In which we look at the death of a sports-media pioneer, the settling of the Chicago teachers strike, writing while a parent, why even highly educated people hate school teachers, and a different approach to teaching students not to plagiarize papers. A Positive Solution for Plagiarism – Do Your Job Better – The Chronicle of… Continue reading Links for 2012-09-19
Science with SteelyKid
There are a bunch of physics stories that I’d sort of like to write about, but don’t have time for, and politics is oscillating between “darkly hilarious” and “indescribably depressing,” so that’s best left alone. So, here’s some cute kid pictures instead. SteelyKid has lately taken to telling all and sundry “This is my daddy.… Continue reading Science with SteelyKid
Help Me, Internet Biologists, You’re My Only Hope
For her birthday, SteelyKid got a “Butterfly Keeper” set, which is basically a big mesh cylinder maybe two feet high and a foot in diameter. It came with a coupon for free live caterpillars for “Painted Lady” butterflies, which we duly sent away for. These came in a plastic cup full of caterpillar food, with… Continue reading Help Me, Internet Biologists, You’re My Only Hope
The “Ballistic” Story
Last week, in the post about fermion conduction, I left a reference hanging: There’s nothing physically blocking the atoms from flying right through the channel– in fact, an atom that enters the channel will always exit the other side without slowing down along the way. This is termed “ballistic,” a term that will always have… Continue reading The “Ballistic” Story
Links for 2012-09-12
In which we learn about a new science communication service, some history of astronomy, a more complete definition of “one-hit wonder,” and a new science award promoting basic research. ———— Bowler Hat Science Matthew Francis launches his Media Empire, offering a variety of talks (both public lectures and research talks), and more importantly workshops on… Continue reading Links for 2012-09-12
September 11, 2012
Links for 2012-09-10
In which we look at Obama’s speaking style, what Bill Clinton wrote vs. what he said, and Gangnam Style. ———— Obama and the Racial Politics of American English – NYTimes.com This ended up being less interesting than it seemed it might be, but I’m not sure why. What Bill Clinton Wrote vs. What Bill Clinton… Continue reading Links for 2012-09-10
Links for 2012-09-08
In which science shows the FAA is full of crap, Slate takes on the question of science grad school, NFL team logos get redesigned to make them honest, the Joint Quantum Institute invites your Nobel guesses, and experimentalists are more sought after than theorists. Do Our Gadgets Really Threaten Planes? – WSJ.com “The odds that… Continue reading Links for 2012-09-08
Simulating Wires with Atoms and Light: “Conduction of Ultracold Fermions Through a Mesoscopic Channel”
So, it’s been a while, but let’s see if we can’t hit the ground running with a good physics post. There have been a few notable physics events since I went on hiatus, but for a return to physics ResearchBlogging, we’ll go with something near and dear to my heart, ultracold atoms. Specifically, this Science… Continue reading Simulating Wires with Atoms and Light: “Conduction of Ultracold Fermions Through a Mesoscopic Channel”
Links for 2012-09-05
Confessions of a Community College Dean: Kermit How Kermit the Frog is the perfect model for an academic administrator. Chester A. Arthur: Sasquatch Trainer : Filmmaking Frenzy: Commander-in-Chief From the people who brought you “Rutherford B. Hayes, Urban Vigilante,” a movie about the only Union alumnus (so far) to be US President. In a Mass… Continue reading Links for 2012-09-05