Comments | ugly_boy: Mmm, arsenic

ugly_boy

Mmm, arsenic

Dec 05, 2010 23:04

OOOOOOOMG ARSENIC-BASED LIFE!!!!111

Eh, not quite. To quote PZ: “…researchers have found that some earthly bacteria that live in literally poisonous environments are adapted to find the presence of arsenic dramatically less lethal, and that they can even incorporate arsenic into their routine, familiar chemistry.” He points out in an addendum that ( Read more... )

biology, science, bad science

Comments 4

the narrative problem... flw December 7 2010, 15:54:55 UTC

Science journalism has a problem, just like all journalism. The problem is the need for a compelling narrative. Not a narrative that is compelling to other scientists, but rather a narrative that is compelling to scientific illiterates who often have power over the journalists. Ironically, the people who are lured in by the headlines are the same people who will feel betrayed by the content. So making these phony headlines is not helping. But why do scientists and journalists feel compelled to generate these phony headlines ( ... )

Re: the narrative problem... ugly_boy December 7 2010, 19:31:42 UTC

I think you've really hit on something with the funding issue. This is especially true for NASA projects, which are wholly funded and operated by the government. If your project is housed at a university, even if it's a public one and your research is directly supported by federal grants, you probably don't have to justify your existence to the public the same way that something kooky sounding like astrobiology at NASA does. But I wonder, do stunts like this really work? Does Joe the Plumber hear about “arsenic-based life” and decide taxes aren't so bad, after all ( ... )

Re: the narrative problem... flw December 7 2010, 23:15:27 UTC

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/12/nsf-youcut-review

Re: the narrative problem... ugly_boy December 8 2010, 09:33:27 UTC

This can't be good… I wish I could sit here and say that of course people should be interested and get involved, but I think it's obvious to both of us why this could turn into a huge disaster, if it goes anywhere. I'm reminded of an excellent Carl Sagan quote: “It is suicidal to create a society dependent on science and technology in which hardly anybody knows anything about science and technology.” I'm afraid this is even worse than people living in passive ignorance.