Scientists say online dating doesn't work
istockphoto
A new study published in the upcoming issue of Psychological Science in the Public Interest is shedding light on the science - or lack thereof - behind online dating services. The psychological scientists who wrote the report hope to indentify how online dating might be hurting singles.
Co-written by Eli J. Finkel (Northwestern University), Paul W. Eastwick (Texas A & M University), Benjamin R. Karney (UCLA), Harry T. Reis (University of Rochester), and Susan Sprecher (Illinois State University), the report reviews over 400 psychology studies and surveys.
So, what's the problem?
Continue »Bionic contact lens could project floating emails
Steve Jurvetson/Flickr
The technology works by embedding a custom-made sapphire LED and circular antenna into a plastic contact lens. In the test, a single pixel was controlled by a remote radio frequency transmitting data from the lens.
Continue »The 7 greatest sci-fi films that didn't win the Oscar
Not that they don't ever make the final cut (no pun intended). During the last 83 years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has rarely even nominated a sci-fi or fantasy film for Best Picture, and no science fiction film has ever walked away with the prize. Last year, TWO sci-fi films were up for the award, and BOTH lost. Perhaps by now, sci-fi enthusiasts are used to getting slighted, but you have to wonder.
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Science as you've never before seen it
When it comes to offering knock-out images from the world of science , the annual competition sponsored by the Wellcome Collection in London has generated a trove of amazing photos. Now in its 11th year, the event has consistently produced breathtaking shots of human and animal biology over the years - and 2011 is no exception. As a review in the Londonist put it, "if you've ever wondered why people go into the sciences, the Wellcome Image Awards will give you 21 good reasons." We agree.
Pope: God Behind Big Bang
The Pope has weighed into the age-old debate between religion and science over the universe's origins, telling worshipers gathered at St. Peter's Basilica that God was behind the Big Bang.
ope Benedict XVI celebrates the solemnity of the Epiphany at St Peter's basilica on January 6, 2011 at The Vatican.
/ Getty ImagesIn a sermon marking the Epiphany, the day when Bible says three kings gathered at the site where Jesus was born by following a star, Pope Benedict XVI said "the universe is not the result of chance, as some would want to make us believe."
Study: Medical Science's Limited Progress
By Wynne Parry This story originally appeared on LiveScience.com
CBS/AP
After a century of progress, the issues that medicine must tackle in the coming year aren't that different from the ones that faced doctors at the start of 1911, according to the observations of the medical journal The Lancet.
CBS/AP
The publication's lead editorial for Jan. 1 uses a century-old lens to explore the question, "How much really changes?" by looking back to an editorial called "The Promise of 1911." In the older editorial, The Lancet assessed progress to that point and the challenges ahead.
Continue »Far-Flung Movies May Inspire Future Scientists
By Mike Wall This story originally appeared on LiveScience.com
Sprinkling some science into Hollywood blockbusters can go a long way toward inspiring the next generation of physicists, astronomers and biologists, such scientists agree.
That was one key message from a panel of scientists, filmmakers and media experts at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union this month.
A scene from the "The Day After Tomorrow."
/ 20th Century FoxThe movie science doesn't even have to be entirely accurate, some of the panelists added when asked to consider the role and impact of science in cinema. As long as it plants a seed of curiosity in viewers, it may spur them to investigate scientific issues on their own -- and perhaps consider a career in science down the road.
If the movie is good, that is.
Continue »Climate Change Researchers: Not all Expertise is Equal
Climate change skeptics often argue that the science is still open to question and that researchers need to carry out further study. However, a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that experts in the field share a "striking agreement" with the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Sarah Palin: Climate change is "snake oil."
The study finds that the expertise and prominence of climate researchers convinced by the evidence of climate change "vastly overshadows that of the climate change skeptics and contrarians."
The report also alludes to the media presentation of both sides in the climate change debate, which it says has helped foster public misunderstanding. The reason: Not all climate researchers "are equal in scientific credibility and expertise in the climate system."
