One more way video games might be good for you
17 Jul 2008 7:21pm GMT When we're in a crowded space, making visual judgments becomes more difficult. But it doesn't take much to trigger a crowding effect. Clicking on the picture below will take you to a quick movie (QuickTime required) that should demonstrate the effect. Focus on the cross to the left, then start the movie (it may start automatically, depending on your browser). In two seconds, a "T" will flash briefly on the right side of the screen. Your job is to determine whether the T is upright or inverted...
Interesting analyses of monumental scientific research
16 Jul 2008 3:50pm GMT Bora's hosting the first-ever edition of a new history of science carnival, "The Giant's Shoulders," which promises to focus attention on great research from years past, once a month. All participants review a journal article or other report of science from their field of expertise. The catch is that the science being reviewed must be at least ten years old. This edition recaps all the entries from Skulls in the Stars' original challenge, so if you missed that, now's your chance to catch up,...
Tracking the location of objects in your mind: It depends on what you believe
15 Jul 2008 1:00pm GMT Imagine yourself in a room surrounded by eleven objects arranged in a circle. You memorize the position of the objects, then you close your eyes, and rotate a third of the way around (120°). Keeping your eyes closed, can you point to the object that was behind you before? Most people can do this without much difficulty, and only take an instant longer than if they'd stayed in the same position. Now imagine the objects are rotating on a turntable as you yourself rotate, so that the same...
Police (usually) are able to curb racial bias in shooting suspects
9 Jul 2008 7:57pm GMT In 2005, E. Ashby Plant and B. Michelle Peruche tested 48 Florida police officers and found that they were initially more likely to shoot unarmed Black "suspects" in a crime-fighting simulation than White people holding similar objects. Interestingly, however, as the test went on, the officers improved, and by the end of the session, any bias had been removed. But in the real world, officers don't get a second chance, and accidental shootings do occur. In many communities, racial tensions are...
Euro-update update: Is a photo about whether science is art, art?
8 Jul 2008 7:31pm GMT Last year when the family was in Europe I snapped this photo of Jim looking at a triptych of three blank canvases: The accompanying blog post generated heated discussion about whether the work depicted in the photo was "art" (the discussion became so heated that I decided to close the comments on the thread). Now the photo itself has been used (with our permission) in the brochure for a Danish firm that specializes in placing artwork in business environments: Read the rest of this post......