Marc Abrahams's Blog, page 141
August 2, 2019
Innovative Scientists Talk About Their Childhood (13): David Hu and his mom and squishy food
Here’s David Hu talking about watching his mom make squishy food—an experience that, when he was a child, excited David in a way that led to his eventual unusual career. David uses math and physics—and experiments—to try to understand some of the seemingly simply, scientifically mystifying things that happen in nature every day.
ABOUT THIS LITTLE VIDEO SERIES—This is part of a series of sessions we (David Hu and I, and a film crew) recorded at Georgia Tech. We assembled a little group of scientists (including David) who are renowned for looking at questions others might overlook, and doing research in inventive, clever ways.
The question we asked them: “What happened when you were a kid that somehow led—much later—to your doing unusual science?”
The scientists: David Hu, Suzana Herculano-Houzel, Frans de Waal, Nicole Sharp, Diego Golombek, and Olga Shishkov. Follow the links on their names to begin exploring some of their work!
August 1, 2019
Discussions on ‘Useless’ learning over the years
Should students devote time to studying ‘useless’ subjects? The debate has been running for (at least) 127 years. The arguments often boil down to questions such as: ‘Maybe something that seems useless now, could be useful in the future?’ or ‘Who’s in a position to say what’s useless anyway?’ For an early example, see the following letter to the journal Nature in 1892. It was in reply to a previous note from Prof. William Edward Ayrton FRS [pictured] who had been complaining [sorry, no weblink yet found] that students might be advised to stick to ‘useful’ subjects (that’s to say, err, like the professor’s).
The reply, from Prof George Francis FitzGerald at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, was titled : ‘The Value of Useless Studies’
“It is rather surprising that Prof. Ayrton should indulge in covert sneers at Universities for devoting themselves to useless studies. It certainly ill becomes one whose life is bound up with electrical science, which is of such recent growth that nobody can pretend to forget how it owes its origin to those who studied it while useless.”
Now scroll forward to 2019 . . . for an article in the Journal of Science Education and Technology, Volume 28, Issue 1, pp 62–68. ‘The Rise of the Useless: the Case for Talent Diversity’, in which Distinguished Professor Yong Zhao, of the Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China and the School of Education, University of Kansas, US relates that :
“Not all unique combinations of expertise, personalities, desires, and talents are of equal economic or social value. The value and desirability of expertise, personalities, desires, and talents is relevant to specific tasks, jobs, outcomes, and societal values. When certain expertise or personality type contributes to the completion of a task, it is valuable. Otherwise, it is useless. Likewise, when a talent contributes to a desirable outcome, it is valuable. Similarly, if an interest or skill aligns with values of a society, it is valuable. Otherwise, they are deemed ‘useless’. “
And, further :
“Those who are talented in music, arts, dancing, singing, designing, storytelling, acting, taking care of people and animals, and a host of other jobs that may not even have a name have become useful and worthy of development.”
Note: Professor Ayrton later provided a riposte to FitzGerald’s rejoinder : in which he said “[…] perhaps he [i.e. FitzGerald] will tell us whether he raise the study of mechanical and electrical engineering to the lofty position of uselessness […]”
Research research by Martin Gardiner
July 31, 2019
Bob and Ray’s “Mr. Science”
Bob and Ray‘s historic recording of an episode of their radio drama “Mr. Science”, performed in 1959.
(Thanks to Scott Langill for bringing this to our attention.)
July 30, 2019
Innovative Scientists Talk About Their Childhood (12): Olga Shishkov and the flopping fish
Here’s Olga Shishkov talking about some flopping fish who, when she was a child, excited Olga in a way that led to her eventual unusual career. Olga studies how maggots manage to do some of the surprising, impressive things they do.
ABOUT THIS LITTLE VIDEO SERIES—This is part of a series of sessions we (David Hu and I, and a film crew) recorded at Georgia Tech. We assembled a little group of scientists (including David) who are renowned for looking at questions others might overlook, and doing research in inventive, clever ways.
The question we asked them: “What happened when you were a kid that somehow led—much later—to your doing unusual science?”
The scientists: David Hu, Suzana Herculano-Houzel, Frans de Waal, Nicole Sharp, Diego Golombek, and Olga Shishkov. Follow the links on their names to begin exploring some of their work!
July 29, 2019
Bristly pacifiers, for weaning [new patent]
If you gave a baby a pacifier [that’s ‘dummy’ in the UK] which was covered in (mildly) irritating bristles, what kind of psychological impact might that have?
“Minimal” says the documentation for a newly patented invention that incorporates :
“[…] bristle like structures which discourages continued use of the pacifier by a child of appropriate age.”
See: US 10335350, Pacifier which helps wean toddlers off pacifiers (July 2nd 2019)
“Babies who do not suck their thumbs or fingers often rely on pacifiers. A pacifier is an artificial nipple designed for babies to suck on for comfort. The present invention relates to a unique type of pacifier which makes it easier to break the baby of the habit of using a pacifier with minimal psychological impact.“
Bonus assignment [optional] Could the same (or similar) discouragement technique be applied to other items intended for adults – for example cigarettes or beer bottles?
Research research by Martin Gardiner
July 26, 2019
Innovative Scientists Talk About Their Childhood (11): Suzana Herculano-Houzel and the Ink
Here’s Suzana Herculano-Houzel, talking about watching some ink have inky adventures in water, when she was a child. That jumping excited Suzana in a way that led to her eventual unusual career. Suzana studies how brains do some of the astounding things brains do.
