Don’t like scientific discoveries? Stop science.

Wikipedia describes the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) as the federal government agency for scientific research in Australia. It has a proud tradition, not only of industrial research, but of science for the public good, and quality science for its own sake. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the management of CSIRO plans to put a stop to that:

Australia’s national science organisation planned to stop “doing science for science sake” and would no longer do “public good” work unless it was linked to jobs and economic growth, according to internal emails between CSIRO senior managers.

The emails contradict claims that the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has remained committed to research that does not bring in revenue, and illustrate the scale of the restructure planned under new chief executive Larry Marshall.

Under Dr Marshall, CSIRO has shifted its focus to making money to pay for its work. The vision sees the iconic Australian science organisation as an “innovation catalyst”.

The emails confirm the century-old organisation was particularly focused on – in the words used in an exchange between managers in CSIRO’s oceans and atmosphere division – “eliminating all capability” of its climate change research programs.

Heat and Drought

Despite the rainfall that el Niño brings, California hasn’t yet recovered from its multi-year drought. Some have tried to deny any relationship between the drought and man-made climate change, but they usually miss the point entirely: that whether or not global warming increased the likelihood of the drought, it has indeed increased its severity.

New RSS and Balloons

A while ago I compared satellite temperature data to that from balloon-borne instruments. I used the RSS satellite data (the deniers’ favorite), but since then they have revised their data. Several readers have requested an updated comparison, using the new RSS release.

Riveting Panel Discussion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2016
(March 31, 2016) The U.S. premiere of CFACT’s groundbreaking new documentary, Climate Hustle will take place at a Capitol Hill briefing in the historic Rayburn Office Building, including a riveting panel discussion on climate change featuring Gov. Sarah Palin and other notable guests.

Fragile Young Minds

I had a most unusual dream…

February 2016 Global Surface Temperature Anomalies Were Highest on Record, According to the UKMO

But Bob Tisdale would rather not believe it. He’s posted at WUWT his reason for believing it may well have been January 2007 instead. “The Bob” is always good for a laugh.

Global Warming Basics: Loaded Dice

I read Shakespeare and the Bible, and I can shoot dice. That’s what I call a liberal education.
— Tallulah Bankhead

People have been playing with dice for at least 5,000 years. They come in all shapes and sizes, but have a common purpose: to generate randomness. When dice are rolled (or “thrown” or “cast” or “tossed” or “shot,” depending on your verb of choice) many results are possible, but what actually happens isn’t known until it happens. Dice (or one die, to use the singular) are the world’s original random-number generator. We may not know what they’ll give but at least we can figure out what to expect.

If they’re fair, that is.

The Wall Street Journal, Climate Change Denial, and the Galileo Gambit

Here’s an editorial at the Huffington Post which I think is worth reading. Well worth reading. In fact, it’s worthwhile getting others to read it.

All Hell will Break Loose

Sea Smoke and Mirrors

There’s a new post at WUWT by none other than Albert Parker (of “making stuff up” infamy), a.k.a. Alberto Boretti. It’s about sea level rise.