When it comes to judging "he mainstream versus skeptical/contrarian researchers," the study argues for a stronger consideration of "expert credibility in the relative weight of and attention to these groups of researchers in future discussions in media, policy, and public forums regarding anthropogenic climate change."
Among its findings:
97-98% of the climate researchers who most actively publish in the field support the thesis outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Greenhouse gases are responsible for "most" of the "unequivocal" warming of the Earth's average global temperature during the second half of the 20th century.
The report comes even as public opinion remains split. A recent Gallup survey carried out for Yale University found that 40% of Americans believe scientists remain of two minds about global warming. (At the same time 68% favored the idea of an international treaty binding the United States to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 90% by the year 2050.)
After unusually heavy snowfall earlier this year, some Republican politicians said the weather pattern undermined the argument for global warming. Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin described studies supporting the existence of global warming as snake oil.
The study only considered researchers who had demonstrated climate expertise, setting a minimum a 20 climate-publications to be considered.
Obama's Science Grade, A New Ice Age, And A Hint Of Google
Scientists across the country have heralded the Obama administration's approach to research and development. Already it's a stark contrast to the Bush years. But what exactly will be done for areas like stem cells, global warming, and space exploration?
These are some of the questions that we try to answer in an upcoming story for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. It may be airing tomorrow (Friday) night. We spoke to a number of prominent people from all those fields about their expectations and hopes. We also talked to one woman who may be directly affected by any policy decisions; she puts a human face on all the scientific data and studies.
Also, before cozying up for commercials and football this weekend, I hope you'll tune in to CBS Sunday Morning. It's the 30th anniversary edition of the beloved program (OK, I'm a little biased), and I'm contributed a story about ice. Yes, ice. As in cubes. But not just any old frozen water. For those who enjoy imbibing a good cocktail it can be the unsung hero by adding a touch of class or esthetic. But at too many bars or (Super Bowl) parties the ice ends up melting in such a hurry that it ruins the work of your favorite mixologist. It's also a story about people who carve ice, eat ice (true), and generally believe that ice is now hot. You'll have to watch to find out more -- including the secrets to a bar in Las Vegas that's all made of ice, even the glasses.
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These are some of the questions that we try to answer in an upcoming story for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. It may be airing tomorrow (Friday) night. We spoke to a number of prominent people from all those fields about their expectations and hopes. We also talked to one woman who may be directly affected by any policy decisions; she puts a human face on all the scientific data and studies.
Also, before cozying up for commercials and football this weekend, I hope you'll tune in to CBS Sunday Morning. It's the 30th anniversary edition of the beloved program (OK, I'm a little biased), and I'm contributed a story about ice. Yes, ice. As in cubes. But not just any old frozen water. For those who enjoy imbibing a good cocktail it can be the unsung hero by adding a touch of class or esthetic. But at too many bars or (Super Bowl) parties the ice ends up melting in such a hurry that it ruins the work of your favorite mixologist. It's also a story about people who carve ice, eat ice (true), and generally believe that ice is now hot. You'll have to watch to find out more -- including the secrets to a bar in Las Vegas that's all made of ice, even the glasses.
Continue »
I'm Right Behind You
Fans of the "Harry Potter" series, avid "Trekkers," and those who remember Wonder Woman's preferred mode of travel all know the benefits of invisibility. And while real science has lagged behind Hollywood for many years this week a team of researchers at the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center at the University of California, Berkeley, announced they had made a breakthrough when it comes to making three-dimensional objects "invisible."
There's some hardcore technical details about composite materials that bend electromagnetic waves and it's still many years away from being done on a larger scale but we'll try to distill it all for you on Tuesday morning's Early Show. The research appears in this week's journal Science and Nature.
