Category Archives: Science

NEUROSCIENTISTS AND CONJURERS—AND TELLER TALKS.

Posted on May 9, 2009 by Philip

NEUROSCIENTISTS AND CONJURERS—AND TELLER TALKS. The article from Nature that Jonah Lerher linked to reports on a conference that brought neuroscientists and conjurers together. The article begins with discussing the neural activity that occurs during some magic tricks that involve … Continue reading →

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ANCIENT ROMAN CONJURERS.

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Philip

ANCIENT ROMAN CONJURERS. I posted here about a standup comedian’s performance of material from an ancient Greek joke book. This wikipedia article tells how the “cups and balls” trick (known as “acetabula et calculi” was performed by Roman conjurers two … Continue reading →

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EXPLAINING MAGIC.

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Philip

EXPLAINING MAGIC. At the beginning of the movie THE PRESTIGE, Michael Caine explains that every great magic trick has three parts: the Pledge; the Turn; and the Prestige. Lehrer’s article links to a video where Penn and Teller demonstrate here … Continue reading →

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NEUROSCIENCE AND PICKPOCKETS.

Posted on May 7, 2009 by Philip

NEUROSCIENCE AND PICKPOCKETS. I have posted several times on Jonah Lehrer’s book PROUST WAS A NEUROSCIENTIST and linked to his blog The Frontal Cortex (for example, here and here). I have posted on Penn and Teller as well, especially on … Continue reading →

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“…FAR FEWER COMPLEX NEW DRUGS WOULD GET DEVELOPED….”

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Philip

“….FAR FEWER COMPLEX NEW DRUGS WOULD GET DEVELOPED….” The conclusion of Virginia Postrel’s article is: “But if every place were like New Zealand, far fewer complex new drugs would get developed in the first place. And my odds of survival … Continue reading →

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“IF MY CANCER SPREADS, THEY’LL LET ME USE HERCEPTIN.”

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Philip

“IF MY CANCER SPREADS, THEY’LL LET ME USE HERCEPTIN.” In early 2005, we ran into a wonderful neighbor of ours on a walk. She had news. She had breast cancer. The bad news was that it was aggressive. The good … Continue reading →

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“IF I LIVED IN NEW ZEALAND, I’D BE DEAD.”

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Philip

“IF I LIVED IN NEW ZEALAND, I’D BE DEAD.” That is how Virginia Postrel’s editor wanted to title her article in the March Atlantic. As Virginia Postrel elaborates, it is more accurate to conclude, as her article does: “If I … Continue reading →

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DID COOKING MAKE US HUMAN?

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Philip

DID COOKING MAKE US HUMAN? I posted here about speculation that cooking was a great labor-saving invention for early man because it reduced dramatically the time spent chewing and here on how eating cooked meals freed up energy for human … Continue reading →

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HEROISM AND CHECKLISTS.

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Philip

HEROISM AND CHECKLISTS. I have posted before on an article by Dr. Atul Gutwande on the movement to encourage checklists in hospitals. Dr. Gutwande suggested that medicine does not make much use of checklists because it is inconsistent with an … Continue reading →

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IDENTICAL TWINS—IT’S NOT JUST DNA.

Posted on February 7, 2009 by Philip

IDENTICAL TWINS—IT’S NOT JUST DNA. I am an identical twin so I am aware of the physical differences in identical twins as well as the striking similarities. Some of the differences between my brother and me seem explainable by environmental … Continue reading →

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