In space, no one can hear you scream
We should set ourselves the goal of doing things in space that make people here and elsewhere look up and say, “Wow, the Kiwis are doing that? That’s AWESOME!”
Arm The Disruptors
Last week, Science Twitter was roiled by claims that “disruptive science” was on the wane. The Nature paper that kicked off this storm in our social media teacup is profusely illustrated with graphs and charts. The problem is that it could also be Exhibit A in a demonstration of how data science can generate buzz while remaining largely disconnected from reality.
There’s A Creationist In the Science Class!
No-one seems to dispute that the video was played, but minimising it as a conversation starter or “just one viewpoint” will not inspire confidence. If this was part of a wider programme to slip creationism into science classes, it speaks to a failure of leadership and, I believe, integrity.
The Unforgivable Curses
Fabrication and plagiarism are the unforgivable curses of science – crimes of no return. If you are caught committing them you will not wind up in an academic Azkaban but you would be hard put to find a new job in a university as a parking warden, much less a research role.
A Stitch in Time
If you are trying to build a time machine, don’t bother: even if we can design them, the universe makes it impossible for us (or anyone) to build them.
Out Of Thin Air
Sadly, it seems that the device NASA really needs is a bullshit detector. And if they built one and shared it with the world’s journalists we would really have something to celebrate.