Supporting a sacrilegious sanctuary, scientific society, and solace for Southern secularists.

Not only was yesterday a victory for democrats, it was in some ways a victory for rational thinking and science in America.  Here's a couple of items of interest to the scientific minded.

From Science magazine.

Intelligent design (ID) received a drubbing yesterday, with pro-evolution candidates taking control of the Kansas State Board of Education and strengthening their representation on the Ohio State Board of Education. Many scientists also cheered the defeat of Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), one of the most politically influential supporters of the ID movement.

In Ohio, incumbent board member Deborah Owens Fink lost decisively to Tom Sawyer, a former teacher and U.S. representative. Owens Fink had repeatedly attempted to dilute evolution in Ohio's science standards. Sawyer, who contested the seat at the urging of Ohio scientists, will help swell the ranks of moderates on the 19-member board. The scientists' group, Help Ohio Public Education, is also celebrating the victory of three other "pro-science" candidates including incumbent G. R. "Sam" Schloemer, who had described his candidacy as a referendum on ID. Schloemer won by a 2-to-1 margin over John Hritz, an ID supporter. The only pro-ID candidate elected Tuesday was Susan Haverkos.

In Kansas, supporters of evolution were already assured a majority on the 10-member state board after a primary election earlier this year. But that 6-4 edge was all they could manage yesterday, as two conservative incumbents retained their seats. "That shows the state is still very split on intelligent design. We have to continue educating the public about the issue," says Sally Cauble, a moderate Republican from southwest Kansas who will make her debut on the board next month.

From no se nada on Scienceblogs:

Pombo held the 11th California District seat and was the Chair of the House Resources Committee. With 98% of precincts reporting, Pombo is losing to his challenger, Jerry McNerney, 53%-47%.

Pombo's seat was the one to watch for me because of Pombo strident attempts to alter or kill the Endangered Species Act. He was never successful, even with strong R majorities, but it was his signature issue and he was only a few votes in the Senate away from getting there.

But this victory for McNerney and defeat of Pombo is not only about the ESA, it's also about wind and renewable energy. That's because McNerney is a wind engineer, the CEO of a wind power startup,and holds a Ph.D. in math (University of New Mexico). McNerney will join Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Vern Ehlers (R-MI) as the only science/math Ph.D.s in the House, and you can bet McNerney will be pushing hard renewable energy issues during his term.

In other news, scientists have successly transplanted healthy rods for damaged rods in blind mice and initial results seem to indicate that they have regained at least some vision.  Results will be published in Nature. 

And by the way, how does everyone feel about a muslim being elected to Congress?  Minnesota's Keith Ellison was elected to the House of Representatives and is muslim.