Guest Thinkers — September 1, 2010

Back from east coast, time to play catch-up

I’ve made it back from my trip to Washington DC. The Smithsonian Institution is quite a fun place to visit, especially if rocks are your ilk. Be sure to check out the wonderful mineral collection at the Natural History Museum. I only wish the Global Volcanism Program would have a more interactive (and visible) spot in the museum itself.

a golden statue of a person sitting in a lotus position.

Thinking

In the West, yoga is exercise. In the East, it is something much bigger

Yoga is more than just standing on your head. It’s about uniting with the divine.

a diagram of a human skeleton and a dumbbell.

Health

Strengthening bone, not muscle, is the reason to lift weights

Having a “buff” skeleton prevents infirmity in old age.

Neuropsych

How art improves your health and changes your body

Pick up the paintbrush and get to work.

St. George and the Dragon as depicted in a 15th century painting

High Culture

From Beowulf to video games: Why slaying monsters is such an existential bummer

Monsters have always represented societal fears, but narrative art also casts doubt on whether we fully understand our monsters — and their slayers.

a bunch of bees that are inside of a beehive.

Life

Unlocking secrets of the honeybee dance language

Bees learn and culturally transmit their communication skills.

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Guest Thinkers

Chaiten Eruption, Day 7

nnAnother day, another development at Chaiten. Military stationed near the volcano helping with evacuations reported “booming noises” and saw incandescent blocks getting hurled from the vent area. This suggests that lava is […]