OM has been very delinquent in updating the blog during a busy first half of 2022 - hopefully, this is the start of a little more frequent posting as we head into the second half of the year! To ease us back into the flow here are some light reads and videos from the last 12mos that you might find interesting - especially if you have kids!
Here’s How to Understand What a “95% Accurate” Test Is Actually Telling You
Pretend you’re a doctor; You’re using a new test for Disease X, which afflicts 1 out of every 1,000 adults. The new test has perfect “sensitivity,” i.e. it detects every single true positive case of Disease X. It also has a false positive rate of 5%. Your last patient doesn’t have obvious symptoms, but you just got their positive test result. What is the chance that they actually have Disease X?”
If you answered ~2%, you’re shockingly good at mental math or you stopped, thought about it and used a pen/paper. If you didn’t answer 2% (and especially if you answered 95%) then please read the article. (David Epstein, Range Widely)
Why should we go to Mars?
With everything stressful, sad and concerning going on in the world, here’s something rather more hopeful. NASA’s Perseverance landed on Mars in 2021. Why does that matter? Let Dr. Robert Zurbin of the Mars Society spend 5 minutes telling you why - it’s the real science, the challenge, and the future!
(Dr. Robert Zurbin, YouTube)
Here’s How to Understand What a “95% Accurate” Test Is Actually Telling You
Pretend you’re a doctor; You’re using a new test for Disease X, which afflicts 1 out of every 1,000 adults. The new test has perfect “sensitivity,” i.e. it detects every single true positive case of Disease X. It also has a false positive rate of 5%. Your last patient doesn’t have obvious symptoms, but you just got their positive test result. What is the chance that they actually have Disease X?”
If you answered ~2%, you’re shockingly good at mental math or you stopped, thought about it and used a pen/paper. If you didn’t answer 2% (and especially if you answered 95%) then please read the article. (David Epstein, Range Widely)
Why should we go to Mars?
With everything stressful, sad and concerning going on in the world, here’s something rather more hopeful. NASA’s Perseverance landed on Mars in 2021. Why does that matter? Let Dr. Robert Zurbin of the Mars Society spend 5 minutes telling you why - it’s the real science, the challenge, and the future!
(Dr. Robert Zurbin, YouTube)
How to Outrun a Dinosaur
If you have kids of a certain age, this is the kind of stuff that’s helpful to know; Velociraptrors are vastly overrated by Jurassic World, juvenile T-Rex’s are not!
(Cody Cassidy, Wired)
How to Kick a$$ at your first job…any maybe second
OM was recently asked to give some advice to a couple of college-aged interns by a friend; Jackie DiMonte does it far better.
(Jackie DiMonte, Day by Jay)
10 easy ways you can tell for yourself that the Earth is not flat
It’s nearly the midterm election season in the US – politicians will say stupid things (including being utterly oblivious to what a “95% Accurate” test means). Here’s one way even a child can disprove the stupidest thing you’ll probably hear.
(Moriel Schottlender, Popular Science)
How a Portuguese Fishing Village Tamed a 100ft wave
OM has never surfed, but one of the joys of last summer was watching “100 Foot Wave” with his kids and the various random discussions that followed each episode. For those who don’t have HBO/HBO Max, this article tells the tale of Nazare in Portugal, and its local council and surfer Robert McNamara who have made it the epicenter of big wave surfing!
(Elly Earls)
Rock Skip Robot – The Perfect Science of Rock Skipping
If you’ve ever wanted to impress someone with your rock skipping abilities, then Mark Rober has some tips for you. If you’ve ever wanted your kids to watch something interesting/useful then OM highly recommends Mark Rober’s YouTube channel.
(Mark Rober, YouTube)
Who’s Afraid of Elemental Power
OM believes that nuclear will be the bridge between fossil fuels and renewables, and that the transition will take longer than people expect. It’s part of the reason he has a BIG Uranium position! Well, here’s some of the arguments for nuclear and a rebrand to make it less…scary.
(Harry Stevens, Washington Post)
No comments:
Post a Comment