Seed’s Daily Zeitgeist: 10/2/2008 § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM

Seed’s Daily Zeitgeist: 10/2/2008

Five issues, insights, and observations shaping our perspective, from the editors of Seed.

Inside the vaccine-and-autism scare
Death threats and bad science run amok in the muddied waters surrounding the vaccination and autism debate (And a 100 word definition of autism via Mind Hacks).
What the West makes of Chinese science
The intriguing tale of a Western scientist’s efforts in rediscovering China’s lost scientific revolutions.
Feeling Powerless? Do I Have a Conspiracy Theory for You
New studies reveal that the feeling of having little control may lead to the construction of “imaginary order” in the place of randomness.
Seeing Red and Blue Can Divide a Species—of Fish
And humans too!
O death, when is thy sting?
Having trouble with the bioethics of death? Go rent Flatliners.

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Originally published October 2, 2008

Ideas

I Tried Almost Everything Else

John Rinn, snowboarder, skateboarder, and “genomic origamist,” on why we should dumpster-dive in our genomes and the inspiration of a middle-distance runner.
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Going, Going, Gone

The second most common element in the universe is increasingly rare on Earth—except, for now, in America.
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Earth-like Planets Aren’t Rare

Renowned planetary scientist James Kasting on the odds of finding another Earth-like planet and the power of science fiction.