In which I opine that no, actually, not EVERYONE should be able to explain quantum computing like Trudeau (though that was cool).
But first, the essentials:
Monday:
“I’m tired of logging into Twitter or Facebook just to dodge rape and death threats in response to my articles” ow.ly/4mJlWj
Congress is stymieing efforts to combat #zikaow.ly/4mJoSx
Why preprints in physics…but not in biology? I’ve always wondered. ow.ly/4mJp5o by @AnnaNowo
Tuesday:
It’s #Alienweek at @ScienceNews and we are ready to NERD OUT. But would we know an alien if we saw it? ow.ly/4mR5CA
This week’s word: Yottawatt! It’s…a lot of watts. a Lot a LOT of watts. ow.ly/4mR5IH
this guy thinks we can find the origin of the obesity epidemic with a few more stats.ow.ly/4mR5TK I worry abt false positives.
Really great points from @FiveThirtyEight about how journalists’ experience biases how we cover college. ow.ly/4mR63U
Fascinating piece about the origin of moderation in the wild west of the Internet.ow.ly/4mR6dv
Miss my links last week? I’ve got you (and me) covered. ow.ly/4mR6pd cuckoldry, lionfish and impt thoughts from @JacquelynGill
Can cows benefit from some probiotics? Interesting thought! ow.ly/4mR6Gn
Congrats to @kathrynschulz on a Pulizer for her Cascadia earthquake piece…which will make you shake. ow.ly/4mR6Wp
Wednesday:
Are you smarter than a slime mold? Cool video on a cool critter by @jtotheizzoeow.ly/4mRiqg
And a rant from me:
Based on this: Justin Trudeau and quantum computing: when social media shapes reality.ow.ly/4mRRRV Apparently there are people out there who think that EVERYONE should be able to understand quantum computing and explain it. Because that…benefits us all somehow.
Today, I think we need a reminder of what you all “should” be reading.scicurious.org/heres-what-you… (1/n)
“I realized the people telling me to read specific lists of books were people interested in upholding the status quo. People who were invested in the current lists of “What Makes you look Smart,” because they had already ticked off those lists. Most of these people were not smarter than I was. Most were not better educated. Most were not even interesting people.
They were merely people interested in telling me how to be more like them. People who wanted to tell me unless I did what they did, read what they read, I was deficient somehow. That in some way, my gaps in this huge list of books made me lacking, less able to be successful, less understanding of human nature or of culture.”
This is also how I feel about whether or not a politician “should” be able to give a 100{9f43b4361d9a125bc126dd2a2d1949be02545ec69880430bc4fed2272fd72da3} accurate description of quantum phyiscs (2/n)
Should people know there’s such a thing as quantum computing? Sure. 3/n
Should they develop a basic understanding of quantum computing if they need to develop policy based on it? yes. (4/n)
But should we be saying EVERYONE should know and love and explain quantum computing or we are all ill educated? NO. (5/n)
There are different ways to be “educated” and different things that interest us and make us passionate. That’s ok! (6/n)
Let’s not shame people for what they don’t know or what they “should” know. Let’s inspire passion and interest and curiosity.
Think the replication crisis in psychology is cringe-worthy? Try biomed. ow.ly/4mTNOl
Even the tiniest things can impact your science. For example, if your lab mice are COLD. ow.ly/4mTObi
Cutting down the immune system to save people from snake bite. ow.ly/4mTOmg New from @NerdyChristie
Is crowdfunding the best way for #Zikaresearch? ow.ly/4mTOBU Interesting. Are these funds are subject to overhead at unis?
Why nerd culture is sexist. ow.ly/4mTOOL
To find ET, maybe we should be looking for who can see us. Cool! by @CosmicThespian#AlienWeek #DrawET
Thursday:
TIL there’s a global anti-venom shortage. And synthetic biology can fight it. ow.ly/4mTPbu
This week is #alienweek at sciencenews! We get to #drawET. I vote for this: a marsigrade!instagram.com/p/BEdt6zHyLUl/
Love this. An important PSA on three easy ways to read less nonsense. ow.ly/4mU0IM
There are not only perils to keeping mice cold…but to keeping them too clean.ow.ly/4mUxeo by @thsaey
Ain’t no party like a deep-sea crab party because a deep-sea crab party don’t stop! DEEP SEA CRAB PARTY. ow.ly/4mUUC9
HERE THAR BE DRAGONS. And here? Is Florida. ow.ly/4mWleJ By @edyong209 on the monitor lizard invasion.
Science teachers are eyeing an origami microscope, and seeing a golden opportunity.ow.ly/4mWlPT
Journalism has an editing problem.ow.ly/4mWlUJ It’s hard when people have no idea what’s going on behind the page.
You don’t need to juice detox, and the NYT is ON IT. ow.ly/4mWmjq My piece from 2013.ow.ly/4mWmqb Love your liver!
Friday:
.@cragcrest has a new regular column on science and sports! ow.ly/4mWmBa On the aches of runners, cheating & more.
The CDC knows where Haiti’s cholera outbreak began. It’s just not telling.ow.ly/4mWmZv
Does a honeybee have a concept of “I”? It’s a tough question. ow.ly/4mWo9m
“Binturongs smell like popcorn. Or popcorn smells like binturongs. I guess it depends on your perspective.” @Laelaps ow.ly/4mWqZq
My favorite “what if” so far: Can you get a bird to deliver a pizza to your plane?ow.ly/4mWEyu
“There’s a little too much wishful thinking about mindfulness” from @AnnaNowohttp://ow.ly/4mWYXL
Periods! In! SPAAAAAAACE.http://ow.ly/4mXhTN
TEMPER TANTRUM SCIENCE.http://ow.ly/4mYZ0t by @lssciencenews
