9 posts · 9,853 views
David Robertson
9 posts
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- June 1, 2012
- 09:07 AM
- 468 views
We need substitutes, not extras
by David Robertson in David Robertson
I check my phone. “Already inside, some good ales on.” I quickly flick my wallet open to see a £20 note, then open the door to my local pub. A wave of warm air, infused with familiar and somewhat questionable odours, washes over me. An evening of chatter and drinking with friends awaits. Unexpectedly, the [...]... Read more »
MOY, C. (2012) Rainwater Tank Households: Water Savers or Water Users?. Geographical Research, 50(2), 204-216. DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-5871.2011.00720.x
York, R. (2012) Do alternative energy sources displace fossil fuels?. Nature Climate Change, 2(6), 441-443. DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1451
- August 1, 2011
- 06:32 AM
- 1,309 views
The horrors of scientific analysis, part 2: Ferocious FM-TOX
by David Robertson in David Robertson
FM-TOX. These evil scientist aren’t even trying to hide their motives anymore; they admit it’s toxic in the acronym! But there’s more to the story, as usual. The TOX in the title’s just a cover story. (This post is part 2 of a series uncovering the dark side of scientific methods; part 1 is here). [...]... Read more »
Quastel JH, & Wheatley AH. (1938) Anaerobic oxidations. On ferricyanide as a reagent for the manometric investigation of dehydrogenase systems. The Biochemical journal, 32(5), 936-43. PMID: 16746707
Catterall, K., Robertson, D., Hudson, S., Teasdale, P., Welsh, D., & John, R. (2010) A sensitive, rapid ferricyanide-mediated toxicity bioassay developed using Escherichia coli. Talanta, 82(2), 751-757. DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2010.05.046
- May 9, 2011
- 09:53 AM
- 1,256 views
Trapped in the city
by David Robertson in David Robertson
Imagine you’re on a world trip. You find yourself in a vast, sprawling city. You drift about, your path seemingly changing at random, following flows of people and being guided by the shapes of the metropolis. Strange scents fill your … Continue reading →... Read more »
Bennett, W., Teasdale, P., Panther, J., Welsh, D., & Jolley, D. (2010) New Diffusive Gradients in a Thin Film Technique for Measuring Inorganic Arsenic and Selenium(IV) Using a Titanium Dioxide Based Adsorbent. Analytical Chemistry, 82(17), 7401-7407. DOI: 10.1021/ac101543p
Panther, J., Teasdale, P., Bennett, W., Welsh, D., & Zhao, H. (2010) Titanium Dioxide-Based DGT Technique for In Situ Measurement of Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus in Fresh and Marine Waters. Environmental Science , 44(24), 9419-9424. DOI: 10.1021/es1027713
- April 30, 2011
- 07:48 AM
- 1,247 views
“[Adults] should contain their exuberance…
by David Robertson in David Robertson
…when playing on [bouncy] castles.” I think the literature’s got it wrong on this one. I’m going to illustrate why; not via rational argument, but with the presentation of colourful, photographic counter-evidence. That’s right. It’s a bouncy castle photo-fest. For … Continue reading →... Read more »
Levene, S. (1992) More injuries from "bouncy castles". BMJ, 304(6837), 1311-1312. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.304.6837.1311-c
- April 26, 2011
- 08:16 AM
- 1,598 views
It’s science: “My farts smell better than yours!”
by David Robertson in David Robertson
I don’t get blog requests particularly often. And this request was for a very difficult subject. I wasn’t sure if it was possible, or pleasant. But some questions are so nagging, so universal, so profound, that they need an answer. … Continue reading →... Read more »
Stevenson, R., & Repacholi, B. (2005) Does the source of an interpersonal odour affect disgust? A disease risk model and its alternatives. European Journal of Social Psychology, 35(3), 375-401. DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.263
- April 24, 2011
- 09:24 AM
- 1,349 views
Sunday Science: You’re pretty good, huh?
by David Robertson in David Robertson
If you’re reading this, you’re probably rather smart. No, no, don’t be modest: whatever your supposed ‘academic ability’, you’re on a blog about science, reading about real research findings. That means you care. I don’t know what you care about, … Continue reading →... Read more »
Cohen, G., Aronson, J., & Steele, C. (2000) When Beliefs Yield to Evidence: Reducing Biased Evaluation by Affirming the Self. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26(9), 1151-1164. DOI: 10.1177/01461672002611011
- April 12, 2011
- 08:30 AM
- 1,192 views
Kill the communication status quo. With guns.
by David Robertson in David Robertson
Sit down, kids, and get ready for a show. You’re about to see how a dumb rap star intent on killing people, golden retriever puppies and the newest edition of Nature: Climate Change are linked. On Saturday, I gave a … Continue reading →... Read more »
Nick Pidgeon, & Baruch Fischhoff. (2011) The role of social and decision sciences in communicating uncertain climate risks. Nature Climate change, 35-41. info:/10.1038/nclimate1080
- December 31, 1969
- 07:33 PM
- 832 views
Your world is a toxic, black hole
by David Robertson in David Robertson
Your home is your only place of sanctuary. Yet, lurking in the walls is a silent menace. It is a noxious, suffocating, toxic presence, creeping out of cracks and threatening to overwhelm you if you let your guard down. If … Continue reading →... Read more »
Robertson, D., Welsh, D., & Teasdale, P. (2009) Investigating biogenic heterogeneity in coastal sediments with two-dimensional measurements of iron(II) and sulfide. Environmental Chemistry, 6(1), 60. DOI: 10.1071/EN08059
- December 31, 1969
- 07:33 PM
- 602 views
The horrors of scientific analysis, episode 1: The DGT Menace
by David Robertson in David Robertson
Scientists make Dr. Evil look tame when it comes to creative ways of destroying things. Sharks with lasers on their heads? Meh. Look at the methods section of research papers and you’ll find an enormous variety of elaborate tortures, dressed up in innocent-sounding jargon. I’ve mentioned it before, but we’ll start with an example I’m [...]... Read more »
Dunn, R., Teasdale, P., Warnken, J., & Schleich, R. (2003) Evaluation of the Diffusive Gradient in a Thin Film Technique for Monitoring Trace Metal Concentrations in Estuarine Waters. Environmental Science , 37(12), 2794-2800. DOI: 10.1021/es026425y
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