The Lounge

Mathematics without understanding can be lethal. Yet we are constantly exhorting others to use mathematics and pushing the doctrine that 'mathematics rules OK'. Being human there are always those who will try to short cut the link between understanding and mathematics and technology, with its ever increasing computing power, is offering the illusion that this is possible by simply inputting data into preprogrammed systems that spit out answers. Here is a recent example from this forum http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/88108-please-help-with-calculating-limiting-reagent/#entry857546 This trend has long (always?) been there. I can remember the scandal …

-Please move to 'speculations' if deserved- Can you foresee the magnitude of general public chaos in the U.S.A. if the metric international system was mandated ? Together with the kilogram, Celsius, litre, Newton... No more fluid ounces, tablespoons, miles, bushels, gallons, pounds, Farenheit, horsepower, feet, inches, acres, mils, 2"x4" that are not, BTUs,... On a one-year term to convert ? I just smile when hear ..."half pound hamburger has 16 grams of fat"... Lucky some things are already turned with medicines, imported products, the Volt is already here to stay. What is your perception in the subject ?

He's fine and you can read the full article here: http://m.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-31759873 but this line just cracked me up. Thank FSM for doctors playing golf

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31711446 Happy chatting

Ultimate McLaren revealed ahead of Geneva debut http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/ultimate-mclaren-revealed-ahead-of-geneva-debut/ar-BBhIhOE?ocid=UP97DHP It has speed written all over it. Great design!

A map showing the number, place, and time of every nuclear explosion humans have detonated, 2053 total...

In secret they have been preparing for our demise, slowly but surely making their plans against us!

These are the 12 things most likely to destroy the world http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/techandscience/these-are-the-12-things-most-likely-to-destroy-the-world/ar-BBhLrv6?ocid=UP97DHP#page=12 Everyone of them would be the worst nightmare to live through.

Dear all, We're looking for innovative scientific projects and inventions to be presented in the Dolphinity World Festival. Dolphinity for us is a way of life and a worldview based on integrity, awareness and joy. Formally the Festival will be dedicated to cetaceans, but in large terms – to consciousness and life in general. We develop the Festival of Dolphinity as a scientific forum, a creative contest, and an international fiesta all at once. It is a unique cultural event as well as a continual project: an international community, a year-round research and information centre, an experimental base for new vivid transformational projects – a global practice of dir…

Here is one of the strangest stories I've read. "Indian bride marries wedding guest after husband has epileptic seizure during ceremony" http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/indian-bride-marries-wedding-guest-after-husband-has-epileptic-seizure-during-ceremony/ar-BBhI162?ocid=UP97DHP I wonder if she will keep her wedding vows?

I was searching for some inspiration for a frontispiece for a review I'm submitting and was once again surprised by just how bad some of them were - and all from some of the best chemistry journals out. I'm sure this can't be unique to chemists, but it sure seems to be especially prevalent in chemistry related papers / journals. Thought I'd share a few of the gems I came across. (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cs501366q) (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ac501953z) Edit: I forget where this one came from, but it's a clear favorite.

Should we believe the Math? THEORETICAL Quantum Physicist Dr. Amit Goswami admitted today that he, and his peers, have absolutely ‘no fucking idea’ what they’re doing http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2015/02/10/we-honestly-have-no-fucking-idea-what-were-doing-admits-leading-quantum-physicist/

hi! my name is Na. i really want to have a friend who is interested in science. i'm not a native english speaker so sorry for my bad grammar;) the reason i'm interested in science is that i watch movies and science documentaries a lot! i'm a biomedical science student but i like to link medical science to other science subjects. it's interesting to see how different subjects can be related to each other! now you know i come here to find science friends here and if you're like me then that's great! since my old friends all hate science so i don't have friends whom i can talk to. want to text via skype or LINE if possible;)

As we all know, US higher education is ridiculously expensive, with many students having $150,000 in debts after graduation. How would you fix it and should Americans try to?

I have an idea for a movie where the private prison industry are the antagonists. The bad guy would be a typical evil narcissist CEO. It would be set in a future America where the private prison industry routinely sets people up for crimes they didn't commit and uses their financial resources to bribe the courts. African Americans and other individuals considered undesirable would be overwhelmingly targeted. This is used as a means to oppress those populations and keep them impoverished. The protagonist would be a brave courageous secret agent individual with incorruptible values and unbeatable combat skills. He always does the right thing and beats everybody …

As many of you know, it was the case that I was going to be a daddy. Well, that time has come! It's time to show off your kids. My son is now two days old. He was born on September 8 at 4:48pm and he weighs in at 1lb 13oz. He made it to one day before 28 weeks before he had to come out. If you've got kids, how many do you have? Any advice/tips/tricks?

http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/feb/04/scientists-pledge-to-increase-interference-with-the-church I do love the name Dr Hugh Briss

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/us/politics/kochs-plan-to-spend-900-million-on-2016-campaign.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1 We may very well find out in 2016. Maybe this will finally be the impetus for campaign finance reform. I won't hold my breath on that, but this will be interesting to see how it plays out.

I am very curious about the following issues. In which countries in the World Scopus listed publications are highly appreciated and well-paid by institutions and, probably, higher education councils? How much do they pay for such publications?

Absolutely wild video!

person's virginity can get lost by oral sex only? We all know that oral sex is done without involving intercourse.

It became apparent to me that I have already accumulated a negative reputation rating on this site but I have backed up every single claim I've made with data or a retort admitting my error, how is this so? It makes me laugh to see the same people gallivant around this site like they are some scientific authority, diminishing every post they possibly can by flexing their knowledge muscle through sarcasm and ignorance of the experience someone may or may not be having. For instance, a topic was started regarding ET life and the possibility that we are being observed and right away someone swooped in and basically said "whats the point in asking this question if it all b…

Noticed on the schedule of member's birthdays that Moontanman is sixty today! Many congratulations Moon. I am sure that the SE portion of North Carolina (or is it the NE potion of South Carolina) will be rocking tonight - have a great one.

Hi Im coming from Turkey. So, please ignore my english language mistakes. I have bachelor degree in chemistry (4 year). So, I couldnt find a decent job since my graduate completion. I want to get a master degree in energy systems engineering, I applied to a university master exam for this in my town. I will enter an exam about both english and energy systems eng. topics. Here are my questions: - I can't find any useful document on google about master entrance exam of Energy Systems Engineering, can anyone upload a document by helping me... - What are the benefits of getting Master degree in energy engineering while holding bachelor in chemistry (as a chemist)? - D…

Not a scientific one, but might still be hard to answer.... what is this head garment depicted on the 1753 Leonhard Euler portrait by Emanuel Handmann? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonhard_Euler#mediaviewer/File:Leonhard_Euler.jpg I always wondered.