ABOUT THIS LITTLE VIDEO SERIES—This is part of a series of sessions we (David Hu and I, and a film crew) recorded at Georgia Tech. We assembled a little group of scientists (including David) who are renowned for looking at questions others might overlook, and doing research in inventive, clever ways.
The question we asked them: “What happened when you were a kid that somehow led—much later—to your doing unusual science?”
The scientists: David Hu, Suzana Herculano-Houzel, Frans de Waal, Nicole Sharp, Diego Golombek, and Olga Shishkov. Follow the links on their names to begin exploring some of their work!
July 25, 2019
Foot Kinetics During Machine Scrummaging [study]
Q. What is this man doing?
A. He is strenuously tackling a ‘Scrummaging Machine’ developed at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Q. Why is he doing that?
A. In order to assist with an experimental study into the effect of variations in the alignment of the feet on scrum kinetics during machine scrummaging.
Q. What were the findings?
A. “ […] a non-parallel foot position may be useful in moderating the natural clockwise wheel or producing a tactical rotation of the scrum. However, this would result in decreased compression force that may allow the opposition to drive the pack backwards and increased lateral shear forces that may have a negative impact on players’ cervical spinal health. Teams must therefore consider all positive and negative implications of changes in foot position during scrummaging when deciding how and when to utilise such technical variations.”
See: The influence of foot position on scrum kinetics during machine scrummaging Journal of Sports Sciences. 2018 Dec;36(24):2836-2842
Research research by Martin Gardiner
July 24, 2019
Improbable Research—special ANIMALS issue
The special ANIMALS issue (volume 25, number 3) of the Annals of Improbable Research is now out and about. It’s packed with improbable research about animals, and parts of animals, and things that animals, some of them, do.
The special section on animals research brings to you:
Flies in the Face of Death
Animal Odors
Animals or Parts in Motion
Insights About People and Other Animals
Raccoon Cleverness/Orneriness
The Orpington Duck Dilemma
Head/Neck/Testicles
Icky Cutesy: Croc Tears, Zoo in a Corpse
Ig and Beyond: A Jackass and a Fish
Nominative Determinism: McHorse on Horse Digits
Cat Tricks: Delayed Action
Dog Habits: Snog and Poo
Habit Research: Skunks and Slugs
Cats: Cats, Human Emotions and Speech
Dogs: Eye Resemblance and the ‘Guilty Look
Ig® Nobel Limericks: Chimp Butts, Gorilla Suits
The complete Table of Contents is online, as are several of the articles. And you can (for your edification and joy) buy the entire issue. Or even better, subscribe to the magazine.
A phone that might deter mosquitoes under certain laboratory conditions
The “World’s First Phone with Ultrasonic Mosquito Away Technology” is on the market in India.
We were curious about this, so we consulted Bart Knols, a mosquito expert who received the 2006 Ig Nobel Prize in Biology “for showing that the female malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae is attracted equally to the smell of limburger cheese and to the smell of human feet.”
Knols cited a 2007 review of studies on Electronic mosquito repellents for preventing mosquito bites and malaria infection (EMRs). It found that:
“Field entomological studies confirm that EMRs have no effect on preventing mosquito bites. Therefore there is no justification for marketing them to prevent malaria infection.”
Literature provided by the smartphone’s maker on its ability to deter mosquitos claims that it may be effective against 1 type of mosquito (Aedes aegypti) when used in an enclosed space under laboratory conditions.
“Certified by IIBAT ※ Tested in a controlled laboratory setting ; results may very in actual use” [sic]
“Results may very in other setting, including but not limited to temperature, humidity location, space, mosquito species, number of Mosquitoes, number of persons, and operation time.” [sic]
Perhaps that is why the phone’s ad campaign says it provides, “Better Protection Against Mosquitos”, instead of simply writing, “Protection Against Mosquitoes”.
BONUS: High-frequency sounds HAVE been proved effective at deterring human teenagers. This has been been turned into a device for sale, which is called, “The Mosquito“.
July 23, 2019
Innovative Scientists Talk About Their Childhood (10): David Hu and the inside of a dead deer
Here’s David Hu talking about seeing the inside of a dead deer—an experience that, when he was a child, excited David in a way that led to his eventual unusual career. David uses math and physics—and experiments—to try to understand some of the seemingly simply, scientifically mystifying things that happen in nature every day.
ABOUT THIS LITTLE VIDEO SERIES—This is part of a series of sessions we (David Hu and I, and a film crew) recorded at Georgia Tech. We assembled a little group of scientists (including David) who are renowned for looking at questions others might overlook, and doing research in inventive, clever ways.
The question we asked them: “What happened when you were a kid that somehow led—much later—to your doing unusual science?”
The scientists: David Hu, Suzana Herculano-Houzel, Frans de Waal, Nicole Sharp, Diego Golombek, and Olga Shishkov. Follow the links on their names to begin exploring some of their work!
A NOTE ABOUT THIS VIDEO: The first time David tried telling this story, the videographer—who had certain ideas about what is proper and what is not—stopped the filming, and told us that this topic was not suitable for audiences. We told the videographer to please resume filming. (That same videographer later chose to add the goopy music that overlays this entire video.)
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