Herb Masters
17 February 2025
Hello Fans of Science, Reason, and Critical Thinking!
I think it is fair to say that we are through the depths of short days and heading into days with longer periods of sunlight. Of course that isn’t anything surprising or a new idea! However, I do find myself often thinking about how the understanding, perception, trust, and dare I say, “faith, in science” seems to be under attack. I try not to drag politics into this too much but it seems amazing, and terrifying actually, that science, which I consider to be our best chance for understanding our place in nature and on the planet and humankind’s survival, is under such attack. Take note of the opening heading on the Union of Concerned Scientists Attacks on Science… “Updates to this feature are currently paused…” don’t stop on page 1, there are 14! Note: If you read nothing else in this missive this week, read that!
Another resource to look at is Johns Hopkins Health Security Decoded and Tackling Rumors and Understanding & Strengthening Trust in Public Health Check out EDF Vital Sighs
I could go on and on about this. I think it is really important to be as informed and reasonable as possible to be able to discuss these issues with those that we don’t agree with and think we are “the enemy”! Do you own research on this. Start with the search term “attacks on science”! OK, one more to check… Anthropcene Weekly Science Dispatch
I do think that living in the SF Bay area or other centers of creativity and science offers a unique opportunity. Consider all of the upcoming presentations we have listed on the Bay Area Science calendar. Here are a few that I think are worth your attention in the next week…
— Wonderfest: Other Humans Tue @ 7:00 in Novato (Let’s be honest. Novato is a long trip on a weeknight for most of us. Wonderfest has generously been posting videos of the talks at Wonderfest Science)
— Exploring Lunar Eclipses’ – Prepare for the Lunar Eclipse on Mar 13/14 on Thu @ 5:00 Get ready for next month!
— Bair Island Walking Tour Sat @ 2:00 in Redwood City
Of course there are a lot of great presentations in the next two weeks. Check out the full list below.
I’ve been seeing lots of interesting stuff come up recently. I hope you enjoy some of these…
5 Ways RFK, Jr., Will Influence Public Health
One Week to Decide on Abandoning Climate Pollution Regulation
Paleontologist Answers Extinction Questions
Keep in mind that it isn’t just because of the internet that crazy, by today’s standards, ideas spread relatively rapidly and cause great harm… How the Printing Press Ignited Europe’s Deadly Witch-Hunt Frenzy
Did you know that France had a space program in 1963?… Félicette, the First Cat in Space
If you can access the site, Brave New Worldy Trends (it’s a subscription) you will find an amazing sample of UFO and Conspiracy articles that truly astounds me.
Have a great week learning new, cool, and at least concerning things about science!
herb masters
“You can get into a habit of thought in which you enjoy making fun of all those other people who don’t see things as clearly as you do. We have to guard carefully against it.”
– Carl Sagan, 1987 CSICOP meeting
“‘Type one’ error is thinking that something special is happening when nothing special really is happening. ‘Type two’ error is thinking that nothing special is happening, when in fact something rare or infrequent is happening.’
– M. Truzzi
“In science it often happens that scientists say, “You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,” and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn’t happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.”
-Carl Sagan
“There are children playing in the street who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago.”
– Robert Oppenheimer
So many quotes so little time.
Upcoming Events:
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