America loves pseudo-science.
So much so, that parents will kill their kids over it.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Another Step Forward For Fusion
Fusion continues to make baby-step progress, but never seems to achieve success.
Here's but another example.
Here's but another example.
Lung Scans Recommended For Some Smokers
Those who smoked for 30-single pack per day years or equivalent (ie, 3 packs per day for 10 years).
Monday, December 30, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
The Vacuity Of ID
Mathematician Jason Rosenhouse takes down some IDiots (Intelligent Design proponents).
Thursday, December 26, 2013
ROCK & Rho
ROCK1 & Rho are two proteins associated with helping breast cancer cells gain mobility in low oxygen conditions.
Music please, Maestro:
Music please, Maestro:
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
More On The Funding Of Climate Change Denial
Which I blogged about yesterday..."the climate change counter movement".
I'd call it the climate change bowel movement.
I'd call it the climate change bowel movement.
Fukushima Cleanup May Take 3 More Years
This is just areas around the plants, not the plants themselves which will take much longer.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
No, Religion Isn't Good For All Of Us
Forbes Religidiot trying to sell the benefits of religion.
Those same benefits (primarily associated with close social ties) could be had by forming other social clubs without resorting to imaginary beings.
Those same benefits (primarily associated with close social ties) could be had by forming other social clubs without resorting to imaginary beings.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
More Doubt-Mongering On Second Hand Smoke
On Forbes website.
I commented there as 926, which after correcting some typos:
"The mechanisms that cause cancer in smokers are the same mechanisms which cause cancers in non-smokers.Since the doses are much lower, epidemiology can’t easily tease out a statistically significant increase in cancer in non-smokers due to other possible causes of lung cancer (like radon). It isn’t dogma to claim that passive smoking kills.
It is right-wing dogmatic ideology to deny the science that it does and print such propaganda on a business website to try and fool the general public.
Highly unethical, narcissistic and intellectually cowardly."
I commented there as 926, which after correcting some typos:
"The mechanisms that cause cancer in smokers are the same mechanisms which cause cancers in non-smokers.Since the doses are much lower, epidemiology can’t easily tease out a statistically significant increase in cancer in non-smokers due to other possible causes of lung cancer (like radon). It isn’t dogma to claim that passive smoking kills.
It is right-wing dogmatic ideology to deny the science that it does and print such propaganda on a business website to try and fool the general public.
Highly unethical, narcissistic and intellectually cowardly."
Friday, December 20, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Doctor On Fukushima
At least he states he's not an expert.
The radiation can cause you to vaporize (just prior to 12:00)??? HA! Uses an atomic bomb photo to represent a meltdown (about a minute later)??? HA!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Lawyer Of Fukushima-Contaminated U.S. Sailors Speaks
In the podcast within this link.
Other than the thyroid cancers, the case seems very weak (blaming every ill on radiation, is not good epidemiology).
Other than the thyroid cancers, the case seems very weak (blaming every ill on radiation, is not good epidemiology).
Why Is This Surprising?
This study.
We've long known humans are carbon-based.
We've long known that some carbon is radioactive C-14.
We've long known that as ionizing radiation, C-14 beta radiation can ionize molecules including those associated with DNA leading to mutations.
There are many possible types of mutations, this study points out wobble-type mis-repairs (wrong bases match up, ie, rather than the normal A-T, A joins with C- or G-, and so on).
We've long known humans are carbon-based.
We've long known that some carbon is radioactive C-14.
We've long known that as ionizing radiation, C-14 beta radiation can ionize molecules including those associated with DNA leading to mutations.
There are many possible types of mutations, this study points out wobble-type mis-repairs (wrong bases match up, ie, rather than the normal A-T, A joins with C- or G-, and so on).
Monday, December 16, 2013
Secondhand Smoke Denier
Someone associated with the right-wing propaganda outfit known as noReason Reason, but who has decided to spread his nonsense via Forbes.
Secondhand smoke contains carcinogens just like firsthand smoke does.
Secondhand smoke contains carcinogens just like firsthand smoke does.
