Teatime

Posted in Science at 1:00 pm by David Bradley -- 4 Comments; add yours

 

I commented on a post on the Bad Language blog, produced by my good friend Matthew Stibbe, earlier this week. He was waxing lyrical about cutting power consumption in his SOHO and mentioned how he prefers to brew tea with freshly drawn water. I pointed out that while this may have benefits it would actually increase his kettle limescale problems through the addition of extra calcium and magnesium ions. The effect will be negligible, …

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Accounting for Research

Posted in Science at 1:00 pm by David Bradley -- 4 Comments; add yours

 

Accounting for scientists

How does one measure the worth of the science base? From the scientists’ perspective it is their bread and butter, or low-fat spread and rye biscuit, perhaps, in some cases. From industry’s standpoint, it is occasionally a source of interesting and potentially money-spinning ideas. Sometimes, it sits in its ivory tower and, to the public, it is the root of all those media scare stories. At worst, the science …

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A Wrench for Social Engineering

Posted in Science at 1:00 pm by David Bradley -- 2 Comments; add yours

 

Sleight of hand

Social engineering attacks, what used to be known as a confidence, or con, tricks, can only be defeated by potential victims taking a sceptical attitude to unsolicited approaches and requests for privileged information and resources. That is the message that arrives from European researchers.

Most of us have received probably dozens of phishing messages and emails from scammers on the African continent seeking to relieve us of our hard-earned cash. …

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Latest on Spectral Lines

Posted in Science at 1:00 pm by David Bradley -- Click to comment

 

Spectral FloydThere have been 32 issues of my science news column on spectroscopynow.com since it was last officially called Spectral Lines, but I thought it was a nice name so occasionally resurrect it here when I highlight the latest research findings I cover on the site. It also gives me an excuse to re-use a logo I did in the early days of the site touting the line “David Bradley On …

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RSS Awareness Day

Posted in Science at 9:44 am by David Bradley -- 4 Comments; add yours

 

RSS Awareness Day

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Spicy Nanogoo

Posted in Science at 1:00 pm by David Bradley -- Click to comment

 

Nano Car (Photo by Y. Shirai/Rice University)Nanopaprika could be the key ingredient for spicing up the nanoscience and nanotechnologies communities. Site editor Andras Paszternak asked me to join just before the scientific social networking site passed the hot point of 500 members. Whether or not that nice round figure really is key to online science remains to be seen but there …

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Incidents and Accidents

Posted in Science at 1:00 pm by David Bradley -- 3 Comments; add yours

 

A friend of mine who worked in a biotech lab in Europe suffered a bout of what she thought was hayfever this year…snuffling and runny nose, itchy and sore eyes, the usual thing…except this was in February! She took a few days sick leave - it was that bad - and the symptoms subsided. Until she went back to work, where she started up again her earlier experiment - …

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