Teachers: Be on the alert for this anti-science mailing!

A well known anti-science “think” tank has sent around, to teachers, a mailing including an antiscience book, a movie, and nice letter and, oddly, a pamphlet exposing the fact that the mailing is entirely politically motivated. Most science teachers will ignore this. A few science teachers are science deniers, and they already had the material…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/31/teachers-be-on-the-alert-for-this-anti-science-mailing/

Nuclear Industry Suffers Meltdown?

It is hard to get very far into a discussion of non-fossil fuel energy, and the energy transition, without someone coming along and yammering about nuclear energy. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m all for inexpensive and safe nuclear power and for building nuclear power plants that promise to eat up all the waste, do…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/29/nuclear-industry-suffers-meltdown/

Clay Higgins: McCarthyism

Scientists are now being subjected to unbridled McCarthyism. Eventually the transcript will be available, but for now you’ll have to just trust me on this. Congressman Clay Higgins, Republican on Lamar Smith’s alt-Science committee, demanded today to know if climate scientist Michael Mann (author of The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial Is Threatening Our…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/29/clay-higgins-mccarthyism/

Trump Hates You, His Supporters, And Our Planet

A few items that I think you should see: Trump’s executive order puts the world on the road to climate catastrophe On Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued a sweeping executive order that effectively guts national efforts to address climate change. If he isn’t stopped, the endpoint of this approach is the ruination of our livable…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/29/trump-hates-you-his-supporters-and-our-planet/

Lamar Smith: Nothing more than a hippie puncher

Congressman Lamar Smith is a well known science denier, especially a climate science denier. Recently, he admitted that the House committee he runs is a tool of the anti-science forces. At a recent conference at the pro-Tobacco anti-Science Koch (and others) funded fake think tank Heartland, this happened: Smith: Next week we’re going to have…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/29/lamar-smith-nothing-more-than-a-hippie-puncher/

Arduino Playground: Book Review of a Serious Maker Book

Arduino Playground: Geeky Projects for the Experienced Maker is not for the faint of heart. Unless the faint of heart person plans to build a pacemaker with an arduino! Most books about making electronic projects, including and especially Raspberry Pi or Arduino projects, have a bit up front about tools and technology. You’ll need a…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/28/arduino-playground-book-review-of-a-serious-maker-book/

Global warming has, and will continue to, cause extreme weather: New research

I want to tell you about what may be the most important research result in the area of climate change in recent years. First, a little background. We know from paleoclimate studies that the Earth’s climate system changes from time to time enough to leave a mark. For example, it is widely thought that during…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/28/global-warming-has-and-will-continue-to-cause-extreme-weather-new-research/

Why fossil fuel corporations killed us

Sometimes, when I look at the things the Republicans and their leader, Donald Trump, are doing, I think of that poignant line in so many actual and fictional moments: “You have killed me.” Someone says that because the killing is done, but they are not yet dead. The knife is driven deep, the car is…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/28/why-fossil-fuel-corporations-killed-us/

I like this book so much I’ve read it 3 times: Neotropical Companion

The Neotropical Companion by John Kricher came out years ago, in the late 80s if I recall correctly. I’ve got a copy of it around somewhere. I loved that book because it did a great job integrating all the things in one place: animals, plants, habitats, evolution, etc. Even though I was working in the…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/24/i-like-this-book-so-much-ive-read-it-3-times-neotropical-companion/

Trump’s Take It Or Leave It Approach Makes Sense

In real estate. I’m not an expert on this but I’ve seen the sausage being made a few times. Individuals with investment money, commercial businesses that might use new space, other possible tenants, maybe or maybe not some designers or builders, municipal or other government stakeholders, community stakeholders such as neighborhood associations, etc. consider a…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/24/trumps-take-it-or-leave-it-approach-makes-sense/

The problem with the White Power symbol

You all know about this: It is being said that the OK sign is used to indicated “White Power” and this use has been spotted among politicians and celebrities everywhere. Is this real? I don’t know. Is it a valid symbol for “White Power”? Certainly not. The problem with the white power symbol is that…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/24/the-problem-with-the-white-power-symbol/

Broadcast Media Dropped The Climate Change Ball in 2016

Media Matters has an amazing and rather depressing report out on the way broadcast media in the US covered climate change. I’m going to give you a handful of bullet points that reflect only some of the results of this detailed study, then you go read it. Bottom line: Coverage in 2016 was a fraction…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/23/broadcast-media-dropped-the-climate-change-ball-in-2016/

What did Trump Know, and When did he Know It?

