Category Archives: Science

Apollo and Dionysus

Posted on 21 July 2019 by Joseph Shoer

As I write this, it is 50 years to the moment after the Lunar Module Eagle ascended from the surface of the Moon, carrying a victorious Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin up to their rendezvous with crewmate Mike Collins in … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Science, Space | 2 Comments

Scientists Should March

Posted on 9 April 2017 by Joseph Shoer

Scientists are planning a “March for Science” in Washington, DC and many other cities on 22 April 2017. Some commentators seem to think this is a bad idea, because it would politicize science. Before I continue, let me suggest the … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Science, Skepticism, Social commentary | 1 Comment

Space programs are not ambitious enough

Posted on 31 May 2015 by Joseph Shoer

This week, NASA announced the selection of nine instruments for a proposed mission to Europa. Europa is probably the best place we know about to find alien life, and the discovery of alien life would surely be an achievement rivaling the … Continue reading →

Posted in NASA, Science, Space | Leave a comment

What is the nature of the STEM crisis?

Posted on 10 April 2015 by Joseph Shoer

There is a recent National Science Foundation report out that says, over the decade from 1993 to 2013, the number of college graduates in science and engineering fields grew faster than the number of graduates in any other fields. By … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Science, Social commentary | 1 Comment

Threat assessment

Posted on 6 May 2014 by Joseph Shoer

Sometimes, I wish I had more Republican Congressmen to write to. Human-caused climate change is a national security issue. It threatens our lives, our property, and our way of life. And it is the only thing that we know, for a … Continue reading →

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Despite tactical errors, Bill Nye is right

Posted on 6 February 2014 by Joseph Shoer

Tuesday night, Bill Nye (the Science Guy) had a webcast debate with Ken Ham, founder of the Creation Museum. In many respects, this was a silly idea. Nye wasn’t going to change any minds, and I think he fell into … Continue reading →

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Let’s go to Europa already!

Posted on 12 December 2013 by Joseph Shoer

I’ve been thinking I should write something about the recent discovery of geysers from Europa’s subsurface ocean, but Casey Dreier at the Planetary Society blog basically said everything I want to already. Europa appears to have all the ingredients for … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Space | 1 Comment