Ramblings, Offcuts, Purgations
Ah, the good old Sunday Wurdled…. I should warn you that the picture included in the article is a little graphic, but I still have to ask: does it really look like a … Continue Reading Pareidolia special: “Farmer denies wrongdoing as goat born with human face” (Spoiler: Not really human face)
Reasons why footballer-biting-other-footballer resulted from nature (i.e., the passing of traits from parent to offspring at a biological, or genetic, level): “I would suggest he is hard-wired in this way. It’s not something … Continue Reading Suarez: Nature or nurture? BBC expert unable to specify, quoted extensively nonetheless
Here is a Guest Blog I was invited to write for the folks over at Neuroscience Ireland. I guess this is because I’ve recently been taxonomised as a “Neuroblogger.” It … Continue Reading “On Correlations and Bias”
Here’s an interesting way to report the latest Science News: “Adam and Eve Were Real According to Study Out” declares the headline in the Guardian Liberty Voice. So, I assume … Continue Reading Science news latest: Adam and Eve “real”, Noah’s Ark “actually round”
Say hello to Ippo. No, not the Japanese manga boxer (after whom he’s no doubt named), but this little fella: He’s a zonkey. Or a zebroid. Or a zorse. Or a zony. Or a zemule. … Continue Reading My kingdom for a zorse (kind of)
This is a very cool publicity campaign, using — dare I say it — scientific literacy in an effort to raise awareness about some rare genetic disorders (full disclosure-time: my own … Continue Reading Now THIS really *is* in the genes
Just a quick post today. This one’s especially for the arachnophobes. You know who you are. A popular scientific explanation for arachnophobia has been that it reflects an evolutionarily endowed … Continue Reading Web sight
You’ll have to forgive my recent lack of Tweets. I’m in China and Tweeting doesn’t work here. According to the log-in page of my hotel wifi, some websites are inaccessible … Continue Reading Peurile? Moi?
I had the privilege of visiting India the other week. Seriously, no kidding, I totally did. To an outsider India is a highly complex and puzzling place, a complete assault on the … Continue Reading Keeping it light
I have been reading a lot recently about the Irish Government’s decision to get rid of its Chief Scientific Adviser. My fellow blogger Maria Delaney has covered this well both … Continue Reading Chief Scientific Advisor gets the chop: Getting DNA backwards not the reason
Yesterday I drew attention to a study claiming that students who bring water into exams get better grades. I made the point that at this time of year the media … Continue Reading Aside: More on the science of college exams
Smell anyone nice lately? Did it make you feel a little, you know, frisky? (That’s another word for romantic, kids.) Well, you are not alone. In fact, the entire rest of the … Continue Reading If it smells right, do it/him/her
This is dangerously close to “day job” territory, but yesterday evening I was on the wireless talking about the relationship between psychological traits and physical health. This was part of … Continue Reading Personality goes a long way…toward making you sick
Just over a week ago, I gave a public lecture for Cork Skeptics at the magnificent Blackrock Castle Observatory. Subject to technological issues (i.e., assuming it worked), a video of … Continue Reading The Science of Misunderstanding
I’ve just returned from watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes at my local cinema, and I’m happy to report that there were no scientific shortcomings or flaws whatsoever in … Continue Reading Shock! ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ is scientifically implausible
UK newspaper, The Sun, is no stranger to controversy. Indeed, as part of News Corporation, it is currently mired in the phone-hacking scandal that engulfed its now killed-off sister paper, … Continue Reading Big fat liars
