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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.
February 27, 2009
Category: Art
I love these things. They're photos of plants meant to evoke human design; but they look like photos of ironwork meant to evoke nature.
Posted by David Dobbs at 12:09 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Culture of science
What the heck is critical neuroscience? Well, one definition calls it
the attempt to assess and inform neuroscientific practice from a rich interdisciplinary perspective, and to categorize, evaluate and (begin to) manage the various risks resulting from neuroscience and its results and applications.
Posted by David Dobbs at 11:41 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
February 22, 2009
Category: Nota Bene
he 7-year-old started a travel diary in a little 1.5x3-inch notebook. His first entry, written in the backseat about a half-hour after departure from our home in northern Vermont:
Many trees beside highway. Still not out of Vermont.
Posted by David Dobbs at 9:20 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
February 20, 2009
Category: Science policy
"Come tomorrow and sort this hell hole out. Dinner and drinks, 4 p.m. Bring wine and caviar only.". Woman emails party invitations while asleep. Hat tip: BoingBoing
Posted by David Dobbs at 9:42 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
February 19, 2009
Category: Art
Well, the virus has spread! At Rock-It Science, March 3 in NYC, LeDoux and his band, the Amygdaloids (LeDoux pretty much owns the amygdala via his work on fear mechanisms) are to be joined on March 3 in NYC by other musical scientists-would-be-rock-stars, science bands, and science writers...
Posted by David Dobbs at 4:02 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
February 13, 2009
Category: Brains and minds
In a wonderful post at Mind Hacks, Vaughn, writing on "The myth of the concentration oasis" makes an argument that rather challenges my resistance to it:
Posted by David Dobbs at 12:19 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Digital culture
Oh man. This is good. Via Kottke, who has other mixes as well.
Soviet Army dance ensemble + Run DMC = the invention of breakdancing in the mid-1900s.
Posted by David Dobbs at 11:34 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Culture of science
Dangerous concept; successful execution: From the mediea team at Small Mammal, a cute video story on the science of cuteness.
Posted by David Dobbs at 10:54 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
February 12, 2009
Seriously. The Times and many more have the scoop. From the Times: For decades, space experts have warned of orbits...
Posted by David Dobbs at 4:50 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Culture of science
Despite the rain on my window, it's a fine day indeed, with many wonderful celebrations of Darwin's 200th ringing throughout the blogoshere.
Posted by David Dobbs at 3:29 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
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