Author Archives: Dustin - Page 35

Two common food additives linked to obesity in mice

Posted by on March 9, 2015 5 comments
 Of course, when pressed on the why, most people delve into pseudoscience or end up admitting they're just parroting something they read.

Well here's some science!

The emulsifiers in question are carboxymethycellulose and polysorbate-80; especially in Europe and North America, they are commonly used in processed foods (mayo, ketchup, numerous sauces, ice cream, gluten-free products, fat-free products and many others) and other common products (toothpaste, detergents etc). The study conducted on mice showed that even in low concentrations, these substances drastically affect the gut bacteria which seems to lead to obesity as well as a number of gut-related problems.

Why processed foods make you fat: two common food additives linked to obesity and gut inflammation
A new study suggests that two very common emulsifiers – chemicals that stabilize foods and stop products like mayo from separating – could increase the risk of obesity and irritable bowel syndrome.

Originally posted on Google+ · March 9, 2015

An argument for Fahrenheit

Posted by on March 8, 2015 40 comments
An argument for Farenheit.

Why Fahrenheit is Better than Celsius
Astute reader wargut responded to yesterday’s observation about the Fahrenheit scale being affine-ish with the following incorrect assertion:
“ Seriously, guys, your system is bullsh~t.
”
It’s…

Originally posted on Google+ · March 8, 2015

The blue and green spiral stripes are the same color

Posted by on February 27, 2015 2 comments

Originally posted on Google+ · February 27, 2015

Men are stronger than women on average: grip strength data

Posted by on February 25, 2015 15 comments
The upshot is that the very strongest female athletes are barely above the median of grip strength for men. The top 75th percentile of female athletes are below the bottom 25th percentile of men. Another way to look at it is cumulative distributions. You can tell looking at this that there is overlap between the two sample distributions. How much? Ten percent of women have stronger grips than the bottom five percent of men. The difference in distributions is big enough that the very strongest non-elite athlete female in the whole data set has a weaker grip than most of the men.

Men are stronger than women (on average)
Every now and then there is a debate on who is more “anti-science”, the Left or the Right. I’m not too interested in the details of that, but, a few years ago I expressed my skepticism to Chris Mooney, author of The Republican War on Science, that liberals were somehow reflexively more “pro-science.” I suggested […]

Originally posted on Google+ · February 25, 2015

Adorable animals that are also murderous monsters

Posted by on February 23, 2015 No comments
Animals are scary.

7 adorable animals that are also murderous monsters
These polar bear cubs are capable of unspeakable things.

Originally posted on Google+ · February 23, 2015

Giving fewer fucks about trivial stuff

Posted by on February 12, 2015 1 comment

If you find yourself consistently giving too many fucks about trivial shit that bothers you — your ex-girlfriend’s new Facebook picture, how quickly the batteries die in the TV remote, missing out on yet another 2-for-1 sale on hand sanitizer — chances are you don’t have much going on in your life to give a legitimate fuck about. And that’s your real problem. Not the hand sanitizer.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck
In my life, I have given a fuck about many people and many things. I have also not given a fuck about many people and many things. And those fucks I have not given have made all the difference…

Originally posted on Google+ · February 12, 2015

Boston Dynamics introduces Spot, the robot dog

Posted by on February 10, 2015 3 comments

Originally posted on Google+ · February 10, 2015

Cartoon: connect the measles and it spells out an insult

Posted by on February 3, 2015 2 comments

Originally posted on Google+ · February 3, 2015

Using DNA to detect dark matter.

Posted by on February 3, 2015 21 comments
Using DNA to detect dark matter.

Dark matter can give you cancer — and that may be a good thing.
It may be possible to build a DNA-based detector to measure the “wind” of dark matter blowing through our planet.

Originally posted on Google+ · February 3, 2015

The public and scientists disagree most about GM foods

Posted by on January 29, 2015 32 comments
I like this poll on the differences between the public and scientists on various controversial issues.

The subject on which people disagree with scientists the most isn't evolution, global warming, or vaccines…its GM foods.

I'm always boggled on how people who disagree with science can see things like this and not significantly revise their opinions.

Public and Scientists’ Views on Science and Society
The public and scientists express strikingly different views about science-related issues, yet both groups agree that K-12 STEM education in America falls behind other nations.

Originally posted on Google+ · January 29, 2015