“Science, to quote President Bush’s father, the former president, relies on freedom of inquiry and objectivity…But this administration has obstructed that freedom and distorted that objectivity in ways that were unheard of in any previous administration.” Over 60 scientists (including 20 Nobel laureates) call out the Bush administration for its lack of scientific integrity. In science as with everything else, it seems, Dubya’s approach is “faith-based.”
Tag: Science
Hubble Hobble.
Two anonymous NASA engineers go to the mat for the Hubble. The agency gets so much flak for ants-sorting-screws-in-space-type research, you’d think they go out of their way to preserve a program as popular and wildly successful as the Hubble.
Back in Business?
The good news: The confused and constantly-rebooting Mars Rover pipes up after a two-day vacation (although apparently it still has major issues.) The better news: The Mars Express confirms the existence of water on the red planet. Houston, we’re still a go.
Um, Creative Title Here.
A new German study finds sleep is essential for creativity. Hmm, well that explains a lot over in these parts.
Red Rover.
W00t. I was on holiday break when the Beagle disappeared on Christmas Day, so now I’m doubly pleased that the Mars Rover has successfully landed on the Red Planet. Not only is it great for space exploration in general, but NASA needed a success in the worst way.
Voyage of the Beagle.
A flurry of probes, headed by the ESA’s Beagle 2, prep for christmas on Mars. Let’s hope they fare better than the ’99 wave.
Riddles in the Dark.
In celebration of a quarter-century of Science Times, the paper ruminates on the 25 questions currently driving science, while Alan Lightman ponders the motivations that fuel scientists. I’m not sure if the likes of Stephen Hawking are really contemplating Atlantis, but there’s some intriguing stuff here.
Space Cadet.
General Wesley Clark stumps for faster-than-light travel in New Hampshire. “I still believe in e=mc², but I can’t believe that in all of human history, we’ll never ever be able to go beyond the speed of light to reach where we want to go. I happen to believe that mankind can do it…It’s my only faith-based initiative.” Well, I guess he’s up on Dubya, who’s still trying to work out evolution. At the same rally, Clark introduced Professor John Frink as his potential National Science Advisor. “Suppose we extend the square beyond the two dimensions of our universe… along the hypothetical Z axis, there…”
The Life of Grass.
Jonathan Rauch of The Atlantic Monthly examines the environmental promise of genetically modified crops – and the sadly reflexive distaste for said crops in several environmentalist corners.
The Secrets that you keep.
Apparently it doesn’t matter if you talk in your sleep – researchers can now figure you out just by looking at you. “The freefall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6.5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious.” Strangely enough, this is pretty much the only way I ever fall asleep, and I had assumed it meant the opposite.