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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Dan Hirsch Attacks Diablo Canyon Safety

He's an anti-nuclear power activist, but one of the more rational ones:


Where Have All The SORRY DeNiArs Gone?

The DeNiAr group called SARI, which I refer to as SORRY, seems to have lost most of their membership based on their website listing (I'm intentionally withholding a link).  They may just be re-organizing into Members and Associate Members, I don't know.

Where have all the DeNiArs gone?  Sing along!

What Happens To Nuclear Fuel In A Meltdown?

This is what happens.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Do Something!

Helping young folks make a difference on important issues like climate change:


You Don't Believe In Evolution

You either understand it, or you don't:


 

Fukushima's Water Problem

An NHK documentary:



Nuclear Data App

Thanks to the IAEA.

I Agree With Mark Kermode

I don't even know who he is, but he has reviewed the documentary, "Merchants of Doubt" and he finds the subject enraging.  As do I:


Seawater Sampling In Fukushima


Explaining Evolution

In 2 minutes with Bill Nye:


Monday, December 8, 2014

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Friday, December 5, 2014

The Mind Of A Science Denier

With Donald Prothero (hey, Don...what about health physics denial?):


The IAEA Isn't In DeNiAl

They, with the ILO, are conferencing on occupational radiation issues.

Keith Baverstock - A Refreshing Voice Over DeNiAl

I posted a video of DeNiAr Wade Allison at the FCCJ yesterday. 

Here's Keith Baverstock discussing Fukushima and UNSCEAR,  

He slams Allison at about 21:00, "He's a crank":






Free Fukushima Book

Can be downloaded here.  Unfortunately, the chapter of radiation health effects includes this:

"Some researchers subscribe to the once discredited hormesis concept, a hypothesis that receiving low ionizing radiation in doses just above the natural background level may induce beneficial biological responses. The proponents of this hypothesis explain that a number of compensatory and reparatory mechanisms (e.g., stimulation of the immune response and DNA repair, and activation of apoptosis that eliminates damaged cells that would otherwise become cancerous) are stimulated in response to small doses of ionizing radiation."

It's still discredited....whether some researchers subscribe to the concept or not.

Americans And Their Creationism

God's work?

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Busby Fukushima Fearmongering Debunked


Wade Allison Fools Journalists

The problem with journalists, is that they feel compelled to get both sides of a story.  

See this video at about 1:30.  

That's not how science works.  We have scientific consensus bodies which draw conclusions based on the evidence.

Wade Allison can't accept those conclusions, so he makes up his own "science".


Let's Talk Science Denial

With Neil deGrasse Tyson & Bill Nye:


Jesus Must Be Smiling

The Vatican has more money than they thought.  Nice problem.

Uranium Drive In

Is a documentary concerning a small town's battle for or against opening a uranium mill.

It's airing right now on the PIVOT channel.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Believe In God In 5 Minutes!

Gerald Schroeder, PhD in physics, former AEC employee is a moron trying to fool others that the laws of nature (those associated with our Universe) existed before the Universe (no evidence of that at all).  Therefore, (pre-determined conclusion) Gawd:


A Book Blamed For A Suicide

Richard Dawkin's "The God Delusion".

Maybe not lying to kids about religion, would prevent this sort of thing.

60 Minutes Visits Chernobyl

Tonight after the football game on CBS.

U.S. Fails To Properly Monitor Fukushima Fallout?

It's not a safety issue (though the Russian Times seems to want it to be fearful), just a data collection issue, if one is interested in that sort of thing.


Saturday, November 15, 2014

How Much Of Your DNA Is Functional?

Depends on one's definition of "functional", but about 8%.

Global Warming - Like A Blanket & A Tanning Oil

Longer wave radiation emitted by the Earth is trapped like a blanket.

But eventually, shorter wave radiation emitted by the Sun is also trapped.

Science Denial Charts Are Insufficient

Chris Mooney has a post in which he charts the influence of politics and religion on science denial.

At the end, he concludes that our sense of personal identity is the major influence.

What An IDiot!

Dr. John Lennox, an Intelligent Design proponent (IDiot), can't comprehend chemical evolution:


Annapolis Landmarks At Risk

From flooding caused by global warming:


Get Acclimatized!


Friday, November 7, 2014

Oh, The Irony!

This is several weeks old, but worth the wait.

Creationist (with a major in biology), climate change denier and LA Govenor Bobby Jindal (Redumblican, of course!) calls the Obama administration "science deniers".

He's praying about whether he'll run for President in 2016.


Behe = IDiot

Because an Intelligent Designer loves bacterial flagellum.  Where did the rest of the bacteria come from?



