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PHYSICS, FTW!
PHYSICS, FTW! Dmitri Krioukov, a physicist at UCSD, gets off a $400 traffic ticket by publishing a persuasive paper, “Proof of Innocence”.
Arguing in court, he explained that the officer who issued him a ticket for driving through a red light had his sense of perception deceived by combination of three circumstances which induced a physical phenomena: “if a car stops at a stop sign, an observer, e.g., a police officer, located at a certain distance perpendicular to the car trajectory, must have an illusion that the car does not stop, if the following three conditions are satisfied: (1) The observer measures not the linear but angular speed of the car; (2) The car decelerates and subsequently accelerates relatively fast; and (3) There is a short-time obstruction of the observer’s view of the car by an external object, e.g., another car, at the moment when both cars are near the stop sign.”
I love his concluding sentence, “As a result of this unfortunate coincidence, the O’s perception of reality did not properly reflect reality”. The judge must have been impressed by the graphs in his Popular Physics (free) publication: http://arxiv.org/pdf/1204.0162v1.pdf
Posted in Rajini Rao
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A good cause! More info: http://girlstart.org
A good cause! More info: http://girlstart.org
Originally shared by Kimberly Chapman
Send a Girl to STEM Camp – NEW GOAL!
Because so many folks were awesome yesterday on my modest goal, I’ve updated the page. Now let’s see if we can fully pay for 3 underprivileged girls to go to STEM camp. Throw in a buck or two and pass it on now please!
PS If it gets to $900, keep going! It’ll still accept more!
Original text:
You know how so many of us here on G+ are constantly complaining about the sorry state of STEM education, about insufficient gender equity in STEM and other fields, and about how Texas too often seems like a psychotic hellhole filled with irrational, credulous, anti-science and anti-feminist jerks?
Well it’s time to Put Your Money Where Your Posts Are , people. Time to help make those things better!
I started a fundraising page for GirlStart, an awesome organization that brings STEM education to girls all over Central Texas (and actually not just girls, boys are often welcome at their free, open events, so don’t get cranky and think this is only about girls). They do stuff in schools, they do free science-based activities at larger events, they do workshops, and they do summer camps. They intern/employ female STEM students and recent grads so younger girls can see older ones enthralled by and working in science. They target low-income and at-risk girls and show them that STEM is a way up.
I’ve taken Peo to some GirlStart events and they are always amazing. When the events are free, I donate to cover the cost plus some.
Now I’m asking all of you who care about #science , #skepticism , #STEM , #education , and #genderequality to throw in a few bucks to help the cause.
Please donate a buck or two and spread the word!
I have over 14,000 followers. I expect that modest $150 goal to get met fast. I already threw in ten bucks myself.
DO IT.
#sendagirltocamp
Posted in Rajini Rao
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New Species of Security Spiders Discovered!
New Species of Security Spiders Discovered!
Artist Christopher Locke buys scissors confiscated from US air travelers and sold by Transportation Security Administration (TSA). He then bends and welds them into spiders because, “the irrational fear of spiders is very similar to the irrational fear of cuticle scissors”.
Tongue in cheek #sciencesunday post, made just before leaving for the airport 😛 Also, #awesome, trending on G+
See More: http://heartlessmachine.com/section/17714_Scissor_Spiders.html
Posted in Rajini Rao
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NEW DISCOVERY OF MicroDNA CIRCLES: Your genes and mine differ at thousands of individual points (SNPs, or single…
NEW DISCOVERY OF MicroDNA CIRCLES: Your genes and mine differ at thousands of individual points (SNPs, or single nucleotide polymorphisms) and in the number of copies of individual genes (CNV, or copy number variations). But did you know that there are differences in DNA between the individual cells of your body?
• Searching for evidence of genetic mosaics within the brain, researchers found tens of thousands of tiny circles of DNA representing a completely different form from the usual chromosomes. These microDNA circles are typically 200-400 base pairs long, and represent only 0.2% of the total chromosomal DNA, but given that we have 3,156,105,057 base pairs of DNA that’s still a lot. They are thought to arise from genes due to errors in replication or repair. Both single and double stranded circles were found. The electron microscope image shows a microDNA circle with a larger molecular model in color on the outside.
