#reality-based

Astronaut Joan Higginbotham may run for the US Senate from North Carolina as a Democrat. Republican Richard Burr currently holds that seat but has stated that he would not seek re-election in 2022. So if Ms. Higginbotham ran and won, she would be flipping the seat for the Democrats.

If the Higginbotham candidacy is successful then she would be joining fellow astronaut Mark Kelly (D-AZ) in the Senate – presuming that he’s re-elected next year.

It would not be the first time two astronauts would be serving in the Senate at the same time. From 1977 to 1983 John Glenn (D-OH) and Harrison Schmitt (R-NM) served together in the upper chamber.

It would be great to have Joan Higginbotham with her scientific background in the Senate. The anti-science and pseudoscience crowd are overrepresented on Capitol Hill and the climate-deniers and creationists need to get more pushback from the reality-based majority in the US.

Defeat the Republican science-deniers with science and scientists.  🥼🧪🔭🔬🧫

You can hardly navigate the internet without running into climate deniers, creationists, anti-vaxxers, and anti-maskers. Sadly, many such people hold office at the local, state, and federal level. While it is often futile to try to change the minds of people who believe anti-science crap, it is possible to counter the political influence they exert.

314 Action (think 𝛑) is a group founded in 2016 which is dedicated to electing pro-science candidates and candidates with scientific backgrounds. They have been ramping up their activity. 

On Wednesday the group endorsed state Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a former science teacher and researcher running in New Mexico’s 1st District. That special election has not been set since Democratic Rep. Deb Haaland is awaiting confirmation to be the next Interior Secretary.

Morrow said the group could also weigh in on the May 1 special election in Texas’ 6th District to replace the late GOP Rep. Ron Wright, who died of complications from COVID-19. Democrat Shawn Lassiter, a former science teacher, recently launched her campaign there. Candidates from all parties will compete in the jungle primary. If no one wins a majority of the vote, the race heads to a runoff.

If you are reality-based and wish to mount a pro-science resistance to the onslaught of anti-science and pseudoscience bullshit coming from Republicans, check out the 314 Action site.

3.14 Action | Electing scientists who will use evidence and facts to fight climate change and fix our broken healthcare system.

Virtual Reality-Based Behavioural Learning for Autistic Children

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects social, communication, and behavioral skills. there are various interventions and therapies available that can help Virtual Reality-Based Behavioural Learning for Autistic Children. According to the National Autistic Society, around 700,000 people in the UK are on the autism spectrum. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of neurodevelopmental…