Over the years there have been numerous small to mid-sized studies about the effects of prayer on hospitalised people. Some of these studies have shown that prayer has a positive effect, others have found no impact whatsoever. And thanks to our media, the former results have been much better advertised than the latter results.
Now the largest ever study in the subject has indicated that prayer has absolutely no positive effect on patients recovering from heart surgery. Although the methods (and the $2.4 million spent) may be questioned, it at least seems that this study is making the news.
$30 million (out of the total $160 million) has been restored to NASA’s astrobiology research. (NewScientist article here.)Although I see the arguments against putting too much money into the programme, I think astrobiology is one of the most fascinating scientific fields, so I’m happy to see them paid.
It has been reported that scientists in northeastern Ethiopia have discovered a skull that may have belonged to a small human ancestor that could be a missing link between homo erectus and homo sapiens.
Today marks the departure of one of the greatest science fiction novelists, StanisÅ‚aw Lem. He died in Krakóv at the age of 84. Although I am not a big fan of science fiction in general, many of Lem’s stories fascinate me, especially so the ones found in The Cyberiad.
Tired of your computer clock being out of sync with the real world? Try pool.ntp.org.
