Geek Counterpoint -- Your antidote to soundbite science!
Your own personal geek-to-English translator, in handy Podcast form! Equal parts topical science background, correction / explanation of poorly reported science & tech issues, and just plain interesting points to ponder. A 20 minute helping of critical thinking every week, presented in conversational style and with a dash of dry humor.
- Update frequency
- every 9 days
- Average duration
- 22 minutes
- Episodes
- 60
- Years Active
- 2005 - 2007
GC020 Gone to the Dogs (Scientists Behaving Badly #2)
Now that we've got a little background in stem cells (and if you don't know what I'm talking about, make sure you listen to episode 18), let's talk about recent news. This week's topic is South Korea…
00:21:41 |
Thu 23 Feb 2006
GC019 Vision Problems
The White House just released its proposed 2007 budget for NASA, and it seems the administration has an interesting perspective on both science and its own "Vision for Space Exploration" (VSE). Whil…
00:19:17 |
Wed 15 Feb 2006
GC018 Stem Cells
Stem cells have been in the press for a while now -- but many media outlets seem to be covering them more for the excitement of controversy, than in any attempt to educate people. You know how it go…
00:21:48 |
Sun 05 Feb 2006
GC017 Stardust: Return to Sender (part 2)
Last week, I gave you the story of where the Stardust mission came from -- technically, scientifically, and politically. With the background out of the way, we're ready to dive into the really good …
00:24:43 |
Sun 29 Jan 2006
GC016 Stardust: Return to Sender (part 1)
On the 15th of January, a special package was delivered to a dry lake bed in Utah -- and nobody complained that it took 7 years to arrive and covered 3 billion miles in the meantime. This particular…
00:22:46 |
Mon 23 Jan 2006
GC015 The Hobbits of Flores Island
In 2003 and 2004, a team of Australian and Indonesian anthropologists made some interesting discoveries in a cave on Indonesia's Flores island -- bones from small creatures, that may just prove to be…
00:19:43 |
Mon 16 Jan 2006
GC014 The Fossil Record
When push comes to shove, it's tough to make a fossil. Tougher still is gathering enough of them to put together a coherent story (the Earth is, after all, a big place). In this episode, I talk abo…
00:15:45 |
Mon 09 Jan 2006
GC013 RFID and You
Now that the commercial spend-fest that is a modern Christmas has passed, I thought it'd be a good time to discuss one of the more promising (as well as disturbing) commercial technologies now appear…
00:20:54 |
Mon 02 Jan 2006
GC012 Beagle2--Lost Or Found?
The news is all over the internet -- the wreckage of Beagle 2 has been found on Mars. Or has it? Let's take a look at what's behind all the fuss, and see what's really going on.
00:21:33 |
Sun 25 Dec 2005
GC011 News Grab Bag #1
Updates to previous episodes, and some snippets of interesting science & technology news. Recorded with new (upgraded) gear, so it should sound better than previous episodes.
00:24:42 |
Sun 18 Dec 2005
GC010 Polynesian Navigation
If my experience is any guide, the maritime history you learned in school may well have focused on various European nations, and their voyages of discovery. Many of us were taught that long-distance…
00:19:10 |
Sat 10 Dec 2005
GC009 Piltdown Man (Scientists Behaving Badly #1)
"Piltdown Man" is the undisputed grand-daddy of scientific hoaxes, and a great lesson in the importance of critical thinking (even in the face of things pronounced "scientific"). The first in an occ…
00:23:03 |
Sun 04 Dec 2005
GC008 Geek Speak and Computer Security (part 2)
Now that we've nailed down the jargon of computer security, let's look at some simple things you can do to protect yourself.
00:18:10 |
Sun 27 Nov 2005
GC007 Geek Speak and Computer Security (part 1)
A recent survey has revealed that a significant number of personal computer users is so baffled by computer "geek" jargon that they don't take even simple security precautions in their computer usage…
00:21:10 |
Mon 21 Nov 2005
GC006 Covering All The Bases
We're all familiar with base 10 numerals (i.e., 0 through 9) and how base 10 math is all that we ever use -- or is it? An episode about numerals, numeral systems, and how 4000 years of mathematical …
00:21:44 |
Sat 12 Nov 2005
GC005 The Halloween Show
Presented as a fitting Halloween subject and in the interest of very briefly illustrating how evolutionary history has impacted the structure of the human brain. Family friendly, but a bit macabre -…
00:14:55 |
Sun 30 Oct 2005
GC004 Yes, But is it Science?
A lot of terminology is flying around in the argument between supporters of evolution and "intelligent design." This episode looks at two main points in this discussion: what is science (i.e., the s…
00:18:03 |
Sat 22 Oct 2005
GC003 Lemmings, Irony, and Mindsets
While the myth of lemmings taking mass suicidal plunges off cliffs was disproven years ago, it stubbornly persists in popular culture. Let's take a look at the history of the myth, the evidence disp…
00:16:03 |
Sat 15 Oct 2005
GC002 Has NASA Gone Hollywood?
In episode 2, I tackle NASA's new exploration initiative. Is it a pragmatic program built on reuse of proven ideas and technologies, or a tired attempt to recapture past glories by going where we've…
00:26:25 |
Tue 04 Oct 2005
GC001 Why This Show
In episode 1, I attempt to sum up why I'm producing this podcast, and just what I am hoping / attempting to accomplish with it.
00:10:44 |
Wed 28 Sep 2005
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