that in mind here are some articles that I think might surprise you… Even the Best Scientific Studies Can Lie: The Case of Craniosacral Therapy, OSS in the News: Jonathan Jarry talks the goop lab on CTV
There are a lot of fun things in science; it doesn’t all have to be serious! As usual, there are a lot of opportunities here in the bay area, to get some insight into how essentially everything works. Here are a few to consider for the next week…
- Data Science, Beer & SPORTS Tue 7:00 San Francisco
- After Dark: Sexplorations Thu 6:00 San Francisco (just in time for Valentine’s Day!)
- Elephant Seal Weekend Fri, Sat, Sun 10:00 Santa Cruz
I assume you know Bill Nye as a great science educator, but did you know he is also a man of fashion? Not only does he tie his own bowties, he has a great leader in the Science of Fashion.
Here are a few more reflections on science and how we find ways to use it to help us understand…
Why the Laws of Physics Are Inevitable
This equation will change how you see the world
What Happens to Google Maps When Tectonic Plates Move?
Have a great week learning new stuff and reminding yourself of lessons from the past.
herb masters
“I think we can all do better” Jim Jeffries