Brian Switek of Laelaps had a great post up recently asking people whether they were inspired to go into science by dinosaurs. Despite the worries of science communicators that too many people use dinosaurs and space (and nothing else, I think it was Martin Robbins that first brought that to my attention, but I can’t […]
I’d heard for a long time that various antidepressants (usually the SSRIs or TCAs) caused weight gain. Then again, I’d heard they caused weight LOSS as well. Same thing with sleep, with eating behavior, with anxiety, etc. Some people experience weight gain, some experience weight loss. Some sleep more, some sleep less. Some are more […]
As you probably know by now, Scientopia has an awesome Guest Blog!!! We switch it up every two weeks, and this time we’ve got Rue Mapp from Outdoor Afro, a fabulous blog focused on connecting African Americans with the outdoors. Make sure to check her out!!
He studies too much for words of four syllables -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice “No” “the” “of” “to” “and” “a” “Yes” “How” “LOL” “F**K” What do all of these words have in common? They are all in the 500 most frequently used words in the English language (ok, two of them aren’t, but I bet […]
I’m sure by now everyone here has heard about the Penis Spine Story. The actual paper involved bigger brains as well as penis spines…but who cares about brains when PENIS SPINES are around?? Yeah I didn’t think so. When I read the coverage of the penis spines, and heard it was the technical term, I […]
I have to admit that I’m loathe to pay any attention to celebrity meltdowns. First off, because these people are often suffering a great deal, must they do it while the entire world looks on and slavers over what they are going to do next? And secondly, because then people go around looking for experts […]
Perhaps some of you have heard of the fictional baby X (that’s a PDF), a children’s story piece which appeared in Ms. Magazine in 1975. I know that when I read it, I was amused, fascinated, and intrigued. The story is about a baby who is raised not as a girl, not as a boy, […]
I thought that I had wavy hair Until I shaved. Instead, I find that I have STRAIGHT hair And a very wavy head. -Shel Silverstein The poem above is something I think of whenever I think of phrenology (also it’s just awesome, because Shel Silverstein is always awesome). Phrenology was (and is!) a pseudoscientific practice […]
I know Alexis blogged this just a few weeks ago, but a study this good CANNOT pass without me wanting to read it. And when I read, I must comment! And my comment? The moral of this story: dang people are JERKS. Territorial jerks. (Source) Ruback and Jueing. “Territorial Defense in Parking Lots: Retaliation Against […]
You all may recall that Scientopia just got a brilliant new Guest Blog(ge)! We’re transitioning to new writers every two week, so please welcome this week Thony from The Rennaissance Mathematicus and Penny from Temple University! Thony already has a welcome post up (and probably more), and Penny has a fantastic one just up on […]