Science 2.0
The Enchanted Broomstick Of Kinesin-1
In the 1980s, scientists captured the precise mechanics of a protein machine. It looked strange, to researchers its tall thin structure with stubby legs invoked the enchanted broomstick that stole the show in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment of Disney's 1940 Fantasia film.
News Account Wed, 07/15/2026 - 16:29 Categories Genetics & Molecular BiologyBlack Cats in Dark Rooms
[As a meta-text, this blog column contains a large number of posts written over the years, that describe new results from physics analyses, among other articles commenting on news in science and outside.
Tommaso Dorigo Wed, 07/15/2026 - 08:56 Categories PhysicsBirth Control Pills Linked To Emotional Eating
A new paper has correlated birth control pills to binge eating. In 100 percent of controlled clinical studies, more energy consumed than burned causes weight increase, which means birth control pills may be why you got fat. Don't go having unprotected sex as a diet plan, though.
Hank Campbell Tue, 07/14/2026 - 15:11 Categories PharmacologyRoman Farms Had Gender Parity
Female farm managers are hidden in plain sight in ancient Roman texts, mentioned in laws, literature and grave inscriptions across five centuries.
The Conversation Tue, 07/14/2026 - 04:29 Categories AnthropologyDrunk Walking: 44% Of Pedestrian Auto Deaths Involve Chemical Impairment
After decades of public safety campaigns focused on drinking and driving, it may be time to focus on the seventh leading cause of injury-related death, according to Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention at New York State Department of Health and Columbia University scholars looking at New York State.
News Account Mon, 07/13/2026 - 19:05 Categories PharmacologyAmerican Science Isn't Being Harmed By Funding Cuts
If you had a way to save the world and the NIH refused to fund it, could it ever happen? What if both Science and Nature, which claim to be the most prominent journals in the world, refused to publish your study? A study you were giving them free and they could then copyright and sell?
Hank Campbell Mon, 07/13/2026 - 11:18 Categories Science Education & PolicyCold Case Renaissance: The Death Of Botticelli's Muse
Simonetta Vespucci is probably one of the most painted women of the Italian Renaissance. Sandro Botticelli is widely believed to have used her as his model for Venus, and she appears, transformed and idealised, across several of his most famous works. She died in 1476, aged just 23.
The Conversation Mon, 07/13/2026 - 10:48 Categories Public HealthAI Has A Cerebellum Now
We're bombarded with information at all times, so much that if we had to try and process it all times, we'd be paralyzed. Our cerebellum does information damage control by filtering out what changes. Evolution made it possible for us to conserve energy while still processing anomalies quickly.
News Account Sun, 07/12/2026 - 16:51 Categories TechnologyLady 56: A Swedish Grave Reveals A Famed Spanish Pilgrimage
If you see multiple graves in medieval graves, it is reasonable to assume children and adults were related, but a new study finds that was not the case.
News Account Sat, 07/11/2026 - 20:19 Categories ArchaeologyLady 56: A Swedish Grave Reveals A Famed Spanish Pilgrimage
If you see multiple graves in medieval graves, it is reasonable to assume children and adults were related, but a new study finds that was not the case.
News Account Sat, 07/11/2026 - 20:19 Categories ArchaeologyThe Endangered Species Act Attempted To Define 'Habitat' And Controversy Ensued
It wouldn’t make much sense to prohibit people from shooting a threatened woodpecker while allowing its forest to be cut down, or to bar killing endangered salmon while allowing a dam to dry out their habitat.
The Conversation Sat, 07/11/2026 - 13:49 Categories Science Education & PolicyThe Endangered Species Act Attempted To Define 'Habitat' And Controversy Ensued
It wouldn’t make much sense to prohibit people from shooting a threatened woodpecker while allowing its forest to be cut down, or to bar killing endangered salmon while allowing a dam to dry out their habitat.
The Conversation Sat, 07/11/2026 - 13:49 Categories Science Education & PolicyParkinson's Disease Shows Men And Women Are Scientifically Different
More men than women develop Parkinson’s disease and new work presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies says that it is do to sex differences in how brain cells change. Parkinson’s disease affects about 9 million people and becomes increasingly prevalent with age.
News Account Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:11 Categories Genetics & Molecular BiologyParkinson's Disease Shows Men And Women Are Scientifically Different
More men than women develop Parkinson’s disease and new work presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies says that it is do to sex differences in how brain cells change. Parkinson’s disease affects about 9 million people and becomes increasingly prevalent with age.
News Account Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:11 Categories Genetics & Molecular BiologyHFO-1234yf Environmental Alternative Declared A Toxic Chemical
HFO-1234yf, a climate-friendly alternative refrigerant for car air conditioning systems touted by environmental activists, may instead be a greater problem than the products they insisted was causing pollution.
Hank Campbell Mon, 07/06/2026 - 18:01 Categories AtmosphericHFO-1234yf Environmental Alternative Declared A Toxic Chemical
HFO-1234yf, a climate-friendly alternative refrigerant for car air conditioning systems touted by environmental activists, may instead be a greater problem than the products they insisted was causing pollution.
Hank Campbell Mon, 07/06/2026 - 18:01 Categories AtmosphericPawn Storm
I once was an active chessplayer, but work duties have long taken tournaments off my plate - I simply do not have the time to sit through long hours of chess battles. So I play blitz online on chess.com (my handle is "tommasodorigo", in case you wondered).
Tommaso Dorigo Sun, 07/05/2026 - 11:29 Categories CulturePawn Storm
I once was an active chessplayer, but work duties have long taken tournaments off my plate - I simply do not have the time to sit through long hours of chess battles. So I play blitz online on chess.com (my handle is "tommasodorigo", in case you wondered).
Tommaso Dorigo Sun, 07/05/2026 - 11:29 Categories CultureWill The AI Bubble Burst?
As a forewarning to the reader, I am a physicist, not an economist. What I wrote below may very well be naive.
Tommaso Dorigo Sat, 07/04/2026 - 05:54 Categories TechnologyWill The AI Bubble Burst?
As a forewarning to the reader, I am a physicist, not an economist. What I wrote below may very well be naive.
Tommaso Dorigo Sat, 07/04/2026 - 05:54 Categories Technology