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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 Paru-paro ng Amerika).
Ibahagi ang!Nahuli ako ng isang maikling pagsasahimpapawid ng mga palabas sa TV “Ang mga doktor“, episode ngayong araw ay may pamagat na “Medikal emerhensiya Hindi mo Puwede Huwag pansinin”. Para sa nakararaming bahagi magsuka nila positibong Pagpapatotoo kalusugan medikal. Sila ngumawa din sa tungkol sa “malusog” pagkain at mga bagay na ang mga mahusay para sa iyo at sa “panganib” 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%.” Una, let’s understand the “C” scale of potency measurement. A 1C potency is one part ingredient diluted in 100 parts water, isang 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. Talaga, 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. Now, enjoy James Randi explaining Homeopathy: [youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWE1tH93G9U] Ibahagi ang! Mga komento ay sarado  Pag-aalinlangan  Alternatibong Medisina, Masamang Science, Homyopatya, JREF, Hindi tunay, Mga Scam at Panloloko, Pag-aalinlangan Mahusay, Pustahan ako kung nagbebenta ako ng isang bagay ay magpapakita ito ng napakababa ang tsart na ito. Sa ibaba makikita mo ang iba't ibang mga remedyo alternatibong niranggo ayon sa kanilang pang-agham na espiritu. Sundin ang mga link para sa isang mas malawak na paliwanag ng rating, ngunit ang mga remedyo ang ranggo batay sa bawat claim – Ang green tea, halimbawa, ay napakababa ng mga rate para sa kanser ngunit napakahusay para sa kolesterol. Pansinin kung magkano ang mas mababa sa “sulit” linya.
Continue reading Buy Chris’s all new healing tonic! Ibahagi ang! Mga komento ay sarado Pag-aalinlangan Alternatibong Medisina, Hindi paniniwala sa diyos, Pagkain, pseudoscience, Pag-aalinlangan Because I would have been subjected to ito. Pag-usapan ang tungkol sa kalupitan sa hayop! OK, biro lang, pero ang kwentong ito ay medyo katawa-tawa. Ang artikulo ay nagsasaad na ginamit ng mga siyentipiko ang boses ni Limbaugh dahil ito nga “madaling magagamit”, hindi dahil galit sila sa kanya. Well lumalabas na hindi totoo, 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 “malaki, 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? Ibahagi ang!Sinulatan ako ni Rivers Cuomo ng isang kanta. Hindi masama, pero ngayon parang gusto ko yung mantis costume para sa Halloween. At siyempre obligado akong ituro na ang earthworms ay hindi insekto… [vimeo=14822451] Ibahagi ang!Nakasalamuha ito artikulo ngayon pangangalaga ng Doug Yanega sa UC Riverside, na nag-udyok sa paghahanap para sa karagdagang impormasyon. Sino ang maaaring sabihin sa akin kung ano ang mga iyon “mga bulaklak” sa totoo lang ay? 10 tumuturo sa unang nakahula ng tama… o marahil ilang kahanga-hangang premyo?
Ibahagi ang! 4 mga komento - (Mga komento ay sarado) Aral ukol sa insekto Paligsahan, Aral ukol sa insekto, media, Mito [youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdKEhFM7mY&hl = fil&fs = 1&rel=0] Ibahagi ang!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.) Pero, 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:
A- 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. Ibahagi ang! 2 mga komento - (Mga komento ay sarado) Aral ukol sa insekto Pantipon, Aral ukol sa insekto, Trading Cards Dumating ako sa ito article today and it put a smile on my face. A traveling malaria researcher came across an “electronic mosquito repeller” for sale in his in-flight catalog. Being an intelligent man, he realized this was total and utter 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. Mahusay, 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! Mabuti, this crap is everywhere and it’s 100% fraud. Ibahagi ang! 2 mga komento - (Mga komento ay sarado) Aral ukol sa insekto, Pag-aalinlangan Dowsing, JREF, Malarya, Mosquitos, pseudoscience, Mga Scam at Panloloko, Pag-aalinlangan Tumingin sa itaas, Lumikha ako ng isang bagong pahina para sa mga diskarte. Kailanman magtaka kung paano ang isang bagay ay tapos na? Magtanong sa akin kung paano at ako ay ilarawan. Ibahagi ang! |
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