Just a short post today to make mention of an article in the Weekend Australia Inquirer section which dealt with Ebola in a surprisingly tasteful manner (if we by pass the title ‘death and danger on the seething front line of Ebola’). Jamie Walker, associate editor of the section, reported on developments in Ebola throughContinue reading “Everyone’s an expert on Ebola”
Category Archives: science
How to prove your point about climate change
When we debate controversial science it’s important to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of authority figures. Do you know your climate change experts?
Talking about experts
An expert is qualified to give opinions based on their in depth involvement, but it doesn’t make them the last word on a subject. It just gives their opinion more weight than someone without their specific knowledge.
A gap in science journalism: communicating about Ebola
With all the hype around online (and with misinformed people like Donald Trump tweeting about how Ebola victims should have stayed in Africa to prevent spreading the virus), it’s time to talk about how Ebola has exposed a gap in science communication. While organisations like the CDC created a resource for people in the USContinue reading “A gap in science journalism: communicating about Ebola”
Science art: Picturing the future with climate change just got easier
With the UN Climate Summit approaching, there’s going to be a lot of talk about climate change. So this seems like a good moment to let images speak for themselves. Below, you will find a small gallery of images from UK artists Robert Graves and Didier Madoc-Jones depicting the potential impact of climate change onContinue reading “Science art: Picturing the future with climate change just got easier”
Cold fusion continued | Of John Bockris and paradigms
Cold fusion is possibly the most well known fringe science of the 20th century. Will it ever enter mainstream science?
Modelling controversies: Pons and Fleischmann’s cold fusion
Fleischmann and Pons holding ‘cold fusion’ experiment In 1989, two chemists claimed that they had produced cold fusion (fusion that would occur at room temperate) through a simple experiment. The chemists, Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann became overnight sensations. Pons and Fleischmann had been collaborating with a research team headed by Steven E Jones fromContinue reading “Modelling controversies: Pons and Fleischmann’s cold fusion”
Science with a bang: Making explosive claims about Mt. Fuji
A month ago, international headlines said that Japan’s iconic volcano – Mt Fuji – was in a critical state. The headlines originated with this a press release and interviews with the lead author from a study on seismic activities in Japan’s crust, Doctor Frolent Brenguier. Dr. Brenguier made some very interesting statements about Mt. Fuji.Continue reading “Science with a bang: Making explosive claims about Mt. Fuji”
Sexy science: what’s with all the hype?
In the last week or so, as I’ve been looking into controversial science, I’ve come across a recurring theme of concern that ‘big’ journals (like Nature and Science) are damaging science. Someone who provides a good synopsis of this problem is Randy Schekman, a cell biologist and Nobel prize winner, who is firmly of the opinionContinue reading “Sexy science: what’s with all the hype?”
What do marine scientists have against the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week?
Shark Week is a week-long program block on the Discovery Channel that (unsurprisingly) focuses on sharks. Shark Week has run since 1988 with the aim to raise awareness and respect for sharks. So, why do marine scientists have a problem with the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week? Over the years, the week has turned from education to entertainment. This year, the mainContinue reading “What do marine scientists have against the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week?”
hype.science 