Category: Zeitgeist

Comet ISON and our lack of fear

Lots of people are excited about comet ISON and the spectacular show it will hopefully provide.  However, unlike most people throughout history, most of us do not regard it as an evil omen, an attack from an angry god, or fear it for any other reason.  There's a reason this.  Science! Aristotle thought that comets … Continue reading Comet ISON and our lack of fear →

Ask Ethan #12: How far is the distant Universe? – Starts With A Bang

Ethan Siegel's blog, Starts With a Bang, is one of the best science astrophysics blogs on the web. Ask Ethan #12: How far is the distant Universe? – Starts With A Bang. In this post, he tackles an issue I often see a lot of confusion over, even from science reporters.  When talking about extreme … Continue reading Ask Ethan #12: How far is the distant Universe? – Starts With A Bang →

Bill Nye: Debate Over Evolution In Texas Schools Is Jeopardizing Our Future

On HuffPost: Bill Nye: Debate Over Evolution In Texas Schools Is Jeopardizing Our Future. On the one hand, I take heart that the creationists always seem to lose these fights.  On the other, we shouldn't be having to have the fights in the 21st century in a modern industrialized society. If you are a creationist, you … Continue reading Bill Nye: Debate Over Evolution In Texas Schools Is Jeopardizing Our Future →

Babies Have Self-Awareness From The Minute They’re Born (STUDY)

Babies Have Self-Awareness From The Minute They're Born (STUDY). This is a significant discovery.  Previously it wasn't thought that babies had self awareness until around 18 months.  More evidence that our brains come with a lot of preprogramming, that we are not born blank slates. It also calls into question the previous gold standard of … Continue reading Babies Have Self-Awareness From The Minute They’re Born (STUDY) →

The Truth about the Caveman Diet! | Psychology Today

Anthropologists Frederick Coolidge and Thomas Wynn on The Truth about the Caveman Diet! | Psychology Today. Many readers will have heard of the ‘caveman diet,’ also known as the ‘paleo diet,’ an eating regime based on the premise that we should eat what our ancestors ate over the course of human evolution. More specifically, it suggests that we … Continue reading The Truth about the Caveman Diet! | Psychology Today →

Do cockroaches have a form of consciousness? – Brandon Keim – Aeon

Do cockroaches have a form of consciousness? – Brandon Keim – Aeon. An interesting essay exploring to what degree roaches, worms, and bees have consciousness .  I have to admit that, from the time I first heard about cyborg cockroaches, I've found it a disturbing concept, despite the fact that I usually don't hesitate to … Continue reading Do cockroaches have a form of consciousness? – Brandon Keim – Aeon →

Views on End-of-Life Medical Treatments | Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project

Pew has a number of articles up today showing poll results of Americans' views on end-of-life medical treatments, suicide, and related issues.  I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised to see the enlightened views held by a majority of Americans, most of whom believe it would be acceptable to allow someone in a great deal … Continue reading Views on End-of-Life Medical Treatments | Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project →