Saturday, January 01, 2011

A Few Best of 2010 Lists from Cool Sites

Follow the links, see what you may have missed.

The Skeptic: The Top 10 Science Books of 2010

In the tradition of making end-of-the-year lists of the “Top 10 X” I present my personal picks for the Top 10 Science Books of 2010. Most of these books are available in audio format as well as the old-school ink-on-bound-paper format, and I highly recommend Audible.com as the go-to source for easy listening to these selections while driving or riding your bike from your MP3 player or iPhone/iPod (use one ear bud instead of two so you can hear on-coming traffic, ambulances, etc.).

In reverse order I give you my Top 10 Science Books of 2010.
* * * * *
Futurity: Top 10 stories of 2010

RESEARCH REWIND: A theoretical showdown between rock climber and surfer, medicinal beer, evolution's mishaps, and the life-changing power of gratitude, and more make the list of Futurity's top stories of 2010.

Take a look back at some of the most read and most talked about stories of the year.
* * * * *

PLoS ONE News and Blog Round-Up: 2010 in Review

This year PLoS ONE had a lot of interesting research covered in the media. In fact, we had over 300 research articles receive substantial coverage from all over the world. So I thought on the eve of the New Year, it might be nice to list a sampling of some of the most widely covered papers. From new dinosaur discoveries to social networks predicting outbreaks, it was hard to choose but I narrowed it down to 25. Starting from the most recently published papers and working backward, here is the list of some of 2010’s most extensively covered papers.

* * * * *

Looking Back at the Year in Socially Engaged Buddhism

December 30, 2010
by Maia Duerr

Buddhist monks praying for peace in Thailand, May 2010

This is the full first year that The Jizo Chronicles has been up and running, so it’s a good time to look back at what’s been going on in the world of socially engaged Buddhism in 2010. (To get an idea of what’s ahead for 2011, look at the Calendar of Events that we maintain here.)

It’s been quite a year, actually.

* * * * *

Brain Pickings Redux 2010

A year’s worth of ideas, inspiration and innovation from culture’s collective brain.

It’s that time again, that very special day on which we turn back on the year whose end we celebrate tonight and take a look at the tastiest tidbits of interestingness that made our radar during the 4,500+ hours we poured into Brain Pickings in 2010. (And if you found any of them marginally interesting, stimulating or smile-inducing, please consider supporting us with a marginal donation — it’s what keeps the cogs a-turnin’ here.)

We kicked off the year with an uncovered gem: Steve Jobs on working with Paul Rand, the iconic designer perhaps as famous for his infamous temper as he was for his legendary work. We wanted to remember 100 places before they disappear.

* * * * *

Top ten language stories of 2010

associated image

2010 was a year rich in stories about language, not the uplifting kind that celebrate effective, poetic communication, but stories about attempts to regulate language, stifle it, even kill it off outright. Here are the top 10 language stories of the year, in no particular order.

* * * * *

Ten great studies from 2010 that can improve your life.

The end of 2010 fast approaches, and I'm thrilled to have been asked by the editors of Psychology Today to write about the Top 10 psychology studies of the year. I've focused on studies that I personally feel stand out, not only as examples of great science, but even more importantly, as examples of how the science of psychology can improve our lives.

Each study has a clear "take home" message, offering the reader an insight or a simple strategy they can use to reach their goals, strengthen their relationships, make better decisions, or become happier. If you extract the wisdom from these ten studies and apply them in your own life, 2011 just might be a very good year.


No comments: