Saturday 22 February 2014

What Would Be a Radically Different Vision of School?

blogs.kqed.org -  There’s no shortage of different opinions about how the education system should adapt to a shifting world and a future with unknown demands, but for the most part, only two dominant narratives of education reform have emerged. “The predominant narrative is that schools are broken,” said veteran educator and author Will Richardson recently at a gathering of teachers at Educon . “Our test scores aren’t great and kids aren’t learning what they need to be successful.

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Coffee consumption linked with reduced risk of diabetes

medicalxpress.com - (HealthDay)—Higher consumption of coffee is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the February issue of Diabetes Care . Ming Ding, of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues conducted a systematic review of the literature and performed a meta-analysis of 28 prospective cohort or nested case-control studies. The authors sought to assess the effect of coffee consumption on risk of type 2 diabetes .

Tuesday 18 February 2014

AAFP: Telemedicine can help with increased demand for docs

medicalxpress.com - (HealthDay)—Telemedicine offers a potential solution to the increased demand for physician-patient interaction, according to a report from a recent forum. The forum was hosted by the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, and the results of the discussion were published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Noting that implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is leading to increased demand for physician-patient interaction, forum panelists highlighted the potential of telemedicine as a solution.

Sunday 16 February 2014

Science Confirms: Internet Trolls Really Are Narcissistic, Psychopathic, and Sadistic

slate.com - In the past few years, the science of Internet trollology has made some strides. Last year, for instance, we learned that by hurling insults and inciting discord in online comment sections, so-called Internet trolls (who are frequently anonymous) have a polarizing effect on audiences, leading to politicization, rather than deeper understanding of scientific topics. That’s bad, but it’s nothing compared with what a new psychology paper has to say about the personalities of trolls themselves.

Fitbit Wristband Users Complain of Rashes

online.wsj.com - Fitbit, a maker of wristbands that track physical fitness, says it is "helping people lead healthier, more active lives." But complaints continue to mount from users who say Fitbit's newest product, the Force band, is causing blisters, rashes and itchy dry patches on their wrists. User forums on Fitbit.com, the website of the San Francisco company that also makes other wearable devices, include hundreds of comments about skin problems from wearers of the $129 Force.

Meet The All-Star Team Of Medical Experts, Scientists, And Designers Apple Hired To Build The iWatch

businessinsider.com - It's been four long years since Apple released the original iPad. Investors, and consumers, are getting restless. They want a new category-defining product from the company that reinvented the MP3 player with the iPod, the mobile phone with the iPhone, and the personal computer with the iPad. So, what's it going to be? All signs point to Apple tackling the watch for its next major piece of brand new hardware.

Thursday 13 February 2014

Nanomotors controlled within living cells

gizmag.com - Imagine if it were possible to send tiny machines into living cells, where they could deliver medication, perform ultra-micro surgery, or even destroy the cell if needed. Well, we've recently come a little closer to being able to do so. Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have successfully inserted "nanomotors" into human cells, then remotely controlled those motors within the cells. The nanomotors are described as "rocket-shaped metal particles," and they're propelled by externally-delivered ultrasonic waves.

Monday 10 February 2014

WA Water Department has no veto over fracking

abc.net.au - Updated February 08, 2014 01:19:34 Western Australia's Department of Water has told a state parliamentary inquiry it has no veto over fracking for natural gas below proclaimed groundwater areas such as rivers. But it says it would advise authorities against the approval of shale gas fracking underneath a major water source. The Water Department made the admission on the first day of the inquiry in the implications of hydraulic fracking, the fracturing of hard rock to release natural gas.

Sunday 9 February 2014

Curious Homework: An Inquiry Project for Students and Parents

edutopia.org - International educator Scot Hoffman is a big believer in the power of curiosity to drive learning. After nearly two decades of teaching around the globe, he also realizes that school isn't always so hospitable to inquiring minds. (As Einstein said, "It's a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.") That's why Hoffman has developed The Curiosity Project, a self-directed learning experience that engages students, parents, and teachers as collaborators in inquiry.

