jimmydasaint

I agree with you. There is a plethora of question marks in almost every field of enquiry. However, Chang mentioned that something that comes up in High School science should be taught with the complications added in. There are millions of school leavers who believe that electrons go round the nucleus in the 'Solar System' model and these misconceptions do stick in the mind for a long time unless corrected. Almost every day, I am forced to correct my half understood ideas about things. Many of my misconceptions are about geography- I chose history as a specialist subject. So what do we do? Do we teach the basics and allow students to correct, or clarify their thoughts years later? Or do we warn them of the complications? I would opt for the latter approach.

Slight complication here guys. I'll let Chang speak for himself: and also Link to article

I used to think that the temperature of water was 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius, at normal atmospheric pressure, but it seems that the type of container and degassing of the water can considerably change the boiling point, sometimes up to 10 degrees Celsius. Any comments on this quote and subsequent video demonstrations? UC London Link to Experiments

I see great possibilities for disease treatment, at lest for those fortunate enough to live in the MEDC's of the world. I fail to see how people in LEDC's will be helped at all by decoding the genome. Additionally, I also forsee a problem if the information held in a person's genome is arbitrarily available to others. For example, if you are prone to heart disease, macular degeneration or other debilitating illnesses, or illnesses involving progressive degeneration, will employers choose to look at your talent, or look at the effects of the disease. I had this disturbing choice as a post-doc, when employing another post-doc and it took the wisdom of Solomon to come to a decision. It was heartbreaking. Moreover, the information could be used for racial profiling, and this is unethical, in my opinion. It is salient that I saw a documentary where South American Amazonian Indians distrusted genome researchers, suspicious of the reasons for which it could be used. So...there are good and bad aspects to be shown in decoding the human blueprint.

Wow, Marat. McGuire and Tiger seem to be re-stating Utilitarianistic ethics Easy version of Utilitarianism with a bit of Darwinian Natural Selection added on at the end to justify religious behaviour. IIRC, Samuel Johnson wrote the story of Rasselas, a prince, who was permanently kept safe from harm and not allowed to wander beyond the confines of the Palace grounds. He escapes to seek reality and finds what is morally and intellectually confusing and harmful to him when he escapes. He eventually runs to his Palace for protection from the madness outside, but finally realises what is good because he has experienced the opposite. Summary of Rasselas I too don't believe in the Utilitarian idea of happiness as the ultimate ideal. However, having read some Camus, isn't that what he also believed in, either in irony or in actuality, as an existentialist? I would be delighted to actually live a life of intellectual dignity, despite the madness around me. However, I think that you are generalising far too much. It is not religions that cause the problems of mutual hatred, violence and stupidity - it is the lack of people with the intellectual capacity to understand the use of metaphor and allegory, in favour of what they understand which is ritual and tradition, oftentimes tainted with the ignorance of local 'culture.'

I just want to suggest a journal club here. It would function to broaden and increase the depth of learning of SFN members to a number of topics in various different areas of Science, and open up new scientific discoveries for exploration by this Forum. For example, electron movement in bacteriochlorophyll would open up the topic to Chemists, Biologists, Physicists and the merely interested. To start with, we can concentrate on review articles which cover a whole topic in a concentrated form. The journal club should be only limited to the more serious with more than 30 posts, and also have a time limit. After a two week time limit for comment and discussion, the topic can be archived, where it can be reached, but not re-activated by others. This would increase the pace and urgency of the discussion. So, in short, we can study review articles in a given field, suggested by Mods, have a discussion by established members, and archive the article to move on to a new topic. Only one topic or journal article should be given in the journal club section. Any views?

Really clearly explained Marat. Thank you. And I agree with you about the world of sensory experience giving rise to a knowledge of 'self'. However, in the first point that you made, we also have the example of babies and other animals who have a concept of 'self' whilst harbouring an inchoate sensory experience and possibly not using language. I'm not sure of any research on this but do babies recognise Mummy and Daddy whilst expressing an internal language and coming up with categories for surrounding objects? I found this interesting snippet: Link

Do you mean by this that we are too wrapped up in our particular thinking that language cannot possibly express it to other people, because the language of expression would be too general? And, therefore, subjective. So that I could not possibly verbalise to you what I am, or think, in a complete manner? I just wonder if it really matters if I am totally definite and specific in what I say to you. I find that expressing my need to eat chocolate, and spending a bit of money usually results in a chocolate bar which is quickly demolished. Rather than thought being secondary, I would suggest that our world is built on the foundations of thought and sensory experience. I take it that sensory deprivation from birth would not result in any thought. The outside world and the 'inside world' thought are linked together by sensory experience. We seem to be bound to what our senses tell us and cannot go beyond to see what is truly 'real' or 'true'. If a supercomputer gave us the impression of touch, heat and hearing, by wiring us all up into a virtual reality world, replicating the 'impressions' made by these senses, how would we know it was false anyway?

