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Not the typical butterfly – but this is the protein folding structure from a South American hemorrhagic fever – the Machupo virus. The article was found on Science Daily. A striking resemblance to a butterfly, maybe even a Hesperiidae (photo from Motýli Ameriky).
Sdílet tento!Zachytil jsem krátké vysílání televizního pořadu “Doktoři“, dnešní díl byl nazván “Lékařské pohotovosti, které nemůžete ignorovat”. Z velké části vyvracejí pozitivní zdravotní afirmace. Taky žvaní “zdravý” potraviny a věci, které jsou dobré pro vás i pro vás “nebezpečí” of all kinds of common household bacteria/chemicals and everything else. By and large nothing apocryphal. But then Dr. Lisa Masterson opened her mouth with this advice for people looking to quit smoking (paraphrased from memory) “You can try these, it is called EZ-Quit spray. They are HOMEOPATHIC … You should still consult your doctor because, you know, some of these ingredients can be strong”. The ingredient list is “Antimonium crudum 5C, Caladium seguinum 5C, Ignatia 5C, Lobelia inflata 5C, Nux vomica 5C, Tabacum 5-7-9C. Inactive ingredients: Purified water, alcohol 20%.” První, let’s understand the “C” scale of potency measurement. A 1C potency is one part ingredient diluted in 100 parts water, A 1:100 ratio. A 5C solution is equivalent to 10^-10 power dilution or .0000000001mg of “active” ingredient. So drink up, you would need to drink one of these to get enough active ingredient: But thats the whole point! In homeopathy, the single molecule of ingredient that comes in contact with water MAGICALLY imparts its power to the water molecules. When asked to explain this most homeopaths invoke quantum mechanics. Good to know they are totally ignorant of science. The basic principle of homeopathy states that the MORE diluted something becomes the MORE powerful it is. The standard dilution is 30C or 10^-60 , but it does go up to 10^-1500. You would literally need to consume a sphere of water the size of our solar system Two billion times for one single molecule of ingredient. And thank god there is .0000000001mg of Nux vomica in the solution because that is commonly known as strychnine, an incredibly powerful alkaloid toxin with an LD50 of 10mg. In doses of less that 5mg it acts as a powerful stimulant and was used historically for stomach aliments and even for doping by athletes. Strychnine hasn’t been used since the invention of safer medicines. Homeopathy is absolutely bullshit. There is zero supporting evidence, in fact in the UK they finally agreed to stop funding this insanity; which is no surprise since any intelligent person who understands the true principals of homeopathy should know better. Ve skutečnosti, anyone who creates a homeopathic medicine that is scientifically proven, can apply for the JREF million dollar challenge. Is it any surprise that it remains unclaimed? Dr.. Lisa is a complete moron and a quack. It is scary to think she spreads this misinformation on public TV, but not all that surprising. She should issue an apology for recommending homeopathy and the california medical board should consider disciplinary action or pull her license. Of course this won’t happen… But think of the potential dangers, consider the case of the parents that killed their daughter with homeopathy. Nyní, enjoy James Randi explaining Homeopathy: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWE1tH93G9U] Sdílet tento! Diskuze je uzavřena  Skepticismus  Alternativní medicína, Bad Science, Homeopatie, JREF, Šarlatán, Podvody, Skepticismus Dobře, I bet if I was selling something it would show up pretty damn low on this chart. Below you can see different alternative remedies ranked in accordance to their scientific efficacy. Follow the link for a more comprehensive explanation of the ratings, but the remedies are ranked based on each claim – green tea for instance rates very poorly for cancer but very well for cholesterol. Take notice of just how much is below the “worth it” line.
