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Scientific American

April 24, 2012

ScienceSeeker Editor's Selections: Epilepsy, Corn Syrup, Science Writing, and Trichotillomania

By Jason G. Goldman

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Here are my Science Seeker Editor's Selections for the past week:

Stigma, neuroscience, cross-cultural psychology, and goats! Learn about why the Chinese language has a new symbol for "epilepsy," at Mind Hacks.

Jordan Gaines is a neuroscience PhD student and a young science writer. Find out why she decided to become a scientist and science writer: Science: why I do it AND write it.

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At the Knight Science Journalism Tracker, Deborah Blum discusses the problems with reporting on the supposed corn syrup theory of autism. Find out why she writes, "Honestly, readers, I had to get up and kick a piece of furniture."

Trichotillomania is a rare psychiatric disorder that involves hair pulling. At the PsychCentral blog Therapy Soup, read a fascinating interview about this disorder with Marla Deibler: part 1, and part 2.

Jason G. Goldman is a science journalist based in Los Angeles. He has written about animal behavior, wildlife biology, conservation, and ecology for Scientific American, Los Angeles magazine, the Washington Post, the Guardian, the BBC, Conservation magazine, and elsewhere. He contributes to Scientific American's "60-Second Science" podcast, and is co-editor of Science Blogging: The Essential Guide (Yale University Press). He enjoys sharing his wildlife knowledge on television and on the radio, and often speaks to the public about wildlife and science communication.

More by Jason G. Goldman