Clipmarks | kidora's 'science' clips

Plagiarism In Academia

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:50:33 GMT

clipped by: kidora

A shockwave could be about to hit the normally tranquil waters of social science. A German economist, specializing in environmental science and technology, has allegedly committed serial plagiarism and invented academic affiliations going back decades. The case should act as a warning sign to editors about how widespread plagiarism and deception may be, experts say.

Plagiarism may be much more common than we previously thought.

Tags: science, plagiarism, honor

Invisible Science

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 03:17:02 GMT

clipped by: kidora

Clip Source: www.inform.kz

ROME. July 12. KAZINFORM. The science fictional invisible man is a step closer to reality now that U.S. and European scientists have created a way to bend light around objects.

The researchers' breakthrough in invisibility research is the creation of acoustic plasmon. Mario Rocca of Genoa University in Italy said the plasmon, a supercharged variation of electrons, could be used to make new materials that light can be bent around, ANSA reported Wednesdsay.

Rocca said U.S. scientists have managed to do this with tiny objects using extremely small light wavelengths, not in the range of visible light, Kazinform cites UPI.

"But in principle it should be possible for visible light too, and we should be able to hide fairly big objects," Rocca said in the journal Nature. "We can see the prospect of the plasmon being used to refract light right around an object, making it perfectly invisible".

Tags: invisible, science, physics, light

How You Sleep Is Who You Are ?

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 03:04:30 GMT

clipped by: kidora
clipper's remarks: Look at the rest of the article to see what percentage you fall under and what it might say about you. It's fun entertaining science folks

Clip Source: www.scribd.com

If you want an insight into somebody's true personality, then try to catch a glimpse of the way they sleep.

Scientists believe the position in which a person goes to sleep provides an important clue about the kind of person they are.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, has analysed six common sleeping positions - and found that each is linked to a particular personality type.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us.

"What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect."

Tags: sleep, position, science

Adventure on Mars, With Photos

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:20:19 GMT

clipped by: kidora
clipper's remarks: I really like these pictures.
I hope the Mars rover Opportunity makes it down the Victoria Crater.
Bon Chance

Clip Source: science.nasa.gov

June 28, 2007: NASA's Mars rover Opportunity is scheduled to begin a descent down a rock-paved slope into the Red Planet's massive Victoria Crater. This carries real risk for the long-lived robotic explorer, but NASA and the Mars Rover science team expect it to provide valuable science.

Opportunity already has been exploring layered rocks in cliffs around Victoria Crater. The team has planned the descent carefully to enable an eventual exit, but Opportunity could become trapped inside the crater or lose some capabilities. The rover has operated more than 12 times longer than its originally intended 90 days.

Tags: mars, rover, nasa, space

Kindness Does Extend Beyond Us

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 05:30:23 GMT

clipped by: kidora
clipper's remarks: Just an interesting little study about a debate that I am sure will not rest here.
I have worked with chimps in the past and I do not find it very surprising that chimps would be so giving to unrelated members of their species.
But as it usually is in science, what you feel is not always what you find. Let the debates continue.

Clip Source: www.nature.com

Humans are often thought of as the only truly altruistic species. We help others out — by giving blood, donating to the poor, or committing to recycling — for no immediate payoff, and often at a cost to ourselves.

But evidence is gathering that we might not be alone. Felix Warneken and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have shown that chimpanzees will do favours for unrelated chimps - even when they do not get rewarded for it.

Tags: science, discovery

Must See, Kid Rapping About Physics

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:40:49 GMT

clipped by: kidora
clipper's remarks: This is just great.
If more kids could get this interested in science and learning so much could change in this country.
Not to mention that this just freaken cool

Clip Source: blog.sciam.com

More Young M.C. than Sugar Hill Gang, this physicist's delight should provide a few chuckles:

Physics G (who is actually named Greg Courville) can be a little thin on the descriptions (aside from a shout out to Stephen Wolfram): plasma physics are pretty neat? But that's a quibble. You gotta admire his breadth and his willingness to move the crowd.

As much as I admire the work, I suspect the Department of Energy will be asking about his nuclear fusion project long before Kanye West will be busting down his door.

Tags: physics, rapping, science, entertainment, music, video