• Researchers reasoned that microDNA would leave behind microdeletions, or small gaps in the chromosome. Indeed, when they set about looking for these gaps, they found them at a rate of 1 in 2000, giving rise to considerable genetic variation between cells. Not only could these deletions potentially affect gene function, but they may serve as a genetic cache of information that may play a role in non-Mendelian inheritance.
• Fun fact: Do you know the origin of the word genome? It is thought to come from the Greek (γίνομαι) for “I become, I am born, to come into being”.
• Source: Extrachromosomal microDNAs and chromosomal microdeletions in normal tissues. Shibata Y, Kumar P, Layer R, Willcox S, Gagan JR, Griffith JD, Dutta A. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Science. 2012 Apr 6;336(6077):82-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22403181
Posted in Rajini Rao
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☆ UPDATE THE SCIENCE GOODNESS IN YOUR STREAM ☆
☆ UPDATE THE SCIENCE GOODNESS IN YOUR STREAM ☆
I recommend the lazy way of adding All Disciplines to your Science Circle. These are carefully curated by Chris (and myself) for your Google+ pleasure!
Originally shared by Chris Robinson
Are you looking for Science on Google+? Check out the most recent shared circles coming out of the Science on Google+: A Public Database page.
Profiles
All Disciplines: http://goo.gl/8wuIR
Anthropology: http://goo.gl/PUhw1
Astronomy: http://goo.gl/BFNbP
Biology: http://goo.gl/iGScy
Chemistry: http://goo.gl/X2RSf
Computer Science: http://goo.gl/yzAQU
Ecology: http://goo.gl/jiq0q
Engineering: http://goo.gl/zORic
Geology: http://goo.gl/b62Dq
Mathematics: http://goo.gl/sJxk2
Neuroscience: http://goo.gl/8zSTo
Philosophy of Science: http://goo.gl/IxiGl
Physics: http://goo.gl/Bp4hx
Psychology: http://goo.gl/BQBT2
Science Teachers: http://goo.gl/c1I7d
Science Writers: http://goo.gl/WKSaS
Pages
All Disciplines: http://goo.gl/SMP0c
Astronomy: http://goo.gl/5Lxl1
Biology and Neuroscience: http://goo.gl/I7CeP
General Science: http://goo.gl/3LRX9
Geology and Earth Science: http://goo.gl/ttcvk
Physics: http://goo.gl/gLhs8
Psychology and Neuroscience: http://goo.gl/AGckf
Posted in Rajini Rao
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The Road to Mussoorie: Imagine if you will, a town at the foothills of the Himalayas.
The Road to Mussoorie: Imagine if you will, a town at the foothills of the Himalayas. Blooming trees of orange Gul Mohar, aptly named “Flame of the Forest”, intermix with the softer purples of the Jacaranda tree. A rickety school bus drives us across dry river beds to town, which unexpectedly boasts an eminent collection of historic schools: the Doon School, Welhams, Convent of Jesus and Mary, and my alma mater, St. Thomas Day School. Some days, snow melting in the mountains sends unpredictable torrents of cold and clear water across the roads, forcing the bus driver to turn back- to the raucous cheers of those incarcerated inside!
In a corner of the dusty school ground, is a little cafeteria selling toffee, gum and the delectable “bun samosa”. This consisted of a soft round bun, sliced only partway through, stuffed with a pea and potato samosa and served with a messy helping of Channa Masala dribbled over the open top. How I envied those with both parental blessing and pocket money to indulge in this warm and spicy comfort food! Instead, I had my buttered sandwich (albeit cut into pretty triangles) and my mother’s paranoia of school yard germs as cold consolation.
Recipe and Blog: https://madamescientist.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/chickpeas-for-comfort-spicy-channa-masala/
Posted in Rajini Rao
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Chickpeas for Comfort: Spicy Channa Masala
Have you ever been transported back in space and time, to a place now lost to you forever, by a jog to the senses: word, a sight or taste? For me, a simple Channa Masala brings back memories of chilly days, school girl braids and a little shop selling “bun samosas”.
