I started this series to highlight the week's science diaries in the "Grand Tradition" of
Newsie8200. Many political issues will require input from the scientific community to make sound policy decisions. These diaries are either science based, or about an issue science will/should be used to help solve. Some weeks I may include a short diary of my own. This week, each title is followed by a short passage from the diary to give you an idea of what the diary is about. I will be experimenting with when I post this diary, so you may want to subscribe if you are interested.
Some criteria for the diaries I will be including in Nerd Network News or "N3"1:
- Diary must have verifiable sources.
- Copyright standards must be followed. The sources must be quoted in part and referenced (no complete articles).
- Writer must comment or show some analysis of the article (no "link only" diaries)
More below the fold.
This is to try to keep the diaries as useful as possible. There may be exceptions if an important subject was brought up and there were no other diaries covering the subject.
The opinions expressed in the diaries are not necessarily my own.
If I missed anyone, sorry.
Other dKos Diary Lists or Series
These are great lists to help you catch up with easily missed diaries every week.
Newsie8200's "Newsie's Week In Reviewsies"
jotter's "Most Recommended Diaries"
Tomtech's "This Week in Fascism."
social democrat "17 best-rated comments"
These series offer help for everything from saving money to saving your soul.
pastordan "Religious News Roundup"
bonddad "Today's Economic News"
youngblood kaufman "The Goebbels Diaries"
Previous Nerd Network News Lists
Nerd Network News - Week of December 20-26
Nerd Network News - Week of December 27 - January 2
Science Diary Categories
Click on link to take you there.
Ecology and Global Climate Change
Biology
Medicine & Healthcare
Energy
Geology
Technology
Other
Education
dKos Writer's
Science Blog Roll
Featured dKos Science Diary of the Week
This is an amazing diary written from the heart and it is informative. What more could you ask for. Please check it out and let them know you were there.
Treatment for heroin/opiate addiction: a primer. by
nephalim At the suggestion of georgia10, I am writing this diary. I didn't think there would be much interest, but hopefully there will be, we shall see. I shall try to focus on the legal and political aspects and implications.
As a few people know, I am a former heroin addict. I have been in maintenance for 4 1/2 years - but not with methadone. There has been an alternative around for about 2 years now [in America], yet few people know of it. It's called buprenorphine, a drug that has been around for many many years, but now is available for maintenance purposes in a high-dose form under the brand names of Subutex and Suboxone. If you don't know what maintenance is, keep reading.
Cartoon of the week
This cartoon posted with permission of Dr. Nick D. Kim at Nearing Zero
Quote of the Week
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science. - Charles Darwin
This Week in Science History
(from TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY)
January 2
Monarch butterflies
In 1975, Kenneth C. Brugger discovered the long-unknown winter destination of the monarch butterfly in the mountains of Mexico. From 1937, for 38 years, Canadian zoologist Freud Urquhart patiently investigated to establish the route and destination of the insects. Using tags on the wings of some butterflies, he followed their migration trails to Mexican territory. Brugger, one of Urquhart's helpers, after a long period of traveling in the center of Mexico, found the first butterfly refuge. Within the territory of only 200 square meters, there are around 20 million butterflies. The area was cold and covered with oyamel trees and pine trees, a few kilometers from rural towns.
January 4
Sputnik
In 1958, the Russian Sputnik I satellite, the first man-made object to orbit the earth, fell back into the atmosphere and disintegrated, after 92 days in space. The Sputnik (meaning "companion" or "fellow traveller") was launched from Kazakhstan. The craft circled the earth every 95 minutes at almost 20,000 miles per hour 500 miles above the Earth. The 184-lb satellite had transmitted a radio signal picked up around the world, and instrumentation for temperature measurement.
Diary Categories
Ecology and Global Climate Change
Bush Administration's Environmental Policy . . . can you say oxymoron?
Sen. Inhofe: Don't Worry about Climate Change by greendem
The reign of the Know-Nothing Republicans continues. Only this time, the fate of the world's climate is at stake. Sen. Inhofe (R-Okla.) quotes pulp fiction writer Michael Crichton as scientific proof that climate change is not a problem. But we still need more data points. I wonder where Steven King or Danielle Steele stand on this issue?
Ex-FBI agent claims nuclear coverup: the Rocky Flats story by Plutonium Page
It's a cool, quiet Colorado morning. You're taking a walk through a new wildlife refuge, enjoying the view and the solitude. You've just spotted a red tailed hawk swooping down to catch a squirrel. Ah, this is America, land of the free, land of conservation and respect toward wildlife...
... and then you remember: it's also the land of about 10,000 nuclear warheads, and you're walking around what used to be the Department of Energy's Rocky Flats Plant, where plutonium pits (the cores of plutonium bombs) were fabricated for almost 40 years.
Lakoff XXI: Bush, Frogs, Baboons, Horses and a Conservative Disdain for Nature by coturnix
"Why care about the earth when the droughts, floods, and pestilence brought by ecological collapse are signs of the Apocalypse foretold in the Bible? Why care about global climate change when you and yours will be rescued in the Rapture? And why care about converting from oil to solar when the same God who performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes can whip up a few billion barrels of light crude with a Word?"
Swimming the Arctic: The U.S.⁄Canada Fight for Passage by SusanHu
Thanks to global warming, and at the expense of polar bears, a major expanse of shipping lanes may open up soon in the Arctic Sea -- and it's the fabled Northwest Passage that Lewis & Clark and other less lucky explorers sought. The route could be in full operation by 2050.
Don't drink the water!" by norwood
The Herald piece marvels at the pristine beauty of the area, and lauds the current owners for making the spring available to a few lucky people each year. Unfortunately, the article leaves out a big chunk of history, and completely ignores the fact that the spring was usurped by greedy capitalists 8 decades ago, but I'm happy to fill in the gaps.
New Environmental Blog! by Scott in NAZ
Several Kossacks and I have put together a new environmental blog, greenState.
Everyone stop by and check it out! If you post at greenState let me know who you are so I can mention you in the list of blogs below. - SeattleLiberal
Biology
I Don't Believe in Evolution by nanoboy
You shouldn't believe in evolution either. In fact, you probably don't. It is not a religion or something to be taken on faith. When you look at the facts, weigh the evidence, and do all of that other stuff that you do to decide something, you will almost certainly come to the conclusion that the theory of evolution is correct.
Jesus: Triumph of Cortex over Limbic by intrados
I was inspired by pastordan's diaries today about the Bible. At the conclusion to his second diary, he states that "[the Bible] is a testament to a people's journey with God over hundreds of years." I would like to add my two cents about how this journey has taken us to where we are within the context of the evolution of the human mind.
I was not sure where to put this one. An interesting read. - SeattleLiberal
Medicine & Healthcare
Treatment for heroin/opiate addiction: a primer. by nephalim
Well first of all, we are going to see a huge resurgance in hard drug use - if we haven't already. Poor economic times lead to this - nevermind the HUGE crop in Afghanistan, which, luckily (for US,) will flood Europe and Russia and very little will wind up in the USA. The Heroin in the USA comes from Columbia (East Coast) and Mexico (West Coast,) and small amounts from East Asia, mostly on the East Coast. But it's still a matter of supply and demand, and I can tell you that scoring heroin on the streets of New York has never been easier.
Having It All - The Health Care Crisis by Catriana
As a parent, I don't begrudge the family one bit for doing whatever it takes to make sure their children have the best lives possible. But the $2 million pricetag got me thinking about the problems in our health care system, and where we go from here.
Medical Malpractice, Political Malpractice, Journalistic Malpractice by therealcervantes
The Liar in Chief went to Madison County Illinois and said "Junk lawsuits are so unpredictable, they drive up insurance costs for all doctors." He claimed that unscrupulous trial lawyers had caused a malpractice "crisis" by filing "baseless" lawsuits. He claimed (without any evidence whatsoever) that doctors are turning away patients with complicated, life threatening conditions for fear of lawsuits.
