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Minute Physics points out that despite the Sun’s immense gravity, it’s remarkably hard to throw something off of Earth so that it hits the Sun. In fact, it’s actually easier, at least in terms of energy, to send a payload … Continue reading
Category Archives: Science
There’s a commercial on television recently that claims raising chickens without antibiotics is just a scam to charge more money. After all, it says, federal rules don’t permit selling chickens with any antibiotic residue. Of course, that’s not the problem. … Continue reading
A roundup of science news (link) on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show blog includes this rather disconcerting entry: The best new species discovered over the last year include skeletal sea dragons and giant carnivorous planets. I suspect that last word should … Continue reading
In yet another report worth seeing both for the factual content and the entertainment value, John Oliver addresses some problems with science, including insufficient replication, doubtful forced results (“p-hacking”), and especially sloppy science reporting in the media, notably on morning … Continue reading
Much of the U.S. is likely to see a lot of cicadas in the near future. As you probably know, these insects have a remarkable life cycle, living for 17 years underground, at the end of which they mature into … Continue reading
Antibiotics are overused in many countries, including the U.S., in part because patients insist on them even when they have an illness, such as a viral illness, that can’t be helped by antibiotics. Doctors sometimes justify this to themselves as … Continue reading
Once in while I hear someone insist that the expression “half moon” is incorrect, that one should say either “first quarter” or “third quarter.” But “half moon” is established usage and very descriptive, and the terms “first quarter” and “third … Continue reading
Here’s yet another short video from pediatrician Aaron Carroll, this one venting annoyance at misleading or overhyped reports of medical research in the news media. Link: https://youtu.be/e0W5PQRYSac Incidentally, in this video Dr Carroll mentions belonging to a group of doctors … Continue reading
(Updated 2016 April 1 to add some additional point and try to improve the explanation below the video.) Here’s a video with a surprise ending — a big surprise, in fact. The question addressed is this: What if you’re take … Continue reading
Interesting brief video (under four minutes) about some things in our bodies that aren’t very useful but are left over in our DNA from our remote ancestors: Link: https://youtu.be/rFxu7NEoKC8 by … Continue reading