I’ve heard the same old rumors (as I’m sure many others have) since the early 1990’s, some insisting Jackson had his skin somehow lightened, either chemically or medically. Others explain that he had a skin condition known as vitiligo, which turns skin lighter through depigmentation. People counter that argument by saying there has never been… Continue reading Did Michael Jackson artificially lighten his skin?
Category: science
The Science of Evil Book Review Six Degrees of Empathy
“My main goal is to understand human cruelty, replacing the unscientific term ‘evil’ with the scientific term ‘empathy,’ ” he writes at the beginning of the book From NYTimes.com Science tackling the question of morality.
People Argue Just to Win, Scholars Assert
Now some researchers are suggesting that reason evolved for a completely different purpose: to win arguments. Rationality, by this yardstick (and irrationality too, but we’ll get to that) is nothing more or less than a servant of the hard-wired compulsion to triumph in the debating arena. According to this view, bias, lack of logic and… Continue reading People Argue Just to Win, Scholars Assert
Geometry skills are innate, Amazon tribe study suggests
Researchers examined how the Mundurucu think about lines, points and angles, comparing the results with equivalent tests on French and US schoolchildren. The Mundurucu showed comparable understanding, and even outperformed the students on tasks that asked about forms on spherical surfaces. … The ideas are profoundly ingrained in formal education, but what remains a matter… Continue reading Geometry skills are innate, Amazon tribe study suggests
Whales Throng New York City Area, Surprising Scientists
A lot of big whales have a taste for the Big Apple area—including the largest animal on Earth—underwater recordings suggest. From National Geographic I misread that as whale thong.
80% Improvement In Solar Cell Efficiency
An anonymous reader writes “Chemistry researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory say they’ve improved the efficiency of typical solar cells by a whopping 80% by creating a 3-D nanocone-based solar cell platform. The technology tackles the problem of poor transport of charges generated by solar photons. These charges — ‘negative electrons and positive holes’ —… Continue reading 80% Improvement In Solar Cell Efficiency
Autism epidemic challenged by UK research
…more and more research hints that some if not all of the increase in autism may be due to changes in how, and how often, the disorder is diagnosed. Kids who used to be classified as mentally retarded or just plain eccentric, for instance, might now get an autism-spectrum label instead. “That simply means more… Continue reading Autism epidemic challenged by UK research
Wild Pig Explosion May Spread Disease to Humans
An explosion of feral pigs in the U.S. could be exposing people to dangerous parasites, a new study says. From National Geographic Wild Pig Explosion would be an excellent band name.
GE’s Immelt wishes he had soft-pedaled green talk | Reuters
If I had one thing to do over again I would not have talked so much about green,“ Immelt said at an event sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Even though I believe in global warming and I believe in the science … it just took on a connotation that was too elitist From… Continue reading GE’s Immelt wishes he had soft-pedaled green talk | Reuters
Bill Nye Boo’d In Texas For Saying The Moon Reflects The Sun
Bill Nye, the harmless children’s edu-tainer known as “The Science Guy,” managed to offend a select group of adults in Waco, Texas at a presentation, when he suggested that the moon does not emit light, but instead reflects the light of the sun. As even most elementary-school graduates know, the moon reflects the light of… Continue reading Bill Nye Boo’d In Texas For Saying The Moon Reflects The Sun