Fingerprints: More Than Just Finger Decoration

January 30, 2009 by Renaisauce

Nature has reported on recent research that suggests that fingerprints help to amplify nerve inputs at the fingertips. The spacing and distance of fingerprint ridges can selectively amplify certain frequencies of vibrations, thereby making your fingers more sensitive.

Steven Pinker on Roberts-speak

January 26, 2009 by coglanglab

If you haven't yet seen it, check out this New York Times editorial by Harvard Professor of Psychology, Steven Pinker. It is an analysis of (perhaps) why Chief Justice Roberts bungled the inaugural swearing-in.

Have You Ever Shruck?

January 22, 2009 by coglanglab

"Remember the time in 2003 when Bartlett came to work all hung over?" Laughs. "Nothing ever changes."
[Bush] continued: "We never shruck—"
"Shirked!" someone yelled.
"Shirked," Bush corrected, smiling. "You might have shirked; I shrucked. I mean we took the deals head on."

This is an excerpt from an account of George W. Bush's farewell party at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo (which I know better as a middling swing dance venue; apparently the better places were all booked).

Using the greenhouse effect to reduce CO2 production

January 19, 2009 by Fred Bortz

Looking at the most likely ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, I am struck that low-tech innovations, such as wind turbines and (the yet unproven) sequestration of CO₂ from coal-burning plants, seem to be offering faster and better solutions than high-tech ones, like solar cells and improved nuclear reactors. Now in New Scientist, I found an intriguing, if a bit quirky article describing how a combination of heat from greenhouses and hot-air balloons can be used to generate substantial amounts of electricity.