When a scientist says “there is no hard science” to support an idea, does that mean that (1) there really is no such research; or (2) there is research, but the the scientist does not believe it; or (3) the scientist has not kept up with research done by other people? Consider this case. FIRST, […]
Month: September 2007
Smoking and karaoke
Question: Who has co-written a scholarly book on smoking AND co-written a scholarly book on karaoke? Answer: Dr.Xun Zhou of The School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
Ladybird (or ladybug) sex
So imagine that you are a female ladybird. Because you are already four days old you feel it is really about time that you get a hold of yourself and cease to live your life in an aimless fashion. You feel that it is time to get pregnant. While wandering about on your green plant […]
Rock, scissors, monkey
Among scholars of the game of rock-paper-scissors, only a tiny minority also study monkeys. This fact, by itself, may explain why no studies were published until 2005 about what happens when monkeys play rock-paper-scissors. Daeyeol Lee, Benjamin P McGreevy and Dominic J Barraclough of the University of Rochester, New York, wrote the first, and so […]
September mini-AIR
The September issue of mini-AIR just went out. Topics include: Tea Catechins in Chicken Meat Systems; Gerbes for the Starved; Engineer’s Perspective on Socks; etc. (If you would like to have mini-AIR automatically sent to your email box every month, please subscribe to it. It?s free.)
The chemistry of divorce
Scientist tests DNA on husband’s underwear to check for signs of cheating LANSING, Mich. – A state forensics scientist who said she tested DNA in her husband’s underwear to find out whether he was cheating could be disciplined if investigators determine she violated the use of state equipment. Ann Chamberlain-Gordon of Okemos testified in a […]
“Landmark Study Investigates Arrogance”
Landmark Study Investigates Arrogance Arrogance is not just an unpleasant personality trait, it can also affect an organization’s morale and bottom line. There also appears to be a strong relationship between arrogance and job performance, according to Stan Silverman, dean of The University of Akron’s Summit College and co-author of the study, Arrogance: A Formula […]
Ig Nobel winner Van Impe: Origin of the auto
In the September 19, 2007 episode of his weekly broadcast, Dr. Jack Van Impe explains the technological history of the automobile: the basic engineering design, he reveals, was published in the Bible. In 2001, Dr. Van Impe and his wife, Rexella, were awarded the Ig Nobel Astrophysics prize, for their discovery that black holes fulfill […]
Holden cuts his hair (and maybe, his ties)
Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists Joshua Holden writes: Due to a haircut, I am writing to regretfully resign my membership in the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists as I have made the difficult decision to resign my Luxuriant Flowing Hair. Joshua Brandon Holden Assoc. Professor, RHIT Math Department For the record: The LFHCfS […]
Kill the sweet robot?
The scene from the movie “2001 ? A Space Odyssey“, in which the astronaut Dave Bowman switches the HAL9000 computer off is a landmark in popular culture…. This study analyses if a robot?s intelligence and its agreeableness influences its perceived animacy. The robot?s animacy was measured, amongst other measurements, by the users? hesitation to switch […]