Blue Streak Science Podcast

The desire, the yearning for answers lies within each of us. The discomfort of not knowing the answers can lead us down many paths of beliefs and behaviors.

Our discomfort at not knowing everything immediately has given us 24 hour cable news, and smartphones never outside of our reach. It’s given us our social media, news websites…one more peek at the smartphone before we drift off to sleep…only to reach for the smartphone the very moment we awake.

When a major tragedy happens in the world this discomfort of not knowing everything about it can result in obsessive media watching. And when the news outlets have repeated ad nauseam every known detail about the tragedy, and fill in the gaps with gratuitous speculation still they continue on. Conspiracy theories, cultural bigotry, meteors, terrorist plots…no amount of speculation is too outlandish, ugly, or improbable to breathlessly blather while the ever-believing public look for answers...any answers.

We must accept that when we don’t know, we just don’t know. Conjecture, religion, superstition and conspiracy theories may fill the void, but you must consider what you are being filled with.

Don’t get comfortable with not knowing. Scratch that itch, feed that jones, but feed it with rationality. Nourish it with science.

The answers may be a long time coming. They may never come at all.

But the comfort that science and reason provide the curious mind will always be more satisfying and fulfilling than the emptiness of ignorance.

We have a guest on the A$$---- of the Week!

Our guest is Amanda Zaluckyj. Amanda runs a terrific and informative website called The Farmer’s Daughter USA. You can visit the website at thefarmersdaughterusa.com

In addition to writing for her own blog, Amanda also contributes to other websites and blogs dedicated to educating consumers about modern agriculture.

Those other blogs are: Genetic Literacy Project, Ask the Farmers, and GMO Answers.

Amanda and I discuss her recenter encounter with Fran Drescher, outspoken celebrity opponent of science-based agriculture.

Please visit BioDetectives as they track life science stories from Down Under to Up North.

The Squirrel Census is expanding. We're seeking Squirrel Census Ambassadors at colleges across the eastern United States. Ambassadors will:

It's not a paying position, but "Squirrel Census Ambassador" certainly looks good on a resume and is a guaranteed conversation starter. No experience counting squirrels necessary, but a strong curiosity about life and a desire to be a positive member of your college community are required. Email [email protected] if interested.

This episode of Blue Streak Science Podcast comes to you from Atlanta, Georgia; and Sonoma County, California!

See you again next week!

Citizen Science. Sounds good, but what is it?

Citizen science happens when a member of the general public, a person who is not a professional scientist, collects or analyzes data relating to the natural world, and most importantly shares it with the science community and the public. There are so many ways each of us can participate.

Possibly the largest and oldest example of a citizen science project is the Christmas Bird Count administered by the National Audubon Society in North America. It has been held since 1900 and now has over 50,000 citizen scientists making observations. The purpose of the bird count is to provide population data for use in conservation biology.

You amateur astronomers are amazing! New comets are being discovered all the time, stars even. Those mysterious plumes seen rising from Mars last February probably would have been missed completely if it weren't for amateur stargazers.

In episode nine of the podcast, that’s next week, Blue Streak Science is going to start its own citizen science project in which you, our dear listeners and blog readers, can participate. It’s going to be all about observation, participation, and sharing.

In the meantime...clean lenses and quick focusing. You won’t want to miss anything!

Marilyn Bodnar, A Sydney naturopath allegedly told a mother to stop medicating her eight-month-old baby

Naturopathy: a system of alternative medicine based on the theory that diseases can be successfully treated or prevented without the use of drugs, by techniques such as control of diet, exercise, and massage

Sounds benign enough. However, when naturopathy is put in place of science-based medicine the results are often harmful, even deadly. The baby boy lost more than a kilogram and was near death.

New South Wales police arrested Bodnar, a 59 year old registered nurse and midwife, and are investigating her Leppington practice over her treatment of children.

The mother was seeking alternative healthcare for her baby boy who was suffering from eczema. Bodnar advised the mother to cease all of the baby’s medical treatment. The child was admitted to hospital in May and was near death from malnutrition and now has developmental issues. The boy was released from hospital 8 July.

Child Abuse Squad detectives arrested Bodnar on 9July in Leppington and have charged her with reckless grievous bodily harm in the second degree, and aiding and abetting failing to provide for a child causing danger of death. The mother is also facing the same charges.

A statement from NSW Health stated that naturopaths are unregistered health practitioners and are subject to a code of conduct under the Public Health Act and Regulation. They are required to provide services in a safe and ethical manner, and not to attempt to dissuade clients from seeking or continuing with treatment by a registered medical practitioner.

This is another example of how an adult's scientific illiteracy can be deadly. In this example, it is a child..a baby...that has suffered so grievously.

Marilyn Bodnar, you are the Blue Streak Science Asshole of the Week

The Blue Streak Science Podcast comes to you from Sydney, Australia; Atlanta, Georgia, and Sonoma County, California!

See you again next week!