07/02/2008
Washington Post covers mold at Lascaux
Molly Moore of the Washington Post turns in a nice report on the problems facing Lascaux, about which I wrote earlier this year:"Microbiologists and geologists say we have to observe and understand what's happening first, that we can't disturb the ca...
~ published: 07/02 at 21:56 ~ source: John Hawks Anthropology Weblog ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Notes of a Japanese soldier in the USSR
The drawings below are by Kiuchi Nobuo, a Japanese soldier captured in Manchuria, who survived capitivity in the USSR. He was transported all the way to a camp in Ukraine. His web site is fascinating -- the sketches depict beautiful Soviet women (officers...
~ published: 07/02 at 19:54 ~ source: Information Processing ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Paisley Caves Jenkins interview
On Monday's "NewsHour", PBS ran an interview with archaeologist Dennis Jenkins, who worked on the Paisley Caves human-DNA-containing scat. DENNIS JENKINS: We were looking and hoping, of course, to find spear points, evidence of their technology....
~ published: 07/02 at 19:31 ~ source: John Hawks Anthropology Weblog ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Missing chimpanzee in LA
That "celebrity chimpanzee" that caused all the trouble three years ago is now on the loose in the hills outside LA. There have been scattered reports of missing chickens and garden hoses turned on in the vicinity of the hunt -- but no solid evi...
~ published: 07/02 at 16:11 ~ source: John Hawks Anthropology Weblog ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Hewlett-Packard: Czechia wins Euro 2008
According to Hewlett-Packard (click),the Czech Republic became the winner of the Euro 2008 tournament. In the final, previously unbeaten Czechia comfortably defeated France.Hewlett-Packard has used a more accurate method to determine the winner of each 90...
~ published: 07/02 at 15:34 ~ source: The Reference Frame ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Proof of the Riemann Hypothesis?
Last night a preprint by Xian-Jin Li appeared on the arXiv, claiming a proof of the Riemann Hypothesis. Preprints claiming such a proof have been pretty common, and always wrong. Most of them are obviously implausible, invoking a few pages of elementary...
~ published: 07/02 at 15:15 ~ source: Not Even Wrong ~ permalink ~ points: 0
The body's own 'cannabis' is good for the skin
Scientists have discovered that our own body not only makes chemical compounds similar to the active ingredient in marijuana (THC), but these play an important part in maintaining healthy skin.read more...
~ published: 07/02 at 14:50 ~ source: Science Blog - Think. It's not illegal yet. ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Communication not language in the brain
Wired's Brandon Keim covers a new study by Susan Goldin-Meadow, which shows a conflict between linguistic and gestural communication strategies:"This may reflect the real thought that comes before language," said study co-author Susan Goldin-Mea...
~ published: 07/02 at 12:56 ~ source: John Hawks Anthropology Weblog ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Big archaeology find in Egypt
A University of Chicago expedition at Tell Edfu in southern Egypt has unearthed a large administration building and silos that provide fresh clues about the emergence of urban life.read more...
~ published: 07/02 at 11:47 ~ source: Science Blog - Think. It's not illegal yet. ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Experimental philosophy movement explores real-life dilemmas
Imagine a business executive who thinks: "I know that this new policy will harm the environment, but I don't care at all about that – I just want to increase profits."read more...
~ published: 07/02 at 10:51 ~ source: Science Blog - Think. It's not illegal yet. ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Proprietary Data in Academic Research?
Should results of experiments on proprietary datasets be in the academic research literature?The arguments I can imagine in the “against” column are: Experiments are not repeatable. Repeatability in experiments is essential to science becaus...
~ published: 07/02 at 10:36 ~ source: Machine Learning (Theory) ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Weight Watchers Versus Fitness Centers
In the first study of its kind, using sophisticated methods to measure body composition, the nationally known commercial weight loss program, Weight Watchers, was compared to gym membership programs to find out which method wins in the game of good health...
~ published: 07/02 at 09:51 ~ source: Science Blog - Think. It's not illegal yet. ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Synthetic molecules emulate enzyme behavior for the first time
When chemists want to produce a lot of a substance -- such as a newly designed drug -- they often turn to catalysts, molecules that speed chemical reactions.read more...
~ published: 07/02 at 09:47 ~ source: Science Blog - Think. It's not illegal yet. ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Quantum Dots Can Penetrate Skin Through Minor Abrasions
Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that quantum dot nanoparticles can penetrate the skin if there is an abrasionread more...
~ published: 07/02 at 08:32 ~ source: Science Blog - Think. It's not illegal yet. ~ permalink ~ points: 0
A new look, a new server
As you can see, the site has changed! I've moved to a new server, and I've taken the opportunity to move to a new content management system along with it. I've been running the new site as a shadow for a while, and everything ought to work (although there...
~ published: 07/02 at 08:29 ~ source: John Hawks Anthropology Weblog ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Erectile dysfunction lower in men who have intercourse more often
Having intercourse more often may help prevent the development of erectile dysfunction (ED).read more...
~ published: 07/02 at 07:35 ~ source: Science Blog - Think. It's not illegal yet. ~ permalink ~ points: 0
Lindau: Half of Nobel prize winners are skeptical about AGW orthodoxy
Technical comment: Opera 9.51 final recommended, twice as fast as Firefox 3Climate: one screen below...Much like every year since 1951, there has been another meeting (6/29-7/3) of Nobel prize winners in Lindau, Bavaria, Germany.David Gross: LHC and super...
~ published: 07/02 at 03:15 ~ source: The Reference Frame ~ permalink ~ points: 0