You cannot exaggerate over the Internet, you cannot use sarcasm, and you cannot deploy analogies, because they are simply lost on people. So in the plainest of words, I will say: marketers, you’ve won. We often talk down our dear,.....
It’s graduation season and I recently went to Tucson to attend my brother’s graduation from the civil engineering program at the University of Arizona. I am so proud of him for making it successfully to graduation and know he’s going to have a bright future as a civil engineer. Show More Summary
As Luke F. demonstrated earlier in the week, YouTube is a great medium for communicating science to a wide audience. An engaging video can go a long way (both educationally and geographically, with regards to some viral videos) in teaching...
Arizona senator calls for “prayer redo”, saying atheist’s prayer wasn’t good enough – From Michael. Kiera Wilmot speaks out – She is the girl who was arrested at her school for mixing toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum, not realizing that those could cause an explosion. Show More Summary
They’re HERE! The East Coast of the US is in the middle of a noisy invasion…. by completely harmless insects. Cicadas spend most of their life underground sucking on the the roots of trees, until it is time to emerge as flying adults. Show More Summary
We’ve had a lot of discussions of privilege lately, and I’ve noticed that whenever the topic comes up, whether the focus is on race, gender, sexuality, ability, or any other axis, someone comments along the lines of suggesting we should all focus on simply being human. Show More Summary
This post contains graphic discussions of bodies and pornography. TW for body image issues. I can’t pretend that some of my reasons for engaging in the comment sections aren’t personal. I first hopped online when I was just over a decade old. Show More Summary
The wanted generation – Amanda Marcotte on why we should thank feminism for the open attitudes of the millenials. From nowoo. People want to matter – Greta Christina on the talk that Rebecca Goldstein gave at WiS2. She has a new and interesting way to think about an old problem that secularism faces. Show More Summary
Tom and Jack are joined by comedian Ben McKenzie to talk about the relationship between Doctor Who and science: whether or not it is science fiction, how it represents science and scientists, and how time travel, regeneration and sonic screwdrivers fare scientifically. Show More Summary
Every week we ask a question of our readers, to stimulate discussion and critical thinking about an issue or topic relating to science, skepticism, technology or religion. Our favourite points are discussed on our weekly podcast, The Pseudoscientists. Television is one...
This week’s auctions feature three incredible photographs created just for SkepchickCon by Gigi Chickee, from Mad Art Lab. She has signed and framed her “Winged Shape-shifter,” “GMO,” and “UFO,” and donated them to help us raise money for travel costs for the con. Show More Summary
Today’s Guest Post is from Dena Roth about NECSS 2013 and the importance of safe spaces for underrepresented groups within the skeptic/secular community. It’s important to have empathy for another’s experience, especially when you don’t...Show More Summary
Two days ago the second Women in Secularism conference ended. This is only the second time I’ve attended a non-religious or non-work related conference, (I’ve attended a lot of very large Christian conferences in the past,) and it was probably the most rewarding weekend I’ve had in many years. Show More Summary
It’s funny how that sort of thing works. One can realize the ramifications of one’s position in society that has been either been granted or attained and that realization can then make your life experience even richer yet. Then you can use that position to make the world better. Show More Summary
On May 22, 1826, the HMS Beagle departed for its first voyage. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because this is the ship that carried Charles Darwin (albeit on the second voyage) and he wrote a book about it called The Voyage of the Beagle. Show More Summary
Included in yesterday’s Quickies is a link addressing the internet-infamous phenomenon of the Nice Guy. The clever piece turned the narrative of the Nice Guy around and humorously expressed female frustration with the “Girlfriend Zone.”...Show More Summary
The giant hornless indricothere rhinos were apparently the largest land mammal that ever lived, but what was their true weight? The answer is not so simple.
The head of the House Science and Technology Committee (largely run by science deniers) is threatening to inject politics into the process by which NSF determines what science gets funded. This is incredibly dangerous and stupid for lots of reasons.
The huge hornless Asiatic rhinos known as indricotheres were the largest land mammals that ever lived, wandering from Mongolia to Turkey across dry scrublands from 34-23 million years ago. Their sheer size poses many questions about how they lived, yet we can also make some educated guesses about their ecology based on the constraints on living mammals.
Daniel Loxton reflects upon the dangers of speaking beyond one's expertise—a danger no less serious for skeptics than for fringe science proponents.