This is the provocative suggestion from a couple of studies cited by Jonah Lehrer, author of Proust was a Neuroscientist, and a man who has written at least one good article in praise of daydreaming. On The Frontal Cortex, he writes: …in the latest edition of Mind Matters, Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli and John Gabrieli of MITContinue reading “Does daydreaming make you smarter?”
Monthly Archives: January 2010
Stars (not seen before)
NASA is very excited about its newly-launched satellite called WISE, which will detect stars, "failed stars," asteroids, and other interstellar bodies with infra-red technology. In the words of the press release: To sense the infrared glow of stars and galaxies, the WISE spacecraft cannot give off any detectable infrared light of its own. This isContinue reading “Stars (not seen before)”
Arctic Oscillation 2010: discussion by NOAA forecaster
While working on an El Nino story to be published soon, I happen to talk Monday morning to Ed Olenic, who forecasts seasonal climate for NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. I know nothing about the Arctic Oscillation, but Mr. Olenic walked me through the basics of the extraordinary extent of the phenomenon, which I may asContinue reading “Arctic Oscillation 2010: discussion by NOAA forecaster”
Only Russians can still write love poetry
So says, in effect, Vera Pavlova: Multiplying in a column M by F by Vera Pavlova Multiplying in a column M by F do we get one or two as a result? May the body stay glued to the soul, may the soul fear the body. Do I ask too much? I only wish theContinue reading “Only Russians can still write love poetry”
A New Way to Judge Others: High, Medium, or Low Fitness
A stupendous graph, part of an equally impressive health/lifestyle piece in the WSJ yesterday: The pitch convinces without pushing a single product: "No pill or nutritional supplement has the power of near-daily moderate activity in lowering the number of sick days people take," says David Nieman, director of Appalachian State University's Human Performance Lab inContinue reading “A New Way to Judge Others: High, Medium, or Low Fitness”
I don’t believe in global warming
A London street artist named Bansky puts an icy flood to good use: via Jessica Palmer at Biophemera
Clitoris surprises; or, you thought you knew, but…
From Mary Roach, speaking briefly but memorably this year on Big Think: http://video.bigthink.com/player.js?embedCode=FyOWlqOspaH-SMvi51rZ2aVCtD9vg_oU Did you know even women get smegma? And I thought it was just me… As Roach says, you gotta love science.
Insurance Industry Debunks Climate Change Deniers
From a report by an international group of multi-billion dollar insurers attending the Copenhagen conference, led by Munich Re, against climate change denier claims: Business knows how to keep it simple. What does the international insurance industry want? An agreement to reduce emissions — now. What we need now is leadership. It is up toContinue reading “Insurance Industry Debunks Climate Change Deniers”
Science and poetry: what they have in common
While confronting — on the page and in person — those who wield shotguns and bulldozers, John Kinsella in Poetry drops in a fascinating digression about what poetry and science have in common: The language of poetry, even in its most lyrical modes, is a language of specific usage—poetry is about arrangement, selection, and presentationContinue reading “Science and poetry: what they have in common”
Kit Stolz 