They’re planning to redefine the prototype kilogram: During ceremonial weigh-ins that take place every few decades, when reference copies of the International Prototype Kilogram are flown in from around the world and compared to their distinguished forebear, the IPK has … Continue reading →
The time has come,’ the Walrus said, To talk of many things: Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax — Of cabbages — and kings — And why the sea is boiling hot — And whether pigs have wings.’ … Continue reading →
A color-blind one, that is. And one picture is worth 1,000 words: Here’s the website for the glasses. Most of the color-blind people in the videos who put on the glasses are overwhelmed. At first they usually pause (it often … Continue reading →
It seems like a no-brainer: the catastrophic fires that have swept through California in recent years could be made much less severe by a more effective and frequent use of controlled burns to thin the forest more. But although that … Continue reading →
I find this article to be a fascinating exploration of the mind of a successful scientist who thought he had a revolutionary idea, and tried to get it published. But was it actually a big idea that was misunderstood (or … Continue reading →
This explains a lot: Every morning, people sleepily drag themselves out of bed, wandering through a brain fog that seems to take forever to dissipate. Early risers will deny it exists, but evidence in a new paper in the journal … Continue reading →
Elizabeth Warren’s claim to have Native American ancestry hasn’t been a question I’ve dealt with on this blog except very briefly, in passing. I’ve left that to others, in particular Legal Insurrection, which has gone into it many times in … Continue reading →
There are a lot of problems with the Kavanaugh accuser’s story, including the fact that she may be deliberately lying for political reasons. But even if she’s not purposely lying, there are many problems connected with the phenomenon of memory … Continue reading →
I hope this invention is a great success: The project is the creation of Boyan Slat, a 24-year-old Dutch college dropout who raised more than $30 million on a five-year quest to build an ocean-cleaning machine. His inspiration dates to … Continue reading →
…comes up with some interesting results that might disturb advocates of low-carb diets: In a large cohort of adults living in four diverse US communities, with more than two decades of follow-up, mid-life dietary patterns marked by both low carbohydrate … Continue reading →
This one may even be true: Two completely drug-resistant versions of the venereal disease [gonorrhoea] have been found and identified – with fears rampant unprotected sex could rigger an epidemic. Doctors have been unable to treat patients with antibiotic ceftriaxone … Continue reading →
26-year-old Scott Michael Johnson was a securities analyst who worked at the investment banking company Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, located in the World Trade Center. On 9/11 he was killed, but only now has the New York City medical examiners’ … Continue reading →