Last week was busy with a surprise population of western lowland gorillas, an indictment in the huge credit card hacking ring, and preparing a presidential piece that compares the online presence of both candidates. It's slated to air on Thursday night's Evening News with Katie Couric. It comes on the heels of news that Democratic senator Barack Obama plans to alert his online subscribers via text message when he chooses a running mate, and Republican senator John McCain has revamped a portion of his site that rallies people for events like local fundraisers. Who comes out ahead in the internet race? Stay tuned, and stay connected!
There's some hardcore technical details about composite materials that bend electromagnetic waves and it's still many years away from being done on a larger scale but we'll try to distill it all for you on Tuesday morning's Early Show. The research appears in this week's journal Science and Nature.
Last week was busy with a surprise population of western lowland gorillas, an indictment in the huge credit card hacking ring, and preparing a presidential piece that compares the online presence of both candidates. It's slated to air on Thursday night's Evening News with Katie Couric. It comes on the heels of news that Democratic senator Barack Obama plans to alert his online subscribers via text message when he chooses a running mate, and Republican senator John McCain has revamped a portion of his site that rallies people for events like local fundraisers. Who comes out ahead in the internet race? Stay tuned, and stay connected!
Good Enough To Eat
(CBS)
co-author, and for this week's SciEye I had a chance Continue »
Space Cadet Reporting For Duty
It's the end of the week and I'm feeling a little space-y. But can you blame me? It started with experiencing zero gravity, was followed up with watching the Phoenix Mars Lander touch down on the Red Planet, and this weekend Discovery is scheduled to head to the international space station, in part to deliver some critical components: a toilet repair kit.
Last weekend our intrepid CBS crew (pictured here from left: Andre Palai, space cadet rank 0, Anthony Laudato, and Mike Hernandez) ventured to Las Vegas to go up in the Zero-G plane to experience -- what else -- zero gravity. We took the suggested amount of Dramamine beforehand, and probably took one pill too many since we all felt a little sleepy on the way up. But we quickly snapped to alert as the plane went through its 15 parabolas mimicking lunar, Martian, and finally zero gravity. Challenging circumstances to shoot video, but I think we availed ourselves well and managed to not get sick. Stay tuned for the finished story all about commerical space travel on CBS Sunday Morning sometime in the next month or two.
Back on the ground and positioned in front of a TV at the JFK airport baggage claim, Anthony and I watched the Phoenix Mars Lander ease its way down, going through the final stages of landing that NASA dubbed "seven minutes of terror" since there was no inflated balloon to cushion its descent. But all went according to plan with the chute and thrusters, and the engineers at JPL in Pasadena, CA, erupted in cheers.Unlike the plucky NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the lander will now spend the next several months in a stationary position, using a digging arm to search for signs of life in the Martian soil. For more on this mission, click here to listen to my CBS radio interview for SciEye with Tony Reichhardt, a senior editor at Air & Space magazine. (By the way, he believes Mars has already been "colonized" -- for an explanation, listen to the interview!)
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(Steve Boxall / Zero G)
Back on the ground and positioned in front of a TV at the JFK airport baggage claim, Anthony and I watched the Phoenix Mars Lander ease its way down, going through the final stages of landing that NASA dubbed "seven minutes of terror" since there was no inflated balloon to cushion its descent. But all went according to plan with the chute and thrusters, and the engineers at JPL in Pasadena, CA, erupted in cheers.
(CBS)
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ValleyZen, Ancient Organisms, And Happy 'Beatles Birthday' Pop
Drue Kataoka is full of surprises. Not only is she a master Sumi-e artist, an ancient Japanese brush stroke technique, she's also an accomplished musician, world traveler, and Web pioneer. Her site, ValleyZen.com, has only been around for a couple months but it's getting attention for its message of simplicity in a tech world often cluttered with distraction and consternation. Indeed, her motto on the site is: "At the intersection of Zen and technology." I know, I know, if you're always stressed out and multi-tasking then then you might think Zen+technology seems like an oxymoron, especially in a place like Silicon Valley. Au contraire, mon frere. That's exactly why Kataoka believes it's such a worthwhile pursuit.
