Non-Majors and Fluff-Classes

The Proletarian quotes a interesting interview about how to engage non-majors in classes they “have to” take.

Blogging for Tenure

I am WAY far off from any illusions of tenure.  Getting through school first is a good goal.  Truth be told, I’m not all that sure tenure is what I want.  I like the idea of an adjunct teaching position, continuing as a part-time weightlifting coach and doing independent research.  Life without the hammer, and [...]

More on Science Education in America

John Hawks on Carl Wieman:

Wieman’s initiative at UBC is now looking at how to implement discipline-based education research. He says that science teaching is already beginning to change as the university community learns that becoming an expert is not only about the factual knowledge of a subject.

He pointed to the humanities as a model. “The [...]

Even Gym-Rats are Going Green

(cross-posted at The Dojo)
it looks like even gym-rats are going green. Here’s Dr. John Berardi of Precision Nutrition being interviewed about what he does to stay green and still stay lean. Hey, if the Hulk can do it …
Pauline:
Bodybuilders and athletes usually eat lots of meat, chicken and other meats. It [...]

God loves the Beetles

Random Fact:
Nearly 70% of all species of animals are insects, most of those are beetles.

Panspermia, Red Rain, and Falling Rocks

In an article in the International Journal of Astrobiology, P. McCafferty discusses the possibility of a red, blodd-like life-form living inside meteors.
This conclusion raises the possibility that, in space, there are objects that contain red, blood-like cells. In other words, comets possibly harbour life. Such an image of a comet, containing a liquid interior teeming [...]

Mosaic Evolution and the Human Brain

An interesting post by Afarensis on Mosaic Evolution.  A journal article about mosaic evolution and the human brain here.

Feeling Dumb? Get a Social Life

Socializing, and engaging in complex behaviors, is associated with better memory and cognitive function.
40 days after being exposed to their new environments, both groups of birds were killed by an overdose of anaesthetic, and their brains removed for analysis. The brains were dissected, and the numbers of BrdU+ (that is, newborn) cells per cubic [...]

What’s Wrong with Evolution

John Hawks gets down on common misconceptions about evolution:
I looked at the website where the Texans for Better Science Education lay out examples of the “weaknesses” that should be taught. They’re pretty weak, all right. I think that most of these could be included in a science course as “common myths about evolutionary theory.”
There’s some [...]

Depressed? Try Some New Brain Cells

It may sound like science fiction, but the idea of growing new brain cells to treat depression just may work.
Antidepressants appear to stimulate the birth of new neurons indirectly, via a number of different mechanisms. Their neurogenic properties were discovered by chance only very recently, long after they came into use. With this in mind, [...]