Theories of Everything

New Scientist has a great articles on the various physics theories that are trying to be the "theories of everything". These are the theories that they think might make the world;). New Scientist looks at the top 7 in clear terms. Ever wanted to know about String theory after watching Big Bang? Go read and let me know what you think! I think I might read it with my older 2 kids so none of the rest of you are off the hook;).

Safe Edible Glass?

Spray on Glass, yes spray on glass. There is a liquid breathable glass that they can spray on surfaces. You can spray it on surfaces to keep them new but the big arena is in food. You could spray it on food and then it would keep out bacteria. Veggies wouldn't mold so you don't have to worry about spoilage. Due to the fact it is only 100 nanometers thin it is totally edible. Science is amazing isn't it?

So would you eat food with it on it? Even though it is edible I think it might be a mental block for me.

Women's Need to Understand & Books

No, I am not talking about women driving the self help book industry. I am talking about the "True Crime" novels. Before I go any further I must say that I was surprised to see that women were the main purchasers of true crime novels. But the question is why? In the inaugural issue of Social Psychological and Personality Science (published by SAGE) they talked about this phenomenon. Apparently it is women's fear of attack that leads them to want to understand it and therefore prevent it from happening to them. But instead it is causing some sort of reverse effect because women who read them are more afraid.

This doesn't really surprise me. It is easier to just accept evil than to understand where it is rooted. Once you see its roots you see that it isn't that rare. Hitler as a twisted person wasn't a fluke and neither was Ted Bundy.

I have always had an interest in criminology and procedure but I blame that less on being a woman than having a mother who has a criminology degree and 2 step dads who were cops;). What do you think?

(HT: Science Daily)

Super Cool!

This is a Meteor that exploded of South Africa! NerdDad shared it with me and it is even cooler than I thought it would be!

Diamond Optical Illusion

This is a cool optical illusion and really shows how we process color!

Junk Food Worse than Heroin?

Scripps Research Institute has come out with a study that looks at the addictive nature of junk food. Apparently these rats were so addicted that they were willing to take a shock in order to get the beloved junk food. They are trying to prove that the junk food is just as bad as drugs.

As a fat girl I don't know what all to think. On one hand I can totally agree because I don't know why my logic doesn't control my intake better. But on the other hand I can't say that I really cut a lot of slack for addicts so why should I be able to use it as an excuse because if you have a problem you should get help. The one thing that I get out of it that makes me feel better is that changing food choices is hard. Not due to my weak will but it really is hard.

So what do you think? Is the fact it may be addictive give us an excuse? Should junk food be illegal like the drugs? What?

(HT: Grist)

A Little Science Fun!

This was cool and easily do able! I think we will have to do this experiment soon with the kids. Ahhh, the fun of homeschooling. Get to play with toys and call it school!

Metal Velcro

Awesome isn't it? There really is metal velcro or, without the trademark term, hook and loop fastener. It is so cool! From the press release:

Hook and loop fasteners made of spring steel have now been developed at the Institute of Metal Forming and Casting of the Technische Universitaet Muenchen. These fasteners are resistant to chemicals and can withstand a tensile load of up to 35 tonnes per square meter at temperatures as high as 800°C.

This is so cool! I love watching materials innovation. In the article it says that they were looking for automotive innovations and uses in construction. How neat!

(HT: Next Big Future)

Mythbusters, Grant and Twitter

NerdDad shared a piece on the Gorn Cannon that Mythbusters is going to do in the next season. The picture and the information was found on Grant Imahara's Twitter. While the Gorn Cannon is cool (it is from Star Trek for those who don't know) I was more shocked that I wasn't following Grant. I have to say he is my favorite, he reminds me of some high school friends. But I rectified the situation;).

Kind of Gross But Really Interesting!

So could this guy really have grown a little tree in his lung?

A Little Liquid Oxygen Goes A Long Way

Cool eh? I got this over at the Ig Nobels.

Grow A New Bone!

Next Big Future has an awesome post on how to grow new bone cell off 3-D printed copy of a bone. It is so cool. Pop over and read all about it!

Refrigerated Beaches?

This is just an example of people with way to much money who know even more people with even more money.

Science Dork Alert!