S. Carolina - You Have A Problem

An IDiot (Intelligent Design proponent) state senator.  Redumblican, of course.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Oh Shit

Climate change denier Senator James Inhofe (R - of course!) to preside over environmental panel.


The LNT:MDA Analogy

When a laboratory analyzes a sample for radioactivity, it has to compare the instrument's sample results with the instrument's background results.

A one time measurement of the radiation background may or may not represent the true background, there is variability.  Same with the sample.

If you've ever read the results from a laboratory, when the sample and background counts are the same, what do they record as the sample's radioactivity?

Hint:  It's not zero!

Fukushima Fuel Rods Removed

From Rx #4 Building.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Virgin Galactic Spaceship Crash

Have you heard about the crash?

What if the company's CEO, Sir Richard Branson, had appeared on T.V. and said something like:

"This is a tragedy.  Please join me in signing a letter denouncing the science of physics, particularly the horrible theory of general relativity (our theory of gravity).  We mustn't let this happen again.  A pilot was killed and another injured.  The costs have been in the millions.  Please denounce general relativity."

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Climate Of Ignorance

With right-wing nut and Weather Channel founder, John Coleman (& The Young Turks):


F Reactor Inspection

At Hanford:


DeNiArs Should Watch This Chernobyl Video

Ian Goddard does a wonderful job of explaining a commonly used tactic of DeNiArs (those who deny the scientific theory of LNT, analogous to evolutionary biology deniers or anthropogenic climate change deniers).  They typically indulge in the fallacy of cherry picking radiation studies at low doses and with low statistical power and then erroneously conclude that LNT is wrong and part of an anti-nuclear power conspiracy!

Bill Nye Fighting For The Young Creationist Mind

It can be a tough nut to crack.


Jesus...The "Science Isn't Incompatible With Faith" Delusion Again

In the Atlantic dealing with the Pope's views on evolution.

The author completely ignores a fundamental Catholic myth.

That Jesus had to die in order to get forgiveness for Original Sin (Adam & Eve stuff).

If Adam & Eve didn't exist (they didn't) and Original Sin never happened (it didn't), then Catholicism blows up.  The whole Jesus myth becomes even more nonsensical.

Someone should tell the author that the reason the Pontifical Academy of Sciences exists is because faith is incompatible with science.   They need THEIR version of science, instead of an objective version of science.

And what about that wafer turning into the flesh of Jesus after one eats it?  Is that science?

Zombie worship isn't science.


Politicians Say The Most Unscientific Things!

Here's a sampling.

Happy Election Day...please vote (it should be obvious which political party's leadership is the most unscientific).

Monday, November 3, 2014

The Electric Vehicle Revolution

Have some fun!


Radiation A Risk Factor For Brain Tumors

In young people.

Shocking!  HA!

IDiot's Secret Weapon

Intelligent Design ministers (IDiots) have a secret weapon.

I didn't realize human stupidity was a secret.  They aren't doing very well keeping it secret.

How about some music?


Science Denial & Religious LGBT Phobia

"There are numerous reasons why science denial is dangerous."

Thank You Jon Stewart

For having the integrity to mock your newest advertiser, who also fund science denial organizations, Koch Industries.  If you ever had any doubts about anthropogenic climate change, Koch Industries was involved in paying people to appear on T.V., on the Internet, etc. in order to confuse you.




Understanding Cancer

Using statistics, physics and genetics.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Climate Change - Time Is Not On Our Side

According to the IPCC.

Solar Power - The Black Hole Of Sunlight

New, efficient nanomaterial.

DeNiAl Again At Atomic Ideologies

Blaming the theory of LNT on poor Fukushima emergency planning is like creationists blaming the theory of evolution on Hitler's holocaust.  I tried to comment there, but I have been religiously excommunicated!

The International Atomic Energy Agency didn't blame science on the failings of Fukushima, they blamed a lack of preparedness and training.

UPDATE:  The IAEA link appears to be broken.  Here is a similar report from the pro-nuclear power Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO).  See the bottom of page 4 (using the page numbering of the document, not Adobe).  They didn't blame science.  Obviously.


Sunday, August 31, 2014

Saturday, August 30, 2014

The Mind Of A Science Denier

With geologist Donald Prothero (health physics not mentioned! Pooh.).  Science deniers have minds???:


Formaldehyde Confirmed As A Human Carcinogen

Which will be followed by formaldehyde deniers.

Victor Stenger Has Died

Physicist and outspoken atheist.

HLW Allowed To Be Stored Indefinitely

The industry will be happy, the anti-nukes not so much.

Fukushima - UNSCEAR vs Mousseau

I don't think this article will help the average person understand science.

