Now on ScienceBlogs: My Mother's Hairbrush and the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
David Dobbs on science, nature, and culture.
I write on science, medicine, nature, culture and other matters for the New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Slate, National Geographic, Scientific American Mind, and other publications. (Find clips here.) Right now I'm writing my fourth book, The Orchid and the Dandelion, which explores the hypothesis that the genetic roots some of our worst problems and traits — depresison, hyperaggression, violence, antisocial behavior — can also give rise to resilience, cooperation, empathy, and contentment. The book expands on my December 2009 Atlantic article exploring these ideas.
I've also written three books, including Reef Madness: Charles Darwin, Alexander Agassiz, and the Meaning of Coral, which traces the strangest but most forgotten controversy in Darwin's career — an elemental dispute running some 75 years.
If you'd like, you can subscribe to Neuron Culture by email. You might also want to see more of my work at my main website or check out my Tumblr log.
December 19, 2008
Category: Education
This seems to me a sharp-eyed take. Obama's effort to be post-partisan, as it were, is not merely an attempt to split differences or accommodate both sides of an argument. He seeks to change the terms of the argument, just as he did in both the primary and general elections.
Posted by David Dobbs at 6:48 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Books
Micheal Nielsen gets swiftly to a problem many scientists (and not a few writers) have with Gladwell's books -- and highlights their redeeming factors as well.
Posted by David Dobbs at 12:20 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 18, 2008
Category: Science policy
As Obama solidifies his teams on science, education, and environment, attention -- and not a little worry from the drug...
Posted by David Dobbs at 9:06 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Culture of science
One more reason to like Will Smith. Hat tip to kottke, who links to some other amazing Rubikiean feats....
Posted by David Dobbs at 7:55 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Science policy
Scientificblogging, drawing on apparently credible medical expertise, deflates six common med myths. My wife will love this. I've cited #4...
Posted by David Dobbs at 7:52 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Environment/nature
Atop other Obama appointments, this is one I suspect America's scientists will welcome. From the Washington Post: Report: Holdren to...
Posted by David Dobbs at 4:01 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 17, 2008
Other deadlines bar elaboration, but I wanted to draw attention to some worthwhile reading on the science front, mostly of the mind and brain variety
Posted by David Dobbs at 10:14 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 16, 2008
Category: Brains and minds
"A study just published in the journal CyberPsychology and Behavior has reviewed all of the available scientific studies on internet addiction and found them to be mostly crap. And not just slightly lacking, really pretty awful."
Posted by David Dobbs at 6:35 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Journalism
Via Kottke Regret the Error has released their annual roundup of media errors and corrections for 2008. The absurd corrections...
Posted by David Dobbs at 6:28 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Brains and minds
Good stuff from Zimmer: You go for a swim, and you don't even notice the tiny worm that burrows into...
Posted by David Dobbs at 6:25 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