There is an awesome article how engineers are retrofitting UC Berkley's stadium. Why?

Memorial Stadium was built in 1923 atop the Hayward Fault, which the U.S. Geological Survey said has a 70 percent chance of hatching a 6.7-magnitude or greater quake by 2030. The earth could move up to 6 feet horizontally and 2 feet vertically, presenting a challenge to engineers charged with saving the stadium and the football fans who might be inside.

While plenty of buildings around the world sit atop earthquake faults, Memorial Stadium is unique because of the sheer quantity of people it holds: 75,662. It's also unique because seismologists know exactly where the fault lies - under Section LL, through both end zones and out Section XX.

Cool.

(HT: Instapundit)

Homeschooler Powers Activate: Name the Bug

My friends over at The Weave were taking pictures at the park on Saturday and found this bug. While you can't really see the wings, it was flying. As The Weave describes it, it is a cross between a spider and a June Bug but they don't know what it is.

Well, I have faith in all you homeschooling families and I think it is a great time to show off your science knowledge. What is this bug? Let's knock the socks off this public school teacher(Who is a great guy, even though;). Leave your guesses or narrowing knowledge in the comments.

Allergy Gene?

Apparently Munich scientists have found the gene that may be responsible for many people's allergies. The FCER1A gene controls the lgE receptor. It appears that the lgE receptor is what fights off parasites (in people who need that). Maybe now a gene therapy drug can be developed to treat allergies once and for all.

Fun with Chemistry

Check out the fun to be had with Sulfur Hexaflouride.

(HT: The Weave)

Its Hip to be Nerdy

Queen's guitarist Brian May finished his PhD in Astronomy last year from Imperial College in London. Now his doctoral thesis is being published. Apparently he was working on his doctorate when Queen began to take off so he put the PhD on the back burner.

As a stay at home mom it brings me joy to see someone who took a 30 year break in education getting critical acclaim for their research. It brings me hope that someday I may actually go back to school.

As a nerd it brings me joy to see a rock legend say things like this:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my years playing guitar and recording music with Queen,” said May, 61, who earlier this summer received his doctorate in a ceremony at the Albert Hall. “But it’s extremely gratifying to see the publication of my thesis. I’ve been fascinated with astronomy for years.”

You don't have to collect knowledge for the sake of making money in it but the pure joy!

(HT: Physorg.com)

YouTube and Homeschooling

Does anyone else remember the animated science show on PBS called Eureka? Well, it is probably not surprising that bother NerdDad and I loved this show as kids. So NerdDad set to searching this out for the Nerdlings and Eureka! he found them. There are 30 pieces of episodes over at YouTube. We have downloaded them and uploaded them to the Tivo. NerdBug and NerdPie are loving them. They may not understand all the complex science but they ask to watch them over and over. So I am sure that the science will sink in! So I don't know who BubbleBear83 is but I appreciate the effort. Now that is using the Internet to our advantage!

Aqua Dots Kill!

While that may sound like an inflammatory title it is true. The AquaDots toy was made with substandard chemicals that turn into a date rape job when activated by water. (Those with toddlers read when eaten.) This can lead to come, seizures and possibly death.

Chemically what is going on is:

The toys were supposed to use 1,5-pentanediol, a nontoxic compound found in glue, but instead contained the harmful 1,4-butanediol, which is widely used in cleaners and plastics.

The Chinese online trading platform ChemNet China lists the price of 1,4 butanediol at between about $1,350-$2,800 per metric ton, while the price for 1,5-pentanediol is about $9,700 per metric ton.

What I find especially scary is that I was looking at buying these Wednesday morning at SuperWalmart and didn't get them because I was waiting for a sale.

Four minutes to a nerdier you!

Here at the nerdFamily blog, we like to celebrate all things nerdy. And believe me when I tell you that there isn't a scientific subject more nerdy than string theory. (It's nerdier than quantum physics and non-Euclidean geometry combined!) And so, we present Discover Magazine's pick, and viewers' pick for best String Theory in Two Minutes or Less video:

Their pick - String Ducky:


Viewers' pick - The Problem with Math:


You are now significantly nerdier than you were four minutes ago. You're welcome.