And, can we hear the tapes please, before they get Wooded? https://mediamatters.org/video/2017/03/22/former-house-intel-chief-counsel-rep-nunes-actions-were-breakdown-oversight-process/215781

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/22/what-did-trump-know-and-when-did-he-know-it/

Donald Trump on Sesame Street

As I’ve pointed out before, New Yorkers have been dealing with Donald Trump for a very long time. Chris Hayes, on All In, came up with some great examples, the last one of which is … well, just watch:

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/21/donald-trump-on-sesame-street/

Monarch Butterflies and Milkweed: An amazing new book

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Migrating Butterfly, a Poisonous Plant, and Their Remarkable Story of Coevolution by Anurag Agrawal is a fantastic, readable, scientifically rich, detailed monograph about – you guessed it – the monarch butterfly and the milkweed plant. The monarch butterfly begins a springtime northward migration by flying a good ways north, where females…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/19/monarch-milkweed-book-review/

Go Fund David Weinlick

Some of you may know David Weinlick, especially if you are active in politics in the Twin Cities, or associated with the University of Minnesota. He is well known around these parts for his political activism and important role in the DFL (that’s how Minnesotans spell “Democratic Party”). He was the Party Affairs Director for…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/19/go-fund-david-weinlick/

How to get a free dinner with President Donald Trump!

The fun raising letter that’s gone around asks for 10 bucks to “enter to win.” But, of course, it is legally required that any such contest not require a payment, so you can enter for free! But hurry, the contest ends in just a matter of hours! SPREAD THE WORD! Here’s how: …you may enter…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/16/how-to-get-a-free-dinner-with-president-donald-trump/

Darwin’s Unfinished Symphony

Darwin’s Unfinished Symphony: How Culture Made the Human Mind is a new book on cultural evolution in humans from a biological perspective. This is an interesting book and a good book, and I recommend it, but I need to add a strong caveat. The author could have made a more compelling argument had he more…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/16/darwins-unfinished-symphony/

Earliest, or nearly earliest, fossils found in Quebec?

The earliest life must have been something like a small single celled organism, like a bacterium. Or at least, the earliest life that we can usefully conceive of, and potentially connect with living life. It has been suggested that life could have initially evolved at the site of submarine hydrothermal vents, which is a place…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/15/earliest-or-nearly-earliest-fossils-found-in-quebec/

Climate Change Elevator Pitches

Rob Honeycutt is famous for his many contributions, at Skeptical Science, in the comment threats on my blog, and elsewhere, in defense of climate science, where that defense is largely against the deniers of science and damagers of civilization. (He is also the guy who makes these famous messenger bags) He deserves a lot of…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/15/climate-change-elevator-pitches/

Warming Oceans, Trump, Cat Litter

A potpourri of miscellany: Human Caused Climate Change and the Oceans It is great to see our local political non-print non-TV news agency, MNPost, covering an important climate change story with local connections. I’ll be writing John Abraham’s research up myself shortly. An intriguing and important-sounding new research paper caught my eye on Sunday, with…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/15/warming-oceans-trump-cat-litter/

Crew: Mark Steyn Was Abusive and Obnoxious

Mark Steyn is well known to readers of this blog as the intentionally obnoxious Canadian version of Rush Limbaugh who is being sued by our friend and colleague

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/15/crew-mark-steyn-was-abusive-and-obnoxious/

The Great March Storm of 2017

Donald Trump’s FEMA is not ready for this storm. The entire federal government is understaffed, and there are funding problems, and this applies to FEMA as well. So, if you are anywhere in the area to be affected by this storm (the weather channel calls it Stella, I call it Trump’s Storm One because it…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/13/the-great-march-storm-of-2017/

It finally happened to me

I had a bunch of quarters in my pocket. About six dollars worth, along with a couple of one dollar coins. I pulled all the change out of my pocket and placed it on a desktop. I walked away. A few minutes later, I went to grab the coins so I could bring them to…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/13/it-finally-happened-to-me/

Should you buy an electric car if you live in a coal state?

