There was a rather strange column in Nature this week, discussing the work of the Science and Entertainment Exchange of the US National Academy of Sciences, an organization that exists, in brief, to help entertainment producers get it right. Strange, because the article by Daniel Sarewitz pours scorn on such a project. But what’s really…

By the tingling in my toes I note it’s the first of a brand new month. Which means it’s time to announce this month’s lucky Naturally Selected sweatshirt winner! I said I’d award a sweatshirt to the best comment this month. I also ran a picture competition, which nobody was able to get right! However,…

As lithium ion batteries

The parlous state of science reporting in the main stream media is not news. The Daily Mail would have you believe that everything from age to zinc causes or cures cancer (and in some cases both) but even ‘quality’ papers more often than not over-sensationalize findings, or simply get them just plain wrong. In fact,…

An explosion rocked a biochemistry laboratory at the University of Missouri at Columbia yesterday afternoon, injuring four people working in the lab. The blast was triggered when hydrogen gas, being used for an experiment, reached dangerous levels, reported The Columbia Daily Tribune. “Lab personnel turned on the hydrogen tank supply to an anaerobic hood, and…

First edible GM animal? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration may soon approve the first genetically modified animal for humans to eat

Carmen D’Cruz flies the flag for science communication

GIANT FLYING MONSTERS! No, seriously. As part of the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary celebrations, there’s a festival of arts and science on London’s Southbank this summer, See Further. I’ve already talked about Icarus at the Edge of Time, and will be participating in a Cafe Scientifique event discussing the history of scientific conversation on Monday…

Without the help of the rest of the team, defending against a penalty kick is arguably one of the hardest tasks faced by soccer goal keepers. But new research shows that the kicker’s body movements may betray its intention, hinting to the goalie which direction the ball is about to go in enough time to…

Meet citizen science’s answer to match.com – https://scienceforcitizens.net/. The new website, brainchild of Darlene Cavalier (AKA – The Science Cheerleader) and colleagues, seeks to hook researchers up with members of the general public who want to volunteer for duty in the scientific process. “We hope to enable regular people to do real science by connecting…