Category Archives: Rants

On impact factors

Posted on 22 June 2010 by rpg

They’re crap, aren’t they? Seriously. Jenny writes that scientists need metrics that reward effort as well as luck. While that’s true, we also need metrics that aren’t capricious and as susceptible to gaming. At the day job, Bob Grant (no … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Rants | Tagged | 23 Comments

On advertising

Posted on 11 June 2010 by rpg

Now, we know that advertisers lie to us. It’s right there in the DNA. But here’s a little competition for you. This is (part of) an advert in this week’s Nature. Can you tell what made me so cross about … Continue reading →

Posted in Rants, The stupid, it burns | 18 Comments

On #FAIL

Posted on 31 May 2010 by rpg

What century are we living in, again? Could be worse, I guess. They might have been running MT4.

Posted in Rants, Science-less Sunday | 15 Comments

On synthesis

Posted on 21 May 2010 by rpg

Oh my God, we’re all going to die, exclaimed the Daily Mail today. Well, we are all going to die some day, but not because of the paper from the J. Craig Venter Institute, published in Science. I’m having a … Continue reading →

Posted in Rants, Science | 21 Comments

On defecting

Posted on 17 May 2010 by rpg

Jenny has a new shiny. It’s a device for imaging chemiluminescence–a standard procedure in any lab that works with proteins. The traditional way of doing this is on film, but it seems a lot quicker, safer and environmentally-friendlier to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Rants, Science | 20 Comments

On the profit motive

Posted on 16 May 2010 by rpg

It’s just not funny any more. This tweet: Dangerous advice. Fever of +105F go to the ER! RT @homeopathyworks: Hot baby, less is better for your Children’s fevers http://om.ly/jgzJ made me fall off my chair. The argument is that if … Continue reading →

Posted in Homeopathy, Rants, Science-less Sunday | 29 Comments

On copyediting

Posted on 28 April 2010 by rpg

Copyediting is an activity that when not being actively maligned tends to be overlooked. But it’s a necessary step in science communication and publishing because clarity of expression is pretty darned crucial to getting your message across and avoiding misunderstandings. … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Rants | 28 Comments

On Memories

Posted on 18 April 2010 by rpg

Scurry has written about memories. The skies over London have been similarly homeopathic this weekend–clear blue skies (like water), with no aeroplanes (like homeopathic preparations). The Memory of Air Flight. I went up Stave Hill yesterday and shot the video … Continue reading →

Posted in Homeopathy, Rants, Science-less Sunday | 14 Comments