Yeah, another year end wrap-up thingy. The important thing here however, is that we now have national leadership that actually sees science as a GOOD thing. These are good things. Let’s hope there is more to come.

The year in science, more or less, according to the most read articles over at Wired.com.

The history of stem cell research – and science in general – has been a rocky one this decade. Here are some of the highpoints and, given the Bush years, the very, very low points of progress in this field.

Honestly, even if the Republicans were giving away a hot dog and a blow job for every vote, their stance on progress would be enough to turn away from them.

Yeah, another reason I can’t be a Republican is that I like dinosaurs. And science. Not to mention the concept of reality.

All that aside, this story concerning venom-packing dinosaurs both is exciting and downright frightening. Definitely worth a listen.

Look, sir, droids!

What else do I have to say, but hey! robots!.

Gardening bot design:

Traveling bot buddy:

Climbing bot:

More good information on why you should get the swine flu shot and information debunking some myths.

Wired‘s latest issue covers the concept of fear, much of it related to vaccines and vaccination.

One key article covers the dangers everyone is exposed to by those parents who refuse to have their kids vaccinated.

GeekDad points out the obvious reason why that little kid supposedly in the balloon was definitely not in the balloon.

Reason? The bottom of the balloon never sagged from his weight.

Ta da! Science!

This is kind of a hoot concerning tiny particles, time travel, and irony. Give it a read.

Holy crap! You see, this is what amazes me about science. You get stuck in a rut thinking there’s only one way to do things and then you find out it might only take five weeks to get to Mars.

I mean, yeah, sure, I can’t take more than a week off right now, but what if we’re all able to have a shot at getting to the Red Planet for some extreme tourist once we get old?

Here’s a pretty honest report on the state of our nation’s education, or, rather, LACK of education when it comes to science.

Don’t cast all the blame on our underfunded schools. Also give some jeers to the anti-science Talibangelicals trying to destroy public education and to the media who someone ALWAYS gets science wrong.

So basically, fund the schools, take the Luddites out to the woodshed and deal with them, and promote science instead of just making stuff up.

Easy, no?