I really need a copy of an article that was in yesterday’s (Tuesday 24th) Times. For some reason, it isn’t in the online version. Has anyone got a copy tucked away in the office/at home?

HEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPP!

I’m sure I’m not the only one concerned about the health of that icon of the Nature Group, Doctor Henry Gee after his bashing-the-head-and-feeling-woozy confession. Could anyone working with him, please persuade him to seek medical attention now. Not tomorrow. Now. Thank you.

Motivated by a few current projects as well as some recent inspiring outputs from Nicola and Alex on the concept of decay and putrefaction, I was thinking about one of the main problems inherent to any politics or philosophy...

No sniggering at the back there, please.

I’ve been surprised by the speed of response to my blog post at the other place on how much I detest wearing black tie. At the moment there seems to be a male/female split, with female respondees being pro-tuxedo and men anti. It seems to be related to the female avian preference for males with particular types of plumage. I’m worried to discover that the tux seems to be about regarding men as sex objects.

I’m also interested to note that Henry has a tux – do you have highly polished dress crocks to go with it, Henry? That would be something to see.

Rather than comment here, if you find this interesting, could you add to the...

Without attempting to steal the thunder of fiction lab (Jenny, what’s happened to that – I don’t seem to have seen posts about it recently?) – I’m delighted to be appearing at the British Science Association’s London popular science book club in April (29th to be precise) – so if there’s anyone...

I’ve just read something in New Scientist, and no matter how I read it, it doesn’t make sense to me.

That a complex mind is required for religion may explain why faith is unique to humans.

Leaving aside the torturous sentence construction, this leaves a burning question. How does the writer (Andy Coghlan) know that faith is unique to humans? Has he ever asked a spiny anteater (well known for their religous leanings)?

Full article here

This isn’t easy to write – I chickened out of the title I really wanted (We should teach creationism in schools) – but stick with me before you throw the brickbats.

Some time ago I did a series of posts in which I looked at evolution in the light of some creationist material I had been sent. But this is a totally different argument.

I’m currently reading the excellent How Mumbo Jumbo Conquered the World (see in UK see in US) by Francis Wheen, recommended to me by our erudite local radio DJ (not an oxymoron in this case) Mark O’Donnell.

In one chapter, Wheen tears into the marvellous stupidity of post-modernism/post-structuralism and also bewails the...

If anyone’s in the South Kensington area of London at 3pm tomorrow (14 February), do pop into the Waterstone’s bookshop in the Science Museum, where I’ll be signing copies of Ecologic. No need to buy a book – it would be great to see a friendly face!

I iz fed up this snow stuff. picture hosted by Flickr

Wot you scientists types go to doing abouts it?