Red Does Research

Adam Savage gives an inspiring TED talk about the wonder of small ideas leading to major discoveries in the world of science.  Sometimes the most simple of ideas is the best.

Watch the video and then realize.. this is a real thing!  There is a currently a website dedicated to petitioning for extreme storms to be named after climate change-denying politicians.  Not such a bad idea..

Check out this great interview with Elise Andrew, the creator of the popular Facebook page "I fucking love science".  She discusses her inspiration behind the page and some experiences she has had along the way.

In this clip via the Connecticut forum, a panel on Vision and Brilliance in 2012 discussed technology, science, and design.  Neil deGrasse Tyson also offered an interesting tidbit about the origin of the term "venereal" disease.

Watch this video to see how expression of gratitude improves happiness

Another great video from Joe Hanson of "It's Okay To Be Smart" about the wonders of evolution.  Some animals do some seemingly weird things.

The Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. culminates in an actual rap battle about science.  Not only does the program help the students to show off their rap skills and what they have learned about science, but they are inevitably building confidence and learning to communicate science in their own way.

In a follow-up video, GZA joins students at Bronx Compass to help them during the Science Genius pilot program.

One of the most exciting things happening in science education (in my opinion) is the merging of science and hip-hop culture.  Developed by GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan and Christopher Emdin, a science advocate and Columbia Professor of Education, the Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. gives students in inner city areas the opportunity to create raps about science.

Psychology writer Maria Konnikova explains the art and science of decision-making, as inspired by Sherlock Holmes.  Watch the video to hear about methods like the "three pipe problem" and other interesting tidbits from the fictional detective.

Joe Hanson explains that the position at which you are standing dictates what you see in a rainbow, and, hence, why you see rainbows differently that anybody else.  Watch the video to learn why exactly this is the case, and how rainbows even happen.

In a more recent Science podcast from August 16th, Mara Hvistendahl reports on a growing problem of suicide by pesticide in Asian countries.  Interestingly, pesticides like DEET and DDT were introduced after or around the time of World War II and were first employed in the countries like Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia.  DDT has been outlawed since the 70s and 80s in most parts of the world - however, India continues to use the chemical on its crops.

In a Science podcast from August 9th, Robert Seder discusses the clinical trials conducted at the NIH to combat malaria with an attenuated vaccine. More studies are required as follow-up to this clinical trial to prove that the vaccine is effective, providing hope for malaria prevention in the near future.

Tom McFadden has several videos on YouTube that explore scientific subjects through rap battles performed by young students.  Here, the students talk about Pluto and why the planet has been such a topic of conversation in recent years.  This is the just the surface of what has been happening recently to merge science and hip hop (see more recent posts).

This time moderated by Richard Dawkins, J. Craig Venter, Sidney Altman, Leland Hartwell, Chris McKay, Paul Davies, Lawrence Krauss, and Roger Bingham sit on a panel to discuss the answer to the question "What is life?" from each of their individual perspectives for ASU's Origins project.

For the second part of this ASU Origins debate on the storytelling of science, the panel answers questions posed by the audience.  Neil deGrasse Tyson gets a bit excited and things get interesting...

For the first part of this ASU Origins debate, moderated by Lawrence Krauss, Bill Nye, Richard Dawkins, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Brian Greene, Ira Flatow, Neal Stephenson, and Tracy Day get together to discuss their own personal stories about how they first became interested in science.