Interesting Stuff Thread

Turtwig · 15-11-2009 4:24pm

This weeks issue of NewScientist's editorial paid homage to Darwin (and Bill O'Reilly's idiocy), the magazine also features a lovely feature on how an updated Origin of Species Book might be filled in.

This month marks the 150th anniversary of the most influential piece of popular science writing ever published.

A few years ago, New Scientist listed reading On The Origin of Species as one of the 100 things to do before you die. To do so is to experience the extraordinary sensation of having a scientific genius enter your mind to guide you through his most important theory.

Now we have asked the geneticist, evolutionary thinker and author Steve Jones to summarise and update the book for the 21st century - and, we hope, to inspire readers to experience Darwin's astounding, world-changing writing first-hand.

Well worth a Read.

Flamed Diving · 15-11-2009 5:15pm

Can we make this a general science thread? I think the recent discovery of water on the moon is exciting news.

Richiecats · 15-11-2009 5:16pm

Has everybody got there free poster from the OU in association with the BBC if not here is the link

https://css2.open.ac.uk/outis/1alight/(w0cabdrwc0zpxw55utamtz45)/o1ayourrqst.aspx?CATCODE=OZLLIF

I have mine it's cool and totally free, no need to leave any details apart from your name and address ( well how are they going to post it)

Turtwig · 15-11-2009 5:20pm

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Can we make this a general science thread? I think the recent discovery of water on the moon is exciting news.

I think if was general science it would be impossible to keep up with as there could be far too many posts of interest..

Like the idea though.:)

Dades · 15-11-2009 7:51pm

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Can we make this a general science thread? I think the recent discovery of water on the moon is exciting news.

Not a bad idea. Post away.

5uspect · 15-11-2009 9:09pm

The Evolution & Interesting Science Thread

Since when is Evolution not an interesting Science?

Turtwig · 15-11-2009 9:12pm

Dades wrote: »

Not a bad idea. Post away.

Awesome!

I'll get the ball rolling then.

13 Things that [currently] do not make sense.

13 MORE Things that [currently] do not make sense.

What exactly is a meant by a day?

A more realistic look at the warming debate from the scientific viewpoint.
Excellent series of videos, it's just a shame that all this correcting of rubbish media misconceptions must be done.

Turtwig · 15-11-2009 10:17pm

5uspect wrote: »

Since when is Evolution not an interesting Science?

Agreed,

How bout
"Evolution and Other Interesting Science Stuff."?

Dades · 15-11-2009 10:28pm

Done.

You fussy bastards ;-)

pH · 16-11-2009 12:46am

Malty_T wrote: »

13 Things that [currently] do not make sense.

Ugh, the "Belfast Homoeopathy trials" yet again, what a rag that magazine is, never bothered with it since this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Scientist#EmDrive_article_controversy

That's without the "Darwin was wrong" cover from January.

Waste of paper.

Turtwig · 16-11-2009 1:16am

pH wrote: »

Ugh, the "Belfast Homoeopathy trials" yet again, what a rag that magazine is, never bothered with it since this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Scientist#EmDrive_article_controversy

That's without the "Darwin was wrong" cover from January.

Waste of paper.

Even with that woeful sensationalist let's get creationists to buy this magazine blunder, I still read it.:o

It's coverage of Swine Flu, in particular, has been commendable.
(Although Sciam bunked it out of the water recently.)

As for homeopathy thingy, well there is a plethora of comments on that issue and as along as NS doesn't go the way of creationists with regard to censoring web comments, I think I'll stick with them.

pH · 17-11-2009 5:20pm

Islam comes to terms with evolution
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1258445657737&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout

(Bonus points for reading the text on the figure "Giraffe's evolution to meet needs.")

Galvasean · 17-11-2009 5:24pm

Dades wrote: »

Done.

You fussy bastards ;-)

First you allow CreationismLOLisms, now a thread title change....

*Rocks back and forth in the foetal position in a dark corner, pausing occasionaly to utter the word 'rape'*

Dades · 17-11-2009 6:24pm

Next there'll be articles that start with: "Boffins have discovered a new way to..."

Galvasean · 18-11-2009 5:28pm

Dades wrote: »

Next there'll be articles that start with: "Boffins have discovered a new way to..."

AtomicHorror · 22-11-2009 1:46am

Dades wrote: »

Next there'll be articles that start with: "Boffins have discovered a new way to..."

