Put it simply, peer assessment
We live in a world of constant assessment. From the first moment in our lives we learn that every action we make is in some way evaluated by others, and we rely on the approval or disapproval of others to tell […]
Is it accurate to be precise ?
Thanks to mass production there are more and more environmental sensors available at a low price. But how do I, as a maker, choose between sensors that present similar prices and characteristics? Amongst others, there are two important questions that […]
Would you like to like math?
Would you like to like math or help others to like it? Then empathy might be what you need! This is what Steven Strogatz, professor of applied mathematics at Cornell University, proposes in his 2014 paper ‘Writing about Math for the Perplexed and the Traumatized’.
Forests won’t be enough to save us
Ever since the middle of the 19th century, the atmospheric CO2 concentration has been steadily rising due to anthropogenic activities. If you want to know more about the main sources of CO2 at the global scale, have a look at the […]
Show me your DNA, I’ll tell you where you come from
Each of us has a unique genome, yet the amount of difference between two random humans on this planet is tiny: around 0.1% on average. This 0.1% difference between you and me actually contains enough information to tell you where you come from.
Every day is Earth day: Wildlife
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of #EarthDay, @WWF invites you to create nature themed artwork & share with #ArtForEarthDay 1: Wildlife 🦊Day 2: Freshwater 💧Day 3: One Planet 🌍Day 4: Food 🥕Day 5: Forests 🌳Day 6: Climate 🌤️Day 7: Ocean […]
Why do we still lecture?
Every one of us remembers their favorite teacher in school. They were the ones able to spark our interest, with compelling storytelling and passion for their subject. Unless we were lucky enough to have access to innovative programs, our favorite […]
Siri, are you human?
Since their invention, computers have been put to work to take over simple and repetitive numerical tasks. Today, with the introduction of machine learning techniques in many facets of life, we are beginning to see the many possibilities of handing over complex (intelligent?) tasks to the computer.
Sharing the light on the ocean stage
To reduce the amount of competing factors some species can “switch” the pigments they are using to capture various parts of the light spectrum. This chromatic adaptation could help better understand how so many species can thrive in the same environment when it comes to phytoplankton.
The two sides of a coin: How do natural disturbances perturb forest ecosystems?
For the last few months there has been lots of news about forest fires in Australia, a natural seasonal phenomenon. However, both the location and extent of these bushfires are novel. You might be wondering what effect fire and, more generally, disturbances could have on forest ecosystems. One way of estimating it would be to use multiple ecological indices to quantify the amount of change induced by a disturbance.