Tag Archives: science

Near-Earth Asteroids

Scientists spotted 2016 UR36 days before it passed by Earth. “Killer asteroids” headlines notwithstanding, we knew it would miss our planet by a comfortable margin. Sooner or later, though, something big will hit Earth: again. We still can’t prevent that, … Continue reading

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Authority, Superstition, Progress

Authority, superstition, and misapplied technophilia (it’s a real word) rate at least one post each: but that’ll wait until another day. Days. This time I’ll take a quick look at all three, and then say why I don’t believe in … Continue reading

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Right-Handedness and Evolving Jaws

At least one Homo habilis was right-handed, about 1,800,000 years ago. It’s the earliest evidence of handedness in humanity’s history. So far. Our jaws may have started out as armor plate, not gill arches. Paleontologists found a second Silurian placoderm … Continue reading

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Sweet Potatoes, Genes, and Long Life

One woman decided to take a road trip after learning she had a terminal illness. Another switched careers. Both choices make sense, given the circumstances. This year’s World Food Prize goes to a team who developed a new sweet potato, … Continue reading

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Alchemy, Science, Life, and Health

(“I find that nothing’s ever exactly like you expect….” (Professor Richard Lazarus, “The Lazarus Experiment,” BBC)) A mad scientist’s lot is not a happy one. All he wants is to redefine being human: and the next thing you know, he’s … Continue reading

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