Month: April 2013

Know Thy Bias

Know Thy Bias

by Gabriel Gasque, PhD  We are biased. When evaluating someone’s competence in a professional setting, we tend to consider other factors beyond qualifications and achievements. One particularly troubling example is gender bias. We still see women as less competent for certain professional tasks, and there […]

Notes in the Margin: Citizen Science

Notes in the Margin: Citizen Science

By Carol Feltes We have already learned how to reach out on the worldwide web to engage the online community in joint projects and problem solving, but less so when it comes to non-virtual communities.  Citizen Science is a delightful recipe to lure unsuspecting non-scientists […]

Pork chops and applesauce…and worms?!

Pork chops and applesauce…and worms?!

By Monica Mugnier I am spoiled when it comes to pork chops. My dad is a great cook, and he used to make pork chops for dinner a lot.  When I was twelve or thirteen, my best friend, Melissa, came over for a pork chop […]

5 Steps to Separate Science from Hype, No PhD Required

5 Steps to Separate Science from Hype, No PhD Required

By Gabrielle Rabinowitz and Emily Jane Dennis   “Does flossing decrease my risk of heart disease?” No, but is it good for you? Yes. “Does aluminum cause Alzheimers?” Nope. “Should I start following the Paleo Diet?” Probably not & paleolithic people probably didn’t either. As scientists, we’re […]

Getting Cheeky with Photons: The Optics of Blue Monkey Butts

Getting Cheeky with Photons: The Optics of Blue Monkey Butts

By Dan Gareau, @LASER_Beam If you’re anything like me, you may have wondered why some monkeys have bright blue skin. Even if you don’t pay careful attention to monkey butts, you may still have wondered what makes some people’s eyes blue. To answer these questions, […]

Get More From Your Healthcare Provider

Get More From Your Healthcare Provider

By Michelle Lowes, MD PhD EmpowerMyHealth helping people make informed decisions in health and illness In my last post I laid out a problem: medical and health information is complicated and scattered, making it difficult to navigate the medical world. Yet, we’ve been hearing more […]