Rhetoric and Science

The Misleading Nature of Scientific Publications

This paper was composed as part of an honors writing intensive assignment in BIOCHM 2482H taught by Dr. Thomas J. Reilly. In the course, students were encouraged to analyze and criticize scientific publications that are often held to unrealistic standards of rigor by the public. The assignment entailed a reading of The Double Helix, which described the discovery of the structure of DNA from the perspective or Dr. James D. Watson, and then analyzing the wholly different experience depicted by this book as compared to the formal publication of the discovery in Nature. This paper explores the scientific endeavor as but one part of a web of beliefs and attitudes that constitute a social identity rather than a concept to be understood in isolation.

A Technological Invasion

Technology is a very important part of our lives as almost every person with a cell phone would probably say. We live in a world where we rely on technology so much that in a way it controls us. Authors like Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov could portray this concept in the 1940s and 50s…

That’s-a-spicy-meatball! The effects of capsaicin on blood pressure and other processes in the human body

Human beings have always eaten a diverse cornucopia of foods. Among many types of foods, spicy food reigns supreme as the bringer of tears and a burning sensation in the mouth.

Critics of America’s Engineers Form Bashing Squad Following Katrina

It doesn’t take much to blame a disaster like Hurricane Katrina on an act of God or on uncontrollable circumstances. Be reminded that nature, in all its beauty, has the power to destroy anything humans build. When the hurricane hit the Gulf coast on August 25, 2005, the levees separating Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans collapsed. With many homes and businesses submerged in the torrent of water, the people within the city fought to survive. Even before the water level returned to normal, people reacted with frustrations toward the government, relief organizations, and engineers. People wanted to know what went wrong and who they should blame.

The Evolution of the Format for Physics of Thin Films

It is crucial that a scholarly journal develop over time to adapt to the advancing needs and demands of its readers. Every change, though not always drastic, should be an attempt to improve the quality of information provided and expand on research already published. Physics of Thin Films is a highly technical journal that publishes in-depth research in the field of physics, and as with most technical journals, it has experienced many alterations from its original volume in 1963. The overall objective behind the changes in the articles is to provide a clearer and more effective layout, thus giving the audience a better understanding of the information provided.