tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207479102011-12-15T02:35:47.945ZThe Scientific Activist (Archives)<em>The Scientific Activist</em> has moved to <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/">http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist</a>. This site will serve as the archives of <em>The Scientific Activist</em> for posts written before the move.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.comBlogger1591100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150853914337304782006-06-21T02:38:00.000+01:002006-07-08T22:19:06.876+01:00The Scientific Activist Has Moved!The Scientific Activist has moved to http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist.Please update your bookmarks! In the meantime, please feel free to browse the archives of this site.By date:June 2006May 2006April 2006March 2006February 2006January 2006By category:academiaanimal rightsbasic sciencebiotechnologyblog carnivalsblogosphereBush AdministrationcapitalismCongresscreationismDemocratic Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150853767505067642006-06-21T02:35:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:36:07.506+01:00academiaNature Lets It All Hang Out Through Open Peer ReviewOpen Access and the Democratization of ScienceScience Gets GooglyNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150853644866642232006-06-21T02:33:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:34:04.870+01:00animal rightsOxford Scientific Activists Take Their Message to the StreetsPro-Test March This SaturdayOxford University Granted New Injunction Against Animal Rights ProtestersDiversity of Perspectives Express Support for Animal Research at Pro-Test MeetingPro-Test Public Meeting this MondayTony Blair on Animal Rights ProtestersOxford Scientists Bite Back at Animal Rights ActivistsPro-Test Demonstration This Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150853516784958082006-06-21T02:31:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:31:56.786+01:00basic scienceLike ClockworkIs Science Overrated?Genetic Engineering's Next Challenge: The Smiley FacePartisan NeuronsNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150853428938438642006-06-21T02:30:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:30:28.940+01:00biotechnologyPraise for Selling OutFree Market FrenzyDouble Drug JeopardyPharmaceutical PlantsBiotechnology for the MassesWhat is a Scientific Activist?Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150853332720049162006-06-21T02:28:00.000+01:002006-07-08T22:34:10.833+01:00blog carnivalsTangled Bank #55 at Get Busy Livin', or Get Gusy Bloggin'194th Carnival of the Vanities at Punny MoneyTangled Bank #54 at Science and PoliticsGrand Rounds and the Tangled BankTangled Bank #52 at The Innoculated MindGrand Rounds at Fat DoctorTangled Bank #51 at Discovering Biology in a Digital WorldTangled Bank #49 at Living the Scientific LifeTangled Bank #48 at AetiologyTangled Bank at Kete Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150853162512469962006-06-21T02:25:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:26:02.516+01:00blogosphereNew Email Service and RSS FeedIt's Moving Day for The Scientific Activist!Tangled Bank #55 at Get Busy Livin', or Get Gusy Bloggin'194th Carnival of the Vanities at Punny MoneySeed Move PostponedBlogosphere - 1, Apple - 0The Scientific Activist is Moving!Tangled Bank #54 at Science and PoliticsGrand Rounds and the Tangled BankTangled Bank #52 at The Innoculated MindThere's Some Good Stuff Out Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852985170443852006-06-21T02:22:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:23:05.173+01:00Bush AdministrationWhite House "Science" Adviser to Answer Questions From PublicAnother Year Without Funding Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchWired Magazine Takes On "The Man"What Does This Administration Have Against College Degrees?House Democrats Push for Increased NASA FundingWe Didn’t Start the Fire (We Just Made Some Money Off It)Deutschgate in the MediaNASA Science Censor ResignsBREAKING NEWS: George Deutsch DidNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852885394040312006-06-21T02:21:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:21:25.396+01:00capitalismGet Rich Quick! (And Stop Global Warming in the Process)Praise for Selling OutFree Market FrenzyGoing CommercialTheir Hearts Might Be in the Wrong Place...Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852823793397562006-06-21T02:20:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:20:23.796+01:00CongressEmbryonic Stem Cell Bill May Finally Receive Vote in SenateAmerican Innovation and Competitiveness Act Advances in SenateAnother Year Without Funding Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchHouse Democrats Push for Increased NASA FundingWe Didn’t Start the Fire (We Just Made Some Money Off It)Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852722898430792006-06-21T02:18:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:18:42.900+01:00creationismThe Simpsons Takes on EvolutionThere's Some Good Stuff Out ThereAnd I Thought My Science Fair Projects Were Bad....A Boehner for Science? Think AgainNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852623455446202006-06-21T02:16:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:17:03.456+01:00Democratic PartyEmbryonic Stem Cell Bill May Finally Receive Vote in SenateHouse Democrats Push for Increased NASA FundingNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852507477921032006-06-21T02:14:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:15:07.480+01:00drug companiesPraise for Selling OutFree Market FrenzyDouble Drug JeopardyNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852389068006112006-06-21T02:13:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:13:09.070+01:00drug warAre You Cool, Man?Supreme Court Leaves Medical Marijuana Out in the ColdNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852234040486272006-06-21T02:10:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:10:34.046+01:00environmentInsurers Jump on the Environmental BandwagonGet Rich Quick! (And Stop Global Warming in the Process)Setting the Record Straight on Global WarmingThere's Some Good Stuff Out ThereEnvironmental Popularity ContestIrony Abounds in Upcoming Polar Research ProjectEh, We Probably Know Enough About That Global Warming Stuff by Now Anyways....Finding a Gray Approach to Cutting Greenhouse EmissionsWe DidnNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852103131876882006-06-21T02:08:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:08:23.133+01:00eventsScientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon ContestPro-Test Public Meeting this MondayUpcoming Event: Michael Stebbins in Oxford, Friday May 5th, 4:00 pmSPUSA Conference: 31 March – 1 AprilPro-Test Demonstration This SaturdayNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150852038110651362006-06-21T02:07:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:07:26.466+01:00evolutionThe Simpsons Takes on EvolutionThere's Some Good Stuff Out ThereAnd I Thought My Science Fair Projects Were Bad....A Boehner for Science? Think AgainNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851984943958912006-06-21T02:06:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:06:24.946+01:00foreign policyWorld Bank Accused of Dropping the Ball on Malaria ProgramNuclear Power PlayNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851886328493162006-06-21T02:04:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:04:46.333+01:00global warmingInsurers Jump on the Environmental BandwagonGet Rich Quick! (And Stop Global Warming in the Process)Setting the Record Straight on Global WarmingThere's Some Good Stuff Out ThereEnvironmental Popularity ContestIrony Abounds in Upcoming Polar Research ProjectEh, We Probably Know Enough About That Global Warming Stuff by Now Anyways....Finding a Gray Approach to Cutting Greenhouse Emissions"Yes, Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851791251898132006-06-21T02:03:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:03:11.253+01:00GoogleOh My Google!Science Gets GooglyGoing CommercialIt's OK to Be a Little EvilNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851715489683162006-06-21T02:01:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:01:55.493+01:00health careFighting HIV/AIDS on the Home FrontNature Versus Nurturing the Death PenaltyWorld Bank Accused of Dropping the Ball on Malaria ProgramNo More Aspirin, PleaseUniversal Health Care, Duh!Supreme Court Leaves Medical Marijuana Out in the ColdNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851628043076712006-06-21T02:00:00.000+01:002006-06-21T02:00:28.046+01:00humorWhat Does This Administration Have Against College Degrees?Having Fun on Valentine's Day, ScientificallyNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851510121383062006-06-21T01:58:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:58:30.123+01:00IndiaIndia Travelogue, Day 4: DelhiIndia Travelogue, Day 3: DelhiIndia Travelogue, Day 2: DelhiIndia Travelogue, Day 1: Oxford to DelhiThe Scientific Activist Returns!The Scientific Activist Goes on the RoadNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851437132805912006-06-21T01:57:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:57:17.133+01:00intelligent designThe Simpsons Takes on EvolutionThere's Some Good Stuff Out ThereAnd I Thought My Science Fair Projects Were Bad....A Boehner for Science? Think AgainNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851364652819852006-06-21T01:55:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:56:04.656+01:00lawBlogosphere - 1, Apple - 0Wired Magazine Takes On "The Man"Oh My Google!Supreme Court Leaves Medical Marijuana Out in the ColdNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851279615567922006-06-21T01:54:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:54:39.616+01:00mediaThere's Some Good Stuff Out ThereDeutschgate in the MediaNASA Science Censor ResignsBREAKING NEWS: George Deutsch Did Not Graduate From Texas A & M UniversityNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150851134727491572006-06-21T01:52:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:52:14.730+01:00nanotechnologyGenetic Engineering's Next Challenge: The Smiley FaceNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850962660148302006-06-21T01:49:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:49:22.663+01:00NASAHouse Democrats Push for Increased NASA FundingNASA's Priorities Differ From Scientists'Science to Suffer at NASADeutschgate in the MediaNASA Science Censor ResignsBREAKING NEWS: George Deutsch Did Not Graduate From Texas A & M UniversitySpeak No EvilNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850835155011492006-06-21T01:47:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:47:15.156+01:00nuclear energyOne Step Closer to Fusion PowerIs Fusion in Our Future?Finding a Gray Approach to Cutting Greenhouse EmissionsNuclear Power PlayNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850764419637672006-06-21T01:45:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:46:04.420+01:00open accessNature Lets It All Hang Out Through Open Peer ReviewBetter Late Than NeverOpen Access and the Democratization of ScienceNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850656916520952006-06-21T01:44:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:44:16.920+01:00OxfordOxford Scientific Activists Take Their Message to the StreetsPro-Test March This SaturdayOxford University Granted New Injunction Against Animal Rights ProtestersDiversity of Perspectives Express Support for Animal Research at Pro-Test MeetingUpcoming Event: Michael Stebbins in Oxford, Friday May 5th, 4:00 pmOxford Scientists Bite Back at Animal Rights ActivistsPro-Test Demonstration This Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850586944917852006-06-21T01:42:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:43:06.946+01:00peer reviewNature Lets It All Hang Out Through Open Peer ReviewNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850498716171322006-06-21T01:41:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:41:38.720+01:00Pro-TestOxford Scientific Activists Take Their Message to the StreetsPro-Test March This SaturdayOxford University Granted New Injunction Against Animal Rights ProtestersDiversity of Perspectives Express Support for Animal Research at Pro-Test MeetingPro-Test Public Meeting this MondayOxford Scientists Bite Back at Animal Rights ActivistsPro-Test Demonstration This SaturdayNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850354440717122006-06-21T01:39:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:39:14.440+01:00racismA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the BBC the Other Day…Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850231194570082006-06-21T01:37:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:37:11.196+01:00Republican PartyWhite House "Science" Adviser to Answer Questions From PublicAnother Year Without Funding Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchEmbryonic Stem Cell Bill May Finally Receive Vote in SenateAmerican Innovation and Competitiveness Act Advances in SenateA Boehner for Science? Think AgainNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850103175156582006-06-21T01:34:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:35:03.180+01:00political interferenceWhite House "Science" Adviser to Answer Questions From PublicScientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon ContestAnother Year Without Funding Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchEmbryonic Stem Cell Bill May Finally Receive Vote in SenateAmerican Innovation and Competitiveness Act Advances in SenateStates Continue to Take Stem Cell Research into Their Own HandsAnd I Thought My Science Fair Projects Were Bad....Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150850038974774162006-06-21T01:33:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:33:58.976+01:00science educationIs Science Overrated?Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150849984734968512006-06-21T01:32:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:33:04.736+01:00scientific activismOxford Scientific Activists Take Their Message to the StreetsScientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon ContestPro-Test March This SaturdayDiversity of Perspectives Express Support for Animal Research at Pro-Test MeetingPro-Test Public Meeting this MondayHappy Birthday, Linus!Oxford Scientists Bite Back at Animal Rights ActivistsSPUSA Conference: 31 March – 1 AprilPro-Test Demonstration This Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150849808998094262006-06-21T01:30:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:30:09.003+01:00stem cellsWhite House "Science" Adviser to Answer Questions From PublicAnother Year Without Funding Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchEmbryonic Stem Cell Bill May Finally Receive Vote in SenateStates Continue to Take Stem Cell Research into Their Own HandsAnd the Verdict Is...The American ConnectionStem Cell DramaA Taste of Things to Come?Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150849793083288062006-06-21T01:29:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:29:53.083+01:00transgenic cropsPharmaceutical PlantsBiotechnology for the MassesWhat is a Scientific Activist?Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150849656949736662006-06-21T01:27:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:27:36.976+01:00United KingdomOxford Scientific Activists Take Their Message to the StreetsPro-Test March This SaturdayOxford University Granted New Injunction Against Animal Rights ProtestersDiversity of Perspectives Express Support for Animal Research at Pro-Test MeetingA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the BBC the Other Day…Tony Blair on Animal Rights ProtestersFighting HIV/AIDS on the Home FrontUpcoming Event: MichaelNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1150849599937550142006-06-21T01:24:00.000+01:002006-06-21T01:26:40.000+01:00WashingtonWhite House "Science" Adviser to Answer Questions From PublicAnother Year Without Funding Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchEmbryonic Stem Cell Bill May Finally Receive Vote in SenateAmerican Innovation and Competitiveness Act Advances in SenateWhat Does This Administration Have Against College Degrees?We Didn’t Start the Fire (We Just Made Some Money Off It)Deutschgate in the MediaNASA Science Censor Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149988014353613042006-06-11T02:02:00.000+01:002006-06-11T02:06:54.353+01:00Move to ScienceBlogs CompleteThe move to the new site over at ScienceBlogs has actually gone very smoothly, so despite what I said previously, I'm going to go ahead and stop cross-posting here. Other than one or two more updates, this is the last you're going to hear from me on this site. It's been a wild ride, and I hope you'll join me for part two!If you haven't already, please update your blogroll, bookmarks, etc. with Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149969145617792652006-06-10T20:51:00.000+01:002006-06-10T20:54:02.153+01:00A Conservative's Worst Nightmare: Global Warming AND EvolutionCross-posted at scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist.Conservatives in America have become pretty adept at shrugging off worries about global warming, and when it comes to evolution, well, they have their own ideas about how that works. However, this headline from National Geographic might cause some circuits to blow:"Global Warming Is Spurring Evolution, Study Says"Wow, what a catch-22! They canNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149958329979536102006-06-10T17:49:00.000+01:002006-06-10T17:52:10.010+01:00Bush Science Adviser Answers Questions, but Not the Toughest OnesCross-posted at scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist.I mentioned earlier this week on my old blog that White House Science Adviser John Marburger would be answering questions from the public via Newsweek, and his answers have now been posted. My reactions are mixed, although he was more open than I had expected. So, what did he say?Well, I'll start with what he didn't say. He didn't answer any Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149953838235482432006-06-10T16:30:00.000+01:002006-06-10T16:37:18.236+01:00New Email Service and RSS FeedFor those already subscribed to my email service, and for those who aren't but would like to stay up to date, you can sign up for email updates via the ScienceBlogs site. You can choose from any or all of the ScienceBlogs, including The Scientific Activist. Also, my new RSS feed is http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/atom.xml.