The unpoliced zones of Brit TV are on a total high currently, as regards unexpected science, its hardcore and its social aspects – Monday 12 Jan on BBC2, C4 and C5 saw a fantastic run of documentaries, end to end (and not even clashing a bit!)[…]

If science is the new punk rock then I think the Dana Centre wants to be the 100 Club. I have not been yet, but they seem to be trying awfully hard to be intelligent, fun AND grown-up. This seems to work on the basis that controversy is the best way […]

But X-ray crystallography is totally punk rock! Analytical chemistry methods in descending order of punk rockness:
1. X-ray crystallography
2. NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy
3. MALDI-mass spectrometry
4. Column chromatography (elute w[…]

Blatantly edumacational link #1 Photograph 51 explained ‘ a quick exploration of why Rosalind Franklin’s (and Raymond Gosling’s) photo allowed Crick and Watson to make a good guess at the structure of DNA.
Not very punk, sorry, Geet[…]

An article in the recent issue of Skeptic magazine researching public reaction to the cringe-inducing, gauche and generally unnecessary “The Brights” campaign. The article (by Skeptic founder/director Michael Shermer) doesn’t come t[…]

Sculpting Sand: Dry In The Hand, Like Putty In The Water. Now I am not sure of the chemical construction of said toy sculpting sand, but I do know that the claim to be like putty in the water is hyperbolic to say the least. Unless your use of putty i[…]

A Japanese study published last month in the journal Physiologic Behavior has indicated that kissing might reduce skin allergies in certain patients with rhinitis and dermatitis. It makes you wonder whether labcoat-clad scientists were watching the […]

Mmmm, Piney goodness. Needs must and all, I remembered as a youth being doused in strongly smelling pine fragranced baths. If you are doing the dates coming back on the calendar thing in your head you are probably remembering that way back when Radox[…]

I’m totally serious about the moisturising thing. It’s only been a few days, but one thing has become apparent. Despite the Nivea packaging saying that it is “odour neutral” this is obviously a complete lie ‘ as with mos[…]

Of course a REAL mathematician could tell what made this number special just by looking at it[…]