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News Briefs 24-09-2010

”What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning”.

Many thanks to Greg (for every week) and to Perceval (for last week)!

Quote of the Day:

“There are things that are so serious, you can only joke about them.”

W. Heisenberg.

  1. Astonishing
    In response to our solar system and what it would look like to aliens.

    I absolutly adore circumpuncts found in nature. There something about that symbolism that drives me bonkers.

  2. Overcomplicated experiment?
    In that pain/touch study, could the illusory perception of pain simply have been reduced by the additional sensory data provided by the touching fingers, thus correcting the illusion?

  3. groundwater
    I seems really stupid to run out of water on this planet.

    Edit:
    Actually this article is a nice example of how much we don’t know. We don’t know how much groundwater there is. The global groundwater depletion is modelled, not measured.

    We should go measure the depletion. That would have the advantage that we know more about whether it is actually a problem, and if so how soon. It also would help verify and improve the model.

  4. Is that a Mesolithic artifact in your pocket…
    Freud would have plenty to say on this one.

    Just how is the scientific process affected in a scenario potentially involving sexual subject matter?

    First, you have to order replicas for experimentation.

    Then, you test out your theories for the use of the object.

    Obviously, you record the results.

    Finally, you write a paper on the findings.

    Or, you just lock the artifact in a drawer and keep your job!!!

  5. reverse combustion
    Reverse combustion seems like a really good idea. We have some natural processes that reduce CO2 to more readily burnable stuff, like photosynthesis and compression. They give us wood and coal, respectively.

    One thing a technology advocate like myself could be worried about is doing this with self-sustaining nanotechnology, or with artificial live forms. If we make more competitive algae that are self-sustaining (and not edible by the things that eat regular algae), we could be in real trouble.

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