Continue reading Buy Chris’s all new healing tonic! Sdílet tento! Diskuze je uzavřena Skepticismus Alternativní medicína, Ateizmus, Výživa, pseudoscience, Skepticismus Because I would have been subjected to tento. Talk about animal cruelty! OK, just kidding, but this story is a bit ridiculous. The article states that the scientists had used the voice of Limbaugh because it was “readily available”, not because they hated him. Well that turns out not to be true, they chose Rush because it was the “most annoying sound [oni] could think of”. Not too surprising that the liberal entomology agenda hates Rush (joke), but I know I sure do. If you blared that blabbering buffoon at me for an hour I’d Plath myself. It turns out these guys were on the right path however. While Limbaugh perhaps predictably had no effect on the insects, sounds recorded of the bark beetles did. When recordings of the sounds made of the beetles in their tunnels were fired back into the trees they observed the insects flying into a fury and killing each other. Sounds like it may be a useful tool if they can find a way to deliver this to trees without wiring each one with speakers. I don’t think that blasting these recordings Apocalypse Now style into forests will be plausible or effective so hopefully they can think of something else clever. The story might be amusing but I think does a disservice to their cause in general. Using Rush was nothing but an attempt to grab press, which is clearly working. Would anyone have read a story about bark beetles otherwise? I probably wouldn’t have even given it a look. In the end the takeaway story for me is that I think to myself “interesting, they found a potentially useful tool against bark beetles”. But to the less science literate or politically motivated they likely think “skvělý, more liberal scientists wasting our tax dollars playing music to beetles”. We already know what republicans think about science. Prosím, let’s not throw more fodder into the backwards minds of the anti-science republican agenda (OK, admittedly, fundamental republican fiscal policy is something I can understand… but they are a pack of morons the rest of the time). I don’t believe that Limbaugh has commented on this specific story, but is it difficult to imagine what he has to say? Sdílet tento!Rivers Cuomo wrote me a song. Not bad, but now I think I want that mantis costume for Halloween. And of course I am obliged to point out that earthworms are not insects… [vimeo=14822451] Sdílet tento!Came across tento article today care of Doug Yanega at UC Riverside, which spurred the search for further information. Who can tell me what those “flowers” actually are? 10 points to the first to guess correctly… or maybe some awesome prize?
Sdílet tento![youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdKEhFM7mY&hl = en_US&fs=1&rel=0] Sdílet tento!This is something I’ve never seen before. Growing up I have always had someone give me some kitsch object with insects on them, even playing cards. Well even last year I got another insect themed tie. (I don’t have the whimsey of PZ Myers and his awesome tie.) Ale, they were all printed images of course. New this year from Upper Deck, entomology cards! If you scroll down the page you notice something striking – they aren’t pictures, but actual insects. Here is an image from the link above:
Wow- and follow this link to Facebook to see more of what is to come. I guess these are a modern version of the “tobacco card”, which was an extra collectors card inserted into regular card packs. Last year the company passed out redemption cards that would allow it to be returned for the real thing seen above. According to ESPN, these cards are going for over $100 to people who have no idea what insect they may get. A quick look on e-bay found one currently bid to $87.00. Go figure. In all, Upper Deck plans to release 30 different types of insects. On the back of each card there is an old-timey “range map” and short blurb about the insect. They are also “certified” as being genuine, whatever that means. Do they have a taxonomist consulting? I bet my hourly rates would be less than whoever they have now… The butterfly ones crack me up, they are just closed specimens laid on their side. I would think a spread specimen would be more appealing, but maybe no one at Upper Deck realizes this is how they should be prepared. Whoever is giving them their mantids