Seed’s Daily Zeitgeist: 9/4/2008

The Earth and Moon as Seen from Mars HiRISE looked up and snapped this beauty. We look great. (via Phil ) Alan Sokal: Sense About Science lecture We can learn about our world by gathering and evaluating evidence. string spin toy Playing with spatial visualization is far too much fun. (via Coturnix ) The Science of Experience Experts are often no better—and sometimes worse—than novices. Sociable, and Smart They’re not humans, but they may be ... more

Radiolab: Laughter Radiolab is back, and they’ve got an awfully fun first episode on how and why we laugh. (via Vaughan ) Moths remember what they learn as caterpillars Some parts of the caterpillar nervous system appear to carry over into adulthood. Twins in Donut Space This isn’t easy to figure out, but enjoy thinking about it. Can anyone learn to taste wine? And can normal people compare to...Super Tasters? Sex and I.Q. -- An Apologia This satirical gem f... more

The Universe is 13.73 +/- .12 billion years old! The new WMAP results are in, and we have a more refined picture of the universe. Magical Thinking We can’t stop ourselves from making connections that aren’t there. (via 3QD ) Practicing self-control consumes real energy Wow, given their meager diets, monks and nuns are really impressive. Radio Lab: Into the Brain of a Liar Compulsive liars’ prefrontal cortices are differ substantially from those of more ... more

Steven Pinker on Profanity "Zounds" just doesn’t pack the punch it used to. A Science Prodigy in an Unlikely Place It’s awesome that schools in less affluent areas are starting to emphasize research programs. Colored folk in science Razib looks at how well different groups are represented in different areas of science. What makes a kid cute? More than just an attractive face Cute is as cute does. How Does the Olympic Torch Get Up Mt. Everest? In the patented Olympic ... more