Guest Thinkers — September 1, 2010

Summer Schedule Part 2

I'll be off on vacation for a week or so, but look for all sorts of treats in the interim.

Well, the summer is rapidly coming to an end – classes start here at Denison on August 30. So, we are trying to squeeze what we can out of the season and to that end, I’ll be on one of these things called “vacations” for the next couple weeks. (Oh yeah, and I will be going through Yellowstone, so I’ll personally check on those earthquakes, OK?)

That means Eruptions will be operating on the second summer schedule. No new posts until August 23, but some upcoming (automatically posted) articles including the answers to your questions for Sally Kuhn Sennert of the Global Volcanism Program and next week … it is Etna Week with a week’s worth of entries from guest blogger Dr. Boris Behncke.

(Oh yeah, and coming up after the break: Big news from Eruptions … )

a crowd of people holding rainbow flags and balloons.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: What is a woman?

If you think you know what sex, gender, and “the right thing to do” for trans youth and adults are, be sure it agrees with actual science.

a Tardigrade animal is shown in this image.

Health

How the nearly indestructible tardigrade can bring vaccines and medicine to Africa

Tardigrades can completely dehydrate and later rehydrate themselves, a survival trick that scientists are harnessing to preserve medicines in hot temperatures.

a painting of a group of people flying over a city.

Thinking

The key to feeling happier about the future: Mental time travel

We will have a better shot at improving our lives once we come to understand, know, and love the people we will one day become.

13.8

Science claims a “god’s-eye view” of reality. This is fiction

It’s a useful fiction — but it’s still fiction.

a bronze statue of a wolf and two children.

The Past

How Rome’s terrible 7th king led to the Republic

Before Rome was an empire, it was a republic. And before it was a republic, it was a kingdom ruled by seven mythical kings — some better than others.

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

Active volcanism in the Caucasus Mountains

You don’t tend to think of volcanoes in the Caucasus Mountains, but Mt. Elbrus is a beast with a (recent) track record.