Books
Books that I have written.
Media Appearances
Podcasts and Videos in which I have appeared or which I have created.
pyndamics3
Dynamical systems simulation in Python. Includes both continuous and stochastic simulation.
Stats for Everyone
An introductory stats book from a Bayesian perspective, including Python software.
I am a Scientist, Skeptic, and Professor at Bryant University. My goal is to make technical subject matters widely accessible and to use my analytical and computational skills to assist anyone with their science-related problems.
Blog
Presuppositionalism vs evidentialism
These two terms that I had never heard before came up when listening to some Christian apologetic podcasts (specifically Please Convince Me and Stand to Reason). There seems to be …
#wordpress_migration
More fine tuning...NOT
One of the so-called fine-tuned parameters in our solar system (fine-tuned specifically for the development of complex life) is that we have a planet with a large moon (compared to …
#wordpress_migration
Things science can't explain
During a debate on evolution and design, Professor Edgar Andrews from Queen Mary College London stated that there were four things that science could never explain. He pointed out that …
#wordpress_migration
Conversation with Steve Winsor
From: Steven Winsor Subject: FW: Remember This Guy? - Genius! Date: November 30, 2011 10:20:43 AM EST To: Brian Blais
See last Reagan comment..is he right? J
Not …
#wordpress_migration
What's wrong with this?
So I was asked recently "what was wrong with someone who, because of their religious convictions, chooses not to participate in scientific research (the example used was nuclear bomb research …
#wordpress_migration
Best evidence for...
In preparing for a talk on Science and Religion, I came upon this somewhat amusing example. I did a google search for "Best evidence for..." and filled in one of …
#wordpress_migration
A sensible post on climate change...for a change
A very reasoned addition to the climate change discussion. Well done!
#wordpress_migration
Language of Science
One of the things that I noticed, starting as an undergraduate and moving into graduate school, is that scientists have a peculiar sort of conservative language. They'll say things like …
#wordpress_migration
Offended by prayer on a mural
In Cranston, RI there is a lawsuit about a mural depicting a school-sanctioned prayer. The image of the mural is here:
The student was offended by having this prayer here …
#wordpress_migration
The Florida problem - a new intuition
1. Introduction
In a prior couple of posts here and here I look into the "evil" probability problem of the girl-named-Florida. This problem compares the following two situations:
Say you …
#wordpress_migration
Faster than light...a likely solution
A solution to the "faster-than-light" neutrinos is likely to have been found. In the words of the article,
If it stands up, this episode will be laden with irony. Far …
#wordpress_migration
Faster than light...why the lawyer is wrong
In a post well outside of his expertise, lawyer Michael D. Cicchini weighs in on the recent observation that some neutrinos have been observed traveling faster than the speed of …
#wordpress_migration
Mystery, Knowledge, Science and Television
J J Abrams, the creator of the television show “Lost”, gives a Ted talk where he suggests that sometimes mystery is more important than knowledge. His “mystery box” represents infinite …
#wordpress_migration
Climate and the Moon
In a prior post I criticize an article on climate which states that current climate models ignore the effect of conduction (i.e. direct contact) and convection, and focus exclusively …
#wordpress_migration
Knowledge and Belief
I was just directed to this announcement concerning an NSF survey on science literacy. The bottom line is that the NSF is deciding to change the wording of two questions …
#wordpress_migration
Science and Attitudes Toward Criticism
So this morning I got a strong criticism of my post, “The Not-so-Hidden Flaw in this Climate Argument”, which itself is a criticism of someone else’s criticism of a …
#wordpress_migration
Reaping the benefits of science while hostile to science
So I read with some interest an article by Adam Frank espousing the idea of removing the benefits of science from those who deny science. He starts with examples like …
#wordpress_migration
"Frivolous" research in science
My blog has been languishing for a bit, so I hope to bring it back and be a bit more active.
Someone recently made a comment that they thought that …
#wordpress_migration
Energy Bracelet Experience
I’ve spoken before about the energy balance bracelets and how they don’t work. I just had an experience at a local flower show where I ran into a …
#wordpress_migration
Religion, Scripture, and the Source of Morality
It is a common argument now from the so-called new atheists that we don’t get our morality from scripture. I am not sure that many religious people, even biblical …
#wordpress_migration
Wonders in Science
This is one of the Hubble deep field images:
It is important to note that every little bright smudge on this image is a galaxy with billions of stars. This …
#wordpress_migration
