Philip Ball

@philipcball

Author, writer and broadcaster, mostly about science. Books include The Music Instinct, Curiosity, Critical Mass. Obsessed by (too) many things.

London, UK
Joined January 2014

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  1. 13 hours ago

    His conclusion, then, seems very sound to me: "Today, the uniquely difficult challenge of biology is [not quanitification but] representation. To reason about something you first have to represent it somehow."

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  2. 13 hours ago

    Now here, from Walter's paper, is a representation of most of the protein-protein interactions so far identified that involve axin. In what sense then does the preceding image offer an actual molecular-scale picture? What is "happening" in real time? (3/3 + 1 to come)

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  3. 13 hours ago

    See, here's a conventional view of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Note that axin is one of the proteins involved. (2/3)

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  4. 13 hours ago

    This very interesting paper (text of a lecture) by Walter Fontana that I'm reading is giving me a lovely perspective on what I was driving at in this piece (1/3)

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  5. 17 hours ago

    "A molecule is a structure that electrons have shaped to be comfortable" - Walter Fontana. I have to think about this, but it feels like a nice perspective.

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  6. 19 hours ago

    I think I get a sense of what those old Romantics meant by the Sublime when I see this.

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  7. 19 hours ago
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  8. 19 hours ago

    This is a good question from Dawkins. And I hope scientists working on genetics are asking it of their own community: that's the place to start looking. Today more than ever.

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  9. 19 hours ago

    Excellent summary from Athene of why cosmetic tweaks and promises of funding are not enough to avert the damage Brexit seems sure to do (and is already doing) to UK science.

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  10. 19 hours ago

    Maybe the first Hay Festival I've been to where I am not either sheltering from the rain or wondering when it will start again. I love Wales, but let's face it, it is not Cartagena.

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  11. Retweeted

    en el , el científico y autor conversa con sobre cómo se crea, efectivamente, la vida y cómo la ciencia es hoy capaz de reproducirla en un laboratorio 🔬🧬

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  12. 19 hours ago

    Thanks to for doing such a great job of moderating/interviewing. And the audience for great questions.

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  13. 23 hours ago

    Always good to see reminders that those who bang on about "Enlightenment values" don't actually mean "what leading figures of the Enlightenment actually said". And yes, I am thinking of this

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  14. Retweeted
    Jan 24

    . is still in dire need of funding to help our Latin American, Indigenous and Caribbean friends to cross the Atlantic to the Climate Conference SB52! Please RT! ♥️

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  15. Retweeted
    Feb 1

    ‘Tackling climate change doesn’t require a few people to be perfect, but for everyone to be imperfect, but trying to do something’ at with Jennifer Ackerman and Peter Florence

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  16. Retweeted
    Jan 31

    Este sábado 1 de febrero a las 10:00AM en , , Rosie Boycott y en conversación con sobre los retos del cambio climático.

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  17. Jan 31

    I wish I could be this optimistic, but the message that despair at worst-case scenarios might not be helpful seems a valid one. One big worry, though, is that tipping points might kick in sooner than originally thought:

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  18. Retweeted
    Jan 31

    Fascinating to see just how many on this list are climate sceptics. The venn of Brexit and climate scepticism is exceptionally tight. Confirmation (if needed) that both are the same ideological project...

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  19. Jan 31

    And I am seriously hoping to catch some Vallenato while here in Colombia...

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  20. Jan 31

    Yeah, I'm not regretting our decision to postpone our regular China trip this Easter...

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