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Ziya Tong
Ziya Tong

is a host and field producer for WIRED SCIENCE.

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09.23.07

Greetings Fellow Nerdfolk

Ziya Tong by Ziya Tong     Department: Correlations


Ziya here. Welcome to my inaugural web posting. This little corner of the site will be devoted to the weird wide world of science and technology. So I was thinking a la Letterman, that every once in a while I'll call up a random person from the web and have a little chat with them.

Since this is a science show blog, I figured we could start with something symbolic. A little while ago I came across an article about Scott Skogerboe, a horticulturist in Fort Collins who tracks down historic plants and actually sells cuttings from Isaac Newton's apple tree! You know, the one responsible for that whole gravity thing? I learned that for about $25 you too can revel under your *very own* tree of knowledge...or eternal damnation, depending on how you look at it. So of course, I had to give him a call.

Scott's an interesting guy who fell in love with the whole notion of historic trees about 20 years ago, and he's planted a clone of the Newton tree in his yard. He tells me that the original cutting, also known as a "germ plasm", was apparently taken from Newton's mum's manor house in Woolsthorpe. Newton was studying at home at the time as his university was shut down due to that wee incident of the Black Death. So it was that chilling in the garden one day, he saw an apple drop to the ground. Flash forward to a few centuries later, and bingo! We have everything from missile launchers to slinkys. Thank you apple tree.

Now, I have to tell you, when I talked to Scott he only had one cutting left. And, acting as any sane science nerd would, I told him instantly I'd buy it. Then cackling madly, I proceeded to do a little victory dance around the office. Since gloating is an experience best shared, I shimmied over to fellow blogger Damon's desk to tell him how astoundingly well my first blog effort was going. I made a call. I bought Isaac Newton's apple tree. It was only a matter of time till I'd either unlock the secrets to a Unified Field Theory or eat a hell of a lot of apple pies. Win-win situation, right?

But as we all know, sometimes the universe giveth, and sometimes the universe cruelly taketh away. 10 minutes later Scott called back. He'd checked the shed and apparently his wife sold the last cutting several months ago, but he did still have some Johnny Appleseed trees if I was interested? Naturally, my face dropped to the floor - thanks to, you know, gravity. So as I type this now I can tell you two things: 1) Never try to conquer the universe in your first blog posting, and 2) If you're in the market for a Johnny Appleseed tree you can email Scott at pyrus  [at] frii [dot] com

Ziya

Tags: behind the scenes, horticulture, Isaac Newton, scott skogerboe, tv show

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October 3, 2007 5:26 PM

Dr. Gordon Dahlby

To all involved.

I watched Wired Science for the first time on Iowa's IPTV PBS station. Very nice and glad it's time slot is 7 p.m. CST, hoping it will attract many young girls and boys. I like the variety of gender and ethnicities represented which will be a great model, especially for young women.


Watching WIRED Science now Ziya... I'm sure I speak for all of your co-bloggers around the globe at Correlations when I say you're making us proud. Thanks for showing everyone how cool science is! As I keep saying - It's hip to be Geek!

I watched the first episode and have to say it's the worst science show to premiere on PBS. I say this without malice or vindictiveness. Too shallow, too irrelevant to line itself with Nova or even Nature.

It reminded me of that other short-lived show, Secret Places in New York, that aired last year. It's too sideline, too alternative to appeal to mainstream PBS viewers I think.

I hope PBS doesn't waste more contribution money on this type of silly shows, hip but shallow.

I really like the program, have setup the series on my DVR so I will not miss any.

I was very interested on the CoolWhip special, I have cleaned up my house of "high fructuose corn syrup" and "partially hydrogenated oils", those are amazingly bad. I would like if you guys have a special on this matter to make people aware of how bad this things are, I have setup a site that help me learn a lot about this.

Thanks for the good program.

I enjoyed watching the show last night on TV and online, and I blogged about it yesterday before the premiere. My six year old daughter especially liked the segment about Cool Whip! Also, I think the use of multiple platforms (TV, blogs, online videos, Twitter, etc.) is great. Thanks for that because the 8-9pm slot is bed time around our house, so I can always catch up if I miss something.

I agree with Jae. Irreverent? Whatever. Pretty hosts and graphics, can't make up for what is a shallow, clunky, old-fashioned television.

Ziya, i just have to say you were GR8! much better than the girly boy (?) who did the long article on Russian hackers. So is this a new Silicon Valley show for people who make computers? I will tell my uncle to watch, he is a big geek. Can you also post the recipe to make the Whipped Cream?
-Carla


October 4, 2007 10:54 PM

Jill Gregerson

Hello fellow geek. Thanks for the cool show and article.

I happened onto the show last night. I loved the pacing and the topics. I especially liked the segment on Chemistry sets--I tried to buy my daughter a chemistry set a few years ago and it was quite a disappointment. The only thing they seem to really do is make slime.

I would like to know what sort of dangerous substance those folks shipped across state lines before the cavalry got called out though!

that was a misleading story
i was hoping for only $25 i could by an apple tree cutting form isaac newton but you had to spoof it all at the end with some comical spinoffs


masters in communcation? sounds great, but in furture adventures i would like to read a more verbal enterataining entry to your blog. something stressful on the mind of hilarity and simplicity to bound all complexities together in uniform english syntax can make a person feel warm inside...

as for the show: as much a fan as i am of pbs and their supporters i would tend to agree that the show resonates more to a children's science program like beakman's world or mr wizard...
well, minus the fact that your show deals with some seriously intense science facts that children would probally have stopped watching after that segment

little to say i have almost no faith in the education of our youth nor the continued education and drive for excellence even in our early adults

college kids? thats right.. kids
being an exclude from college myself it seems pertinent to restrain aspects of one's life to maintain a functional brain stimulus
such as the person who does "whats inside?" i respect him for his character and ability to portray the knowledge intended to recieve
whats inside? would be my favorite segment of the show so far

did anyone ever get involved in watching "julius sumner miller's dramatic demonstrations in physics" ? exciting show for those who were nowhere near the projected age group of 8-15

i continue to support pbs through funding and proliferation of their content towards a greater good - keep it up

Hi Ziya,

Great interview with James Gates and watched it since a close friend mentioned the interview he saw on Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Funny your blog started out about the horticulturist in Fort Collins, since that's where we live....

This is great science news venue and hope to share this with my family.

December 19, 2007 2:33 PM

Scott Wells, DVM

Hi Ziya,
I echo localsurf's assessment about your interview with James Gates; Revealing his sense of humor combined with your "Geek-on-the-Street" type questions gave a very human touch to what is otherwise a very esoteric, abstract way of viewing the world in which we all live and breathe. You were genuine and allowed him to be also. Thank you.
Being a geek, who also is trying to utilize applications day to day, I anticipate a first class apple pie recipe on the blog soon...Oh wait, you didn't get a Newton tree after all :) Nice fantasy though...

everything is discusting on here
but AAAAAWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEeeSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEE
and totally weird they dont lie when they say that

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