…has gone into hiding.
Heh. Maybe it’s in a federal witness-protection program.
Category Archives: Science And Society
The Vegan Diet
…almost kills a kitten.
It’s not good for people, either, but it’s a lot worse for a carnivore.
The Lawsuit
The judge in the case has refused to dismiss. I would note that this statement:
Several investigations over the years cleared Mann of allegations of wrongdoing.
…is factually incorrect, in both the blog post, and the ruling(s). As Sam Kazman says, it is likely that we will appeal.
Destination Moon
On the set, in 1950.
Evoloterra
Clark Lindsey and his wife performed the ceremony with some friends, and has a review. Our experience has been that people who are not generally into space enjoy it quite a bit, if you can get them to do it.
Future Temperature Forecasts
They have to start adjusting their prognostications now, or risk looking more and more like fools when reality continues to get more and more out of line with the models.
Superman
Could he punch someone into space?
My answer is no, without even reading the link. I think that he could throw someone there (though they’d get cooked from the air friction on the way up), and they’d come back down unless they had escape velocity when they got to the top of the atmosphere, because there wouldn’t be an orbital insertion impulse. But if he punched them hard enough to do so, his fist would probably just take their head off. If he did it through their solar plexus, it would probably just go right through. People don’t consider the structural issues associated with superheroes and normal-human interactions with them.
Now Ralph Kramden, on the other hand… But then, he never carried out the threat.
That Terrible Pollutant, CO2
…allows trees to get by on less water. Of course, this can’t possibly be allowed to be good news:
The immense volume of water that trees pull out of the ground winds up in the atmosphere, helping supply moisture to farming areas downwind of forests. So if trees use less water, that could ultimately mean less rain for thirsty crops in at least some regions of the world.
It could mean lots of things — good, bad and indifferent — and the vast majority of them unpredictable, given the non-linear nature of the equations and our lack of understanding of the complexity of all the interactions, which is why it’s crazy to be attempting to make costly public policy on the presumption that Carbon Is Evil.
Salt
There is no scientific evidence that reducing intake is good for your health.
I’ve cut back myself, because I seem to be empirically salt sensitive, in terms of my blood pressure, but EPID in that regard, I think. I’ve also switched over to sea salt to get a wider variety, including potassium. I’d never prescribe public policy about the matter, or make war on it, as Nurse Bloomberg has.
Root Canals
Will stem cells bring them to an end? And allow tooth regrowth?
Dr. D’Souza estimates that human clinical trials of the hydrogel strategy could begin as soon as two or three years from now and be available as a therapy within five years. Other researchers working on different methods estimate that human trials may take place within the decade.
Faster, please.