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The BBC is running a series of programmes in celebration of the fact that the Large Hadron Collider gets switched on next week. Last night was Lost Horizons, the punning and poignant title of a programme fronted by Professor Jim Al-Khalili that looked at the theories of the origins of the universe. Punning, because the device used by Al-Khalili was to use extracts from the BBC's science archives, in particular from the BBC series Horizon, to illustrate the theories. Poignant, because as I've remarked before, in recent years, the quality of most of the ... Flag post
I was perusing the internet today, as is my wont, when suddenly, I heard an almighty thump. I was sure that it was the sound of a bird flying into a window, but after having examined the windows in the front of the house, and at the side, I concluded that it might have been something else.
However, when Martin returned, he asked me to get rid of the dead pigeon at the back of the house. Mystery solved. It had flown into the french windows at the back of the farmhouse. I'm sorry that it could not distinguish between ... Flag post
Here's an intriguing replacement for a wheelchair - an exoskeleton for the legs. I'm sure that this commercial airbrushes out some of the fiddly bits (getting in and out of the car, for instance), and I wonder what the battery life is like; but nevertheless it's probably the beginning of something that we'll see more of. In a few year's time, I'm sure that the sticks will be dispensed with, and the exoskeletons will take on additional balancing function.
(hat tip to Science Punk) ... Flag post
Slightly Bizarre Flag post
Yesterday, I mentioned the Delta Commission had reported their findings and recommendations on what the Netherlands should do in response to rising sea levels. Of course, the Netherlands is not the only country at risk, there are those in immediate danger, as well as those where the potential calamity is greater that we in the Netherlands could experience. An example of the latter is Bangladesh, where over the next 50 years, 17% of the landmass will disappear under water, leading to a displacement of 30 million people. Here's a sobering article, by Tahmima Anam, in today's Guardian ... Flag post
Well, this music video is certainly different... First of all, there's the irritating existentialism of soured love, but then - oh, but then - we take off into Little Shop of Horrors territory. Watch it through to the end...
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Flowers for Algernon is the title of a short story (and a later novel) by Daniel Keyes. It takes the form of a diary kept by a 37-year-old man, Charlie, who has a low IQ. He becomes a subject in a medical experiment that is aimed at increasing intelligence. The experiment apparently succeeds, and the diary entries change as his intelligence increases and he becomes more aware of himself and society. Unfortunately, the effect of increased intelligence is only temporary, and Charlie (and the diary's language) regresses once more to his former state. It is, I think, implied, but not ... Flag post
... be very afraid. This travesty is running for Vice-President of the US? Even though I'm an atheist, this is enough to make me pray fervently: God help us all. ... Flag post
In 1953, severe storms in the North Sea led to widespread flooding in the west of the Netherlands. As a result, the Dutch government of the time set up a commission - the Delta Commission - to investigate and report on preventative measures that the country could take to prevent a repeat of the damage. Major civil engineering work resulted - the Delta Works.
While the main work was completed in 1997, because of climate change and the rising sea level, up to 30% of the current dikes are considered still not to be high enough. Accordingly, a new ... Flag post 
Ben Goldacre has an excellent piece on his blog on how society is becoming medicalised. We are encouraged to reach for a pill at the earliest opportunity. Worth reading. ... 
You can add the guinea worm to the list of species that, as far as I am concerned, tip the scales of evidence in favour of the proposition that God is either a) a sadist, b) indifferent or c) non-existent. ... Flag post
...would she make me one too? That's the punchline to a hoary old joke that begins: "my mother made me a homosexual...".
I couldn't help but remember it when I read Johann Hari's piece: "What makes some of us gay?" Actually, Johann's piece is an excellent summary of where we are in the nature vs. nuture debate. Definitely worth reading. ... Flag post
The esteemed science journal Nature recently had an editorial on the work of the John Templeton Foundation. The editorial has brought a response, in the form of a letter to the journal, from Matthew Cobb and Jerry Coyne. I found myself nodding in agreement with the content, particularly the conclusion:
You suggest that science may bring about "advances in theological thinking". In reality, the only contribution that science can make to the ideas of religion is atheism.
The editorial itself can be found here. The comment thread on the Pharyngula entry about the letter is a good illustration of ... Flag post
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I really enjoy Future Perfect - the blog of Jan Chipchase, a researcher at Nokia. He travels the world noticing, and photographing, examples of how cultures use technology, often in intriguing ways; or how norms in one society signal something very different in another. Do drop by, I don't think you will be bored. ... Flag post
I've just watched the first Headcast of John Cleese, which I mentioned in the previous blog entry. He makes some good points - and he also begs the question a number of times.
For example, he, rightly, notes our natural tendency to ignore evidence. But he also assumes that there is good evidence to begin with. He quotes approvingly from Irreducible Mind (written by people he knows) in the argument to demonstrate that not all aspects of mind are generated by brain activity. The authors state that there is evidence that psi-phenomena and PK do exist, and ... Flag post
Thanks to a reference over at Atheist Media, I've now discovered that John Cleese has a Podcast site. There's a collection of short skits or presentations that he's done. I'm still going through them, but I was rather taken with podcast #33: The Brain Explained, in which Cleese channels Stanley Unwin - someone who will be unknown to most of Cleese's fans. Cleese also dons the scientist's white coat in podcast #32: The God Gene - which pokes fun at those who oversimplify the naturalistic view of the universe.
He's also started a new venture: the Headcast, ... Flag post
