Fictional diary entry about meeting German scientist, geophysicist and meteorologist, Alfred Wegener (1880 - 1930).
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Scientists’ lifestyle
Issues related to the every day life of scientists when they are not working
Looking forward to Christmas
In the West, it's relatively easy to get caught up in the euphoria of Christmas, isn't it? Regardless of one's beliefs in the origins of the Universe and humanity's place in it, countless millions of us succumb to the fake snow and the artificial sentimentality. The twinkling lights, the shops full cotton polymer resin reindeer, the children's (and adult toys), chocolate goodies, the interminable loops of festive songs on the radio, the TV shows you just know were recorded in July but have jolly tinsel and baubles nevertheless. Then there are the parties, the lunchtime "Christmas" drinks, Secret Santa, the bustling shopping centres, the ubiquitous sound of a Jingle Bells sample in every muzak track. Oh isn't it all so wonderful?
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Science of sounds
In his latest book, Harnessed, cognitive scientist Mark Changizi, reveals how and why language, speech and music exist, and why they are apparently uniquely human attributes that separate us, as a species, from the rest of life on Earth. A fact that also gives us special responsibility for the Earth, you might say. According to Changizi, the "lower" parts of the brain, the bits that recognise the sounds of nature, the scuffs, cracks and bangs, were hijacked by the "upper" parts of our brain and give us speech as we evolved from our ape-like hominid ancestors.
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Addicted to addiction
Pivot Points is a monthly column by EuroScientist writer David Bradley. The tabloid media seems to be hooked on addiction, there is no more inane opportunity than to climb aboard the soapbox gravy train or flog the old, dead sawhorses. But, there's Read more [...]
The big cheese and the director’s cut
Pivot Points is a monthly column by EuroScientist writer David Bradley. If you were lucky enough to have clear skies on the evening of 15th June, you may have seen the total eclipse of the moon. The moon. Luna. The great ball of "cheese" in the sky. Read more [...]
Strawberries boost red blood cells
A group of volunteers ate half a kilo of strawberries every day for two weeks to demonstrate that eating strawberries improves the antioxidant capacity of blood. The study, carried out by Italian and Spanish researchers, showed that strawberries boost red blood cells' response to oxidative stress, an imbalance that is associated with various diseases.
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Cracked conjectures
Pivot Points is a monthly column by EuroScientist writer David Bradley.
As a science writer, I've probably received more than my fair share of crackpot missives over the last couple of decades. Messages from the apparently well-meaning, but often deluded, Read more [...]
Criminal Chemists
Pivot Points is a monthly column by EuroScientist writer David Bradley. In the American comedy drama Breaking Bad impoverished school chemistry teacher, Walter White, is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, discovers his wife is newly pregnant and Read more [...]
Subatomic particle plushies – from the Standard Model and beyond
Who said physics couldn't be cute? The Particle Zoo is the brainchild of Particle Zookeeper Julie Peasley who designs and makes subatomic particle plushies for physicists and geeks around the world.
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