Scientists Go Renaming Things with Cultural Value Again
Drosophila melanogaster, a fly that science students and genetic researchers the world over have messed with for decades, may be getting a name change. Turns out the genus Drosophila is more diverse...
View ArticleNational Science Foundation Drops Evolution, Big Bang Questions from Public...
This immediately strikes me as not cool. Science magazine’s news blog has the deets. In an unusual last-minute edit that has drawn flak from the White House and science educators, a federal advisory...
View ArticleCarl Sagan Schwag
I will soon own this. Apparently, Topps produced a set of “American Heroes” cards in 2009 and Carl Sagan was among those the company honored. He’s included in the “Pen is Mightier than the Sword”...
View ArticleIron Man’s Elementary Science Fail
I really liked the new Iron Man movie. Unlike other superheroes, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man is arrogant, quirky and unapologetic. Like Batman, he derives his power from his own ingenuity, using...
View ArticleBook Review: The Republican Brain by Chris Mooney
Image credit: DeSmogBlog.com The first thing you need to do when you pick up Chris Mooney’s The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science—and Reality is get over whatever initial reaction...
View ArticleHonoring Neil Armstrong at the Air and Space Museum
On Saturday morning, I learned that Dr. Neil Armstrong had passed away. I half-remembered a history I never lived through. I felt a sense of loss for the man. His quiet dedication and humble shunning...
View ArticleTop Five Communications Tips for Climate Scientists
Most public relations and media advice is the same: know your message and control the interview. But as I was telling an old professor’s class, the challenge for communications professionals is to...
View ArticlePopSci drops comments — a victory for science communication?
Popular Science is nixing comments on its articles. Is this a good move? I think so. As the publication notes, off-topic and mean-spirited comments can actually undermine people’s understanding of the...
View ArticleThere’s No Reason for Scientists to Debate Established Climate Science
Scientists shouldn’t participate in media debates that focus on whether or not established climate science is real. More importantly, media outlets shouldn’t host such debates. Many may be tempted to...
View Article“Accepting” vs. “Believing” When It Comes to Science
I don’t believe in human-induced climate change. I accept it. I’m not a scientist, but I have a deep appreciation for the knowledge the scientific process – and the scientists who use it – collectively...
View ArticleSleep Paralysis: Science, History and How I Learned to Make Sleep Paralysis...
Earlier this week, I guest-hosted a Halloween-themed Nerd Nite here in DC. I’m not big on the supernatural or spiritual, but I had some thoughts to share about sleep paralysis, a phenomenon I started...
View ArticleScientists and Journalists Aren’t on the Same Side, But They’re Often Heading...
What you’re getting into: about 3500 words, a 12-18 minute read Scientists often assume that journalists are on their side when it comes to educating the public about scientific topics. That’s true for...
View ArticleThe big framing divide between scientists and the public
What you’re getting into: 900 words, a 3 to 5 minute read. Framing is one of the most important concepts in public communication. The term can get thrown around loosely, but in my mind, framing comes...
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