My mistake. It was the Mazda car. The apparent mileage in town is 19 mpg, and in the country, 21 mpg. With current petrol/gasoline prices, you need to be blessed with great wealth to drive these around. Mazda engines I also read about small or model aeroplanes with Wankel engines...Wankel aircraft

Nice link there csmyth - and interesting reading. I love the images of the spicules: This information is awesome: New Info on Spicules Thanks Chris

The Honda RX-8 had a couple of unique features, including a Wankel (rotary) engine, in contrast to the piston driven engine that most schmoes drive (like me). However, what is the attraction of a rotary engine. Can it possible be more efficient than piston driven cars? And if not, why use an engine that is even less efficient when so many of us are trying to reduce our carbon footprints? Rotary engine

Chris thank you for the explanation provided. I read part of the voluminous article and found the following: and and and wiki So it seems to be either magneto-acoustic or Alfven waves ( wiki ) carrying heat to the chromosphere and corona. Alternatively, magnetic fields could be broken in the and reconnected under the conditions present in the plasma (ionised gas) of the sun, releasing heat energy. However, it may be a combination of both theories. I don't understand the theory, except in the simple non-specialist words provided, so I will wait for an idiot's guide....

Swansont - why is the temperature of the Sun's surface in the order of thousands of degrees Kelvin, whilst the outer 'layer' and the centre are in the order of millions of degrees Kelvin. I hate to divert a hot thread but it does puzzle the heck out of me?

Have you read what Glider said: With respect to you, I think I will follow Glider's comments

I admire and respect Renaissance souls and generalists. IMO specialisation in Science has led to the obsession of talented individuals with the minutiae of scientific phenomena with precious few generalists willing to pull together disparate threads of knowledge across scientific, and non-scientific disciplines. For example, a scientist studying origins and development of language would be forced to read in a metacognitive manner rather than sticking to one field. I personally know nothing about anything and would rather be a hippy soul. I have several ambitions as a middle-aged man: 1) Ride a Harley Davidson Screaming Eagle along the Great Wall of China and the West Coast of America, 2) Spend a season herding reindeer in Mongolia and 3) Try my hand at a bit of ice -road trucking However, I am well aware of male menopause and just wonder... However, chaseman, have you considered Artificial Intelligence research. Keep your IT business ticking over and also combine science, neurology and computer technology in one neat package?

From what little I have seen, Islam tends to avoid titillation and 'naughty' indulgences or transgressions, at least in principle. IMHO, the status of women seems to be more balanced and 'moderate' than that of the West, where women also have a status as sex objects and subconsciously associate this status with liberation and freedom. I don't want to be a hypocrite and say that I don't enjoy this fact. I do. I love looking at a lovely pair of legs or a well rounded bottom, or pair of large, firm breasts. However, my mind is inevitably turned towards sex when I do so, and I am sure that other males do the same. Islam protects women from being observed as sex objects. It orders the covering of breasts, hair and arms to the wrist, and legs to the ankles. Talking to Muslim women happily avoids talking to a cleavage, and considers the personality of the woman rather that appreciation of attractive physical aspects. Moreover, males are ordered to fast and pray if they feel sexual temptation and I presume that the physical and spiritual immersion in both activities as well as a full working day occupy the mind far more than sexual titillation. You are right here about Fascists. But is Fascism not just another brand of collectivism? I wanted to highlight the negative aspects of promoting individuality and individual freedom to indulge in personal pleasures, whilst ignoring the rest of society, and also decry the breakdown of the family. You can see that there is ego and narcissism in the arts, as well as other aspects of life, and I find it regrettable. For example, I came across the example of an artist whose display consisted of all the popular video cassettes that were issued when he was in his mother's womb. Rather than being self expression that educated and enriched the life of the viewer, giving the viewer an alternative view or participation in the highest self expression of the artist with a sublime theme of morality or aesthetic value, it was egoistic masturbation. And this is sad. Point taken

Interesting hypotheses, both yours and that of Foucalt. I will have to catch up with a bit of reading. From a previous post, IMHO, repression can be quite damaging in a country like Saudi Arabia, but I believe that the rise in homosexuality is more a cultural phenomenon, rather that arising from religious repression. Our cultural norms, IMHO, in the West allow for extended childhood into the artificially created 'teenage' years and create a situation where teenagers desperately seek a sexual outlet for what their hormones are telling them to do, leading to a rise in teenage pregnancies and trying to meet the responsibilities of parenthood whilst still feeling like children. As for infidelity, who has not been tempted to be unfaithful? However, destroying the trust in a potential long-term relationship for a few foolish moments of pleasure defy rational thinking and can permanently damage both parties involved- I have seen this first hand, many times. IMO, the family structure is a compact, support network for individuals, an emotional safety net, if you will, without which individuals may be left in social isolation and a lack of mental 'wholeness', for want of a better word. The atomisation of society, and the celebration of the individual over community is our worst export to the rest of the world, more used to extended families, and the safety and moderation of extreme behaviour that came with them. However, I cannot see the point of a Judeo-Christian-Muslim dialogue in this matter. Where do these faiths differ in matters of the flesh?