It is basically describing the difference between primary research (Mousseau) and meta-analysis (UNSCEAR), which is combing through primary research in order to reach conclusions.  Meta-analysis always lags what primary research shows, but isolated bits of primary research could lead one to erroneous conclusions (which is why we do meta-analysis).

Here's a related Fukushima piece.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Global Warming Update

Awww pooh.

ANS Nuclear Cafe Allows More Propaganda

It's a blog (intentionally no link) of the American Nuclear Society (I quit because they have no discipline) and it's Rod Adams again with the Ed Calabrese fabrication that H.J. Muller lied about LNT.

It is the DeNiArs verion of the IDiot's (Intelligent Design proponents) Haeckel's embryos.





The Anti-Nukes Are Drooling!

Over this confidential report on Diablo Canyon plant safety.


Scientist Pleads Guilty

To taking government-owned computer to China.

Can Tiny Nuclear Plants Thwart Regulatory Hell?

An op-ed by a nuclear engineering graduate student.

Scientific Realism

With biologist John Wilkins:


Monday, August 25, 2014

The End Of Tanning?

I doubt it, but tan responsibly.

The computer generated image of the female face, reminds me of this earlier post's image.

When Faith & Facts Collide

Facts will ultimately win.

How Science Deniers Delude Themselves

False equivalence.

Science is the process of NOT fooling oneself....whatever one thinks one knows, one submits for peer review.

Scientific consensus bodies review the peer-reviewed literature and draw conclusions which are also open for peer review and comment.  They then make those conclusions public.

Any other process isn't as good as the scientific method.

The Madingley Model

A global ecosystem model.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Dear Climate Change Deniers

Scientists have feelings too.

Don't Waste Money On CAM Trials

Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) is pseudo-science and let's call it what it is.

And don't waste money on it!




Fukushima On 60 Minutes

The news magazine will have piece on Fukushima at 6:00 p.m. CST.

We've Got Gas

Methane plumes along U.S. east coast.

Speaking Of Dumb Lawsuits.....

Jeebsus.


WIPP Gets Spanked - Again

They didn't perform some required air sampling.

Here's some background.


They Should Have Consulted A Health Physicist

Residents file a lawsuit claiming radioactive contamination from a St. Louis area landfill.

Case dismissed.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

C-Span Does The U.S. A Disservice

They are covering a portion of the Heartburn Imbecile's pseudo-scientific global warming conference, at 8 p.m. EST tonight.  They're referring to it as "Climate Change Skeptics", when "Climate Change Deniers" would be more accurate.





Has The Earth's Missing Heat Been Found?

Possibly.

Global warming is also making meteorology more difficult.

To James Hollow And His Audience

(This is in response to a Youtube video comment section)

James:

I hope what you are about to read will anger you, because you have been intentionally misled.  You have been used by Allison as an accomplice to spread his misinformation around.  If you have a pro-nuclear power bias, you are particularly susceptible to this mis-information due to what is called "confirmation bias" and "motivated reasoning".

Let's get into some detailed facts:

There are two international scientific consensus bodies on radiation health effects.  They are the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).

Both of these consensus bodies have concluded that LNT is the best explanation of radiation health effects. You can find this in ICRP Report 103 (which you have to buy) and in UNSCEAR 2010 (which you can read online).

In the U.S., we also have the U.S. National Academy of Sciences' BEIR VII (I've already provided a link) and the National Commission on Radiological Protection & Measurement (NCRP).  The NCRP Report 136 (which you have to buy) details their conclusions.

All four consensus bodies are in agreement, that LNT is the best theory of radiation carcinogenesis.  And that is one of the remarkable facts about science....we can't have consensus bodies in disagreement!  Any areas of disagreement are worked out!  And more broadly, we can't have a theory in biology contradict a theory in physics....or a theory in health physics contradict a theory in cosmology!

Science works well because of the filtering methodology of peer reviewed publication, meta-analysis, and scientific consensus bodies.  The vast majority of scientists appreciate and respect this process.  The vast majority of scientists are careful to stick to their own area of expertise and to educate the general public on what the scientific consensus is within their own area of expertise.

Sadly, there is a small minority of people with science degrees (I don't refer to them as scientists because they have abandoned the scientific method) who don't like the conclusions of scientific consensus bodies, and manufacture propaganda to confuse the general public.  One of those people is Wade Allison.

Note in your video (just before 3:00) he states he came to his own conclusions.  That should be a warning bell to everyone!  No one should care what his own conclusions are.  You should only care what the conclusions are of an appropriate scientific consensus body.  Note that prior to making that statement he describes his credentials...he is inducing his audience to fall for the fallacy of argument from authority.

From there he proceeds to misinform (we can get into technical details, but I'm avoiding doing that for the moment).

