Author: Josh Witten

http://www.thefinchandpea.com

Science for the People: Biohacking

sftp-square-fistonly-whitebgThis week Science for the People is talking about do-it-yourself biology, and the community labs that are changing the biotech landscape from the grassroots up. We’ll discuss open-source genetics and biohacking spaces with Will Canine of Brooklyn lab Genspace, and Tito Jankowski, co-founder of Silicon Valley’s BioCurious. We’ll also talk to transdisciplinary artist and educator Heather Dewey-Hagborg about her art projects exploring our relationship with genetics and privacy.

*Josh provides research & social media help to Science for the People and is, therefore, completely biased.

Endless Gravity

Endless Gravity // 14-BIT RAW from Alex Soloviev on Vimeo.

HT: Xeni Jardin at BoingBoing

Happy 30th Anniversary for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Day!

Perhaps the greatest barrier to the logic of Larry Granillo is that I do not know of any high school’s that are still in session today, 5 June. I do, however, know a lovely and talented high school teacher who is working today (my partner). So, I am willing to accept the detailed analysis that 5 June 1985 was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Enjoy it the way Ferris intended. Drive a fast car that isn’t yours. Sing karaoke. Pretend to be the Sausage King.

Failing to do that, then enjoy Ferris Club, which may be the reason the Internet exists at all.

We’ve been celebrating Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Day here at The Finch & Pea since 2011.

Science for the People: Dataclysm

sftpThis week Science for the People is looking at how powerful computers and massive data sets are changing the we study each other, scientifically and socially. We’re joined by machine learning researcher Hannah Wallach, to talk about the definition of “big data,” and social science research techniques that use data about individual people to model patterns in human behavior. Then, we speak to Christian Rudder, co-founder of OkCupid and author of the OkTrends blog, about his book Dataclysm: Who We Are (When We Think No One’s Looking).

*Josh provides research & social media help to Science for the People and is, therefore, completely biased.

Dexter’s Laboratory

As Eva described at Science Studio, it turns out that The Offspring’s Dexter Holland has gone back to working on his PhD in molecular biology after taking some time off to be a rockstar. His thesis is looking at the use of microRNAs by HIV during infections. Holland now as the unofficially required first author paper (PDF link; authored as Bryan Holland) needed to be allowed to defend.


Not only is the name “The Offspring” probably inspired by biology, but the famous lyric “keep ’em separated” was inspired by an experience Holland had pouring plates in graduate school, which you can hear Dexter describe in an interview about his music and science on The Nerdist Podcast.