I think no religious person would argue with you, if the case you describe was true. This would be a case of repression of women, and highly unjust, were this the case. I am not sure if this Table is correct, but in terms of rape crime, South Africa is at the top of this shameful statistic and Saudi Arabia at the bottom. Does covering your body deter rape? I don't know. League Table rape crime I am actually seriously thinking about becoming a Muslim, and, from what I have read, women also have a say in their marriages. What you are describing in the whole of your post is actually cultural repression of women and cultural norms, not religious norms. I am reading through the Quran and I can honestly say that I have not read about this sort of repression. However, Islam, the religion, or the Way of Life, actually put women's rights on a platform similar to men (but not equal). I think this site covers the most common misconceptions with reasonable intelligence. Misconceptions about women I have Muslim friends and have attended a Muslim wedding about 3 years ago. The couple met by chance and then mutually agreed to get married but no camels or sheep were involved unfortunately, although this sight would have entertained the East End of London no end, had it occurred.

One of my friends was a child prodigy who showed similar early talent to the young boy in the O.P. He was given a private school education by the British Government and then ended up in the Civil Service. However, in his late 40's now, he is not a fast-tracked civil servant but has a taken a totally different road. Speaking to the man, he has an incredible eye for details but has not had a happy or fulfilled social life. It seems that, sometimes, this type of intelligence comes with a price. John Stuart Mill was 'hot-housed' by his father in learning Greek and Latin by the age of 8 years old, and studying the Graeco-Roman classics in their original languages. However, he had a nervous breakdown in his twenties, IIRC. Having read his material on liberty and utilitarianism, he is a fascinating logician and philosopher. His work was pivotal in the delineation of what comprises true liberty and happiness for an individual - a superb treatise of the rights of an individual and society...but was it genius? On Liberty online book

I hope this casts some more light on the matter. The emphasis is mine. Archaebacteria seemed to be a 'middleman' between bacteria and critters with a nucleus bounded by a nuclear membrane (eukaryotes).

SFN had me fooled for about a couple of seconds by giving me a two-star Administrator logo. Those two seconds were flattering though.

Spring is here, apparently... I was just thinking about some moments from my childhood across the vast sea of experience and sentimentality that separates my present self from my past self and was thinking about what spring meant for me. However, only descriptive and dramatic replies please, which read like Hemingway or Camus. I'll be happy with one reply if I get it. Waking sleepily from my bed, groggy, wiping sleep from my young eyes, I stumbled to the bathroom in my striped pyjamas, crumpled behind the knees due to sleeping in a foetal position. The frosted glass windows let the new sunlight through in crazy patterns as I gave myself a soldier's bath - crotch, armpits, hair and face. I straightened up my tousled hair and glanced at the small Woolworths mirror that my father used for shaving , and waxing his hair like James Dean, finished off with a pungent brand of hair cream; cigarette glowing red perpetually at the corner of his mouth to give himself a moody exterior (which matched his moody interior). On reaching the local park, the lingering odour of jasmine and cypress filled the air around me, mixed with the hazy acrid car exhaust fumes from the local highway. A faint breeze tugged at the short sleeves of my T-shirt. Goosebumps appeared. The sun was pressing its light through the perpetual cloud that surrounded Glasgow, creating laser beams of sunlight that scanned small areas of the patchily, grass-covered ground for a moment, before moving on to the stone dykes on the periphery of the trapezial shaped park that marked the communal garden walls of the towering three-storey tenement monsters that overlooked the whole area. My friend, George, appeared from the distance dressed in his jumble sale best - a mauve-coloured T-shirt not helped by the undistinguished brown shorts he was wearing, contrasting with his grey, knee-length socks that he also wore to school. His scuffed dark shoes finished off a rather unprepossessing figure with a large head of curly, mousy brown hair and a slight overbite protruding from his top lip. He smiled faintly in recognition. The clouds eventually rumbled away like a slow freight train and the faint sunlight picked up its energy to shine on us in theatre spotlight sizes. Each day of this weekend had endless possibilities- every possibility was golden. It was Spring. (PS: I am not saying that I write like Hemingway or Camus, nothing I do comes even close, but that I would love to read some descriptive writing)

I commend your intellectual honesty. However, is it not considered ethical to care about all life in general that happen to share this planet with us? This category would include anencephalic clones, or any other clones for that matter. I consider it a personal ethical duty to care for most (but not all) creatures and bemoan the damage that we do to the environment for greed or lebensraum. Additionally, IMHO, the way we think about humans in general is also important. If we consider humans to be no more than animals, then there should be no objection to cloning humans or to construct chimeras, or indeed, to make transgenic humans. However, if we consider humans to be something separate from the animal kingdom, and we cannot risk DNA damage and the possible suffering to human foetuses or babies, from poor cloning technique: then the problem is both technical and moral.

SJ, I would be careful to attribute industrial toxins in allergic asthma. I think there are several factors which could contribute to the role of toxins in diseases like asthma. Amongst them are the following: a) age of the subject, b) health of the subject c) type of environmental pollutant d) concentration of environmental pollutant e) type of activity performed by the subject at time of onset of symptoms... I would be interested in understanding why asthma is more common in children from families where the parents smoke. Any ideas folks?

I am a bit pushed for tine, but I will say that I find the results quite mixed, as this article seems to indicate. Science Daily