Kevin A. Zelnio Science Writing | Marine Biology | Evolution & Ecology | Music
Politics of Science
Holy Standards! The Kilogram is Losing Mass!
NPR has a story about the official prototype of the kilogram, it is ‘mysteriously’ losing weight. Obviously a terrorist plot. For over 120 years this sensational standard, housed at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Sevres, France, has provided the definitive definition of mass for the world (minus the “Coalition of the Weighing”). [...]
The destruction of our planet, one nuclear blast at a time
I was alerted by Pink Tentacle of this animated map of nuclear explosions from 1945-1998. I couldn’t keep my eyes away and it is very disheartening. The end tally is very terrifying, to make an understatement. Not only are the majority of explosions by the United States, but they are IN the United States, southwest [...]
How to Retard Scientific Progress
I found a great quote and analogy from an essay published in Current Biology by Peter Lawrence titled The mismeasurement of science. This essay takes a look at how science is measured and examines the use of impact factors and other metrics that measure scientific progress for individual scientists, academic departments and institutions. The quote [...]
Redefining Authorship?
I’m known for being stingy with my authorship lists. I don’t believe collecting samples, doing a couple PCRs, or otherwise being present, or even bouncing ideas off of, justifies you name as a author on scientific paper. I am skeptical of long author lists in top-tiered journals. I do like to promote my hard-working undergraduate [...]
A Concise, Bulleted List of Grievences Against .docx
For excellent coverage of the issue visit these two very well laid out posts by Greg Laden in 2007 when microsoft released the .docx file format. (Yes, I am a mac user and an Open Source software user. I do run a virtual machine with windows on it but use exclusively open source office software.) [...]
Women in Science FAIL
Not entirely sure this ad on Science Magazine‘s website needs much explaining of the blatant misogyny here. The look of ecstasy on the clear faced young attractive women, the dominating positioning of the gecko anole, an often masculine animal symbol, ever so precariously perched on her lips… I don’t think I am reading too much [...]
Deep Sea News
- The passing of Mike deGruy February 4, 2012 para_sight
- Interview: New anthology of tentacle porn reaches for marine conservation February 2, 2012 Miriam Goldstein
- Awareness Through Scrutiny, Not Negativity: A DSN Core Value February 1, 2012 RickMac
- Extinct life is like a box of chocolates January 31, 2012 para_sight
- I Am Science January 30, 2012 Dr. M
- Guest Post: True Confessions of a Dolphin-Loving Marine Biologist January 30, 2012 Miriam Goldstein
EvoEcoLab on Scientific American
- Guest Post: What Happens if We Call for a Boycott and No One Shows Up? January 18, 2012
- NCSE Picks Fight Against Climate Science Deniers January 16, 2012
- Mistruths, Insults from the Copyright Lobby Over HR 3699 January 16, 2012
- Scientists, Fight For Access! January 6, 2012
- The (Mis)use of Messaging in Biodiversity Loss Prevention January 5, 2012
- Cave-Dwelling Invertebrates Enjoy Exotic Cuisine December 28, 2011
On the web