Fusion Promotes Cancer
Not nuclear fusion, but cellular fusion where cancer cells can fuse with immune system cells called macrophages.
RPOP
Or Radiation Protection of Patients associated with the IAEA has a number of good (but a couple of years old) videos on YouTube where they answer radiation related questions. Here's one:
Ideologue Attacks Ideologues
It's also been referred to as wingnut-on-wingnut crime....James Conca (low doses of radiation pose no risk!) attacks the Physicians For Social Responsibility (low doses of radiation are extremely dangerous!).
The subject isn't radiation effects, rather economics. But it's fascinating that Conca understands that the PSR and the Heartland Institute are lying ideologues. Yet, he doesn't realize that he has promoted Ed Calabrese's propaganda in the past (Calabrese is with the Cato Institute).
The subject isn't radiation effects, rather economics. But it's fascinating that Conca understands that the PSR and the Heartland Institute are lying ideologues. Yet, he doesn't realize that he has promoted Ed Calabrese's propaganda in the past (Calabrese is with the Cato Institute).
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Science Deniers Are More Celebrity Than Science
Here's a month or so old article which concludes what I have found independently.
Science deniers (the article refers to them as "contrarians", but they are in denial) become cause-celebre for similar ideologically-minded people. Together with the media's irrational desire to provide "balance" for every issue, they get equal media coverage (would you give equal time to someone who claimed 2+2=76 as you would for someone who claimed 2+2=4?).
And this is why you see largely the same names over and over again on the denier side.
Though that last link was about climate change deniers, you can easily observe the same phenomena in DeNiAl (health physics denial). The names of those who want to fear-monger include Caldicott, Sherman, Mangano, and perhaps a dozen or somore. The names of those who want to doubt-monger include Calabrese, Pollycove, Allison, and perhaps a dozen or so more.
Science deniers (the article refers to them as "contrarians", but they are in denial) become cause-celebre for similar ideologically-minded people. Together with the media's irrational desire to provide "balance" for every issue, they get equal media coverage (would you give equal time to someone who claimed 2+2=76 as you would for someone who claimed 2+2=4?).
And this is why you see largely the same names over and over again on the denier side.
Though that last link was about climate change deniers, you can easily observe the same phenomena in DeNiAl (health physics denial). The names of those who want to fear-monger include Caldicott, Sherman, Mangano, and perhaps a dozen or somore. The names of those who want to doubt-monger include Calabrese, Pollycove, Allison, and perhaps a dozen or so more.
Japan Lacks Decommissioning Expertise
And so far hasn't shown much willingness to bring in outsiders to help with Fukushima.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Honest & Dishonest Bias
I've encountered both, though it can be difficult to discern the difference.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Nuclear Power Subsidies
I frequently hear from pro-nukes about the subsidies awarded to renewable energy sources, while they remain ignorant of subsidies awarded to nuclear energy sources.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Rhymes With Smokey Joe
Tobacco.
TX Congressman Joe Barton and House Leader John Boehner don't like science.
They're Republicans.
TX Congressman Joe Barton and House Leader John Boehner don't like science.
They're Republicans.
Epigenetics & DNA Sequencing
New sequencing technology provides greater understanding of epigenetic processes.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Fairewinds Would Like Your Money
That would be the dishonest Fairewinds Energy Education (aka the Gundersens), exploiting the image of a little girl getting a thyroid gland scan.
How about doing something constructive?
How about doing something constructive?
Time Is Dumb
The magazine that is, for picking Pope Francis as the Person of the Year.
For anyone who has risked their life in aid of others, I'm sorry for Time's low standards.
For anyone who has risked their life in aid of others, I'm sorry for Time's low standards.
Calabrese Gets Honorary Doctorate
From the Atomic Ideology blog, I read that Cato Institute propagandist Ed Calabrese received an honorary doctorate degree, back in June. Calabrese was shocked and that's understandable, since he hasn't really accomplished anything other than propaganda.
I wonder what role fellow DeNiAr Doug Boreham had in his award.
