Browsing NewScientist I saw this article and thought it was pretty good. Talks about the current contenders for the theory of everything, not super complicated and if you’re interested in science you’ll love this. :)
The “theory of everything” is one of the most cherished dreams of science. If it is ever discovered, it will describe the workings of the universe at the most fundamental level and thus encompass our entire understanding of nature. It would also answer such enduring puzzles as what dark matter is, the reason time flows in only one direction and how gravity works. Small wonder that Stephen Hawking famously said that such a theory would be “the ultimate triumph of human reason – for then we should know the mind of God”.
You have to admit, this is pretty damn cool. :D Perhaps first contact is right around the corner.
The release of a Hubble image taken on 29 January shows that this object, called P/2010 A2, is no normal comet. There’s a strange X-shape feature at its brightest end (I hesitate to call it a “nucleus”) that defies easy explanation. “This is quite different from the smooth dust envelopes of normal comets,” explains David Jewitt of the University of California at Los Angeles, who led the Hubble effort. The Hubble view also clearly shows a point-like object hovering nearby, about 1600 kilometres from the “X” and seemingly connected to it by a thread of material.
Source: NewScientist
Stephen says it looks like the Vulcan Scout Ship and it actually does!
One of the most influential books in the history of human civilization was published 150 years ago today, Charles Darwin’s On the Origins of Species. Considered blasphemy when it was released, the theory (albeit with slight modifications) has stood up to the test of time and is considered the gold standard of scientific theories.
Charles Darwin‘s On the Origin of Species, published on 24 November 1859, is a seminal work of scientific literature, considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. Its full title was On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. For the sixth edition of 1872, the short title was changed to The Origin of Species. Darwin’s book introduced the theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. It presented a body of evidence that the diversity of life arose through a branching pattern of evolution and common descent. Darwin included evidence that he had accumulated on the Beagle expedition in the 1830s and his subsequent findings from research, correspondence, and experimentation.
Thank you Mr. Darwin for revolutionizing the way we think about life on this small planet. :-)
Swine flu aka H1N1 virus is getting a lot of airtime these days and NewScientist put together a pretty good “Swine Flu Myths” article. It’s a good read if you have time, I particularly like the symptoms section.
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu can be like those of ordinary flu, but often they are not. You may suffer from nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhoea in addition to the usual suspects. And in up to half of all cases, people never develop a fever.
Source: NewScientist
Whatever ends up happening in the US does not affect me but I post about it because I’m rather disturbed at how the political right continually lies and deceives the American people. Yeah universal health care is expensive but it’s sustainable, unlike the free market system that working so well for them down South… Anyway I thought this article from Reuters was rather good.
Let’s start with value. Most Americans are blissfully unaware that their healthcare system provides appallingly little value for their money. This is because when it comes to costs, they see only the tip of the iceberg. While companies typically pay about three-quarters of an employee’s family premium — on average $12,680 a year — individuals ultimately bear the burden. In a free market, companies do not hand over to their workers more than they absolutely have to. Money spent on healthcare is carved out of take-home pay or other benefits.
Just noticed this video, a pretty good watch for Americans. Our system isn’t perfect, far from it but it’s more fair and not about the money.
With President Obama determined to reform the US health care system, there’s a lot of talk in all the media at what this means for Americans. NewScientist has put together this video which I find anyway is pretty informative, no political bickering here, just scientific facts.
I’ll say this the numbers certainly do not favor the American system! The narrator is absolutely right, it should be about quality health care, not quantity.
Hopefully President Obama and the American people can continue down the path of enlightenment because articles like this are damn scary from “the most powerful nation in the world”…
The survey found nearly 9 in 10 scientists accept the idea of evolution by natural selection, but just a third of the public does. And while 84 percent of scientists say the Earth is getting warmer because of human activity, less than half of the public agrees with that.
Source: Reuters
I’ve ranted about this previously but seriously only 33% of Americans believe in Evolution?!? Of all scientific theories Evolution has the most supporting evidence and is continually proven correct (with all our modern technology too), even 150 years after Charles Darwin first proposed it. Come on US, put science in its place at the front of the pack for the betterment of the entire world.
Saw this and just had to post it, The Daily Show is awesome. :D Will the Large Hadron Collider produce mini black holes which may devour the Earth? It didn’t the last time it was turned on but I guess we’ll find out soon when it’s reactivated. Heh science geeks will enjoy this one.
The Hubble space telescope has certainly opened many people’s eyes to the beauty of our universe and it’s a shame a wonderful piece of equipment like this is near the end of its life.
I’m sure by now everyone knows I’m an astronomy nut and here are some absolutely stunning pictures. My favorite is this one and man I can hear the religious folk talking about god being spotted… ;-)
