Category Archives: Science

To Boldly Twitter…

Posted on 11 May 2009 by Robert

Two astronauts have the twittering bug. Mission Specialist Mike Massimino is on Atlantis, ready to launch. His colleague Mark Polansky is the commander of STS-127. Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Space Travel | 2 Comments

On Stars

Posted on 5 January 2009 by Robert

A few links related to the Heavens. Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Space Travel, Visual | Leave a comment

Was it worth it?

Posted on 9 September 2008 by Robert

Perversely, if the earth implodes into a black hole, it might actually be the one moment where human beings discover a true understanding of one another. Six billion people united in a single thought: “Whoops.” Perhaps that moment will be worth it. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Religion, Science | 2 Comments

Against the Windfall Tax

Posted on 27 August 2008 by Robert

Play by the rules… and if you feel you must change the rules, do so only at the start of the game. If we percieve a problem with the way our country operates, its fine to legislate so that it doesn’t happen in the following tax year. Nationalise the oil companies if we must, or tax them at 99%. Whatever. Only this: we must to legislate for the future, not the past. Continue reading →

Posted in Debate, Environment, Politics, Science, UK | Leave a comment

Embryo Research Bill II

Posted on 28 March 2008 by Robert

My second point about the Embryo Research Bill controversy is one of irritation.  The issue of whether Gordon Brown should have allowed Labour MPs a free vote was portrayed in the media as a battle between the Prime Minister and … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Religion, Science | 1 Comment

Embryo Research Bill

Posted on 28 March 2008 by Robert

I think the animal cell is a sort of ‘surrogate’ that bears a similar relationship to the duplicating genes as a surrogate mother would to a baby that she carries. Continue reading →

Posted in Debate, Politics, Religion, Science | Leave a comment

Bride of Funes

Posted on 14 February 2008 by Robert

Today’s Metro reports on a woman who can remember every detail of her life. Like many things in the Metro, its recycled news, in this case at least a couple of years old. Nevertheless, its a captivating story, reminiscent of … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Media, Science | 1 Comment

Shoot for the Moon

Posted on 5 September 2007 by Robert

It would be more satisfying if we were to put astronauts in our rockets, rather than nuclear warheads. Let us cancel Trident and turn all the submariners into astronauts. But first let us rescue the Galileo project, since that would be a strategic asset worth as much as a nuclear deterrent. Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Science, Space Travel, USA | 8 Comments

In The Shadow of the Moon

Posted on 5 September 2007 by Robert

One of the reasons for being at the various Edinburgh festivals is the opportunity to get ahead of the ‘curve’ on films, plays and actors that are destined to become successful in the coming year. I saw Murderball before everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Edinburgh, Film, Science, Space Travel, USA | 2 Comments

Blast off

Posted on 20 April 2007 by Robert

Hooray! We’re off to the moon. UK scientists are working on the deisgn of a moon lander that would also be used on Mars missions. It seems to me that if we are to spend billions of pounds on firing … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Science, Space Travel | 1 Comment