Monthly Archives: May 2011

The Chain

Posted on 14 May 2011 by rpg

Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise At this time of night, if the lights on the Addenbrookes roundabout are kind to me—and they usually are, because the sensors pick me up as I approach—three minutes and two … Continue reading →

Posted in car, Chain, lab, Lab ratting, nmr, review, science, War stories | Comments Off on The Chain

It Has Not Escaped Our Notice #49

Posted on 12 May 2011 by Henry Gee

This example kindly sent in by railways enthusiast Mr O. E. of Derby, who spotted it at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth. The question is whether one goes for Extra Ladies or Additional Ladies. So much choice: so little … Continue reading →

Posted in do not use the lavatory while the train is standing in the station, Silliness | Comments Off on It Has Not Escaped Our Notice #49

News can be very odd sometimes

Posted on 12 May 2011 by Frank Norman

Three news stories this week made my jaw drop, my eyes widen, and my reservoirs of mirth overflow (though not all at once). Maybe they shouldn’t make me laugh but these stories are just rather odd. Rome earthquake The BBC … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | Comments Off on News can be very odd sometimes

Don’t underestimate the enemy

Posted on 11 May 2011 by Steve Caplan

Don’t mistake me–I am all for promoting the wonders of science and scientific research–you will be hard pressed to find a better advocate than me. And after all, there is a growing awareness among scientists that research should be translated … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, cancer, dumb-down, flaunting, hubris, layman, public, Research, science, supporting science, the mother-of-all-maladies | Comments Off on Don’t underestimate the enemy

In which I ponder the power of perspective

Posted on 11 May 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

Whenever you stick your head above the parapet and express a strong opinion in a high-profile venue, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll receive a large number of emails in response. Most of the follow-up I receive tends to be from … Continue reading →

Posted in Scientific method, Scientific thinking, The profession of science, Women in science | Comments Off on In which I ponder the power of perspective

Some family business

Posted on 10 May 2011 by Austin

Readers of this blog will know that I am not the only scientist in the Elliott family, nor the best one. My father Gerald, who pops up occasionally on this blog in the comments, or even from my mentioning him … Continue reading →

Posted in History, The Life Scientific | Comments Off on Some family business

Shrubbery

Posted on 10 May 2011 by Henry Gee

When I was about five years old, I remember reading a book in the school library called You Will Go To The Moon. This was the 1960s, when the Space Race was being run, and everyone was space crazy (well, … Continue reading →

Posted in airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow, bouzouki, cheese, fermented curd, lobsterpots, Research, Silliness, space exploration, Technicrox | Comments Off on Shrubbery

University Committees’ Dramatis Personae

Posted on 10 May 2011 by Athene Donald

A little while ago I wrote about those committee members who are ubiquitous but who never would be missed. The cast of characters I described before were those prevalent on grant-giving committees, for instance, and so tended to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in committee membership, committee structure, funding, little list, Science Culture, Science Funding | Comments Off on University Committees’ Dramatis Personae

AV

Posted on 9 May 2011 by Henry Gee

Well, that’s over. What’s ‘that’, I hear you cry? Ah, well, ‘that’ was the referendum last week in which the voters in the U. of K. were invited to decide whether they’d like to elect members of parliament in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Norfolk!, erumpent, jeremiad, no coach parties, Politicrox, release of calcium from intracellular stores, rpg couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag, seven transmembrane helix G-protein coupled receptors, thinking about thinking | Comments Off on AV

Worms, worms, worms – how to treat your compost…

Posted on 8 May 2011 by Sylvia McLain

On averting a compost disaster I think everyone should have a wormery but that is probably just because I own one. Its great for compost and easy to use even if you don’t have a garden you can compost away … Continue reading →

Posted in composting, random, Womery | Comments Off on Worms, worms, worms – how to treat your compost…