Thursday, 4 September 2008

Professor Brian Cox on the Large Hadron Collider, Moon Hoaxers and Intelligent Design


Next week's Radio Times has an interview with Professor Brian Cox, who has no patience with conspiracy theorists:

Radio Times:
"Cern is being sued in the US over the possible dangers of turning on the LHC, such as creating a mini black hole that might swallow the planet. Could it be the end of everything?"
Brian Cox:
"The nonsense you find on the web about 'doomsday scenarios' is conspiracy theory rubbish generated by a small group of nutters, primarily on the other side of the Atlantic. These people also think that the Theory of Relativity is a Jewish conspiracy and that America didn't land on the Moon. Both are more likely, by the way, than the LHC destroying the world. I'm slightly irritated, because this non-story is symptomatic of a larger mistrust in science, particularly in the US, which includes things like intelligent design."
Radio Times:
"One final question: how can you be certain? We've heard of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle - does it mean you can't be sure of anything?"
Brian Cox:
"The Uncertainty Principle is part of quantum mechanics, and the whole subject is based on that. So it affects every result at LHC, but it doesn't affect the conclusion that anyone who thinks the LHC will destroy the world is a t**t."

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

With God on Our Side - BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4's Archive Hour on Saturday evening was "With God on Our Side" - a documentary about how faith (or lack of faith) affects decisions taken on the battlefield.

From the Archive Hour website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archivehour):
With God on Our Side
Saturday 23 August 2008 20:00-21:00 (Radio 4 FM)
Amid the horrors of war, what makes one man turn to God and another to atheism? Former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway explores what happens to faith when one's life is on the line.
The audio can be streamed for about a week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00d1yqx

When this link expires you can download an mp3 of the programme from RapidShare:

http://rapidshare.com/files/341849659/ArchiveHour_WithGodOnOurSide_BBCR4i-20080823.mp3

Monday, 25 August 2008

Atheism is not a religion

Today by a fairly roundabout route I chanced upon this video excerpt, which is a good outline of my own position:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs3RKZjSzYg



"Matt Dillahunty responds to the claim that people need as much faith to NOT believe in god, as to believe in god."
This is from The Atheist Experience, at http://www.atheist-experience.com/, which I'm surprised not to have come across before now.

(via: 1 2 3 Religious Comics)

Skeptical Inquirer

I subscribe to a fair number of print magazines, but I've noticed recently that there are very few of them that I'll open immediately on arrival and go on to read most of the contents. One such is Skeptical Inquirer - The Magazine For Science And Reason.

The September/October 2008 issue is packed with interest. Much of it is necessarily US-centric, but I've yet to come across an equivalent UK periodical that offers comparably comprehensive examination of pseudoscience, quackery and fakery, as well as coverage of the relevant larger matters of social and political concern.

Issues are usually themed - this one, as the cover opposite shows, is concerned with questionable medical treatments. We have a history of the Vagus Nerve Stimulation device and its manufacturer's attempts to get it approved for use in cases of serious depression; the prescribing of inappropriate (but expensive) drugs for the treatment of bipolar disorder, as well as coverage of the widening of the disorder's definition; and the use of misleading or downright false advertising for a weight-loss product.

There are articles on the Nibiru conspiracy theory, ghostly apparitions at lighthouses, searching for will o' the wisps, and much other fascinating stuff, including book reviews and a generous section for letters to the editor.

It's all highly readable, from short pieces for consumption during a break, to longer articles requiring more concentrated immersion. The magazine is presented in a solid, professional manner that inspires confidence, but you don't have to rely on any kind of gut-feeling about its veracity - those articles dealing with verifiable facts always have notes and references to enable you to check up on them.

Yes, I like it. If only we had something equivalent in Britain.

Muriel Gray on Graphic Novels (repost from other blog)



In my previous post I casually mentioned my lack of knowledge of graphic novels. Serendipitously BBC Radio 4's Open Book, temporarily hosted by Muriel Gray, featured on Sunday a short discussion on that very subject. The programme will be repeated on Thursday at 4:00 pm, but you can stream the audio for seven days from the 'listen again' service* here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/openbook/rams/openbook_20080824.ram

From the Open Book website:
Graphic Novels

Do you know the fastest growing sector in publishing? Perhaps surprisingly, it is the sector of graphic novels. Danny Fingeroth, author of The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels, and Naomi Alderman, author and graphic novel fan, talk about their favourites.
Details of The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels here.

*If the listen again service gives problems, an mp3 of the relevant excerpt can be downloaded from RapidShare:

http://rapidshare.com/files/341864480/OpenBook_BBCR4dtt-20080824.mp3