ASIDE -  At 1:58 in this video, Allison says he's not an expert. If he's not an expert, shouldn't he be paying attention to the experts?  I'm reminded of the creationist dentist who doesn't like the scientific consensus of evolution within biology. (Someone has to stand up to the experts! HA!)

So, to be crystal clear, the scientific consensus has been and continues to be LNT and Allison is intentionally misinforming the public. The reason you think LNT is based on the precautionary principle is because you have been led to believe it.  It is possible that LNT overestimates the risk of radiation, but it is also possible LNT underestimates the risk of radiation.  As of today, the evidence suggests that LNT is the best model.

 Allison is engaged in the same behavior that evolution deniers, climate change deniers, tobacco deniers, etc. engage in.  It is narcissistic, intellectually cowardly and unethical.  If a medical doctor decided to pray to cure a disease rather than provide the consensus medicine, that doctor would be banned from practice.  If an attorney, advised his client to ignore a court ruling because he didn't agree with it, he would be banned from practice.  Sadly, we don't have a similar mechanism within the physical sciences.

Now Allison is not the only unethical science person.  You have given us another one, Jane Orient.  She is the President of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness.  As you can see if you read that webpage, they engage not only in LNT denial, but also in climate change denial.  They are a bunch of Libertarian (don't like government regulations) medical doctors who are associated with the Libertarian Marshall Institute (mostly physical scientists).  The Marshall Institute was the subject of the book, "Merchants of Doubt".

These organizations take donations from corporations and other Libertarians, and pay people with credentials to manufacture arguments against the scientific consensus.  They do this to delay, minimize, or overturn regulations which may be a consequence of the scientific conclusions.  Very unethical.

So, if you look at the references in her paper, you find the same cherry-picked group of people who have attacked health physics over the decades.  One example is T.D. Luckey.  Here is a paper by him, in which he promotes hormesis (that radiation is good for you) by comparing it with the pseudo-science of homeopathy!  That's like comparing it to astrology in order to promote it!

Here is Luckey at a 2000, Doctors for Disaster Preparedness meeting giving a talk called "How Health Physics Lost the 20th Century".  Well, health physics didn't lose the 20th century nor the 21st.  However, Luckey passed away this year.

Creationists repeat the same, tired old arguments attacking evolutionary biology.  They'll claim evolution is just a hypothesis, it's an atheistic conspiracy, it's about to be overturned, etc.

You will find the same dozen or so people using their credentials to attack health physics (I call them DeNiArs).  You will also find a different group, consisting of another dozen or so people with credentials, exaggerating radiation risks.  Both groups are engaged in unethical conduct.

Stick with the scientific consensus bodies' conclusions on any issue....don't seek out individuals with science degrees who are telling you what you want to hear.

Otherwise they'll play you like a fiddle.

I hope you are very angry.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

ANS Nuclear Cafe - Oh Woe Is Me!

There is a blog there in response to the EPA's request for feedback on some regulatory changes.

The author, Jim Hopf, seems to think that LNT only applies to radiation associated with the nuclear power/nuclear weapons industry.

Of course, he's wrong.

It applies to all genotoxic carcinogens, radiation being one.  And it applies to many industries...chemical industries, tobacco industries, and even fracking (because the waste is radioactive).

Jim really should get out more.

Note:  My comment is being held in moderation.  I wonder what he's scared of?

A Good Tick?

It's bite causes meat allergies in some people.

MI Landfill Taking Other States' Fracking Wastes

Which makes it a political issue.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Lucky For Burrus - He Can't Be Sued For Being Stupid

Another genius Forbes "contributor" has a piece called, "Hopefully Dr. Michael E. Mann Doesn't Sue Me For This Column".

In a nutshell, some right wingers wrote some insulting things about climatologist Michael Mann.  According to the contribution, these things included the phrase "academic and scientific misconduct" and three more.

Now if Dr. Mann did engage in misconduct, that might not be libelous, but if he did not, then broadcasting those phrases about a private professional would be libelous.

Burrus tries to hide behind the smokescreen that it's all a part of the climate change debate.

No, it's libel.

Science isn't done by blog or by National Review Online.

(P.S. Burris is associated with the Koch-funded, science denying Crapo (Cato) Institute)






Using Hydrogel To Attract & Kill Cancer

Interesting technology.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Be Prepared! These Doctors Are A Disaster!

They are the Libertarian medical equivalent of the Marshall Institute's physical science "experts".

They're called Doctors For Disaster Preparedness.

I'm not going to link to them (you can easily find them), but on their website is an e-book dealing with surviving radiation and other emergencies.

Arctic Emergency

Scientists speak:


Return To Fukushima

With Miles O'Brien: