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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 Farfalle d'America).
Condividi questo!Io presi una breve messa in onda dello show televisivo “I Medici“, L'episodio di oggi è stato intitolato “Emergenze mediche Non si può ignorare”. Per la maggior parte si rigurgitano positive affermazioni sanitari medici. Hanno anche sprecate parole su circa “in salute” alimenti e cose che sono buone per voi e per il “pericoli” di tutti i tipi di batteri/prodotti chimici domestici comuni e tutto il resto. In linea di massima niente di apocrifo. Ma poi il dott. Lisa Masterson ha aperto bocca con questo consiglio per le persone che cercano di smettere di fumare (parafrasato a memoria) “Puoi provare questi, si chiama spray EZ-Quit. Loro sono OMEOPATICO … Dovresti comunque consultare il tuo medico perché, sai, alcuni di questi ingredienti possono essere forti”. La lista degli ingredienti è “Antimonio grezzo 5C, Caladium seguinum 5C, Ignazia 5C, Lobelia gonfia 5C, Nux Vomica 5C, Tabacco 5-7-9C. Ingredienti inattivi: Acqua purificata, alcol (20%.” Per Prima, capiamo il “C” scala di misurazione della potenza. Una potenza 1C è una parte di ingrediente diluito 100 parti d'acqua, un 1:100 rapporto. Una soluzione 5C equivale a una diluizione di potenza 10^-10 o .0000000001mg di “attivo” ingrediente. Quindi bevi, dovresti bere uno di questi per ottenere abbastanza ingrediente attivo: Ma questo è il punto! In omeopatia, la singola molecola di ingrediente che viene a contatto con l'acqua impartisce MAGICAMENTE il suo potere alle molecole d'acqua. Quando viene chiesto di spiegare questo, la maggior parte degli omeopati invoca la meccanica quantistica. Buono a sapersi che ignorano totalmente la scienza. Il principio di base dell'omeopatia afferma che più qualcosa diventa più diluito, più è potente. La diluizione standard è 30°C o 10^-60 , ma va fino a 10^-1500. Avresti letteralmente bisogno di consumare una sfera d'acqua delle dimensioni del nostro sistema solare Tdue miliardi di volte per una singola molecola di ingrediente. E grazie a dio c'è .0000000001mg di Nux Vomica nella soluzione perché è comunemente nota come stricnina, una tossina alcaloide incredibilmente potente con una LD50 di 10 mg. In dosi inferiori a 5 mg agisce come un potente stimolante ed è stato storicamente utilizzato per i disturbi dello stomaco e persino per il doping dagli atleti. La stricnina non è stata utilizzata dall'invenzione di farmaci più sicuri. L'omeopatia è assolutamente una stronzata. Non ci sono prove a sostegno, infatti nel Regno Unito hanno finalmente acconsentito interrompere i finanziamenti questa follia; il che non sorprende dal momento che qualsiasi persona intelligente che comprende i veri principi dell'omeopatia dovrebbe conoscerli meglio. Effettivamente, chiunque crei una medicina omeopatica scientificamente provata, può richiedere il JREF sfida da un milione di dollari. È una sorpresa che rimanga non reclamato? Dr.. Lisa è un completo idiota e un ciarlatano. È spaventoso pensare che diffonda questa disinformazione sulla TV pubblica, ma non del tutto sorprendente. Dovrebbe scusarsi per aver raccomandato l'omeopatia e la commissione medica della California dovrebbe prendere in considerazione un'azione disciplinare o ritirare la sua licenza. Naturalmente questo non accadrà… Ma pensa ai potenziali pericoli, considera il caso dei genitori che ucciso la loro figlia con l'omeopatia. Adesso, goditi James Randi che spiega l'omeopatia: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWE1tH93G9U] Condividi questo! I commenti sono chiusi  Scetticismo  Medicina alternativa, Bad Science, Omeopatia, JREF, Ciarlatano, Frodi e truffe, Scetticismo Bene, 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! Condividi questo! I commenti sono chiusi Scetticismo Medicina alternativa, Ateismo, Nutrizione, Pseudoscienza, Scetticismo Because I would have been subjected to Questo. Parlare di crudeltà verso gli animali! Ok, stavo solo scherzando, ma questa storia è un po 'ridicolo. L'articolo afferma che gli scienziati avevano usato la voce di Limbaugh perché era “prontamente disponibili”, non perché lo odiavano. Bene che si rivela non essere vero, they chose Rush because it was the “most annoying sound [they] 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 “grande, more liberal scientists wasting our tax dollars playing music to beetles”. We already know what republicans think about science. Please, 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? Condividi questo!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] Condividi questo!Came across Questo article today care of Doug Yanega at UC Riverside, which spurred the search for further information. Chi può dire che cosa quelle “fiori” effettivamente are? 10 indica il primo a indovinare correttamente… o forse qualche premio impressionante?
