Observations
Masks and Emasculation: Why Some Men Refuse to Take Safety Precautions
They think it makes them look weak, and avoiding that is evidently more important to them than demonstrating responsible behavior
Blogs
Observations
How a Landmark Physics Paper from the 1970s Uncannily Describes the COVID-19 Pandemic
Phil Anderson’s article “More Is Different” describes how different levels of complexity require new ways of thinking. And as the virus multiplies and spreads, that’s just what the human race desperately needs...
Observations
The Fight against COVID-19 Threatens to Cause Collateral Health Damage
The pandemic is no excuse to abandon chronic disease management and prevention
Recent Posts
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Bizarre Planet Found to Orbit Backward
In the search for planets beyond our solar system, the UK's Wide Area Search for Planets (WASP) has stumbled upon a bizarre-o world that is orbiting its star in reverse.
"I have to say this is one of the strangest planets we know about," Sara Seager, an astrophysicist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told SPACE.com...
The pleasant way to go solar: Neighborhood cooperatives
Editor's Note: Scientific American 's George Musser will be chronicling his experiences installing solar panels and taking other steps to save energy in 60-Second Solar .
Stephen Hawking receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
Stephen Hawking was among the recipients at the White House today when President Barack Obama presented the National Medal of Freedom to 16 “agents of change.” Relatively few scientists win this medal, the highest civilian honor awarded in the U.S., particularly when the science is as removed from everyday life as the theoretical physics of black holes...
Shakeups at the FDA lead to an investigation and a resignation
Two leaders at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have recently found themselves in hot water at the agency. The director of drug approval has been named in an ethics investigation and a head medical device regulator has resigned...
Swine flu strikes Amazonian Indians
Swine flu has been reported for the first time in Amazonian Indians, raising fears that the virus will cause more contagion and potential deaths in tribal groups around the world.
Slow hurricane season so far, but new tropical depression looms in the Atlantic
As Typhoon Morakot slammed into Taiwan over the weekend triggering massive mudslides and leaving hundreds missing, Americans along the Gulf Coast may have thought they were getting off easy this storm season...
GM touts Volt's fuel efficiency--With caveats
General Motors today announced that its Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle, set to begin production in late 2010, is expected to achieve city fuel economy of at least 230 miles per gallon, based on a new U.S...
Do food stamps lead to obesity?
One out of every nine people now receives food stamps in the U.S. And two thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. A new scientific study links these startling figures and suggests that food stamps may actually be a risk factor for obesity...
Shooting stars: Peak of the Perseid meteor shower is underway
The next couple nights—between midnight and 5 A.M.—will be the best opportunities to crane your neck upward and check out the Perseid meteor shower.
Camel burgers: Australia plans to shoot 650,000 camels
Here’s a potentially tasty solution to Australia’s invasive species: Eat them. The Australian government plans to fly in marksmen on helicopters to shoot 650,000 camels and turn them into burgers and other meaty treats, reports the Associated Press...
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