Imagine if you will, a town at the foothills of the Himalayas. Blooming trees of orange Gul Mohar, aptly named “Flame of the Forest”, intermix with the softer purples of the Jacaranda tree. A rickety school bus drives us across dry river beds to town, which unexpectedly boasts an eminent collection of historic schools: the Doon School, Welhams, Convent of Jesus and Mary, and my alma mater, St. Thomas Day School. Some days, snow melting in the mountains sends unpredictable torrents of cold and clear water across the roads, forcing the bus driver to turn back- to the raucous cheers of those incarcerated inside! In a corner of the dusty school ground, is a little cafeteria selling toffee, gum and the delectable “bun samosa”. This consisted of a soft round bun, sliced only partway through, stuffed with a pea and potato samosa and served with a messy helping of Channa Masala dribbled over the open top. How I envied those with both parental blessing and pocket money to indulge in this warm and spicy comfort food! Instead, I had my buttered sandwich (albeit cut into pretty triangles) and my mother’s paranoia of school yard germs as cold consolation.
Channa Masala (also known as Chole) is simple enough to be made a dozen different ways. I doubt that I make it the same way twice. Sometimes, I add tomato paste for a more intense flavor and color. Other times, I finish with a swirl of cream, to bring out the silky smoothness of the chick peas. Here is one version.
Channa Masala
• You can use canned chickpeas, but it’s easy to cook your own. Just submerge a cup of dry chickpeas in water overnight or before you leave for work. Because chickpeas are essentially bland, I layer in spices: to the cooking water, add a bay leaf or two, one clove of garlic, a few whole peppercorns and cloves, a pinch of coarse salt and turmeric. A quick drizzle from my oil dispenser and the chickpeas are ready to be blasted in my ancient pressure cooker. Of course, you can also cook them directly on a stove top; you’ll know they’re done when softened. (I also cook a couple of whole potatoes in the pressure cooker, along with the chickpeas.)
Chickpeas cooked in spiced water
• Next, add the aromatics: onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies (more or less to taste). Chop finely by hand or using a few pulses on a food processor.
Begin with the aromatics
• Saute the mixture on high heat initially, stirring frequently. This rapidly releases the endogenous water content of the onions before you begin the caramelisation process.
Chopped aromatics sauteed on high heat
• Once the onion mixture loses much of its water, turn down the heat and continue to cook for about 10 min. until it comes together in one caramelized mass of sweet goodness.
Caramelized onions for gravy base
• While the onions are reducing, cube the boiled potatoes.
Boiled and cubed potatoes
• Freshly grind some whole spices: I used about a tsp each of cumin and fennel seeds, a tbsp of coriander seeds, a smattering of peppercorns and a clove or two.
Whole spices: peppercorns, cloves, fennel, cumin and coriander seeds
• Give it a quick whirr in a spice grinder or spare coffee grinder. If you have neither, use a mortar and pestle with safety goggles 🙂 Needless to say, substitute with coriander powder, cumin powder and garam masala.
Freshly ground spices
• Dice a couple of red tomatoes.
Diced red tomatoes
• Add the chickpeas with their cooking water, tomatoes, potatoes and spices to the onion mixture. Season with more salt if needed, a dash (or more!) of chilli powder/cayenne pepper, and a pinch of sugar for balance. Simmer, simmer, simmer.
Half a lemon and chopped cilantro for garnishing
• Before removing from heat, add the juice of half a lemon and some chopped cilantro/coriander leaves.
Simmer to blend in the spices
• Serve with a simple pea pulao or with Naan bread.
Indian bread with Channa Masala
Perhaps, one day I will return to the town of Dehradun, now an important capital of the new Indian state of Uttarakhand, if only to look for the little cafeteria at the corner of the school ground. I doubt it’s still there, and I probably never will return to that northern outpost of my homeland where I spent my middle school years. But I can always concoct up some chickpeas for comfort.
The road from Dehradun to Mussorie. From http://www.dehradun.nic.in/
Posted in Family Life, FOOD, Indian food, Spices
Tagged channa masala, Chickpeas, chole, Dehradun, potatoes
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madame scientist's not-so-mad musings 