February 2013
Dualism redux
My post on the problem of consciousness troubled a few readers because I dared toy with the idea of dualism, something so offensive to scientists I’m wary to speak its name. But I’m going to continue to argue for dualism because it’s not clear to me that it is wrong even for all the flack it has received. I […]
Intelligent Design: Part Three – Dr Alistair Noble’s ‘The Scientific Evidence for Intelligent Design’: the review
I would like to say that the talk presented a range of evidence for intelligent design and carefully countered the usual arguments against it. I would like to say this, but I can’t. The talk, which lasted over one hour, spent much of the time quoting non-scientists and misquoting scientists, painting ID proponents as martyrs […]
The buzz on neonicotinoids
On the 31st January, stimulated by a European Food Safety Authority report, the EU proposed banning three neonicotinoid insecticides which have been implicated in causing honeybee decline. These insecticides are widely-used, systemic (i.e. soluble enough in water to move around the plant’s vascular system to nearly all plant tissues), and, like nicotine, affect the insects’ […]
Sampling gaps in our understanding of primate parasites
*by parasites here I am referring to all kinds of infectious disease causing agents including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, helminths and arthropods. Why do we care about primate parasites? Many of the most devastating infectious diseases in humans have origins in wildlife. For example, the global AIDS pandemic originated through human contact with wild African […]
Palaeo-poetry and placental mammals
Recently Science published O’Leary et al.’s - new load of oil to fuel the burning debate on the origins of placental mammals. Just to be clear: there is an important distinction between mammals in general that includes many fossils from the Jurassic as well as the extant platypus, kangaroo and your grandma; and placental mammals […]
Coursing conundrum
At first glance, many scientific ideas can appear counterintuitive. A press release from a leading Irish wildlife charity in support of the proposed coursing ban prompted me to attempt to balance the discussion of coursing impacts on the Irish hare population. The bill to ban coursing is due to come before the Dáil in the […]
Happy Valentine's Day
Roses are red, Violets are blue, If I were evolution, I'd select you. Author Adam Kane: kanead[at]tcd.ie Photo credit Floridapfe
Treasures of Natural History
The Natural History Museum in London is one of my favourite places. The majesty and beauty of the building’s design is a fitting exterior to house the truly stunning collections within. The new Treasures exhibition displays just 22 of the museum’s most prized possessions. It’s a special opportunity to see valued and varied treasures such as […]
What is Life?
February 5th marked the 70th anniversary of the first lecture of what was later to become Schrödinger’s highly influential book ‘What is life’. While Schrödinger may be more popularised by his infamous zombie cat, it was his thinking with regards to how life can live with the laws of physics that have allowed him to […]
Intelligent Design: Part Two – Dr Alistair Noble’s ‘The Scientific Evidence for Intelligent Design’: the claims
“A lie can travel halfway round the world before the truth has got its boots on” (Mark Twain, attributed). In my previous post I gave some background on intelligent design, the theme of a talk I recently attended by Dr Alistair Noble. This time, I'll try and address his claims. It is easy to say something […]