Saturday 8 February 2014

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).





via Tumblr Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).





via Tumblr Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).





via Tumblr Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).





via Tumblr Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).





via Tumblr Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

Autism drug shows promise in animal studies

foxnews.com - A drug aimed at eliminating symptoms in people with certain forms of autism is in the early stages of work, and animal studies show promise, researchers report. In experiments in mice and rats, the drug reversed the effects of a faulty mechanism during birth that might lead the offspring to develop autism, and alleviated the symptoms of autism that certain offspring would normally demonstrate, according to studies published Feb.

Autism drug shows promise in animal studies

foxnews.com - A drug aimed at eliminating symptoms in people with certain forms of autism is in the early stages of work, and animal studies show promise, researchers report. In experiments in mice and rats, the drug reversed the effects of a faulty mechanism during birth that might lead the offspring to develop autism, and alleviated the symptoms of autism that certain offspring would normally demonstrate, according to studies published Feb.

Autism drug shows promise in animal studies

foxnews.com - A drug aimed at eliminating symptoms in people with certain forms of autism is in the early stages of work, and animal studies show promise, researchers report. In experiments in mice and rats, the drug reversed the effects of a faulty mechanism during birth that might lead the offspring to develop autism, and alleviated the symptoms of autism that certain offspring would normally demonstrate, according to studies published Feb.

Autism drug shows promise in animal studies

foxnews.com - A drug aimed at eliminating symptoms in people with certain forms of autism is in the early stages of work, and animal studies show promise, researchers report. In experiments in mice and rats, the drug reversed the effects of a faulty mechanism during birth that might lead the offspring to develop autism, and alleviated the symptoms of autism that certain offspring would normally demonstrate, according to studies published Feb.

Autism drug shows promise in animal studies

foxnews.com - A drug aimed at eliminating symptoms in people with certain forms of autism is in the early stages of work, and animal studies show promise, researchers report. In experiments in mice and rats, the drug reversed the effects of a faulty mechanism during birth that might lead the offspring to develop autism, and alleviated the symptoms of autism that certain offspring would normally demonstrate, according to studies published Feb.

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).

Caltech: secrets of the world’s number one university

timeshighereducation.co.uk - How does a tiny institution create such outsized impact? I always refer to Caltech’s small size as being very similar to the size effect that exists in materials - there are special properties that exist when you are extremely small If one were to reduce the story of the California Institute of Technology to numbers, it would be difficult to know where to start. It is 123 years old, boasts 57 recipients of the US National Medal of Science and 32 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni (including five on the current staff).

Friday 7 February 2014

Postdoc diaries: where are all the entry-level academic jobs?

theguardian.com - Dean D'Souza, PhD in cognitive neuroscience

Securing employment is becoming increasingly difficult. But there are at least two routes to a postdoctoral research career. The first is to develop a research proposal and then seek funding for it. The advantage of this option is that you can seek answers to questions that you thought about during your PhD training but never had the time to pursue. The second route is to apply for an advertised job and work on someone else's project. The advantage of this is that you will learn different perspectives, methodologies and techniques. So I find myself at a junction, with an important choice to make. Do I take the blue pill and extend my research? Or do I take the red pill and find out how deep the rabbit hole goes?

Thursday 6 February 2014

Does This Posture-Sensing Device Really Keep You Sitting Up Straight?

fastcoexist.com - As standing desk enthusiasts will constantly remind you, sitting down in front of a screen all day is terrible for your body. It's difficult to not hunch over just a little bit, adding all sorts of strain to your back. Wearable health tech company Lumo calls the cluster of symptoms related to interacting with technology all day--eye strain, back pain, neck pain, headaches-- Silicon Valley Syndrome .

Sunday 2 February 2014

Academic ideals are being crushed to suit private-sector style management

theguardian.com - 'British higher education sector is in crisis mode and those chosen to oversee this crisis are recruited from the private sector.' Photograph: Alice Bell As an early-career lecturer in a post-1992 university, I often feel like a rare bird in an ornate cage struggling to maintain its dignity in a discount superstore filled with pets. This bird knows it could have been a proud representative of a noble lineage and chirrups dolefully as it ruffles its plumes, but the song is drowned out by the bustling sale of cheap, plastic imitation bird-objects around it.