var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));Here the "Top 10 Green Books of 2008" (with synopses) as selected by the Mother Nature Network.************************try {var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-7602120-1");
For Math Junkies
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));For a Friday video offering, this zoom-in of the marvelous Mandelbrot Set to a "6th level mini-set" with Jonathan Coulton's "Mandelbrot Set" musical accompaniment:(and if you know of
"EXTRAORDINARY KNOWING"
Inexplicable Powers of Mind...var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));"Extraordinary Knowing" by Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer This book was published in 2007, though the author, clinical psychologist and UC Berkeley Professor
Science As Faith
Another NY Times essay today... This essay by physicist/author Paul Davies, published in the NY Times over a year ago, created quite a stir at the time and drew reaction from several other scientists, pro and con.
The Epigenome
Epigenetics is one of the hottest topics in biology these days. Mapping the human genome, as grand an accomplishment as it was, barely scratches the surface of understanding how genes actually operate in our lives. The rest of the story, now being deciphered, comes from the epigenome. Recent NY Times piece on the subject from Nicholas Wade here.
On Being Human
Book blurb: "Human: The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique" by Michael GazzanigaOn the one hand I find neuroscience fascinating, on the other hand I find it quite 'iffy'... The prospect for the human mind being able to study itself and reach thorough and accurate conclusions is quite problematic, both philosophically and methodologically. Still, there is great fun in trying, or in reading about
"Ah-choo!"
Today, for all of you with the winter sniffles, just a simple essay from scientist/writer Chet Raymo:http://www.sciencemusings.com/blog/2009/02/ah-choo.html
Couple of New Offerings
New books about Albert Einstein, or his theories, seem to be never-ending... and... never dull. University of Chicago astrophysicist, Evalyn Gates, has a new volume out, "Einstein's Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe," delving into the fascinating and barely imaginable topics of dark matter and dark energy that appear to make up most of the Universe despite are
Friday Video, Anyone?
We live in a very visual world and there are lots of wonderful science/nature videos and photographic websites present on the Web. I'm toying with the notion of further expanding "Science On Tap" to include some of these offerings in addition to the usual focus on the written word, and using Fridays as the day to post them here.If you know of a visual or video site that may be inspiring,
"The Age of Entanglement"
Don't know when I'll find time to sit down myself and read the 400+ pages of "The Age of Entanglement: When Quantum Physics Was Reborn" by Louisa Gilder (here and here), but feel like I shouldn't delay any longer citing it on this blog.The book (8+ years in the writing) has been receiving generally excellent reviews around the bookworld; especially excellent for a first-time author; especially
Blog Carnivals
For those who frequent blog carnivals I ought to promote a few I recently contributed to:The 49th "Carnival of Mathematics" is available here.A general "Book Review Blog Carnival" is here.64th edition of "Encephalon" (neuroscience carnival) here.Finally, the 94th "I And The Bird" Carnival, including a review from S.O.T., is here.
Writer Blurb -- Natalie Angier
Might as well continue the theme of fine female science writers today by linking to this archive of the essays of Natalie Angier that have appeared in the NY Times. Whereas K.C. Cole tends to focus on physics, cosmology, and the physical sciences, Angier most often writes on the life sciences... and like Cole, rarely disappoints! You can almost select anything at random from this archive and be
Author Blurb -- K.C. Cole
K.C. Cole is an award-winning science writer and essayist. Her volume "Mind Over Matter: Conversations With The Cosmos" is one of my favorite books of science essays. These are 90+ concise, trenchant, varied essays that don't waste words nor the reader's time, and can yield meaning for the non-scientist and scientist alike. Widely-read mathematician Keith Devlin once called her essay "Murmurs,"
Quirky "Quirkology"
Psychology That Is More Fun Than It Ought Ever Be....Is it my imagination or do the British really have the world's best sense of humor? British psychology professor Dr. Richard Wiseman has turned doing quirky off-the-wall studies into a full-time career, with jocular results.I likely won't find time to fully review his offering, "Quirkology: How We Discover the Big Truths in Small Things" (
"In Praise of Science Books"
Year-old essay HERE on the pertinence of science books.***************************
In Further Celebration of Darwin
In this week of Darwin commemoration, HERE an archive of essays from the late Stephen Jay Gould, and other writers on evolution topics. Nice compendium; worth a look and some readin'.....To find more posts from the blogosphere celebrating Charles Darwin this week visit here:http://citizenship.typepad.com/blogfordarwin/***************************
In Honor of Darwin...
