Neglected Failure Burns Lost Supernatural Stereotypes
As The World Burns by Jeff Goodell (Rolling Stone): In the US, there are five climate change lobbyists for each congressman. And only 1 in 10 of those lobbyists advocate doing something about climate change. Chances of the US doing what needs to be done about climate change are not high. [via]
System Failure by Christopher Hayes (The Nation): The US has reached the point where fixing major problems (e.g., health care) can no longer be done without entrenching systemic problems (e.g., increasing the power of the insurance industry) likely to make things worse in the long term. [via]
How To Cure 1 Billion People - Defeat Neglected Tropical Diseases by Peter Jay Hotez (Scientific American): There are an incredibly large amount of people in third world countries who are infected with parasitic worms, and who suffer ill health, malnutrition, and who are less intelligent and productive as a result, but because parasitic worms simply debilitate rather than kill, not much has been done. [via]
The Collectors Of Lost Souls: Turning Kuru Scientists Into Whitemen by Stephen T Casper (The Neuro Times): The somewhat bizarre story of the discovery of the cause of the disease Kuru in Papua New Guinea. [via]
Stereotypes: Why We Act Without Thinking by Jeremy Dean (PsyBlog): It’s relatively easy to influence you - (e.g.,) the way you walk, how rude you are, and how aggressive you are - without you realising it. Keep buying coke, kids. [via]
Why Skeptics Should Embrace The Supernatural on TV by Jason Colavito (eSkeptic): An oddly titled article, considering Colavito largely discusses 19th century literature here, but it’s applicable to TV. The X-Files, for example, is a critique (but not a repudiation) of science, promoting empiricism and open-mindedness, and downplaying scientism. [via]
