Dan's Wild Wild Science Journal

The Royal Society was once presided over by Isaac Newton himself. It’s the world’s oldest science institution.

They have just released a very good summary of what is now known about climate science and climate change.

Well worth a read.

Speaking of science, this blog will soon be part of a new project by the American Geophysical Union. The AGU has over 50,000 members worldwide and is one of the largest science organizations on the planet.

The AGU will soon be hosting a collection of earth and space science blogs. I was honored to be asked to join in!

This means you will soon see a different look here! Even better, you will be able to quickly read the thoughts of other people who are as fascinated about the world around us as I am!

More soon,

Dan

There is a real pandemic of type two diabetes in America. Until recently it was thought that this was due to the fact that most Americans are overweight and have rather terrible diets. I can always tell the flights to America at Heathrow in London. I just look at the people in the gate area. If most are overweight, the odds are high it’s a U.S. destination.

This same problem is also spreading to Europe but at a bit lower rate than here in the States.

Now, come a couple of studies that indicate strongly that there is another factor.

Dirty air.

Two recent studies have shown a real connection between particulate pollution and diabetes rates. Researchers can even see a difference in rates between people who live near busy streets versus those who live in low traffic areas.

SCIENCE NEWS has a good write up with the details.

A little fact you might not know about air pollution. Around 50% of the vehicles are responsible for 90% of the pollution from transportation. ( I read this somewhere and cannot find the source. Let me know if you know it.)

Are you part of the dirty 50%?

If you drive any type of truck, or a car older than say around 12 years, or a sport utility vehicle, then you are.

If you drive a newer model car then you are in the clean group. I drive a little KIA to work by the way…

October 9 1940

December 8, 1980

and the World will live as one…

This is an excellent story from the AP. It’s about the Gulf of Mexico – AFTER the oil spill.

Pretty powerful stuff isn’t it.

Dan

Unlike the UK, where a TV and Radio license  fee pays for the BBC’s slew of excellent educational programming, we have only NPR and PBS here in America. I’ve frequently compared NPR to the BBC with no money. That really about covers it….except.

NPR is still fabulous.

If you see Wonders of The Solar System on in your area, then make plans to watch it. This BBC program is full of fabulous science. (image from the BBC)

In an era where scientific ignorance seems to be at it’s peak, we have very few excellent programs on Science available. Yes, NOVA and NATURE are great. Hopefully the BBC series Wonders of The Solar System by Astronomer Brian Cox will make it here soon as well.

Some of the programming I’ve seen on the History channel and Discovery are absolute junk. Especially the 2012 stuff. In reality there is a slew of junk science programs on backwater cable. Trust me, if it’s about UFO’s, aliens from space helping to build the pyramids, or Nostradamus, then you are being sold a bag of fertilizer.

Discovery does get a kudo from me, and that is for Astronomer Phil Plait’s Bad Universe. Science is, and can be shown to be, rabidly interesting and Phil Plait makes it so.

Before you think that nobody takes those programs seriously, let me tell you something. I was getting a danish in the Albany airport, when the girl behind the counter found out I was a meteorologist. Guess what she asked me?

What is the dew point? Will it rain tomorrow? What does 40% chance of rain (answered here) really mean?

Nope.

The actual Question: “Is the world really going to end in 2012???”

My answer: “Trust me, it’s not.” I wanted to add “you should cancel cable.”

Consider, that hundreds of thousands of gullible folks are buying bracelets that harness magic fields that do not exist. Add in the school boards who are trying to ban science books based on solid  science because they are politically unpopular, and you know we truly have a problem.

American students rank with 3rd world countries now in math and science. I’m not exaggerating. A Canadian high school graduate has more science and math knowledge than many college seniors in America.

Now, comes news that Science Friday on NPR has lost some of it’s funding. I rate that program the best regular science program on radio (U.S. at least). Good solid science that is fascinating and timely.

It turns out that if you make a donation this year to the program they have grant that will match it two to one! The word that their funding might be in trouble has already gotten them an outpouring of support. You can find out more about how you can help here. You can listen to today’s (Friday Oct 8th 2010) program here.

Trust me, they will get a donation from me!

So will my local NPR station that carries the program.