The Watson-Crick Paper: As most know, in honor of the bicentennial celebration of Charles Darwin's birth (today!) many science-related websites are doing posts specifically related to the great father of 'evolution.' I figured I'd take a slightly different tack here...To this day, one of the best, most succinctly-written (1 page!) examples of science ever published is still the original
"SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain"
Elucidating The Mind-Body Connection... 'We Are Built To Move'....I've long thought that movement and touch are essentials to the health and well-being of living things ("You are built to move," writes the author), and I'm also much interested in the whole 'mind-body connection' arena. So it was natural that a book entitled "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" would
Classic American Nature Writing
Some classic nature writing, freely available online at Google books, from early 20th century American writer John Burroughs --- HERE.*****************************
Sir David
Author, naturalist, filmographer, etc. etc. Sir David Attenborough in an interview (excerpts) with the BBC prior to release of his latest documentary work, in honor of the bicentennial of Darwin's birth, "Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life." :And compendium of Attenborough's books here.**********************
Book Blurb -- "My Stroke of Insight"
Many know about Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's experience suffering a stroke from a video of her that went viral on the Web last year. As a neuroscientist herself, her self-analysis of her own condition, even as she was experiencing the stroke, is indeed 'insightful.' Taylor's talk is remarkable and inspirational, while moving to the very edges of science. If somehow you've missed it, give a watch
A Blog Meme
I've never tried starting a blog meme before, but here goes....A science book lovers' meme:Imagine: YOU are asked to assign a half-dozen-or-so books as required reading for ALL science majors at a college as part of their 4-year degree; NOT technical or text books, but other works, old or new, touching upon the nature of science, philosophy, thought, or methodology in a way that a practicing
Author Blurb -- Clifford Pickover
Dr. Clifford Pickover, prolific writer, inventor, thinker/scientist, and ultimate geek's geek (and some would say 'visionary') has written over three dozen books mostly pertaining to mathematics, though often touching upon other aspects of science, computers, and creativity, as well. Amazon listing of his output is here.His internet homepage is here. And he twitters at: http://twitter.com/
"Worried Sick" Podcast
Here, a podcast of an interview from the "People's Pharmacy" radio show with rheumatologist (and iconoclast) Dr. Nortin Hadler. Within the medical establishment Hadler is a gadfly, highly critical of many of the routine uses of medicine in America today. Always seeking common-sense, truth-in-advertising, and an end to medical hyperbole, Hadler isn't afraid to expose sacred cows or find major
Author Blurb -- Diane Ackerman
Diane Ackerman has that rare ability to make interesting, even topics or information which might not at first glance, seem interesting. Her exquisite writing has often been called 'poetic' or 'lyrical' even though her usual topics are in the realm of science or natural history (she does publish works of poetry as well). Her own sense of wonder oozes through each subject she tackles. I've
"Lewis Carroll In Numberland"
I'll frequently use space here to link to reviews of books I am not likely to read myself, but think worth bringing to readers' attention. Today a LINK to a NY Times review of "Lewis Carroll In Numberland" by British mathematician Robin Wilson.*****************************
"EMBRACING THE WIDE SKY"
The Savant Mind At Work....Autistic savant Daniel Tammet's first book, "Born On A Blue Day" was an international best-seller as an engaging autobiographical overview of his fascinating life and talents. His new book, "Embracing The Wide Sky" is a more scientific look at the way his mind works, and provocatively covers a range of cognitive issues.Tammet's perspective is utterly unique, as an
"IS GOD A MATHEMATICIAN?"
Math and the Human Mind....Mario Livio is an astrophysicist and cosmologist working with the Hubble Space Telescope, whose popular writings have focused mainly on mathematics; not entirely surprising given the degree to which math underlies his main vocation. His latest work could have simply been entitled "A Brief History of Mathematical Thought," but that's already been done a few dozen times
"THE LIFE OF THE SKIES"
An Homage To Birds....I've long enjoyed Jonathan Rosen's essays in various places, and am a bird-lover, so it was with great anticipation that I looked forward to his work "The Life of the Skies" when I first heard it was due to be published. Thankfully, he didn't disappoint. This book won't meet everyone's desire, but for my taste it is the best, and most unconventional, bird-related volume out
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