If most of the electricity used to charge your electric car is made by burning coal, is it still worth it, in terms of CO2 release, to buy an electric car? Yes. And you will also save money on fuel. Don’t believe me? Want me to show you? What, are you from Missouri or something?…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/10/should-you-buy-an-electric-car-if-you-live-in-a-coal-state/

The Original Donald Trump

From the early days of Trump: Trump: The response to my candidacy out here [in Los Angeles] has been incredible! Off the charts! The polls are unbelievable! Everybody loves me here — loves me! My hotel phone is ringing off the hoo from major actresses! Major! Question shouted from the audience: Any of them voters?…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/09/the-original-donald-trump/

Birds of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East: New Field Guide

Just got my copy of Birds of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East: A Photographic Guide by Frédéric Jiguet and Aurélien Audevard. This is the first and only field-ready photographic bird guide that covers every species in Europe. There are 2,200 photos covering 860 species. The West Asian and North African coverage is of…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/09/birds-of-europe-north-africa-and-the-middle-east-new-field-guide/

Dr. Gavin Schmidt’s Epic Response to Scott Adams

Scott Adams is the creator of Dilbert, the once funny but now highly repetitive cartoon about a nerd who has a job in an office. Dr. Gavin Schmidt is high up in the top ten list of world class climate scientists. He is Director of the currently under siege GISS Unit of NASA, where much…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/09/dr-gavin-schmidts-epic-response-to-scott-adams/

The Beginning of the End of the Republican Congress: Chaffetz vs. Allen

In Health Care Insurance Reform We See The History of the Republican Party Very few American policy initiatives have been as popular as Obamacare. The fact that several years of Republican opposition to the Affordable Care Act did not result in any alternative policies or specific revisions to the law suggest that Republicans were aware…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/09/jason-chaffetz-vs-dr-kathryn-allen/

How Does the Asian Fruit Fly Ruin Crops? And How Do We Stop It?

There is some interesting new research out on the Asian Fruit Fly, Drosophila suzukii. The short version: This sort of fruit fly ruins fruit crops because it prefers to, and is able to, lay its eggs on harder, firmer, unrotten, and, essentially, ripe fruit, thus ruining it. Regular fruit flies focus on rotten fruit such…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/09/how-does-the-asian-fruit-fly-ruin-crops-and-how-do-we-stop-it/

Earliest Tornado in Minnesota

It is now verified that the earliest 2017 tornados — first tornados of the season — struck several communities in east-central Minnesota (a few miles north and south of me). So what you say? Especially because it was a mere F1 and didn’t hurt anyone! This is an important event because the earliest recorded tornado…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/08/earliest-tornado-in-minnesota/

How the nose knows: Neurobiology of odor detection

How doe a mammal know what a smell is, and more importantly, how does a mammal learn new smells? Recent research suggests that different kinds of neurons reorganize in novel ways in response to olfactory signals to produce an olfactory memory. Below is a video made by the research team that explains this. If that…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/08/how-the-nose-knows-neurobiology-of-odor-detection/

I’m 100% certain this is the way Trump’s presidency will end

The Crisis We Await The exact way the Trump presidency ends is not clear. Anything could happen. Trump had zero idea of what he was getting into with this president thing, and the stresses must be amazing. Clearly, he is being driven over the edge by relatively minor day to day events. Nothing has yet…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/07/im-100-certain-this-is-the-way-trumps-presidency-will-end/

End of Nature, First Americans

Book note: There are two books you may want to check out because, for the moment (Tuesday, March 7th is the moment), they are deeply discounted at Amazon: Kindle version for two bucks: The End of Nature Kindle version for three bucks: The First Americans I also want to note that Shawn Otto’s book, “The…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/07/end-of-nature-first-americans/

Reconnecting with an old friend on Facebook. Or not.

When I was a little, there was this older kid that lived down the street, and he was shunned by all the other kids. He was shunned because he went to a special school for smart kids. Most everyone else went to either the local Catholic school (as did I) or the public school several…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/03/06/reconnecting-with-an-old-friend-on-facebook-or-not/