What is the difference between science and philosophy? While there are enterprises that are clearly in one or the other, the dividing line isn't always a sharp one. Science grew out of philosophy, particularly natural philosophy. Some would say that science is itself a type of philosophy. But what is the difference between what we … Continue reading Science, philosophy, and caution about what we think we know
The cult of justice – Charlie’s Diary
One of the problems with what I do is that I look for patterns in human behaviour, and once I see them I have difficulty un-seeing them. And there's a set of patterns I keep seeing that are implicit in our news reportage—specifically, the reporting of legal cases. Patterns which seem to me to have … Continue reading The cult of justice – Charlie’s Diary
8 Surprising Ways Music Affects and Benefits our Brains | Belle Beth Cooper
8 Surprising Ways Music Affects and Benefits our Brains | Belle Beth Cooper. An interesting post at HuffPost on the effects of music on our brain's processing. In a perhaps not entirely rigorous manner, a chart linking different personality types is presented. I wonder what my habit of listening to podcasts on my daily walks … Continue reading 8 Surprising Ways Music Affects and Benefits our Brains | Belle Beth Cooper
Robotic camera meets lion pride
I'm struck by how much the robot looked like an animal itself wondering into the pride. It's a wonder the lions took as long as they did to treat it as prey.
Five predictions about our virtual future
Michio Kaku tends to be a bit pie in the sky, but his views are always interesting.
A Scientist Predicts the Future
When making predictions, I have two criteria: the laws of physics must be obeyed and prototypes must exist that demonstrate “proof of principle.” I’ve interviewed more than 300 of the world’s top scientists, and many allowed me into laboratories where they are inventing the future. Their accomplishments and dreams are eye-opening. From my conversations with them, here’s a glimpse of what to expect in the coming decades: 1. Computers Will Disappear. According to Moore’s Law, computer power doubles every 18 months. That means in a decade or so, chips will cost about a penny, the cost of scrap paper. Computers as we now know them will disappear; they will be everywhere and nowhere, ubiquitous yet hidden, just like electricity and running water. The cloud will follow us silently and seamlessly, carrying out our wishes anytime, anywhere. 2. Augmented Reality Will Be Everyday Reality. Remember the…
View original post 18 more words
Reinstalling Eden : Nature : Nature Publishing Group
Eve, I call her. She awakes, wondering where she is and how she got there. She admires the beauty of the island. She cracks a coconut, drinks its juice and tastes its flesh. Her cognitive skills, her range of emotions, the richness of her sensory experiences, all rival my own. She thinks about where she … Continue reading Reinstalling Eden : Nature : Nature Publishing Group
xkcd: Oort Cloud
xkcd: Oort Cloud. Comet ISON survived its swing by the sun, at least somewhat.
Eat crow if you think I’m a bird-brain
From Science Daily: Scientists have long suspected that corvids -- the family of birds including ravens, crows and magpies -- are highly intelligent. Now, Tübingen neurobiologists Lena Veit und Professor Andreas Nieder have demonstrated how the brains of crows produce intelligent behavior when the birds have to make strategic decisions. Their results are published in … Continue reading Eat crow if you think I’m a bird-brain
Hard Evidence: Is Christianity Dying in Britain? | The Conversation UK
Hard Evidence: Is Christianity Dying in Britain? | The Conversation UK. An interesting piece at HuffPost UK, exploring what appears to be the collapse of religion in Britain. Although there continues to be belief in the supernatural, in other words 'No Religion' isn't the same as atheism, the article notes that those supernatural beliefs are … Continue reading Hard Evidence: Is Christianity Dying in Britain? | The Conversation UK
Born Wet, Human Babies Are 75 Percent Water. Then Comes Drying : Krulwich Wonders… : NPR
Born Wet, Human Babies Are 75 Percent Water. Then Comes Drying : Krulwich Wonders... : NPR. This particular pattern of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and other associated elements, found this article interesting. We are bags of water and carbon, going from being 75% water at birth, to around 50% in our elder years.
SelfAwarePatterns 