Monthly Archives: February 2014

Apples for Sir Isaac

Posted on 18 February 2014 by Henry Gee

You might remember (either of you) that last summer I paid a visit to the old Norwich Fire Station, which was, back then, just about to be converted into the Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, a sixth-form college devoted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cromer, Domesticrox, inspiration trust, Research, Science Is Vital, sir isaac newton sixth form | Comments Off on Apples for Sir Isaac

Excellent juxtapositions make me feel good

Posted on 18 February 2014 by Cath@VWXYNot?

The placebo effect is truly fascinating – the top article of this pair describes how it can trigger the release of dopamine in people with Parkinson’s, or opioids in people expecting a painkiller. I hope we can find a way … Continue reading →

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In which we are inundated: the #ukstorm lingers on

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

Britain is as soggy as a crumpet dunked in tea. (No Brits I know actually dunk their crumpets in tea, but it sounds suitably British, doesn’t it?) Even for a wet, rainy country used to wet, rainy winters, it’s been … Continue reading →

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Address, affiliate, attribute

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Frank Norman

A few weeks back I saw an OA paper published in PNAS that has over 37,000 authors. (Well, that’s one way to defray the costs of OA charges!). There are ten regular authors, plus “EteRNA Participants” and a link in the footnotes to the … Continue reading →

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Gut Feelings

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Henry Gee

Decisions, decisions. The job as a manuscript editor at Your Favourite Weekly Etcetera largely consists of making decisions – whether to consider a manuscript for publication, or to send it on its way elsewhere. Because we receive a very large … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Gigerenzer, Gut Feelings, recognition heuristic, Research, science communication, science publishing, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Gut Feelings

Can’t have it both ways

Posted on 16 February 2014 by Steve Caplan

Over the past 8 months, I have watched with detached interest as the spectacle of the Snowden/NSA scandal unfolded and developed. As with many government-related A whistleblower, recently.  scandals,  who is ‘scandalized’ often depends on which side of the political … Continue reading →

Posted in 9-11, airport, national security agency, NSA, Orwell, scandal, snowden, spying, terror, US, whistle-blower | Comments Off on Can’t have it both ways

The Great War Remembered #4

Posted on 16 February 2014 by Henry Gee

“The Last Post, Confits-De-Canards, 1916″, by the Cromer Poultry Great War Re-Enactment Society.

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Being Prepared

Posted on 15 February 2014 by Athene Donald

I was a Girl Guide once, briefly, but I don’t think that’s where I learned that it’s wise to travel well supplied. It just seems to come naturally to me to fear the worst and so carry enough on one’s … Continue reading →

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Music for love

Posted on 14 February 2014 by Frank Norman

Today, 14 February, was a day of celebration devoted to lovers and their love. Love remained a mystery to me for many years. Now that its full majesty has been revealed to me I embrace it with all my limbs … Continue reading →

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In which baking imitates science

Posted on 14 February 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

It’s Friday, and Richard and I couldn’t help noticing that this croissant looked as if it were about to extravasate and transmigrate to the bottom of the oven, in search of…invading micro-organisms? Damaged tissue? Jam?

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