I’ve lost 35 pounds since November using the Weight Watchers plan, which is basically calorie counting, so I’ve got an interest in healthy dieting. Here’s a good overview of some common dietary myths.
This week’s science column…
SCIENCE Edward Willett Hydrogen from ethanol Ethanol has been in the news in Saskatchewan recently with the announcement of federal subsidies for ethanol plants in Llodyminster and Weyburn. For now, most of the ethanol produced will be blended with gasoline to produce a cleaner-burning fuel for automobiles. But soon ethanol may be even more important …
Is this really a good idea?
The Washington Post reports that both members of the current two-man International Space Station crew will spacewalk together this week, leaving the station temporarily empty. Maybe the guy left inside couldn’t do anything if there was trouble anyway, but I’d be a little nervous about it if I were one of those crewmen. Of course, …
Lancet recants study that links autism and vaccinations
Seems the authors of a study on autism and vaccinations had a “fatal conflict of interest”–but how many kids will go unvaccinated because of the widespread reporting on the initial results? Grrr…
Einstein was right! (Again.)
Dark energy is ripping the universe apart! Another great SF headline! Except it’s happening very slowly! So we’ve still got 30 billion years! Plenty of time to use up all these excess exclamation marks I’ve acquired!
Asimov’s responds
Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine has responded to this sensationalistic and inaccurate “news” report.
Silicon/neuron interface
From The Globe and Mail: “Researchers at the University of Calgary have found that nerve cells grown on a microchip can learn and memorize information which can be communicated to the brain…” Read the whole thing.
Cancer vaccine
It’s a long way from being fully developed as a treatment, but this experimental cancer vaccine shows great promise in treating lung cancer–and may encourage tests of vaccines against other common types of cancer.
Beagle found?
No, this isn’t a story about a lost dog. The Guardian reports that archaeologists using ground-penetrating radar may have discovered the long-lost final resting place of one of the most famous ships of all time: HMS Beagle, which bore Charles Darwin on his famous voyage of biological discovery.
This week’s science column…
SCIENCE By Edward Willett It’s not over ‘til… Although I’m not terribly familiar with Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Opera Saskatchewan’s current production, I think it’s safe to say that it does, at some point, feature a soprano singing very high notes. I think it’s also safe to say that many people will find it hard to …
Running out of time
Think we’ve got lots of time to adjust to the coming nanotechnological future? You might want to think again.
No such thing as bad publicity?
It’s not very often that one of the science fiction magazines makes the news. I’m not sure this is the best way to achieve that, however. Not that it’s Asimov’s fault; it’s not intended for children, though I don’t think the content is going to hurt any 13-year-old I know. (That’s about the age I …
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