Just Like Cooking

Know what drives me nuts?Louder, Yorick, I can't hear you!Source: RSCSitting in the back of a seminar room after a fantastic talk.I can never hear anyone's questions! We scientists aren't always the most talkative types, but you'd think we could eke out some volume when it counts, right?Wrong. I can't tell you how often I've cupped my hand to my ear, leaned so far forward I'm nearly doubled over, and all I get are vague "Charlie Brown's teacher" noises directed at the seminar […]

Perhaps this little tidbit from ScienceInsider got lost in the shuffle yesterday:Looks like Washington wants a Science Laureate, a travelling scientist "national spokesman for science" to rove about the country drumming up support and excitement. From Sen. Hirono's (HI) office:"This new honorary position would be appointed by the President from nominees recommended by the National Academy of Sciences and serve for a term of 1-2 years. Using this national platform, the Science Laureate […]

From NPR News this morning, an intriguing news tidbit regarding the ongoing helium shortage:"There's a global shortage of refined helium, and it could get worse if the [U.S.] government doesn't stay in the business of selling helium. To understand how we got here, we need to go back to nearly a century ago to World War I. Germany started building huge inflatable aircraft, and to keep up, the U.S. started stockpiling helium. That federal helium reserve is located outside Amarillo, Texas. […]

Friend of the blog Stu Cantrill sends along a long-awaited decision, courtesy of our pals over at Retraction Watch. Blogizens may recall I wrote (strongly) in favor of this outcome back in February.I applaud the editors of Chemistry: A European Journal for righting this ship. Well done.Did you see how that worked out, Dalton Transactions?Hope you reconsider for next time.Thanks,SAO

Look what arrived by mail in the post this morning:As seen in several celebrity photo-shootsOK, so I'm no Charles Atlas (or even Phil Baran) yet, but I'm getting there...Thanks to the hard-working, fun-loving staff at Nature Chemistry!