http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:26:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The purpose of life is for ribosomes to make more ribosomes, said my college biochemistry professor, and later friend, Harry Noller. The award of the Nobel prize in chemistry for the structure of the ribosome gives me a happy excuse to describe the wonderousness of this molecular machine. The central dogma, ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=108 ... where I introduce some Bay Area people spreading the Good Word about science. On June 18, I attended a retreat for Bay Area science communicators. Attending were wonderful people from science museums and laboratories and schools, but the presence of some people who are also finding creative ways to educate ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=96 Every child is naturally curious about the world. Children explore, chase insects, and question the whys of Nature. Upon growing up, this innate wonder can dull. Be it through weighty responsibilities, boredom, or changes in priorities, adults can forget the joy possible from observing Nature and grappling with its puzzles. I ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=92 For a few years I've intermittently campaigned for the renaming of Valentines Day to Dopamine Day. After all, that's what it's really about. The thrill of romantic love is largely the handiwork of the neurotransmitter dopamine. We would celebrate Dopamine Day by engaging in activities that increase dopamine, like savoring chocolates, ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=86 Today's factini isn't so surprising. Kissing makes us feel less stress (lower cortisol) and more bonded (higher oxytocin), reports psychologist Wendy Hill of Lafayette College. What is interesting: while kissing causes a cortisol decrease in both men and women, oxytocin is increased more in men than in women. The researchers ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=84 Helen Fisher rocks. And not just because she is willing to put love, a societal sacred cow, under her anthropologist's cutting knife, but because she got science into Oprah's O Magazine. It's old news to avid O readers, but new news to me that Fisher wrote an article in 2007 called ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=81 [caption id="attachment_75" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="oxytocin, the superglue of neurotransmitters"][/caption] I recently heard about a friend of a friend of a friend hosting an oxytocin-sniffing party. I don't know how common or rare that is, but it was new to me. I was immediately intrigued: I would love to know what the ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=74 Bob Nidever has recently created virtual spaces for science art networking. His blog "Art in Science" lists science art competitions and opportunities: http://artinscience.wordpress.com/ His Facebook group "Science Art Cafe" for chatting and networking: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46717338652 His twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bnidever I hope these take off - science art networking is so very needed. http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=71 OK, at first glance the word may look silly. But it should suit my need. Ever since finding out that using the word factoid for a true fact, rather than an almost-but-not-quite-true fact, is incorrect, I've hoped to find an appropriate substitute. I need a word for the little tidbits of ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=64 The Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) has named 2009 the Year of Science. They have given each month of 2009 a theme - we will have to wait for November to celebrate chemistry. January's theme is "the process and nature of science." I don't really have much to ... http://www.madewithmolecules.com/blog/?p=62