SciFri Book Club Has ‘The Right Stuff’
Join the SciFri Book Club regulars for a look back, er…up, at ‘The Right Stuff.’
Ig Nobel Prizes Celebrate Somewhat Suspect Science
Ponytail physics, the sloshing in a coffee cup, and an opera about the universe feature in this year’s Ig Nobel Prize ceremony.
Heavy Metal: The Physics of DIY Instruments
Composer and instrument builder Paul Rudolph makes music from garbage. John Powell, physicist and author of How Music Works, chimes in with an explanation of how Rudolph’s modifications to the instruments helps transform noise into notes.
Are We Getting Dumber? Maybe, New Research Suggests
A provocative new study suggests humans are slowly becoming less intelligent and emotionally stable.
The Double Helix and Beyond: Catching Up With James Watson
Nearly 60 years later, James Watson reflects on the legendary race to solve the structure of DNA.
Climate Change Takes Flight in New Novel
An ecological anomaly is at the center of the story in Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior.”
Desktop Diaries: Oliver Sacks
Writer and neurologist Oliver Sacks explains what his desk means to him. From lumps of metal to lemurs, Sacks describes some of his treasures.
Past is Present in ‘An Enemy of the People’
Themes of power, integrity, and truth still resonate in a new production of Ibsen’s classic play.
Medusa’s Gaze and Vampire’s Bite
Think monsters are make-believe? In his new book, science journalist Matt Kaplan writes of real-life zombies in Haiti, and how rabies infection could explain the vampire’s aversion to garlic and sunlight.
In Twitter We Trust: Can Social Media Sway Voters?
Scientists are examining how social media can influence the opinions of voters.