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Posts made in November, 2013

IPCC Revises Carbon Estimates From September Report

The United Nation's geographically chosen panel of climate experts, the the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC), is moving fast to correct errors in its first of four sections of its new report, heading off the public relations disaster of the last report, where it was only revealed by critics that the document contained 'grey literature', including an off-hand claim in a magazine,...

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Carnival of Math Number 1101000

The 104th Carnival of Math (1101000 in binary - see how clever they are??) is in full swing, with 40 entries. The friendship paradox, a flaw in RSA encryption, how combinatronics and Pampers are related, it's all here.If you, like me, like math and enjoy reading about math, even if you don't always 'get' what they are getting at in some of this, it's worth taking a look. Bonus: 104 is the...

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The Gluten-Free Fad Is Dangerous – So Is The Backlash

In the summer of 2012 I wrote Celiac: The Trendy Disease For Rich White People, which annoyed a few people with celiac disease but a whole bunch of people who had latched onto a fad and craved medical or scientific legitimacy in doing so. read...

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Shellfish Anaphylaxis Won’t Be The Next Big Fad Allergy In Kids

Anaphylaxis is a severe, sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction. After being exposed to a substance, sometimes even for the first time, the body releases histamine, allergen fighting antibody immunoglobulin E and other substances, which can cause airways to tighten and other symptoms.  Anaphylaxis has occurred, and been known about, basically forever. Charles Richet coined the modern...

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5 Reasons Not To Buy Gluten-Free Labels

If you are not a celiac, there are numerous reasons not to jump on the gluten-free fad. Gluten-free products are nutrient poor, they're high in sugar, contain preservatives and are made with refined oils. That's not healthier and it's why Lady Gaga got fatter going gluten-free, even though she claimed it was a diet plan.And if you are celiac, buying gluten-free labels in a store can be dangerous,...

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