Ayatollah Khomeini: Sex Change a Fundamental Human Right by London Yank
Apparently 41 years ago Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa (religious edict) to the effect that transexualism was an illness which was not in itself against Islam and could be redressed by science. Since then Iran has developed the most forward-thinking and sensitive treatment of transexuals, even permitting them to change their birth certificates to their new genders.
Bush bridges Madison County for malpractice reform by baldandy
Bush will visit Madison County, Illinois, on Wednesday, to stump at an invitation only (surprise!) event for medical malpractice reform, a major piece of his 2005 agenda.
Stem Cells help in Parkinsons...who's the monkey now? by worker
Researchers in Japan have found that stem cells can help in the fight against Parkinsons.
WP: Study says adult women skipping birth control by pamindurham
The Washington Post has an article today, More Women Opting Against Birth Control, Study Finds, that is disturbing on many levels. There is speculation that the cause of adult women forgoing birth control is more that they may be trying to get pregnant, but the real fear is that it might be due to the cost of birth control, given the growth of those without health insurance.
Slow Poisoning the Troops? by Trendar
The use of depleted uranium (DU) in Iraq, much like depleted uranium itself, is gradually starting to seep into the media's consciousness, and so the general public. The issue, for those not yet familiar with it, is that some US ordnance (specifically shells) and tank armor used in Iraq contains depleted uranium, which is a low level radioactive by-product of uranium processing for nuclear reactors. When fired, these shells naturally disintegrate, and the uranium contained within them "vaporizes" -- becoming an airborne mist which mingles with the dusty desert soil or even seeps into the groundwater, and so into plants and animals.
Health Insurance Company Policy: Screw Policy Holders by bonddad
Let's just say some choice words about our health care system and another sad story. - SeattleLiberal
Stem Cells from Baby Teeth by roseeriter
In future, children will not be putting their early teeth aside for the tooth fairy to collect, but putting them instead into a stem cell bank.
Morning After Pill Does NOT Lead to Risky Behavior by 757 student
From this morning's WaPo: "Providing women with easy access to the emergency contraceptive Plan B did not lead them to engage in more risky sexual behavior, a study of more than 2,000 California women has concluded." This study is very refreshing. I can't say how many times I have heard conservatives say that access to Plan B or "EC" would essentially give women, especially young women, a green light to engage in unlimited, unprotected sex.
Tort Wars Engaged by up2date
Today Bush gave a formal speech on tort reform, and the White House published an accompanying "fact sheet" on "the High Costs of Lawsuit Abuse.
This is a HUGE issue that will effect health care and protection of the American Public. Don't buy the Bush Administration's story on this one. We need to fight this with all we have. Check out up2date's other tort diaries here and here. - SeattleLiberal
Energy
Say No to Hydrogen Cars by Devilstower
So, here I am in the second round of my analysis of energy and transportation issues, and I'm out to toss spears at sacred cows. What I have to say to you today is: hydrogen fuel cells are a boondoggle.
The End of the Oil Age, w/poll by chLynch
So, looks to me like the neocons. following Zbiggy's worldview, had/have a "plan" to secure America's future by snatching the major MidEast oilfields. Thus "solving" the energy-starvation problem by, well, postponing it for a few years and girding for WW III. Hence 9/11, hence the blinders-on war with Iraq, and probably invasion of Saudi Arabia as soon as an excuse can be fully cooked-up, and we can figure out how to lose the Iraq tar-baby while still controlling the oil.
Coal prices double - watch out for your electricity bills by Jerome a Paris
The other big problem is that about 50% of US electricity supply comes from coal-fired power plants. Coal price increases, together with the natural gas price increases which have also taken place (gas-fired plants being the second source of electricity in the US) mean that electricity prices are very likely to go up in the near future.
Geology
Real Tsunami Photos by icerat
Some photographs of the tsunami and destruction. - SeattleLiberal
Technology
Blogs and the Future of Science by coturnix
I wrote an essay with my rambling thoughts about the way Internet and blogs will affect science in the near future.
