I just finished Box, Hunter, and Hunter (Statistics for Experimenters) and I cannot praise it enough. There were multiple passages where I literally giggled. In fact I may have been a bit too enthusiastic about tagging quotes beyond “all models are wrong but some are useful” that I can’t share them all.

I wish someone had shared this with me when I was first learning statistics instead of the usual statistics textbooks that treat model development as an irrelevant detail. So many of the elements that make this book are extremely relevant to statistics today. Some examples:

• The perspective of learning from data only through the lens of the statistical model. The emphasis on sequential modeling, using previous fits to direct better models, and sequential experiments, using past fits to direct better targeted experiments.
• The fixation on checking model assumptions, especially with interpretable visual diagnostics that capture not only residuals but also meaningful scales of deviation. Proto visual predictive checks as I use them today.
• The distinction between empirical models and mechanistic models, and the treatment of empirical linear models as Taylor expansions of mechanistic models with covariates as _deviations_ around some nominal value. Those who have taken my course know how important I think this is.
• The emphasis that every model, even mechanistic models, are approximations and should be treated as such.
• The reframing of frequentist statistical tests as measures of signal to noise ratios.
• The importance of process drift and autocorrelation in data when experimental configurations are not or cannot be arbitrarily randomized.
• The diversity of examples and exercises using real data from real applications with detailed contexts, including units everywhere.

Really the only reason why I wouldn’t recommend this as an absolute must read is that the focus on linear models and use of frequentist methods does limit the relevance of the text to contemporary Bayesian applications a bit.

Texts like these make me even more frustrated by the desire to frame movements like data science as revolutions that give people the justification to ignore the accumulated knowledge of applied statisticians.

Academic statistics has no doubt largely withdrawn into theory with increasingly smaller overlap with applications, but there is so much relevant wisdom in older applied statistics texts like these that doesn’t need to be rediscovered just reframed in a contemporary context.

Oh, I forgot perhaps the best part! BHH continuously emphasizes the importance of working with domain experts in the design and through the entire analysis with lots of anecdotal examples demonstrating how powerful that collaboration can be.

I felt so much less alone every time they talked about experimental designs not being implemented properly andthe subtle effects that can have in the data, and serious effects in the resulting inferences, if not taken into account.

Michael Betancourt, PhD, Applied Statistician – long story short, I am a once and future physicist currently masquerading as a statistician in order to expose the secrets of inference that statisticians have long kept from scientists. More seriously, my research focuses on the development of robust statistical workflows, computational tools, and pedagogical resources that bridge statistical theory and practice and enable scientists to make the most out of their data.
Twitter: @betanalpha
Website: betanalpha
Patreon: Michael Betancourt

Related: Statistics for Experimenters, Second Edition – Statistics for Experimenters in Spanish – Statistics for Experimenters Review – Correlation is Not Causation

• Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (2008)
• NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover (2011)
• Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids (2005)
• Backyard Wildlife: Red-tailed Hawk (2018)
• Home Engineering (Halloween edition): Gaping Hole Costume (2010)
• Ranking Countries by Scientific Publication Citations: USA, UK, Germany… (2015)
• Neil Degrasse Tyson: Scientifically Literate See a Different World (2009)
• 500 Year Floods (2008)
• Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe Hybrid Image (2009)
• Why is it Colder at Higher Elevations? (2008)

John Hunter, Olympic National Park (where the mountain peaks are colder and covered in snow)

• Images of 200 Calorie Portions of Various Foods (2015)
• 3D Printing at Home: Today, Challenges and Opportunities (2015)
• Growing Citrus in the Snow (2018)
• Circumhorizontal Arcs – Fire Rainbows – Cloud Rainbows (2012)
• Learning Design of Experiments with Paper Helicopters (2009)
• Insightful Problem Solving by an Asian Elephant (2011)
• Encouraging Curiosity in Kids (2011)
• Using Bacteria to Carry Nanoparticles Into Cells (2007)
• Drone Deliveries to Hospitals in Rwanda (2017)
• Molten Salt Solar Reactor Approved by California (2010)

The year the posts were written

2018: 2 posts
2017: 1

2015: 3

2012: 1
2011: 3
2010: 2
2009: 3
2008: 3
2007: 1

2005: 1

The video shows two great appropriate technology solutions to help diagnose malaria and save millions of lives. Manu Prakash from Stanford talks about 2 of his labs’ inventions the Foldscope and the Paperfuge. Combined these cost only 68 cents and they can be used to diagnose Malaria. Both of these are examples not only of simple, brilliant design, but of how engineering is used to make a positive dent in the world.

