What's New Robert L. Park January 22, 2010

WHAT’S NEW   Robert L. Park    Friday, 22 Jan 10   Washington, DC

1. DARWIN: HAVE THE PHILISTINES TAKEN OVER THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD? 
What's going on? ThE 2010 Science and Engineering Indicators came out last 
week and for the first time this invaluable biennial publication of the 
National Science Board contains nothing on evolution in the chapter on 
public acceptance of science. Without information on public attitudes 
toward evolution the rest of the report is suspect. That this should occur 
just as we are winding up the Darwin Year (he will be 101 on February 12) 
is doubly disappointing. It is also the week the remarkable film "Creation" 
reaches theaters.

2. "CLIMATE OF SUSPICION": AN IMPORTANT EDITORIAL IN YESTERDAY’S NATURE.
I hope this will be the last time I mention the pilfered e-mails from the 
Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia. The Nature 
editorial "Climate of suspicion" in the January 21 issue should be read by 
scientists in every field of research. The most important contribution of 
science to the world may be to demonstrate the power of openness in the 
advance of knowledge. We cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated by a 
small band of deniers into discussing hugely-important issues in private. 
We must openly communicate with one another and learn how to bring the 
public along on the adventure.

3. MONTREAL PROTOCOL: CAN MANKIND INFLUENCE EARTH’S CLIMATE?
Of course we can; we have a clear proof-of-concept: the Montréal protocol, 
signed in 1987, restricts the release of chlorofluorocarbons, man-made 
compounds that destroy the naturally existing ozone layer of the 
atmosphere. Ozone acts as a shield, blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation 
from reaching Earth's surface. The ozone hole has diminished since the 
protocol was agreed to.

4. DANNY WHO?  OK, SO THERE’S MORE THAN ONE EARTHQUACK.
What's New was late this week due to technical problems. We apologize. 
Several subscribers wanted to know why it came from Aaron McQueen. Aaron is 
one of the great guys at the Physics Computer Help desk. To avoid delay, he 
sent it from his box. People complained that when I mentioned Pat 
Robertson's wacky explanation of the earthquake I should also have 
mentioned Danny Glover who said it was caused by climate change. One 
suggested it demonstrated my bias on global warming. For the record, I’d 
never heard of Danny Glover. I don't think he has a big following in 
cosmology. 

5. KEEPING SCORE: I’M A CHARACTER IN A NEW NOVEL.
"The God Patent" by Ransom Stephens, state's I don't read novels. Well, not 
anymore; 70 years ago I hid them in my textbook and read them 
surreptitiously in class. But then I discovered physics -- I was 
into "truth."  But after all this time I recently learned I was in a novel 
and read it out of curiosity. An aging physics professor at the University 
of Maryland, bobpark in the novel is a curmudgeon who writes a weekly 
column on science and society.  That sounds like me all right, but then 
comes the fiction: he rouses the whole physics community into action. I 
wish. Beyond that it's a sweet, sad story about people who seem very real, 
with a struggle between science and creationism in the background. Surely 
Emmy and Ryan will find each other again in a sequel. I read that too. 
Meanwhile I find I'm in 2008 Randy White novel, the Black Widow.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
Opinions are the author's and not necessarily shared by the
University of Maryland, but they should be.
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