Condividi questo![youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdKEhFM7mY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0] Condividi questo!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.) Ma, 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. Vai a capire. 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. Condividi questo!Mi sono imbattuto in Questo article today and it put a smile on my face. Un viaggiare malaria ricercatore sono imbattuto in un “repeller della zanzara elettronica” in vendita nel suo catalogo in volo. Essendo un uomo intelligente, si rese conto che questo era totale e assoluta BS. He also realized this product probably sells best while in-route to malaria ridden countries; and that there were naive tourists walking around with $23 worthless pieces of crap on their belts feeling protected. The airline, KLM, had likely been selling the item with no second though whatsoever, just part of the standard issue crap-on-a-plane shopping selection. So as soon as Bart Knol returned home he began to dig deeper. He contacted KLM and tried to figure out why they were selling this item. Politely, the airline offered a response from the manufacturer backing up the efficacy of the device – and stated that they sell over 1,000 a month. Clearly that couldn’t be acceptable – in fact there has been research conducted to test just this sort of machine – all of which showed zero effect. Again Knol informed KLM of this fact, with evidence in hand, and received a surprising reply. “The product will no longer be for sale on KLM aircraft from March onwards“. Son-of-a-bitch. He confronted a company that was selling a scientifically falsified device. Instead of blowing this scientist off – they looked at the evidence – and acted logically. Within 2 months Knol had KLM pulling the product from its shelves. The airline should give Knol a lifetime supply of vouchers for his suggestion. Imagine if you will: a gullible tourist headed to Africa for your first safari. Wanting desperately to avoid the sometimes horrible side effects of anti-malaria medication they see this miracle product that will keep them safe instead. Bene, the product failed to work, and he contracts malaria while running from elephants in Kenya. Attempts to sue the company failed since they were based in Sri Lanka – but not to worry, KLM has vast and deep pockets. 10,000,000 euro later, KLM pulls the product form the shelf and the dead tourists kids replace everything they own with gold. But no, instead, a vigilant skeptic stepped up and saved the day! Thanks for your skepticism Knol, you get a high-five. The action he took provided KLM with evidence they were conducting a wrongdoing. Had the airline been sued in the future and this prior knowledge had come to light, they would have lost. I wish KLM could appreciate it just as much as I do, but at least they took the proper action. Fly KLM. It’s always nice to see a story like this because this is certainly not how things usually happen. Take for instance the “dowsing for bombs” scandal brought to our attention by the JREF. I guess it’s a bit difficult to call it a scandal because the press only briefly covered it here in the US. Quickly: A British based company was selling dowsing rods, that consisted of nothing more than metal rods and handles, as bomb, gun, knife, drug and even body detectors. The major buyer was the Iraqi government in around tens of millions of dollars. People bet their life on this machine; and it failed, 100% of the time. Even today the Iraqis swear by this device. But let’s not forget the history of this detector, which is basically the same as the “Quadro Tracker” bought by OUR government in the late 90’s. At least in the QT issue we only purchased 1,000 units and quickly tested them to discover the fraud. The result – the FBI issued a warning against it. The company promptly picked up shop and moved to the UK to re-invent this device sold to Iraq (amongst other countries). Thankfully the scammer, Jim McCormick, was recently arrested in Britain for fraud and the item has been banned for export. Go find your own MozStopS, Pest Repellers, SunBeams and SOLAR powered mosquito repellers (hey you can be green while being a sucker) and take that store to task! Gravemente, this crap is everywhere and it’s 100% fraud. Condividi questo! 2 commenti - (I commenti sono chiusi) Entomologia, Scetticismo Rabdomanzia, JREF, Malaria, Zanzare, Pseudoscienza, Frodi e truffe, Scetticismo Look above, I’ve created a new page for techniques. Ever wonder how something is done? Ask me how and I will illustrate. Condividi questo! |
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