Read more about the Paperfuge: an ultra-low cost, hand-powered centrifuge inspired by the mechanics of a whirligig toy (open access paper).

This solution also shows the huge benefit people everywhere have gained when immigrants can take their skills and desires to institutions like Stanford to create solutions that greatly benefit the world. This powerful force has been creating huge benefits that we all have enjoyed for decades.

Related: Appropriate Technology and Focus on Improving Lives at MIT (2014) – $1 Device To Give Throat Cancer Patients Their Voice Again (2016) – Video showing malaria breaking into cell (2011) – Engineering: Cellphone Microscope (2009) – One Scientists 20 Year Effort to Defeat Dengue Fever (2012)

• Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (2008)
• NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover (2011) *
• Backyard Wildlife: Red-tailed Hawk (2018) *
• Home Engineering (Halloween edition): Gaping Hole Costume (2010) *
• 500 Year Floods (2008)
• Growing Citrus in the Snow (2018) *
• Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids (2005)
• 3D Printing at Home: Today, Challenges and Opportunities (2015) *
• Ranking Countries by Scientific Publication Citations: USA, UK, Germany… (2015)
• Neil Degrasse Tyson: Scientifically Literate See a Different World (2009)

• Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe Hybrid Image (2009) *
• Why is it Colder at Higher Elevations? (2008)
• How Lysozyme Protein in Our Tear-Drops Kill Bacteria (2012)
• Insightful Problem Solving by an Asian Elephant (2011)
• Cats Protect Newborns From Developing Asthma (2017)
• Circumhorizontal Arcs – Fire Rainbows – Cloud Rainbows (2012)
• Drone Deliveries to Hospitals in Rwanda (2017)
• Images of 200 Calorie Portions of Various Foods (2015) *
• Molten Salt Solar Reactor Approved by California (2010)
• Learning Design of Experiments with Paper Helicopters (2009) *

Fire Rainbow, Johor Bahru by John Hunter

* new post to the top 20 list this year (8 blogs posts from 2009 [2], 2010, 2011, 2015 [2], 2018 [2])

This list shows how popular old posts can remain over time. and that old posts can also gain popularity (all those new posts in the top 20 from many years ago).

2018: 2
2017: 2

2015: 3

2012: 2
2011: 2
2010: 2
2009: 3
2008: 3

2005: 1

Related: 20 Most Popular Post on Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog in 2017 – 20 Most Popular Post on Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog in 2015

US Capital Building in Washington DC by John Hunter.

Here is a list of elected representatives in the USA congress with science, technology, engineering and math backgrounds (after the 2018 election).

Those with notes including “2018*” means they were newly elected to the congress in 2018.

Please send any information on possible additions to this list (see the continually updated list).

Related: Scientific Research Spending Cuts in the USA and Increases Overseas are Tempting Scientists to Leave the USA (2013) – The Science Gap and the Economy – Scientists and engineers in the USA Congress in 2008 (scroll down the page to see 2008) – Diplomacy and Science Research – Unless We Take Decisive Action, Climate Change Will Ravage Our Planet (2009) – Silicon Valley Shows the Power of Global Science and Technology Workforce

15 Year-Old Kenyan Prodigy, Richard Turere, Who Created “Lion Lights”

This is a great video which includes good examples of the value to experimenting, learning and adapting. Iteration is a critical skill when developing solutions. Try out prototypes and learn from what happens. Use that knowledge to develop new solutions or modify the existing solutions and experiment some more. Continue to iterate and improve.

This is another great example of people using their initiative, creativity and engineering talent to create appropriate technology solutions to create solutions that improve their lives. It is great to see how these efforts continue over time, this BBC article follows up on Richard Turere several years after his initial success:

What happened to the boy who chased away the lions?

The efforts of so many great young people to create solutions that make the world a better place are inspiring.

Related: Electric Wind – Beehive Fence Protects Farms from Elephants – Appropriate Technology and Focus on Improving Lives at MIT – Using The Building of Robots to Engage Students in Learning

The system uses the constant ground temperature 2.5 meters (8 feet) below ground to heat a greenhouse. The underground-temperature on his farm is 11 degrees (52 degrees Fahrenheit). Other nearby areas range from 9 to 17 degrees (17 is near a hot spring).

Just circulating air through 64 meters (210 feet) of tubing buried 2.5 meters underground is enough to allow citrus and other plants to thrive. Selling at local farmer’s markets brings in a very high profit for farmers that can grow and sell locally.

Using the power of the sun to grow and the constant ground temperature to keep the air warm enough creates an opportunity to grow all year round. The same principles can be used to cool down indoor temperatures in very hot locations near the equator.