Her site contains stories, ideas, and videos that revolve around the Zen ideal, and some of the clips are illustrative of Zen through their spontaneity, such as the time a Silicon Valley exec decided to flip Drue (Judo style) and she gracefully went along for the ride. You have to see it. Anyway, I recently interviewed Drue for a CBS Radio segment, so keep an ear out for that, too.
Wanted to mention a cool story from the BBC today, which shows how researchers in France are using a high-powered X-ray to peer through dense amber (fossil resin) and analyze bugs and insects that have been trapped there for millions of years. It's part spycam, part high tech, and very gee whiz. They can even build 3-D images. Check it out here.
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Her site contains stories, ideas, and videos that revolve around the Zen ideal, and some of the clips are illustrative of Zen through their spontaneity, such as the time a Silicon Valley exec decided to flip Drue (Judo style) and she gracefully went along for the ride. You have to see it. Anyway, I recently interviewed Drue for a CBS Radio segment, so keep an ear out for that, too.
Wanted to mention a cool story from the BBC today, which shows how researchers in France are using a high-powered X-ray to peer through dense amber (fossil resin) and analyze bugs and insects that have been trapped there for millions of years. It's part spycam, part high tech, and very gee whiz. They can even build 3-D images. Check it out here.
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Arctic Air Time
(CBS)
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A Small World (I Mean REALLY Small)
I won't even pretend to be an expert in photo microscopy. Sure, I loved microscopes in science classes, and I've dabbled in semi-professional photography over the years but mainly rock concerts and stage shows. But we're talking images of plankton at 400X magnification. That takes a whole different level of skill, understanding and squinting. So I was a little surprised when Nikon approached me to help judge their annual Small World competition. But I jumped at the chance.
The contest is a long-standing tradition at Nikon, dating back to 1974. (At one point the CEO of Nikon came in to greet us.) It's grown immensely over the past several years in conjunction with the growth of digital cameras. And so it was up to me and my four fellow judges to determine the top 100 images, then order the top 20, ultimately deciding on the best submission. Here's the rub: We started with 1,709 photographs.
It took a full day of deliberation last week in the Nikon headquarters in Melville, NY, (not unlike jury duty). Each image was displayed to us in a plasma screen and we discussed whether to keep it or toss it. Somewhere between image number 1,267 and 953, I honestly began to wonder if this was really how I agreed to spend my day. (I know I wasn't alone with that sentiment.) There were no fights (nothing involving thrown chairs anyway), though there was lots of spirited debate. At times it was mentally exhausting. So what kept us going? It's actually really cool and impressive stuff. From cancer cells to microchips to flowers to embryos to bugs. A true convergence of art and science at a microscopic level. Not only do these images potentially provide a greater understanding of, say, the eye pattern on a fruit fly, it's also an astonishing collection of colorful and creative imagery. Many times we were simply curious to know what we were looking at.
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The contest is a long-standing tradition at Nikon, dating back to 1974. (At one point the CEO of Nikon came in to greet us.) It's grown immensely over the past several years in conjunction with the growth of digital cameras. And so it was up to me and my four fellow judges to determine the top 100 images, then order the top 20, ultimately deciding on the best submission. Here's the rub: We started with 1,709 photographs.
It took a full day of deliberation last week in the Nikon headquarters in Melville, NY, (not unlike jury duty). Each image was displayed to us in a plasma screen and we discussed whether to keep it or toss it. Somewhere between image number 1,267 and 953, I honestly began to wonder if this was really how I agreed to spend my day. (I know I wasn't alone with that sentiment.) There were no fights (nothing involving thrown chairs anyway), though there was lots of spirited debate. At times it was mentally exhausting. So what kept us going? It's actually really cool and impressive stuff. From cancer cells to microchips to flowers to embryos to bugs. A true convergence of art and science at a microscopic level. Not only do these images potentially provide a greater understanding of, say, the eye pattern on a fruit fly, it's also an astonishing collection of colorful and creative imagery. Many times we were simply curious to know what we were looking at.
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