Irving langmuir: o milagre da ciência

Irving Langmuir received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1932 "...for his outstanding discoveries and investigations within the field of surface chemistry", according to the Swedish Academy. However, few people know that his work comprises other very important contributions, and not only for chemistry, such as the discovery of plasma, the atomic hydrogen, the pure thermoionic phenomenon, the development of the cloud seeding technique for weather modification, among many others. This paper summarizes Langmuir's most important discoveries and theories, with an especial mention for his practical inventions and his work on the atomic theory.

A história da ciência e o objeto de seu estudo: confrontos entre a ciência periférica, a ciência central e a ciência marginal

The historiography of science has undergone a profound change from the traditional perspective of a few decades ago, according to which only mainstream science was worth pursuing as a research field. Such a restricted outlook was not conducive to a thorough understanding of the whole process of the construction of science. New approaches have breathed new life into the discipline, taking into account not only scientific endeavours from so-called peripheral societies, but also from different quarters within or close to the central groups. From this a new and far more interesting view has emerged, showing a complex and richer texture.

Ciència oberta i producció col·laborativa

Peer-reviewed

La ciència i els polítics

A Catalunya també tenim algunes comissions assessores del govern sobre el vessant científic, però estan desconnectades i la seva estructura no és la ideal. La meva visió és que estan mancades de transversalitat quant als àmbits de coneixement i no consideren la visió del món científic sobre els diferents problemes que ens afecten. El mateix succeeix amb les fundacions polítiques: els 'think-thank', dels partits, estan massa esbiaixats. Difícilment poden generar-se bons programes sense una bona fecundació externa basada en el coneixement. Si volem progressar, cal actuar en conseqüència

O Quadrante de Ruetsap e a anti-ciência, tecnologia e inovação

The concept of research and the controversy among classical models for C, T & I, outdated by the development of knowledge and Post-modern society needs were revisited through the (3) Quadrants advanced by Donald Stokes in the mid-nineties. The scientific community to fit into these Quadrants was faced with many difficulties and reacted by issuing pseudo-facts, accepted by under-prepared technocrats as viable justifications for conducting research in face of these new paradigms. In a poor country full of contrast and needs such as Brazil, this attitude satisfies the bureaucracy and academic elite, but frustrates government and society, that do not get, in the expected measure, the benefits of their commitment with the Teaching, Research and Extension Sectors mainly embedded in the Public University system. An extension, in fact a contradictory approach, to Pasteur's Quadrant, is proposed to characterize this situation: The Syndrome of Ruetsap's Quadrant.

A importância do observatório de atividades industriais vis-à-vis tendências em ciência, tecnologia e inovação

Given that innovation is fundamental for competitiveness, and that it is intrinsically linked to knowledge, it has become essential to foster effective interaction between the Brazilian productive sector and universities and R&D centers. This interface should be created by means of the model used in developed countries: Observatory of Industrial Activities and Trends in Science, Technology and Innovation. The present work describes its main functions, using examples of activities undertaken by the Chemical Industry Information System of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro related to production systems of primary and high-tech industries, examining the diffusion of knowledge to decision-makers.

Ciència deshumanitzada

Els científics hauríem d'incorporar sempre un humanisme ètic més profund a les nostres propostes

La ciència dels conflictes

Si em demanessin una llista amb dotze paraules que defineixin la vida, una d'elles seria conflicte. La vida és un fenomen dinàmic que ens obliga a interactuar constantment amb el nostre entorn, fet que genera interessos no compartits i fins i tot contraposats dels quals neixen els conflictes. La setmana passada es va celebrar a Barcelona el IV Congrés Internacional de Conflictologia i Pau, que va reunir experts en molts camps del coneixement humà per a analitzar de forma interdisciplinària l'origen i la resolució dels conflictes humans. Jo hi vaig assistir com a membre del Centre de Recerca i Estudis en Conflictologia, el CREC acrònim que presenta uns significats polisèmics i onomatopeics molt interessants, un grup pluridisciplinari que va arrencar fa un any sota l'aixopluc de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya i al qual em vaig incorporar en qualitat de biòleg i genetista, junt amb experts en sociologia, política, economia, dret, filosofia, pedagogia, psiquiatria i neurobiologia [...].

Les batzegades de la ciència

La ciència avança a batzegades. Cada nova troballa la impulsa cap a una direcció determinada, no sempre la mateixa. Generalment la conclusió definitiva a qualsevol pregunta científica és la suma de totes aquestes batzegades. El problema és que molts cops no sabem quantes en queden abans de trobar la resposta definitiva [...].

Les interferències entre religió i ciència

Fa exactament tres mesos un grup d'investigadors catalans anunciaven la troballa als Hostalets de Pierola d'en Pau, l'últim fòssil trobat fins a l'actualitat de l'avantpassat comú de ximpanzés, goril·les i humans. A poc a poc es va resolent el trencaclosques de l'evolució, però malgrat tot determinats grups religiosos continuen oposant-s'hi amb força [...].

A aplicação da fotoquímica inorgânica nas diversas áreas da ciência

This article provides an overview of the current status of research involving the photochemical behavior of transition metal complexes in the following important areas: medicine, biology and materials science including some of the experiences of the writer. Coverage is selective, generally focusing on highlights and the most recent developments, with the broad aim of showing the interdisciplinary field of inorganic photochemistry.

Psychometric Properties of the Personal Wellbeing Index in Brazilian and Chilean Adolescents Including Spirituality and Religion = Propriedades Psicométricas do Personal Wellbeing Index em Adolescentes Brasileiros e Chilenos Incluindo Espiritualidade e Religião

This study compared the 7-item Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) with two other versions which include the domains “Spirituality” and “Religion”, separately, in a sample of Brazilian (n = 1.047) and Chilean (n = 1.053) adolescents. A comparison of psychometric properties between the PWI versions was carried out through multigroup confi rmatory factor analysis showing adequate adjustments (CFI > .95, RMSEA < .08), whereas the item spirituality presented better performance. For the analysis of the differential contribution of each domain to the notion of global satisfaction, a regression on the item Overall Life Satisfaction (OLS) was applied using structural equations. It isrecommended the inclusion of the item spirituality in the original scale, considering the importance of such domain in both cultures

El dopatge en ciència

Un dels temes que hom associa al món de l'esport és el del dopatge, el qual reneix periòdicament coincidint amb la celebració de competicions d'elit. Però el dopatge, que consisteix a consumir fàrmacs o substàncies fisiològiques en quantitats incrementades per augmentar el rendiment personal, no és pas exclusiu dels esportistes [...]

Raios-x: fascinação, medo e ciência

This work presents the discovery and the use of x-rays at the end of the XIXth and the beginning of the XXth century. X-rays greatly impacted science and everyday life. Their existence broke the idea that knowledge had reached a limiting step. In general, people regarded x-rays as a marvel of science, but reactions against their use were also found. Several applications were proposed, especially in medicine. However, little or no attention was paid to security measures, leading to health damages and even death. The development of the radiological protection took into account the accidents with the x-rays.