Luckily I didn’t get called in for jury duty this week, and that means I had time to find some Good Stuff to share. Here we go:

First, an interesting, if somewhat meandering article by Chris Mooney on Mother Jones. Mooney investigates how our minds deal with new information that conflicts with our existing beliefs, and what this may mean for people’s “belief” in science. Psychological research, Mooney argues, can help explain why there is such vitriolic public debate surrounding issues like climate change and evolution, despite near-universal consensus on these issues among scientists. The upshot is one that has become a refrain in the world of science communication: we need to lead with values, and follow with facts. Not the other way around!

Next, we have a cool meeting of science and art. NIMBioS is the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, an NSF-sponsored research center at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. They’ve recently started a “songwriter in residence” program, through which selected singer-songwriters get to work with biologists and write music about the science. Here is one entertaining example by NIMBioS Songwriter-in-Residence Jay Clark: a song entitled “Sexual Selection.”

Finally, I’m fascinated by the idea of a “science variety show,” even though I’ve been told by more than one media executive that the idea would never sell to a US television audience. When your TV programming isn’t supported by ad revenue, however, you’re free to explore the full range of possibilities, and the University of California system produces a great half-hour show each quarter called “State of Minds.” Admittedly, it’s not riveting, but the show has good production value and high-quality science reporting. You can read a bit about the show and watch the latest episode . I’d love to see something like this with a little more entertainment value!