Thwaites Glacier: Biggest ever Antarctic field campaign

Thwaites

The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is not simply some far away place of scientific interest, but instead has become the focus of the biggest ever Antarctic field campaign. It has become apparent that what is happening there right now has the potential to greatly impact us … soon. Because of the risk, the biggest ever joint UK-US … Read more

Analysis of 2.7 billion tweets confirms Echo Chambers on Twitter

echo chamber

First, just for completeness, here is a quick definition. The term “Echo Chamber” is a reference to the idea that people are increasingly being only exposed to the ideas that they agree with, and don’t hear the arguments of those with whom they do not agree. The net effect is that we become more polarised. … Read more

Michelle Wolf at White House Correspondent’s dinner – #WHCD

Michelle Wolf

Comedian Michelle Wolf delivered a glorious standup routine at the annual Whitehouse Correspondent’s dinner. You most probably heard that she did this, and perhaps also picked up a few snippets from it. It is simply too good to let it slip by without underlining it, and so here it is in full. (Video and also … Read more

Weekly Weird Religious News

This posting is a regular one where I put up a list of Weird Religious News that has popped up during the past seven day. Religious belief is generally accepted by most without giving it too much thought. It is simply part of a cultural inheritance. Most who believe tend to be decent honourable people … Read more

Why do people believe in Conspiracy theories?

conspiracy

Whenever something dramatic happens, for example 9/11 or a school shooting, you are more or less guaranteed to find somebody popping up to explain that it is all part of some plot, and that behind this event there are puppet masters pulling the strings manipulating events. It’s supposedly a conspiracy of epic proportions. The Puppet … Read more