though are taking lots of time to make them look fancy. I really wonder how many of these are being made, obviously this could not be sustained in any large number. I guess in the end this makes a very interesting conversation starter among people who might never look twice at an insect, and especially as something collectible. I wonder what PETA thinks… OK, we know that much already. Sdílet tento!Narazil jsem na tento dnešní článek a vykouzlil mi úsměv na tváři. Cestující výzkumník malárie narazil na “elektronický odpuzovač komárů” k prodeji v jeho palubním katalogu. Být inteligentním mužem, uvědomil si, že to byla úplná a naprostá BS. Také si uvědomil, že tento produkt se pravděpodobně nejlépe prodává na cestě do zemí sužovaných malárií; a že tam chodili naivní turisté $23 bezcenné kusy svinstva na opascích, kteří se cítí chráněni. Letecká společnost, KLM, pravděpodobně prodal položku bez vteřiny, je jen součástí standardního nákupního výběru typu blbost v letadle. Takže jakmile se Bart Knol vrátil domů, začal kopat hlouběji. Kontaktoval KLM a snažil se přijít na to, proč toto zboží prodávají. Zdvořile, letecká společnost nabídla odpověď od výrobce, která potvrdila účinnost zařízení – a uvedli, že prodávají 1,000 měsíc. Je jasné, že to nemůže být přijatelné – ve skutečnosti došlo provedený výzkum vyzkoušet právě tento druh stroje – všechny vykazovaly nulový účinek. Knol znovu informoval KLM o této skutečnosti, s důkazy v ruce, a dostal překvapivou odpověď. “Produkt již nebude od března v prodeji na letadlech KLM“. Děvče. Konfrontoval společnost, která prodávala vědecky zfalšované zařízení. Místo toho, abychom toho vědce vyhodili – podívali se na důkazy – a jednal logicky. V rámci 2 měsíce Knol nechal KLM stáhnout produkt ze svých regálů. Letecká společnost by měla poskytnout Knolovi doživotní zásobu poukázek za jeho návrh. Představ si, jestli chceš: důvěřivý turista zamířil do Afriky na vaše první safari. Zoufale se chtějí vyhnout někdy strašlivým vedlejším účinkům léků proti malárii a místo toho vidí tento zázračný produkt, který je udrží v bezpečí.. Dobře, produkt nefungoval, a při útěku před slony v Keni se nakazí malárií. Pokusy žalovat společnost selhaly, protože měla sídlo na Srí Lance – ale nebát se, KLM má rozsáhlé a hluboké kapsy. 10,000,000 eur později, KLM vytáhne produkt z police a mrtví turisté nahradí vše, co vlastní, zlatem. Ale ne, namísto, přistoupil bdělý skeptik a zachránil situaci! Děkuji za vaši skepsi Knole, dostaneš pětku. Akce, kterou podnikl, poskytla KLM důkazy, že se dopouštějí protiprávního jednání. Kdyby byla letecká společnost v budoucnu žalována a tyto předchozí znalosti by vyšly najevo, byli by prohráli. Přál bych si, aby to KLM ocenila stejně jako já, ale alespoň podnikli náležité kroky. Fly KLM. Je vždy příjemné vidět takový příběh, protože takhle se věci obvykle nestávají. Vezměte si například “proutkaření po bombách” skandál, na který nás upozornilo JREF. Myslím, že je trochu těžké to nazvat skandálem, protože tisk se o tom zde v USA zabýval jen krátce. Rychle: Britská společnost prodávala proutky, která se neskládala z ničeho jiného než z kovových tyčí a rukojetí, jako bomba, pistole, nůž, detektory drog a dokonce i těla. Hlavním kupcem byla irácká vláda v řádu desítek miliony dolarů. Lidé vsadili svůj život na tento stroj; a to selhalo, 100% času. I dnes Iráčané na toto zařízení přísahají. Ale nezapomínejme na historii tohoto detektoru, což je v podstatě stejné jako “Quadro Tracker” koupila NAŠE vláda koncem 90. let. Alespoň ve vydání QT jsme pouze koupili 1,000 jednotky a rychle je otestoval, aby odhalil podvod. Výsledek – FBI před tím vydala varování. Společnost okamžitě vyzvedla obchod a přestěhovala se do Spojeného království, aby znovu vynalezla toto zařízení prodané do Iráku (mezi ostatními zeměmi). Naštěstí podvodník, Jim McCormick, byl nedávno zatčen v Británii za podvod a vývoz této položky byl zakázán. Běž si najít ten svůj MozStops, Odpuzovače škůdců, Sluneční paprsky a SOdpuzovače komárů poháněné OLAR (hej, můžeš být zelený, když jsi blázen) a vzít ten obchod k úkolu! Vážně, tohle svinstvo je všude a je 100% podvod. Sdílet tento! 2 komentáře - (Diskuze je uzavřena) Entomologie, Skepticismus Dowsing, JREF, Malárie, komáři, pseudoscience, Podvody, Skepticismus Look above, I’ve created a new page for techniques. Ever wonder how something is done? Ask me how and I will illustrate. Sdílet tento! |
Skepticismus |
