What's New Robert L. Park 22 April 2011

WHAT=92S NEW   Robert L. Park   Friday, 22 Apr 2011   Washington, DC

1. GOOD FRIDAY: MARKING THE DEATH OF TENNESSEE SENATE BILL 893.
The date of its resurrection cannot be foretold, but it=92s inevitable. =20
After all, Tennessee is where John Scopes was convicted of teaching=20
Darwin's theory of evolution 86 years ago.  Had it been enacted, Senate=20
Bill 893, would have required state and local educational authorities=20
to "assist teachers to find effective ways to present the science=20
curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers=20
to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objecti=
ve=20
manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing=20
scientific theories covered in the course being taught."  Hmm!  I could d=
o=20
that, depending on exactly what theories we=92re talking about, and what =
is=20
meant by "an objective manner," and I wouldn't need any help.  The only=20
theories the bill mentions are biological evolution, the chemical origins=
=20
of life, global warming and human cloning.  I could certainly teach those=
=20
in an objective manner.  What's more, the bill says it would protect=20
teachers from discipline if they "help students understand, analyze,=20
critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and=20
scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the=20
course."  Hey, I'm a perfect fit.

2. MARTIN REES: THE TEMPLETON PRIZE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.
First awarded to Mother Theresa in 1972, the Templeton prize is awarded=20
annually to a living person for "affirming life's spiritual dimension.=94=
=20
Winners were typically well-known religious figures such as Billy Graham.=
 =20
The prize was established by Sir John Templeton, an American-born British=
=20
investor who moved to Bermuda to avoid the income tax.  He was knighted b=
y=20
Queen Elizabeth II in 1987 for his philanthropic efforts. Currently at=20
=A31,000,000, it is the largest annual financial award to an individual f=
or=20
intellectual accomplishment.  Templeton, who specified only that it be=20
larger than the Nobel Prize, apparently had an epiphany in 1999 when the=20
prize went to physicist Ian Barbour.  Almost every recipient of the prize=
=20
since has been a physicist or an astronomer. Templeton died in 2008.  The=
re=20
was speculation that his son would return to more conventional religious=20
figures, but it continues to go almost entirely to physicists and=20
astronomers.  The winner this year is astrophysicist, Martin Rees, Baron =
of=20
Ludlow, and President of the Royal Society.  But Rees takes the prize one=
=20
step further, describing himself as "not-religious."  Others describe him=
=20
as an atheist.

3. CELL PHONES: FCC CHAIRMAN SAYS THEY POSE NO HEALTH RISKS.
Julius Genachowski made that assertion to the Economic Club of Washington=
=20
when asked whether he was worried about health risks from close contact=20
with cell phones.  Although the Wireless Association also insists that=20
mobile phones are safe, the major cellular carriers continue to warn=20
consumers of possible risks.  This is known as "covering your ass."  Even=
=20
Deborah Davis, author of "Disconnect", acknowledges in the last page that=
=20
there is "no epidemic of brain tumors", but insists more research is=20
needed.  As an experimental physicist I would never argue against more=20
research, but neither would I write a book on the risk in the absence of=20
any evidence.

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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