Oops, a slight error never killed anyone 16 Apr 2008 Or so you might think NASA is saying, after a 13 year old kid showed they’d miscalculated the odds of an asteroid hitting earth by a factor of 3. General Science
Book Stephen Hawking and the creation of the universe 4 Sep 201024 Nov 2022 I should begin by saying that I haven’t read Hawking’s book with Leonard Mlodinow, The Grand Design, and I probably won’t. But the way it is being hyped in the media, social and mainstream, suggests that what he is claiming, which is nothing novel, is that we have finally done… Read More
Epistemology Notes on Novelty 8: Conclusion – Post evo-devo 15 Jan 201221 Jun 2018 Notes on Novelty series: 1. Introduction 2. Historical considerations – before and after evolution 3: The meaning of evolutionary novelty 4: Examples – the beetle’s horns and the turtle’s shell 5: Evolutionary radiations and individuation 6: Levels of description 7: Surprise! 8: Conclusion – Post evo-devo With the growth of developmental genetics, it is possible to… Read More
General Science Rights for nonhuman apes? 14 Jun 2007 New Scientist is reporting that a case in Austria (not Australia – we share a love of beer, but that’s about it) is set to decide if chimps have rights. They already do in Spain, and in New Zealand (which was, I think, the first country to enact rights for… Read More
It’s an order of magnitude, but don’t worry, it’s only a small error. NASA shouldn’t worry either, well until they start finding us measuring their errors in Dembskis.
It’s an order of magnitude, but don’t worry, it’s only a small error. NASA shouldn’t worry either, well until they start finding us measuring their errors in Dembskis.
It’s an order of magnitude, but don’t worry, it’s only a small error. NASA shouldn’t worry either, well until they start finding us measuring their errors in Dembskis.
It’s an order of magnitude, but don’t worry, it’s only a small error. NASA shouldn’t worry either, well until they start finding us measuring their errors in Dembskis.
It’s an order of magnitude, but don’t worry, it’s only a small error. NASA shouldn’t worry either, well until they start finding us measuring their errors in Dembskis.
NASA was right, the boy was wrong. The story has been misreported: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/16/esa_german_schoolboy_apophis_denial/
NASA was right, the boy was wrong. The story has been misreported: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/16/esa_german_schoolboy_apophis_denial/
OK, so the lessons to be learned here are: 1. Wilkins is functionally innumerate 2. Wilkins can’t tell an order of magnitude from a hole in the ground 3. Wilkins is a credulous fool I think we’ll leave this thread then.
OK, so the lessons to be learned here are: 1. Wilkins is functionally innumerate 2. Wilkins can’t tell an order of magnitude from a hole in the ground 3. Wilkins is a credulous fool I think we’ll leave this thread then.
I’m not surprised to hear this was wrong. My BS detector was going crazy when I read that article yesterday, but I never bothered to check for any corrections because I just thought it was bunk anyway. Thanks for the link Daniele.
In science, it seems much safer to be a skeptic. The problem though, is that sneering skeptics don’t contribute much in the way of significant new discoveries. That requires an unreasonable, creative person. But if you’re a truly creative person, you’re probably better off sticking with art or engineering anyway – more degrees of freedom there.
In science, it seems much safer to be a skeptic. The problem though, is that sneering skeptics don’t contribute much in the way of significant new discoveries. That requires an unreasonable, creative person. But if you’re a truly creative person, you’re probably better off sticking with art or engineering anyway – more degrees of freedom there.
Yup, the media got it wrong — AGAIN. The boy’s sums are wrong, and neither NASA nor ESA ever endorsed the boy’s math, or his conclusions. Bravo for the kid for trying, boo hiss for the German media and AFP newswire running with an inaccurate story.
Yup, the media got it wrong — AGAIN. The boy’s sums are wrong, and neither NASA nor ESA ever endorsed the boy’s math, or his conclusions. Bravo for the kid for trying, boo hiss for the German media and AFP newswire running with an inaccurate story.
“…well until they start finding us measuring their errors in Dembskis.” That actually has a nice ring to it. “Are those error bars for SDs, SEMs or Dembskis?” Anyway, it’s a testament to the fact that we boffins are about as popular as a fart in a spacesuit these days that Joe Public would sooner take the word of a child over that of an expert. Not a good state of affairs by any means.