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| Science and Society, Spring&Summer, 2010 Two sources have many articles of interest in science. You can search those web sites for information on any of these topics. They are Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org Scientific American http://www.scientificamerican.com Introduction: What is Science? What is scientific fact?
Geology, University of Georgia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science Pathological science, observations that weren't http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~ken/langmuir/LangB.htm Skeptical Science A blog written by a bright young scientist on currently controversial topics. Very carefully researched and well written. SkepticalScience.com Lecture Slides Intro2010.pdf Genetics: an update and review
Wikipedia page is just an outline. Please follow the links in the article to read more on the topics that interest you most. The Wikipedia page on Genetics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics
The notes are long enough that they are in two files. They are also incomplete and being edited for 2010. If you use these versions, check back later for revised versions. GeneticsReview.pdf
book on the genetic evidence for evolution. The book contains far more material than covered in this course. Daniel J. Fairbanks(2007). Relics of Eden, Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY. ISBN 978-1-59102-564-1 Global Warming
pages, so you probably don't want to read it. This summary is a good way to understand the conclusions of the report in a reasonable time Summary of the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC The IPCC web site Here is a column from the Wall Street Journal that illustrates the sort of objections to the evidence on global warming that are commonly found in the popular media. A response to each is given so that you can see that the objections are not based on the evidence. Given the WSJ bias in favor of business and the status quo, one cannot reasonably think of this column as liberal propaganda, so its message in support of the reality of global warming should be convincing. What Global Warming? A look at the arguments the skeptics make—and how believers respond by Michael Totty
http://www.skepticalscience.com/ Here is a recent op-ed piece by Al Gore. It sums up the status of the worldwide political debate. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/opinion/28gore.html?pagewanted=1&emc=eta1 Here is The Quadrennial Defense Review, February 2010, prepared by the Defense Department and presented to the Senate. See especially pp 84-88 that reveal the military's acceptance of global warming as a reality and discusses their planning to deal with the risks and challenges it presents them. Quadrennial DefenseReviewReport.pdf Here is a report on risks to the US from current trends, including climate change, prepared in 2008 by the top US intelligence official in the Bush Administration to be given to the next President Obama. As seen in the DoD report, the intelligence community recognizes the reality of climate change and predicts severe detrimental consequences for the US. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090903302.html An open letter signed by 255 of the world's leading scientists: all members of The National Academy of Sciences. It defends the scientific case for global warming. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post all refused to publish it on their OpEd pages even though they have all published criticisms of the factuality of global warming NASLetterOnGlobalWarming.pdf Lecture Slides Global Warming.pdf Particle Physics, the LHC, and Cosmology (2 weeks)
Nevertheless, a few popular books can give explain some of the concepts to you without any mathematics. I recommend the following ones. This book gives a fascinating conceptual tour of string theory with emphasis on the multiple dimensions of current theories. Lisa Randall (2005), Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions, Harper Collins, New York. ISBN 978-0-06-053108-9 Brian Greene has produced books and film explaining modern particle physics that have received excellent reviews and awards, including the Pulitizer Prize. This book is an up-to-date survey of "The Theory of Everything". Brian Greene(2004), The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality, Vintage Books, New York. ISBN 0-375-72720-5 Lee Smolin explains String Theory and alternate theories. He gives an excellent history of string theory and emphasizes the human foibles that have accompanied the development. Lee Smolin(2004), The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality, Vintage Books, New York. ISBN 0-375-72720-5
ParticlesCosmology1.pdf ParticlesCosmology2.pdf Alternative Energy Update
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy The MIT Report on Geothermal Energy future_of_geothermal_energy.pdf Discussion of why "Clean Coal" is an unrealistic option http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/opinion/13bryce.html NYTimes article on the Economic Stimulus and Geothermal Energy http://www.nytimes.com/ article Renewable Energy Notes (in pdf format) RenewableEnergy.pdf |
| Copyright 2010 James W. Wiggins. All rights reserved. |
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