(Note the background sign, "International Dose Response Society", which is Calabrese's cult organization)
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
That Appelbaum Is Pretty Smart
No relation to me (note the difference in spelling), but Boulder,Colorado mayor Appelbaum understands climate change.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Mars Radiation Manageable
In case you ever wanted to visit....only expect about 1.01 Sv for a 500 day stay.
Senescence
DNA can mold different types of bodies. That is the secret to the success of life over billions of years. Some of the DNA in some bodies is more susceptible to uncontrolled growth (ie, cancer) than in other bodies. It should come as no surprise that some bodies age differently (senescence) than other bodies as well, since body-types reflect different approaches that DNA has taken to sustain itself.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
6 People May Have Radiation Sickness
From the Mexican truck theft, which I've posted about over the last couple of days.
At least this most recent link includes an activity estimate of 3,000 Ci.
That's smokin'!
At least this most recent link includes an activity estimate of 3,000 Ci.
That's smokin'!
Will Co-60 Thieves Likely Die?
I don't know, but here's one person who thinks so.
The likelihood depends on the dose the thieves received, and I haven't seen any reliable estimates of what the doses were.
The likelihood depends on the dose the thieves received, and I haven't seen any reliable estimates of what the doses were.
Kansas - Coping With COPE
You just can't make this stuff up!
COPE, or Citizens for Objective Public Education, is just the opposite of what their name suggests.
They are a creationist group that is suing the Kansas State Board of Education for teaching science!
COPE, or Citizens for Objective Public Education, is just the opposite of what their name suggests.
They are a creationist group that is suing the Kansas State Board of Education for teaching science!
Why Didn't We Think Of That?
U.S. NRC Chairwoman Allison MacFarlane gave an interview in which she stated that countries should have a nuclear waste disposal plan BEFORE starting their nuclear power reactors.
Duh!
Duh!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Sunlight Damages Cells
Here's a write-up on a study that shows that even low doses of UV-A can cause cellular damage.
That's because the energy of the radiation is about 3.5 eV, which is sufficient to disrupt weaker chemical bonds.
That's because the energy of the radiation is about 3.5 eV, which is sufficient to disrupt weaker chemical bonds.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
As Expected....
"Genetic factors" behind radiation-induced thyroid cancer.
No duh! Cancer results from changes in DNA (ie, genes).
Some people are born with mutations that give them a "head start" in the progression of DNA changes required to acquire cancer. Any radiation increases the risk of cancer, because it causes additional mutations in their DNA above those mutations some people are born with.
No duh! Cancer results from changes in DNA (ie, genes).
Some people are born with mutations that give them a "head start" in the progression of DNA changes required to acquire cancer. Any radiation increases the risk of cancer, because it causes additional mutations in their DNA above those mutations some people are born with.
U of Penn Lawsuit
If the claims are proven, the University of Pennsylvania has some 'splaining to do!
And will likely be paying some $$$$$.
Truck With Co-60 Source Stolen
I don't know how strong the source was, but the truck was stolen in Mexico.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Our Cousins Deserve Rights Too
Can humans see themselves as animals? This case may prove to be very enlightening.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Water Decon Problems At Fukushima
Some HCl leakage in one of its Advanced Liquid Processing Systems, which I think was supplied by EnergySolutions.
Hey, What About DeNiArs?
In this piece, Chris Mooney describes why evolution deniers and climate change deniers joined together.
Health physics deniers (DeNiArs) get no mention (HA, the group is too small).
Though one might not expect an overlap between climate change deniers and pro-nuclear power DeNiArs, I have come across it. The libertarian theologians don't want any government regulation, so they deny any science which might result in more of it.
Health physics deniers (DeNiArs) get no mention (HA, the group is too small).
Though one might not expect an overlap between climate change deniers and pro-nuclear power DeNiArs, I have come across it. The libertarian theologians don't want any government regulation, so they deny any science which might result in more of it.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Giant Electric Fields! Oh My!
Transient, giant electric fields around the Earth may be responsible for accelerating particles to relativistic speeds.