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149876464731910912006-06-09T19:06:00.000+01:002006-06-10T17:53:34.786+01:00Academic Freedom Suffers in FloridaCross-posted at scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist.Since they serve as the intellectual lifeblood of a democracy, universities traditionally have been given license to transcend petty political squabbles that would otherwise get in the way of their academic research. One example has been the ability of academics to conduct research in Cuba, despite the U.S.’s longstanding embargo on the countryNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149848328921851322006-06-09T11:09:00.000+01:002006-06-09T17:12:11.296+01:00It's Moving Day for The Scientific Activist!The new site for The Scientific Activist is now up and running at scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/.The move is part of Seed magazine's second-round release of its popular ScienceBlogs site. If you head over to the ScienceBlogs site, you'll see that things have changed quite a bit there, including the addition of several new blogs. Have a look around, and don't forget to visit The ScientificNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149773365521124392006-06-08T14:26:00.000+01:002006-06-11T22:27:24.050+01:00Tangled Bank #55 at Get Busy Livin', or Get Gusy Bloggin'The newest version of The Tangled Bank is now up at Get Busy Livin', or Get Busy Bloggin'.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149726904264572642006-06-08T01:06:00.000+01:002006-06-08T01:35:04.296+01:00White House "Science" Adviser to Answer Questions From PublicVia Afarensis comes news that White House Science Adviser John Marburger will be answering questions from the public (which can be submitted here) through Newsweek, and the answers will be published on Friday, June 9th. It's unclear when submissions will be cut off.What will I be asking? Well, where do I start? Several questions come to mind about the NASA censorship scandal, as well as Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149724867729640422006-06-08T00:55:00.000+01:002006-06-09T16:48:44.400+01:00Nature Lets It All Hang Out Through Open Peer ReviewOne of the fundamental principles of modern science, as well as other academic pursuits, is peer review. By subjecting a submitted paper to evaluation by other scientists in the authors’ field, the solid science advances at the expense of the not-so-good and the interesting and relevant prevails above the unoriginal. In theory, of course. The effect is a growing body of scientific knowledge Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149669143412032292006-06-07T09:27:00.000+01:002006-06-07T09:32:23.446+01:00194th Carnival of the Vanities at Punny MoneyThe 194th edition of the Carnival of the Vanities is up at Punny Money and features a post from yours truly. The Carnival of the Vanities is the original blog carnival, bringing together posts on a wide variety of categories from around the web.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149432429926763422006-06-04T15:28:00.000+01:002006-06-04T15:47:09.986+01:00Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon ContestI think we can all agree that political interference in science is a pretty big problem right now. One of the preferred methods here at The Scientific Activist of dealing with this has been discovering that the interferer lied on his resume, causing him to immediately resign from his position of influence. Since that isn't always an option, though, the Union of Concerned Scientists has Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149356948828842222006-06-03T18:13:00.000+01:002006-06-03T18:51:08.756+01:00Oxford Scientific Activists Take Their Message to the StreetsThe only sounds were those of passing traffic and the whispers of interested observers as close to 1,000 people marched together in silence today down Oxford’s High Street. Although the stated reason for the quiet was to avoid disturbing the many Oxford students currently taking their exams in the nearby Examination Schools, the symbolism was as tangible as the warmth of the brilliant sunlight Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149341213979237572006-06-03T14:21:00.000+01:002006-06-03T14:26:53.980+01:00Seed Move PostponedAlthough I had announced earlier that I would be moving to the ScienceBlogs site by now, the powers that be informed me earlier this week that the move had been postponed and that the release of all of the new blogs would be delayed while some technical and organizational issues are sorted out. The move should still happen in the next couple of weeks, though, so stay tuned.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149116771340033142006-06-01T00:01:00.000+01:002006-06-01T00:06:11.340+01:00Pro-Test March This SaturdayThe pro-research organization Pro-Test will be holding its second major march this Saturday, June 3rd, in Oxford. Click here for the full details, but in short, the march will begin at 11:45 am at the corner of Parks Road and Broad Street and should last about an hour and a half.The last march was pretty powerful, so I'm expecting some big things from this one.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1149116344534715312006-05-31T23:55:00.000+01:002006-05-31T23:59:04.573+01:00Insurers Jump on the Environmental BandwagonAlthough it’s becoming increasingly accepted that addressing global warming and curbing greenhouse gas emissions might be economically beneficial in a general sense, the June 5th issue of U.S. News & World Report describes how some individual businesses are already cashing in on new environmental efforts:The climate strategies the insurers have spelled out aren't about avoiding losses; they're Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148921586968637572006-05-29T17:49:00.000+01:002006-05-29T17:53:07.056+01:00Blogosphere – 1, Apple – 0On Friday, May 26th, the California 6th District Court of Appeal, in its ruling on Apple v. Does, issued a protective order preventing Apple from seeking the identities of those who had leaked what Apple called confidential information about upcoming products. In doing so, the court extended to the blogosphere the basic First Amendment freedom of speech protections that have long been available Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148666310958348382006-05-26T18:44:00.000+01:002006-05-26T19:00:03.206+01:00Oxford University Granted New Injunction Against Animal Rights ProtestersThe following is a copy of a press release published by the University of Oxford detailing the new injunction it was granted today against animal rights protesters. With the exception of the fifty-person limit on protests, which seems rather extreme, I think the terms of the injunction are reasonable and justified given the tactics of these organizations.The University of Oxford has been grantedNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148608009144120262006-05-26T02:30:00.000+01:002006-05-26T02:48:12.333+01:00The Scientific Activist is Moving!This marks my 100th post on The Scientific Activist, and I couldn't think of a more appropriate time to make the big announcement that I first alluded to last month when I retured from India. In about a week, my blog will move to Seed magazine's ScienceBlogs site as part of its second round release. Over at Science and Politics, Bora Zivkovic, who's also joining the Seed site, has listed some Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148606878702510972006-05-26T02:13:00.000+01:002006-06-03T16:37:11.306+01:00Diversity of Perspectives Express Support for Animal Research at Pro-Test MeetingOn Monday, May 22nd, an audience of about 100 people joined the pro-research organization Pro-Test at a public meeting in the Oxford Town Hall, and in standard fashion The Scientific Activist was there to report all about it. The purpose of the meeting was to make the case for animal research from a variety of perspectives, get feedback from the crowd, and publicize Pro-Test and its upcoming Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148518279573478532006-05-25T01:27:00.000+01:002006-05-25T01:51:19.620+01:00One Step Closer to Fusion PowerThe goals of ITER are ambitious. The project aims "demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power for peaceful purposes" by building the first fusion reactor "to produce more power than it consumes." As I've discussed before, while fusion holds great promise, the obstacles it faces are daunting.Wednesday's Guardian describes the project and its potential role in Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148516672992670852006-05-25T01:11:00.000+01:002006-05-25T01:24:33.956+01:00Another Year Without Funding Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchThe one year anniversary of the passage of HR 810 in the House of Representatives has now come and gone without the Senate bringing the measure to a vote. The anticipated announcement of a vote by Majority Leader Bill Frist still hasn't materialized.Sean Tipton, President of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research lays out what's at stake:Many things have happened in the past year,Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148514049378367412006-05-25T00:33:00.000+01:002006-05-25T00:40:49.560+01:00Like ClockworkAfarensis points his readers to a new study that’s billed to debunk “popular belief” by demonstrating the existence of a second clock in the brain, outside of the central one in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. As Bora Zivkovic points out on his blog Circadiana, this isn’t really anything that new, and the study seems to have been over hyped in its press release.In fact, it’s well-known that the Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148511858444234582006-05-24T23:13:00.000+01:002006-05-25T00:04:18.633+01:00Are You Cool, Man?If you know what I'm talking about, and if you are in fact "cool", then you might also be interested in the findings presented Tuesday by Dr. Donald Tashkin and his coauthors at an American Thoracic Society meeting in San Diego. In short, smoking marijuana does not cause lung cancer:The smoke from burning marijuana leaves contains several known carcinogens and the tar it creates contains 50 Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148459348040241622006-05-24T09:21:00.000+01:002006-05-24T09:35:50.370+01:00Tangled Bank #54 at Science and PoliticsOver at Science and Politics, Bora Zivkovic has posted the latest edition of the Tangled Bank, the place to go to see what people are writing about in the science blogosphere. The entries appear in the order they were received, and you should all be shocked to find that mine is in fact NOT one of the last ones, as I uncharacteristically submitted something before the last minute this time. In Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148346836071246012006-05-23T01:42:00.000+01:002006-05-23T02:16:42.013+01:00Wired Magazine Takes On "The Man"On Monday, Wired Magazine released documents detailing AT&T's involvement in the National Security Agency's recent warrantless domestic surveillance scandal. The documents give whistle-blower Mark Klein's description of the technical aspects of how the questionable wiretapping operation was carried out. With a lawsuit currently pending against AT&T, the documents remain sealed, but Wired Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148344831128670622006-05-23T01:27:00.000+01:002006-05-23T01:41:52.146+01:00What Does This Administration Have Against College Degrees?Apparently, I wasted four years of my life working on an undergraduate degree, or at least I did if I wanted to work my way into the Bush Administration. And, let's not even get started on graduate school....From The Harvard Crimson: A 26-year-old college dropout who carries President Bush’s breath mints and makes him peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches will follow in his boss’s footsteps this Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148223062451753582006-05-21T15:41:00.000+01:002006-05-21T15:51:02.533+01:00Embryonic Stem Cell Bill May Finally Receive Vote in SenateThis Wednesday, May 24th, will mark the one year anniversary of the House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which sent it to the Senate for final approval. Since its passage in the House, though, the Republican leadership in the Senate has sat on it, not bring it to a vote as occasionally promised. Rumor has it, though, that the stem cell Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148216987510972912006-05-21T14:03:00.000+01:002006-05-21T14:42:53.400+01:00Pro-Test Public Meeting this MondayOxford’s grassroots pro-research organization Pro-Test will be holding a town hall-style event this Monday, May 22nd, at 7:00 pm. The event will take place at the Oxford Town Hall, on St. Aldates. It promises to be an informative evening, featuring an impressive lineup of speakers:PROF ANDREW McMICHAELDirector of the Medical Research Council Human Immunology Unit, Oxford University DR EVAN Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1148030249238423232006-05-19T09:49:00.000+01:002006-05-19T10:17:29.266+01:00American Innovation and Competitiveness Act Advances in SenateOn Thursday, May 18th, the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously approved the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, sending it to the full Senate. The act was intoduced by Senator John Ensign (R-Nev), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness. The official press release and the full text of the bill as it was Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147999465587435222006-05-19T01:34:00.000+01:002006-05-19T01:44:25.620+01:00Get Rich Quick! (And Stop Global Warming in the Process)Despite all of the rhetoric, a recently published series of studies demonstrates that the costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions probably won’t be very harsh, and there might even be a net economic benefit to such cuts. The studies, published in a special issue of The Energy Journal under the umbrella of the Innovation Modeling Comparison Project, analyze various models that explore the Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147905779925096772006-05-17T23:34:00.000+01:002006-05-17T23:48:19.646+01:00A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the BBC the Other Day……Or, at least it did to various people named Guy. On May 8th, Guy Kewney—who runs the technology website Newswireless.net–was waiting to be interviewed by the BBC about a recent ruling in the Apple v. Apple case when he saw himself, or rather not himself, being introduced on the TV. The man on TV was actually Guy Goma, who had been mistaken by the BBC for Kewney. The reason for the mix-up was Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147821966537063872006-05-17T00:11:00.000+01:002006-05-17T00:26:06.580+01:00Tony Blair on Animal Rights ProtestersThis week's Sunday Telegraph featured an opinion piece by British Prime Minister Tony Blair in favor of The People's Petition, which supports animal research in the UK:Prime ministers don't often sign public petitions. After all, they usually either criticise the Government or demand priority treatment for a specific cause.So announcing that I am to add my name to the on-line petition in support Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147740662908878462006-05-16T01:47:00.000+01:002006-05-16T01:51:02.936+01:00House Democrats Push for Increased NASA FundingVia NASA Watch comes a press release about the Democrats’ latest push to increase funding at NASA:In a letter this week to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Science, State, Justice, and Commerce, Science Committee Democratic leaders urged appropriators to increase NASA’s FY07 funding level as recommended in the NASA Authorization Act of 2005.Without such Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147738711445975352006-05-16T01:03:00.000+01:002006-05-16T02:05:59.776+01:00The Simpsons Takes on EvolutionIf, like me, you weren’t able to see The Simpsons Sunday night, you can view most of the episode here (hat tip to Pharyngula). In brief, Ned Flanders convinces Reverend Lovejoy to intimidate Principal Skinner into “teaching the controversy” at Springfield Elementary. Lisa Simpson objects, but her activism fires when the city of Springfield passes a law banning the teaching of evolution. When Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147658907855959662006-05-15T03:05:00.000+01:002006-05-15T03:09:19.556+01:00Is Science Overrated?In a recent post at Pharyngula, P.Z. Myers explores the question of whether science is overrated. Although it’s a response to a more or less incoherent rant on another site, Myers makes several important points.In response to the charge that science is more highly valued than the liberal arts, he writes:Like I said, I'm at a liberal arts university—I spend my advising sessions telling pre-meds Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147397318267624232006-05-12T02:26:00.000+01:002006-05-12T02:28:38.296+01:00States Continue to Take Stem Cell Research into Their Own HandsAs the federal government continues to hold on to a restrictive embryonic stem cell research funding scheme—one that prevents the use of federal funds for any research associated with new embryonic stem cell lines—others are having to take up the slack. Chris Gabrieli, a Democrat campaigning to become governor of Massachusetts, laid out his vision for the role of his state in funding the Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147389862002727452006-05-12T00:05:00.000+01:002006-05-12T00:24:22.090+01:00Better Late Than NeverThursday's edition of the Guardian reported on a story that came out over a week earlier in The Washington Post. I published lengthy post on the issue last week as well. The issue at hand is the Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006--introduced by Senators Cornyn and Lieberman--which would require open public access, within six months of publication, to articles on scientific work Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147303842922220402006-05-11T00:23:00.000+01:002006-05-11T00:30:42.950+01:00Fighting HIV/AIDS on the Home FrontA recently discovered cluster of HIV cases in the small British town could serve as a poignant reminder that HIV/AIDS is everyone’s concern and not just something that affects people on the other side of the world. In St. Ives, a seaside resort of about 11,000 people on the southwestern tip of England, doctors have diagnosed about ten new cases of HIV in the last month, an alarming number Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147250590004811612006-05-10T09:33:00.000+01:002006-05-10T09:43:10.006+01:00Grand Rounds and the Tangled BankThe newest versions of the blog carnivals Grand Rounds and the Tangled Bank are now up. Issue 33 of volume 2 of the medically-themed weekly Grand Rounds went up yesterday at Aetiology, and it covers pretty much every aspect of medicine you could imagine, from basic research to current controversies. For those interested in the general science blogosphere, though, issue 53 of the biweekly Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1147134125817495202006-05-09T01:12:00.000+01:002006-05-09T01:22:26.516+01:00Nature Versus Nurturing the Death PenaltyIn a strongly-worded editorial and an accompanying news special report (subscription required), last Thursday’s Nature magazine challenged the humaneness of lethal injections and advocated for continued abstention by the medical community to put an end to the death penalty once and for all.The special report lays out the issue: Do no harm. Nearly all US MDs and PhDs recite this three-word oath Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146790569200543542006-05-05T01:44:00.000+01:002006-05-05T01:56:13.486+01:00NASA's Priorities Differ From Scientists'According to a report released Thursday by the National Research Council, NASA does not have enough resources to maintain its varied programs, and science programs are likely to suffer at the hands of larger manned missions. From the official press release (the full report is available online from The National Academies Press):NASA does not have the resources necessary to maintain a vigorous Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146705177250503982006-05-04T02:07:00.000+01:002006-05-11T08:01:36.013+01:00Open Access and the Democratization of ScienceAs society slowly shifts toward more participatory forms of democracy, science policy will increasingly be subject to the will of the general population. The creation of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine via voter-initiated Proposition 71 in 2004 stands as a significant example of this. Regardless of whether one finds this prospect encouraging or unsettling, what is clear is Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146698273292715092006-05-04T00:03:00.000+01:002006-05-04T00:17:53.353+01:00Webcast on "The Politics of Science" TodayLater today (Thursday), London's Dana Centre will offer a live webcast of an event entitled "The Politics of Science". the event, and the webcast, will begin at 7:00 pm GMT (2:00 pm EST) and will feature Michael Stebbins (who will be appearing in Oxford on Friday) as well as Michael Frew from the UK Department of Technology and Industry and Bob Ward from the Royal Society. Addressing topics Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146442291104219872006-05-01T01:08:00.000+01:002006-05-01T01:34:02.523+01:00India Travelogue, Day 4: DelhiObviously my one-entry-per-day plan for the travelogue hasn’t really panned out, but have no fear: the travelogue will go on (almost) as planned!March 27th was the first full day with our complete group of six in India, so we found that it took us a little while to get coordinated in the morning and actually leave the hotel. We headed to the area around Jama Masjid in Old Delhi to find lunch and Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146317884139491552006-04-29T14:23:00.000+01:002006-04-29T14:38:04.186+01:00Upcoming Event: Michael Stebbins in Oxford, Friday May 5th, 4:00 pmThis announcement is for all of my local readers. Michael Stebbins, author of Sex, Drugs and DNA: Science's Taboos Confronted and creator of Sex Drugs and DNA.com will be giving a talk on bioterrorism and biodefense this Friday in Oxford. I had the pleasure of helping to plan the event in conjunction with the Oxford University Biochemical Society.The Oxford University Biochemical Society Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146097708533590522006-04-27T01:25:00.000+01:002006-04-27T01:28:28.566+01:00Science to Suffer at NASAOn Tuesday, April 25th, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin testified before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space that science funding at NASA would have to be cut in order to fund human space flight. Citing national security interests among other reasons, Griffin detailed the agency’s priorities of getting the space shuttle program on track before the program is canceled in 2010Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146093256642889722006-04-26T23:48:00.000+01:002006-04-27T00:46:12.973+01:00India Travelogue, Day 3: DelhiThis is a note for all of the new people coming to the site for the first time to read my travelogue. If you would like to receive daily email updates informing you of new posts at The Scientific Activist, I’d encourage you to sign up for my email service here.Sunday, March 25th, was my second full day in India, and I spent much of the day absorbing the previous day’s experiences as well as Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146083341347090362006-04-26T21:21:00.000+01:002006-04-26T21:29:01.346+01:00Tangled Bank #52 at The Innoculated MindTo find out what's been going on in the science blogosphere over the last couple of weeks, head over to The Innoculated Mind for the latest edition of the Tangled Bank, the web's premier science blog carnival. Karl Mogel, the blog's publisher, lightheartedly recommends that you should "tilt the screen back when you read it." You'll see what I mean.