by Captain Skellett | Feb 19, 2012 | Science Communication
The Vancouver Conference Center sure is an imposing place. High ceilings and wall-length windows gazing to cloudy mountains and cold waters. Up above, strung in wooden beams, are three golden eggs. It’s a fitting spot for the first annual meeting of the American...
by Captain Skellett | Jun 8, 2011 | Recent Research
A few months ago I wrote about Ancient Nubians and their antibiotic beer, delivering a dose of tetracycline in every brew. Now bioarcheologist George Armelagos has co-authored a study showing that early irrigation channels changed how humans were affected by...
by Captain Skellett | Apr 29, 2011 | How Things Work, Just for Fun, Science Art
Behold ferrofluid, nanoparticles of iron coated in a surfactant and suspended in a solution of oil or water. The surfactant can be citric acid or soy lecithin, among other things, and is used to stop them sticking together It’s like magnetic dust. Put a magnet...
by Captain Skellett | Apr 22, 2011 | Just for Fun
Today marks the second anniversary of A Schooner of Science. ‘Tis a time to reflect, to appreciate, to eat cake. Thanks to all who read this, ’tis great to have you on board.
by Captain Skellett | Mar 22, 2011 | Science Communication
Containing the best of science writing on the web, Open Lab 2010 has been published and printed. Inside are 50 blog posts, 6 poems and a cartoon – including my very own blog post How Aqua Regia Saved Nobel Prizes from the Nazis. The book was edited by the...