PEW Project: 2004 Was the 'Year of the Blog' (Poll) by JekyllnHyde
According to BBC News, the 2004 Election contributed to an 58% increase in blog readership during 2004. In spite of this explosive growth, 60% of Americans had never heard of or were unfamiliar with blogs.
Rebuild US voting-trusty,cheap,tasty! woo woo! by Troutfishing
India has done an astounding job of wiring itself up with a voting system that can accommodate it's 670 million voters. How ? - a simple, cheap PCs running open source voting software. - Troutfishing. This is a good diary on open-source voting possibilities.
Voting Maching Technology- a proposal by bhurt
There's been a lot of badmouthing of electronic voting machines around dKos the last couple of days. Now, don't get me wrong- the Diebold machines are a crime against Democracy. And, as a professional software engineer, no one knows that more than I do. But that doesn't mean that computers have no place in the voting booth. As evidence of this, I'd like to sketch out the design of a computerized voting machine that should show what can be done.
Other
Education
While this is not necessarily a science category, you can not have good scientists without good education. So I will highlight education issues here.
California Initiatives - "merit" raises for teachers by CaliBlogger
Growing up in the 60s and 70s here in California I was blessed to attend public schools which were accounted among the best, if not THE best in the nation. And I had the benefit of some great teachers. Miss Emmerich in 2nd grade with her great smile and flaming red hair, upon whom I had an immense crush (ok that doesn't necessarily make her a GREAT teacher, but I was 7, what did I know? And I was at the least certainly happy to go to school everyday). Mr. Dupuis, ninth grade geometry who introduced his class to this new-fangled contraption called a "computer". Punch cards anyone? Mr. Robinson, high school Latin, Odi et amo, quare id faciam fortasse requris, nescio, sed fieri et excrucior
Here's what's wrong w/ standardized testing by Liberation Learning
As a professional educator, I use standardized tests. I know their value. I understand and appreciate the discussion about the usefulness and the limited scope of standardized tests and testing. But most talk of testing occurs outside of the education profession. Instead, the talk takes place in the political arena. Since schools are paid for with public funds, I accept the political nature of schools. But this does not mean that political solutions make educational sense. Usually, they do not.
Teachers Refusing to Teach Ignorance! by Grand Moff Texan
Scientists, you know the ones who actually do science, not the ones who only haunt school board meetings and AM Radio shows and make funny claims about science, Scientists put the kaibosh on this crap. Imagine that. Fighting back. Why do scientists hate America?
Conservatives Want Kids Kicked Out Of School Because Of Gay Parents by Rimjob
According to the LA TIMES, the St. John The Baptist School In Costa Mesa is under attack for allowing two 5-year old boys attend school. What's the problem? Their parents are 2 gay men...
Be Careful Not to Get Too Much Education by shark
This is from an article by Dr. Teresa Whitehurst that describes what will happen if radical "conservatives" have their way with our university system. They are concerned that students will be exposed to "non-biblical ideas".
No Mind Left Behind, or How NCLB is Hurting Our Children by CaliBlogger
It's there in the paper, it's there in those worldwide rankings. Americans suck at math and science. So focusing on that Republican paean to "back to basics", No Child Left Behind, is a good thing. Right? Well, maybe not.
Pell Grants Taking a Hit (Anti-Intellectualism) by lapin
. . . from the conservative point of view, if you wanted to limit the number of voters in a college setting who would be potentially unfriendly to your agenda, you could just make it harder to pay for college.
dKos Writer's
(listed by id#)
This is a list of dKos members that frequently focus on science. If you know of others that should be added please add their names in a comment below.
Devilstower
coturnix
Paul Rosenberg
Plutonium Page
meanandgreen
peeder
Toktora
Science Blog Roll
greenState A new blog on Environmental issues by fellow Kossians.
Science And Politics and Circadiana both by our own coturnix
Pharyngula
Chris C Mooney
Deltoid
The Panda's Thumb
blog.bioethics.net
Preposterous Universe
RealClimate
Thanks to cmk for last week's blog additions.
1 (Thanks to Plutonium Page for the N3 idea. Even though I could not get the superscript to work in the title. Anyone know if this is possible?)