The parents of children in Hunan province who took part in a study allegedly involving genetically modified rice have expressed concerns over possible health hazards. The move comes as one of the authors of the study, Yin Shi’an, denied that the project used GM food. Continue reading
Tag Archives: research
Catching a few more rays
A new type of solar panel can turn infra-red light, not just the visible sort, into electricity. But not very well yet Continue reading
New Computer Memory Material Goes Easy on the Juice
Multitasking has a price: Your computer is sucking up a lot of electricity keeping track of work you haven’t yet saved to the hard drive. Americans spend $6 billion a year on electricity to keep that data stored in a computer’s memory during operation. But that figure could drop sharply, scientists report this week, thanks to a new type of material than can permanently store such data—without needing a continuous trickle of electricity to do it. Continue reading
Why wood pulp is world’s new wonder material
THE hottest new material in town is light, strong and conducts electricity. What’s more, it’s been around a long, long time. Continue reading
Maurizio Morabito: Extending Ben Goldacre’s Appeal To Authority to real life
Bishop Hill has a post quoting Ben Goldacre’s “appeal to authority”:
“you have only two choices: you can either learn to interpret data yourself and come to your own informed conclusions; or you decide who to trust”
That statement misses a crucial point. Continue reading
Posted in Climate Change, Education, IPCC
Tagged appeal to authority, medical research, PlayStation® climatology, research
Matt Ridley: Three Cheers for Scientific Backbiting
If, as I argued last week, scientists are just as prone as everybody else to confirmation bias—the tendency to look for evidence to support rather than to test your own ideas—then how is it that science, unlike cults and superstitions, does change its mind and find new things? Continue reading
Posted in Climate Change, Health, Scientific method
Tagged climate hysteria, dioxycarbophobia, irrational fears, research, weather superstition
Free access to British scientific research within two years
Radical shakeup of academic publishing will allow papers to be put online and be accessed by universities, firms and individuals Continue reading
BBC Radio 4: Philip Stott On ‘Reclaiming the Sceptic’
All scientists are sceptics, doubting both their own and others’ research, and weighing the evidence carefully to produce the most robust conclusion. Continue reading
New eyes in the sky
UI researchers develop technique to help pollution forecasters see past clouds Continue reading
Maurizio Morabito: A History Of Scientific Uncertainties (on their way to policymaking oblivion)
I know this story well about climate science. I am pretty sure it happens all the time in every scientific field that has social implications. Continue reading
Roger Pielke Jr.: Sarewitz on Bias in Science
In the current issue of Nature, Dan Sarewitz has a column about the threat posed by bias to scientific research. Continue reading
Call for standards in egg bio-monitoring
Scramble of results could undermine common method of pollution monitoring Continue reading
Lights Out for Research Satellites?
Earth-observing systems operated by the United States have entered a steep decline, imperiling the nation’s monitoring of weather, natural disasters and climate change, a report from the National Research Council warned on Wednesday. Continue reading
William Briggs: Love Of Theory Is The Root Of All Evil
Love of truth, on the other hand, is the root of all that is good. Continue reading
Roger Pielke Jr.: Reader Mail: Win Some, Lose Some
If it wasn’t for his obsession with “decarbonization” and unshakeable belief in its righteousness despite all evidence… Oh well, Junior can still come up with plenty of interesting stuff: Continue reading
Mutant-flu researcher plans to publish even without permission
Virologist plans to defy Dutch government over export permit requirement for avian flu paper Continue reading
Bill gives big increase for fossil fuels research
Fossil fuels and nuclear energy are big winners in the House Appropriations Committee’s energy and water spending bill that was released Tuesday. Continue reading
Posted in Clean energy, Development, Nuclear power
Tagged fossil fuel, research, research funding
Aus: Scientists want slice of our super[annuation funds]
I’m immediately against the idea. Super funds must safeguard their members’ savings and maximize returns to the extent that is secure and responsible. These funds are not a pool for union or special interest use and never should – make no mistake, “scientists” are one helluva group of particularly (and peculiarly?) interested people. First and final answer: “Absolutely not!” Continue reading
NYT: The Truth About the Doomsday Virus?
Two months ago we warned that a new bird flu virus — modified in a laboratory to make it transmissible through the air among mammals — could kill millions of people if it escaped confinement or was stolen by terrorists. Now Ron Fouchier, the Dutch scientist who led the key research team, is saying that his findings, which remain confidential, were misconstrued by the press. Continue reading