Due to the controlled environment growing organically is easy so that further increases the payoff for this type of farming.

The cost of the system can be as low as $25,000 if you have access to a backhoe to dig the trenches for the air pipes and can do much of the labor yourself. That is the cost of just the heating systems for a conventional greenhouse.

I really like this type of intersection of engineering and business (as well as environment and health benefits – providing healthy local food) that creates value to society by using our knowledge effectively.

Learn more at Citrus in the Snow. The Nebraska farmer (seen in the video) has been growing Citrus in Nebraska this way since 1992.

Related: Sustainable Ocean Farming – Beehive Fence Protects Farms from Elephants – For Many Crops Ants Can Provide Pest Protection Superior or Equal to Chemicals at a Much Lower Cost – Small Farm Robots

• Insightful Problem Solving by an Asian Elephant (2011) *
• Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (2008)
• Why is it Colder at Higher Elevations? (2008)
• Science Sort of Explains: Hiccups (2008)
• Ranking Countries by Scientific Publication Citations: USA, UK, Germany… (2015)
• Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids (2005)

molten salt solar system diagram

• Molten Salt Solar Reactor Approved by California (2010)
• Neil Degrasse Tyson: Scientifically Literate See a Different World (2009)
• Loan Forgiveness Program for Engineering Students (2008)
• How Lysozyme Protein in Our Tear-Drops Kill Bacteria (2012)

• 500 Year Floods (2008) *
• S&P 500 CEO’s: Engineering is the Most Common Major (2009)
• Dogs and Wolves Share a Sense of Fair Pay (2017)*
• Science and Optical Illusions (2010)
• Underwater Pedestrian Walkway (2011)



• Pepper – A Social Robot from Softbank (2017) *
• Using Bacteria to Carry Nanoparticles Into Cells (2007)
• Drone Deliveries to Hospitals in Rwanda (2017) *
• Bird on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (2017) *
• The Amazing Reality of Genes and The History of Scientific Inquiry (2017) *

* new to the top 20 list this year (blogs posts from 2008, 2011, 2017 [5])

This list shows how popular old posts can remain over time. Old posts can also gain popularity; I added the most popular post for this year in 2011 (and it wasn’t even in the top 20 previously).

9 of the top 10 this year were in the top 20 last year as were 13 of the top 20.

6 of the top 20 this year were also in the top 20 in 2014. The distribution over the years of publication of the posts in the list this year:

2017: 5
2015: 1

2012: 1
2011: 2
2010: 2
2009: 2
2008: 5
2007: 1

2005: 1

The slight increase in new posts from the current year is mainly due to fewer of the old posts gaining visits (changes in search engines algorithms is my guess on the likely cause). It wasn’t so much that the new posts this year had so many more readers than in the past but that the older posts didn’t get as many visitors (after you dropped out of the top 10).

Related: 20 Most Popular Post on Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog in 2015

T-HR3 reflects Toyota’s broad-based exploration of how advanced technologies can help to meet people’s unique mobility needs. T-HR3 represents an evolution from previous generation instrument-playing humanoid robots, which were created to test the precise positioning of joints and pre-programmed movements, to a platform with capabilities that can safely assist humans in a variety of settings, such as the home, medical facilities, construction sites, disaster-stricken areas and even outer space.

“The Partner Robot team members are committed to using the technology in T-HR3 to develop friendly and helpful robots that coexist with humans and assist them in their daily lives. Looking ahead, the core technologies developed for this platform will help inform and advance future development of robots to provide ever-better mobility for all,” said Akifumi Tamaoki, General Manager, Partner Robot Division.

T-HR3 is controlled from a Master Maneuvering System that allows the entire body of the robot to be operated instinctively with wearable controls that map hand, arm and foot movements to the robot, and a head-mounted display that allows the user to see from the robot’s perspective. The system’s master arms give the operator full range of motion of the robot’s corresponding joints and the master foot allows the operator to walk in place in the chair to move the robot forward or laterally. The Self-interference Prevention Technology embedded in T-HR3 operates automatically to ensure the robot and user do not disrupt each other’s movements.

Onboard T-HR3 and the Master Maneuvering System, motors, reduction gears and torque sensors (collectively called Torque Servo Modules) are connected to each joint. These modules communicate the operator’s movements directly to T-HR3’s 29 body parts and the Master Maneuvering System’s 16 master control systems for a smooth, synchronized user experience.

Learn more on Toyota’s news site.

Related: Toyota Develops Thought-controlled Wheelchair (2009) – Robots for Health Care from Toyota (2017) – Toyota Human Support Robot (2012) – Lexus Has Built a Working Hoverboard (2015)