The Mathematics of Life was mathematician Ian Stewart’s most recent book, at the time I received it; but Stewart is prolific, writing a new book every 57 minutes or so. The Mathematics of Life is now his second most recent popular science book. In my opinion, your enjoyment of this book will depend upon your expectations. Continue reading “The Mathematics of Life”
Author: Josh Witten
http://www.thefinchandpea.com
Being a Scientist: Genomicist
This probably qualifies as Mike and I making fun of ourselves as we have both done/do genome-wide experiments. Some of us work in places with the word “Genome” in their name. Dear colleagues, please remember this is satire. Sort of.
You can get your own “Being a Scientist” template here and create your own, you crafty bastards you.
The Walking Dead’s Bloody Mess
There are spoilers below. You’ve been warned. If you are even further behind watching The Walking Dead – Season 2 than me and can’t bear the thought of being spared the waste of those hours of your life, this is not for you.
I have recently started catching up on The Walking Dead – Season 2. At the end of Episode 1, Carl Grimes, son of our hero, Rick Grimes, is wounded in a hunting accident. Episode 2 is then devoted to keeping Carl from bleeding out. This means surgery and blood transfusions. Unfortunately, you can’t just stick blood from one person into someone else1. The immune system will attack a blood transfusion as a foreign invader if the donated blood is not compatible with the recipient. These reactions can be fatal. Keeping blood banks stocked is difficult in our modern world. Trying to find appropriate blood donors for a kid with internal bleeding in a zombie-filled, post-apocalyptic wasteland poses a particular challenge. Continue reading “The Walking Dead’s Bloody Mess”
Math Madness #2: The “Jinx” & The “Choke”
During their 2009 game against Villanova, Duke guard John Scheyer was getting ready to take his fifth foul shot of the game. He’d made all four previous attempts. Announcer Verne Lundquist made reference to Scheyer’s high career free throw success rate (86%). Scheyer missed the shot, causing Lundquist to publicly flagellate himself for jinxing Scheyer.
Scheyer was one of the best foul shooters to ever play for Duke (3rd best). An 86% success rate is so high that we expect Scheyer to make any given free throw. Yet, at the moment of Lundquist’s apology, Scheyer was 4 for 5 (80%) from the line. Even over that small sample set, his short term 80% success rate was effectively identical to his career rate of 86%.
Verne didn’t jinx Scheyer. He just made a statement that, by chance, happened to coincide with a normal, probabilistic event. Superstitions get started that way. Continue reading “Math Madness #2: The “Jinx” & The “Choke””
Boy of Destiny
My post-Science Online 2012 interview with Bora Zivkovic is up at Scientific American Blogs. Hopefully, it conveys Calvin’s breadth of vision without the egomania and intense narcissism.
The Finch and Pea 