Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sometimes Health Physicists Don't Understand Health Physics
One example is the ScienceWonk blog, in which I've left a comment.
Radiant Wildlands
An overview of the radiation effects on the ecology of areas around Chernobyl and Fukushima.
WHO's Health Risk Assessment From Fukushima
Is now available. An overview (with link to full report) is here.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Japan - No Nuclear Plants Meet Safety Standards
None of the plants have the vent filters, which certain U.S. plants also lack (see my earlier post today on "Arguments For Nuclear Safety Bog Down").
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Nuclear Waste In The Age Of Climate Change
It's a bit of an exaggeration to claim that Fukushima was a "radioactive inferno".
And I don't think (though I could be wrong) that there are 34 casks of nuclear waste buried at Trojan.
But the larger point of the title is an issue that needs resolution.
And I don't think (though I could be wrong) that there are 34 casks of nuclear waste buried at Trojan.
But the larger point of the title is an issue that needs resolution.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Prostate Cancer Aggression
There are differences in the aggressiveness of the cancer, depending on which prostate cell type the cancer originates.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Varying Cancer Rates
By state, race, gender and age.
The huge difference in age highlights that it is the accumulation of mutations over time which increases the risk of getting cancer.
The huge difference in age highlights that it is the accumulation of mutations over time which increases the risk of getting cancer.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Guess What? Radon Causes Lung Cancer
A joint analysis of 3 European case control studies, even when the exposure was restricted to below 300 WLM.
Congrats Americans!
Attendance down at the Creation Museum!
They are trying to blame part of the reason on rising gasoline prices, which is funny as the article points out. Because fossil fuels are older than the Creation Museum's claim of the age of the Earth!
They are trying to blame part of the reason on rising gasoline prices, which is funny as the article points out. Because fossil fuels are older than the Creation Museum's claim of the age of the Earth!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Can You Believe In Both Science & Religion?
Of course you can. But you shouldn't. Irish writer Michael Nugent explains:
Predictable Evolution Trumps Mutational Randomness
An often heard claim by creationists is that they find it too difficult to accept that something as sophisticated as a human can arise by "chance". Of course, that just shows they don't understand physics and biology. Mutations can happen by "chance", but evolution is determined by the environment.
Solid Cancer Mortality - Techa River Cohort
This group of people received external and internal radiation at low doses and dose rates (compared with atomic bomb survivors). They show an increased cancer risk with dose.
Monday, February 18, 2013
The End Of The Vatican
It could be near, with the Pope retiring and their financial troubles.
But it has survived for around 2,000 years so we shouldn't be over-confident.
But it has survived for around 2,000 years so we shouldn't be over-confident.
Leukemia and Evolution
A new study highlights the importance of understanding cancer in evolutionary terms.
See my webpage (at right side of this page) on "Radiation, Evolution, Cancer & Aging" for background.
See my webpage (at right side of this page) on "Radiation, Evolution, Cancer & Aging" for background.
But It's Naturally Occurring!
That's one of the reasons some people use to downplay the risks of radiation.
Lead is also naturally occurring, but that doesn't mean it is risk-free.
It's not.
Lead is also naturally occurring, but that doesn't mean it is risk-free.
It's not.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
More On Climate Denial Funding
Following yesterday's post, those same folks fund anti-renewable energy propaganda.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Fukushima Radiation Risk Downplayed
By a Japanese government-backed researcher.
He says:
"To put it the other way round, we can't say risk of cancer will rise if you are exposed to radiation lower than 100 millisieverts," he said, adding that most people measured had radiation exposure of 20 millisieverts or less."
Well, a single photon of radiation can damage DNA. Since cancer results from damaged DNA, a single photon (let alone 100 mSv) increases the risk of cancer.
But the risk increase is low and should not be worrisome.
He is wrong to frame the science the way he has.
He says:
"To put it the other way round, we can't say risk of cancer will rise if you are exposed to radiation lower than 100 millisieverts," he said, adding that most people measured had radiation exposure of 20 millisieverts or less."
Well, a single photon of radiation can damage DNA. Since cancer results from damaged DNA, a single photon (let alone 100 mSv) increases the risk of cancer.
But the risk increase is low and should not be worrisome.
He is wrong to frame the science the way he has.
Climate Denial Funding
Is reviewed here.
It's a level of selfishness that is depraved.
Here's an example of how this plays out, courtesy of Forbes. The author is associated with the right-wing Heartland Institute.
The dishonest op-ed is criticized here.
It's a level of selfishness that is depraved.
Here's an example of how this plays out, courtesy of Forbes. The author is associated with the right-wing Heartland Institute.
The dishonest op-ed is criticized here.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Fukushima Cleanup Contributes To Global Warming
Robot will use CO2 as a decontamination abrasive.
(Obviously not really a significant contributor to global warming)
(Obviously not really a significant contributor to global warming)
GAO - Adds Climate Change To High Risk List
Maybe the financial risk aspect will prompt some deniers into action.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
It's Not A Theory
HA! HA! Here's the Discovery Institute's science education policy.
They don't want to politicize the "theory" of intelligent design. It's not a theory. It's an unsubstantiated hypothesis.
But, hey, rather than politicize that hypothesis they want to politicize the theory of evolution.
They are IDiots.
They don't want to politicize the "theory" of intelligent design. It's not a theory. It's an unsubstantiated hypothesis.
But, hey, rather than politicize that hypothesis they want to politicize the theory of evolution.
They are IDiots.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Lawrence Krauss On Bill Maher
If you get HBO, you might want to catch physicist and pro-science advocate Lawrence Krauss on Real Time With Bill Maher. It comes on at 8:30 a.m. this morning, and is repeated throughout the week.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Breast Cancer Enzyme Found
It's a double-edged sword...it protects us from viruses, but can lead to DNA mutations.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse
Krauss: "The purpose of education is not to validate ignorance, it's to overcome it"
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Is Nuclear Power Doomed To Dwindle?
Until we adequately price global warming into fossil fuels, the answer is yes.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Some Cancer Mutations Slow Tumor Growth
Of course they do...tumors have a large degree of genomic instability, so some mutations will arise that slow tumor growth.
Nuclear Power - 6 Things Which Haven't Changed
Here's anti-nuke Arnie Gundersen discussing 5 things which haven't changed with nuclear power (secrecy, subsidies, waste heat, decay heat, and waste). I've added a sixth thing, which is Arnie's biased position on nuclear power. He's on for the first 30 minutes:
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Sugar Linked To Cancer
High sugar levels lead to proliferation of a protein (beta-catenin) that normally produces a hormone to induce the pancreas to secrete insulin. That same protein is involved in cancerous cell proliferation.
The DoD Drops Fukushima Registry
Associated with those American military who may have been contaminated from Fukushima fallout.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Shame On Them
It's not just that they wear funny pointed hats....they abuse children and cover it up.
That's Some Bad Epidemiology
One doesn't look for cases of just about anything and then draw a circle around the area.
One defines what biological endpoint one is looking for, then determines how large an area to look in, breaks up a larger area into smaller areas in an objective fashion, and then makes comparisons. One also has to use confidence intervals (ie, one small area may have a larger number of cases of a certain biological endpoint due purely to chance).
One defines what biological endpoint one is looking for, then determines how large an area to look in, breaks up a larger area into smaller areas in an objective fashion, and then makes comparisons. One also has to use confidence intervals (ie, one small area may have a larger number of cases of a certain biological endpoint due purely to chance).
The City Of Light Is About To Get Dimmer
Unnecessary lighting is light pollution and contributes to global warming (yes, even though France is predominantly nuclear powered).