Bora Zivkovic over at the collective Science Blogs has done something incredibly cool: he looked over hundreds of science blog posts from the past couple of years, winnowed it down to 50 (with the help of a lot of friends) and created a self-published book called "the open laboratory: The Best Writing on Science Blogs 2006".
The history of the project is a good read. Bora is obviously dedicated, cool, and slightly insane. But he made a lot of very good choices: I’ve read many of the blog posts in the book, and they are excellent.
In the cause of full disclosure, I must note that the very first entry in the book (minus the forward) is, ahem, my Science Fare post. I am very, very honored and more than a little proud to have it included.
Anyway, Bora went through a lot to produce the book, so you should buy it. I make no money from this, and I have no idea if Bora does or not (though he should). I’m getting a copy for sure.
January 16th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I just read your “Science Fare” post for the first time. It’s a thing of beauty.
But in the interest of science …
I know a place where the temperature is 15 million degrees, and the pressure would crush you to a microscopic dot. That place is the core of the Sun.
According to one source, the density at the core of the Sun is about 160 g/c^3, about 10 times the density of lead, and 160 times the density of water, or of a human body. Assuming your body would be compressed to the same density, I think that what’s left of it would be quite visible (a person weighing 160 pounds would end up roughly the size of 1 pound of water, about a pint). The human body is largely made up of heavier elements than the hydrogen and helium that dominate the solar interior, so perhaps your density would be a bit greater, but not enough to make you microscopic.
Though I must admit I can’t be certain of this, since I have not yet procured sufficient funding to try the experiment.
January 16th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Your science fair piece deserves to be reprinted for many years to come!
January 17th, 2007 at 7:31 am
I loved the science fair post! Carl Sagan would be proud of it. It was written so eloquently, and it is so true. I only wish EVERY child could hear that speech read to them at a science fair, or in a science class.
January 17th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Wow. Somehow I missed the ‘Science Fare’ post the first time.. That is good stuff. How long did it take you to write?
Nic
January 17th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Science Blogs is a great read and I’ll check out the book.
Interestingly, I got an email from someone purporting to be “OF” Science Blogs, inviting me to add my blog to the listings. When I tried to reply, I got a white-list reply, asking me to verify myself. So, I did — and it bounced back saying my email was bounced for lack of verification. I tried again — no luck. Didn’t follow up, but probably should have.
January 17th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Of course you should be number one!!! At least in this book you are appreciated, not like certain “awards” where you were screwed out of the number one spot by the creatures who shall not be named.:)
January 17th, 2007 at 8:23 am
BA,
Congrats! The science fair piece is one of your best. Ever thought of starting a “greatest hits” category for posts that have been particularly well received?
Lorne
January 17th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Your science fair post is most excellant. The excitement of discovery is one of the greatest feelings we can entertain. I would love to see your post included in the forward of every science book used in our schools. It’s one of the most eloquent I’ve ever read.
Gary 7
January 17th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I’m not entirely sure why a book subtitled “The Best Writing on Science Blogs 2006″ starts off with a post from May, 2005. Anyone else catch that?
January 17th, 2007 at 11:11 am
spacewriter,
Danger Will Robinson!!!
Maybe your “verification” did not include a bank account and PIN number!
Or maybe I’m just paranoid.
January 18th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Michael, the 2006 is intending to show the year released, not the year of all the writings. The book was intended as a summation of best articles in blogs for the conference going on this month (last weekend?). They started talking about doing it every year, and maybe for those the content will be limited to the year in question, but since this is the first, they felt free to include works predating 2006.
January 19th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Whenever I reread your Science Fare blog I always get a shiver as it is truly inspirational and represents exactly how I feel. I think it should be a de rigueur foreword to any school or popular science book.