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146011781006547622006-04-26T01:18:00.000+01:002006-04-26T01:36:21.096+01:00World Bank Accused of Dropping the Ball on Malaria ProgramAs I continue the course of anti-malarial tablets that I'm supposed to take for four weeks after returning from India, an article from yesterday’s Independent caught my eye: The world's largest foreign aid organisation is accused today of deception and medical malpractice that has contributed to the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of thousands of children from malaria.The World Bank, which has a Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1146006543797393972006-04-25T23:43:00.000+01:002006-05-17T00:30:44.500+01:00India Travelogue, Day 2: DelhiWhen Allison and I left the hotel early the next afternoon, we found ourselves in a completely different world. Although the streets had been empty and silent when we arrived late the night before, they were now packed with people going about their daily lives. The area we were staying in, Karol Bagh, was not particularly touristy, and we saw only a couple of people who appeared to be European Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1145919535544939552006-04-24T23:52:00.000+01:002006-04-25T00:49:18.053+01:00India Travelogue, Day 1: Oxford to DelhiFor the next couple of weeks, my blog will feature (in addition to its ongoing coverage of science and politics) a day-by-day travelogue of my recent trip to India, spanning from 24 March until 10 April. I was inspired to do so by two of my friends, Ruth Anne and Jake, who are in the process of retrospectively describing their recent travels in Moldova and Romania on their blog Beer, Bikes, Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1145748115918433322006-04-23T00:15:00.000+01:002006-04-23T00:23:43.620+01:00Setting the Record Straight on Global WarmingThe media is by its very nature sensational, and on the issue of global warming this can swing both ways. Therefore, there was a big fuss over a study in Nature this past Thursday that seemed to lay out a more conservative estimate for the expected increase in temperature due to global warming. Although some coverage was more damning than others, the quantity of press on the subject was Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1145744104161829492006-04-22T23:10:00.000+01:002006-04-22T23:18:39.363+01:00There's Some Good Stuff Out ThereI came across a few interesting (and relevant) posts today, and while I’m not going to comment on them at length, I would encourage my readers to check them out.Through his blog The Intersection, I came across Chris Mooney’s interview with New York Times environmental reporter Andrew Revkin. You may remember Revkin from his coverage earlier this year of the NASA censorship scandal, including hisNick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1145574705240573562006-04-20T23:56:00.000+01:002006-04-21T00:11:45.266+01:00Environmental Popularity ContestIf you had started to think that the UK wasn’t that different from the US after all, today’s Independent might make you think twice about that. In opinion pieces appearing together in today’s issue, the two British politicians—David Cameron (Conservative Party) and Gordon Brown (Labour Party)—vying to become the next British prime minister tried to out-green each other, both arguing for Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1145408744479463042006-04-19T02:00:00.000+01:002006-04-19T02:05:44.530+01:00Cataloguing the Science BlogosphereOver at Science and Politics, Coturnix has taken it upon himself to catalogue the science blogosphere, and he's doing a damn good job at it, in my opinion. His latest entry on this subject explores science blogs by category while addressing the question of whether scientists should post unpublished data on their blogs. From there, you can link to his previous work on the topic.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1145406070619365372006-04-19T01:10:00.000+01:002006-04-19T01:21:10.656+01:00Irony Abounds in Upcoming Polar Research ProjectTwo of the areas hardest hit by global warming have been the Arctic and the Antarctic. Not surprisingly, studying the affects of global warming on these regions will be one of the primary goals of the International Polar Year (IPY)–a global initiative involving continuous study of the polar areas from March 2007-March 2009. Two of the six themes of the project are “to determine the present Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1145348877896254412006-04-18T09:19:00.000+01:002006-04-18T09:27:57.930+01:00Grand Rounds at Fat DoctorThe newest edition of the medical blog carnival Grand Rounds is up at Fat Doctor, and for the first time The Scientific Activist has a contribution as well. With 53 submissions, there's quite a bit of good stuff there spanning a pretty broad range.Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20747910.post-1145319998991790272006-04-18T01:22:00.000+01:002006-04-18T01:28:34.816+01:00No More Aspirin, PleaseIf Massachusetts were a physician, I’d have mixed feelings about visiting him or her. Sure, Dr. Massachusetts would be incredibly persistent and would do its best to make sure I left its office feeling better than when I arrived, but on the other hand if I had any sort of serious condition, I’m skeptical about how far Dr. Mass. would go to treat the underlying causes, rather than just the Nick Anthishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14056182474775160222noreply@blogger.com12