Curiosity…

Posted on March 1, 2013 by

No, not the Mars rover.  Though the Curiosity rover is a brilliant example of the result of the pure curiosity that drives so many.  Curiosity, that drive to understand the unknown and  unseen.  From wind, rain, and thunder to what holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom.  To question has always been role of the scientist, one of which has always been taken up willingly.  However the drive to question the world around us is more than just a scientific cause.  Curiosity is a core part of human nature, one we can not afford to let fall into neglect.

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Posted in Academia, Biology, Chemistry, Geekism, Grad School, Physics, Science, Space, The Future, The Past | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Politicizing of Science

Posted on February 27, 2013 by

Science has always been ruled by facts, the facts and evidence of any question or hypothesis has always been held above all else.  This has always been the great equalizer in science; where a Nobel Laureate can be proven wrong by an undergraduate researcher with experimental data.  However this appears to be changing for some parts of science, as politics grabs hold and tries to change what it will.  In recent years several scientific topics have become the subject of political scrutiny; not because there were errors in experimentation or disproved results.  Because some have decided that they dislike the results, and that in turn should make the science wrong.  Where does this leave the actual science?

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Posted in Academia, Biology, Chemistry, Grad School, Physics, Science, The Future | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Other Side of the Fence

Posted on February 25, 2013 by

The whole graduate school thing can be very tough some times, as a few of us know.  It is in those times that I find myself wondering whether my friends that chose to be done with school at the bachelors level had the right of it.  I think this is a doubt that a lot of people have from time to time through out their graduate school career.  More than that I think it is important that we all know that these thoughts pass, things are always better in the morning.

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Posted in Academia, Biology, Chemistry, Grad School, Physics, Ramble, Rant, Science | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Buckyball Inspiration

Posted on February 22, 2013 by

Buckyballs or C60 or Buckminsterfullerene has become an very hot topic in the chemistry and material science worlds in the past 20 years or so.  Buckballs are being used in physics, Supramolecular chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and engineering.  And for all of this we do not need to thank the big ten research schools, but a regular school and the good science and scientists that were working there when it happened.  The Buckyball discovery shows everyone that good science can happen anywhere.

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Posted in Academia, Chemistry, Grad School, Physics, Science, The Past | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How to unbreak your heart after leaving academia

Posted on February 20, 2013 by

Reblogged from Red Lips and Academics:

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I have a love/hate relationship with academia. Or more like a love/obsess/cuddle/hate/cry/curse relationship with academia. It's what I love, but I had a hard time not losing myself in it. When I stopped teaching last semester, it felt like a crushing break-up with someone I began dating my freshmen year of college. Sure, I did my fair share of wallowing and soul searching, but I wish there were other things I would have done than sit on the couch and think (and cry) about my post-academic life.

Read more… 579 more words

Just a brilliant post!
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Fly Me to the Moon

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

July 20th of this year will mark the 44th anniversary of of the first time that man landed and walked on the surface of the moon.  Three years and a few months after that remarkable day, Apollo 17 left the lunar surface to begin its trip back to earth.  It has been nearly 41 years since man has walked on the moon.  It is remarkable to me that it has been over 40 years since we last traveled to the moon.  How could we achieve such greatness to let it fall out of practice   How can it be that going to the moon became something…. routine?

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The Darwin Effect

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

A few days ago, the 12th of February, was the 204th birthday of Charles Darwin.  As the father of evolution Darwin was and still is one of the most controversial scientists in history.  While Darwin’s story doesn’t have the dramatic flair of Galileo Galilei, or the comedic charm of Richard Feynman, he does have the honor of being among the most divisive figures in all of science.

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Posted in Academia, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science, The Future, The Past | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments