Its time for a round-up of my favorites from 2011.
Best of the year
1. Wired Magazine - still the reigning champion of interesting reads related to science and technology
2. The Scientist - almost disappeared in 2011 but was saved from the brink. This broad-scope, very accessible, trade journal remains at the top of its game, see this list of top science scandals of 2011.
3. longform.org - best science writing 2011
4. OK, this is technically 2010, but Open Laboratory is a fascinating compendium of online science writing from the people at scienceblogs.com
5. My new favorite Science Blogs (sponsored by a major news site, that is): Speakeasy Science - my new favorite science blog, hosted by PLOS and written by the author of The Poisoner's Handbook (also highly recommended). Neurophilosophy from The Guardian is also quite good, and gave a great wrap-up of the Society for Neuroscience 2011 conference.
6. brainpickings.org - ok, its not all science (although it has a healthy dose), but this is a fantastic example of a website that curates lists of things we must know about. Its mind-expanding and fulfilling in a variety of fields (art, design, philosophy).
7. Along the lines of the Open Science post I did recently, I also support the idea of open courseware (such as the extensive collection of online courses offered by MIT), which are nicely curated at Open Culture.
8. Looking for gifts for that Nerd on your list? Look no further than Nerd Holiday.
9. A nice combination of a TED lecture and a DIY website, Do Lectures is a source of inspiration, such as this tutorial on how to build a solar farm.
10. From science nerds in the U.K. comes the new online magazine Guru, a great combination of (free!) articles on science and culture. (and a much needed replacement for the loss of SEED). Guru can be printed or read on various online platforms. Genuisly with the times.
** Bonus shout-out to sister-publications Boing Boing and Make magazine - both sources of much-needed geekdom online.
** Bonus link: Free PDF on how to debunk myths and bad science beliefs, from skeptical science
Worst of the year:
1. Science Cheerleaders (ugh, really? Do we need to use sexy youths to sell the idea of science to young girls?)
2. The science babe. Again, I know sex sells, but do we need this? (however, the physics of stilettos was certainly interesting)
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Michael Steinberg
doctorwascher
Paul Hinrichs
Mary Elizabeth Williams
Cary Tennis
Dave Cullen
Salon.com
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