Are you a scientist? If not, you can't use that word. It's our word. We took it back. You have to say "the B word".

darjeeling · 24-11-2009 3:54am

The Origin of Species is 150 years old today.

Charles Darwin wrote:

There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.

Amen.

imme · 24-11-2009 3:57am

darjeeling wrote: »

The Origin of Species is 150 years old today.

Amen.

Happy Birthday!
I'm looking at a Horizon program on BBC 2 about consciousness, the idea of self, great stuff to get one thinking.

Galvasean · 26-11-2009 2:37pm

National Geographic are running an article on Evolution V Intelligent Design. It's basically a short version of the infamous superthread:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/photogalleries/091123-origin-species-darwin-150-intelligent-design/index.html

Flamed Diving · 26-11-2009 10:10pm

Scientific theory which discusses the diversity of life, but not the origin of life vs Hypothesis which assumes the conclusion that an intelligent agent created life on earth

Hmm...

Zombrex · 26-11-2009 11:24pm

Galvasean wrote: »

National Geographic are running an article on Evolution V Intelligent Design. It's basically a short version of the infamous superthread:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/photogalleries/091123-origin-species-darwin-150-intelligent-design/index.html

It falsely implies the old argument that if evolution is wrong that some how demonstrates or supports Intelligent Design, as if that is the only alternative. It is like "Here is a problem with evolution, this is our argument for ID". Which is nonsense, it is like saying proving General Relativity wrong supports my world on the back of a turtle hypothesis.

Quite annoying that the NG would play that Creationist game, probably just by accident.

Galvasean · 27-11-2009 12:41am

Wicknight wrote: »

It falsely implies the old argument that if evolution is wrong that some how demonstrates or supports Intelligent Design, as if that is the only alternative. It is like "Here is a problem with evolution, this is our argument for ID". Which is nonsense, it is like saying proving General Relativity wrong supports my world on the back of a turtle hypothesis.

Quite annoying that the NG would play that Creationist game, probably just by accident.

That wasn't my reading of it at all.

Turtwig · 27-11-2009 5:39am

#1

#2

#3

#4 (This one has a brilliant analogy explaining transitional forms.

#5

This post is dedicated to docdolittle and smithy1981.
C'mon guys, evolutions rocks!!
It's well worth your while to learn about it.

Flamed Diving · 27-11-2009 1:48pm

Enclyclopedia Brittanica Article on Atheism, well worth a read:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/40634/atheism

Galvasean · 28-11-2009 3:37pm

Ideas about how humans might evolve in the future:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091124-origin-of-species-150-darwin-human-evolution.html

Turtwig · 01-12-2009 2:48pm

Good Placebo (if it actually does work) though..

Tyler MacDurden · 02-12-2009 5:25pm

Don't think this has been posted before, pretty awesome comparison of sizes from coffee bean down to Carbon atom.

Dave! · 02-12-2009 5:27pm

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_ITALY_ROBOTIC_HAND?SITE=VOICESD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

ROME (AP) -- A group of European scientists said Wednesday they have successfully connected a robotic hand to an amputee, allowing him to feel sensations in the artificial limb and control it with his thoughts.

The experiment lasted a month, and scientists say it was the first time a patient has been able to make complex movements using his mind to control a biomechanic hand connected to his nervous system.

The Italian-led team said at a news conference Wednesday in Rome that last year it implanted electrodes into the arm of the patient who had lost his left hand and forearm in a car accident.

The prosthetic was not implanted on the patient, only connected through the electrodes. During the news conference, video was shown of 26-year-old Pierpaolo Petruzziello as he concentrated to give orders to the hand placed next to him.

etc

Flamed Diving · 02-12-2009 5:34pm

Dave! wrote: »

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_ITALY_ROBOTIC_HAND?SITE=VOICESD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

ROME (AP) -- A group of European scientists said Wednesday they have successfully connected a robotic hand to an amputee, allowing him to feel sensations in the artificial limb and control it with his thoughts.

The experiment lasted a month, and scientists say it was the first time a patient has been able to make complex movements using his mind to control a biomechanic hand connected to his nervous system.

The Italian-led team said at a news conference Wednesday in Rome that last year it implanted electrodes into the arm of the patient who had lost his left hand and forearm in a car accident.

The prosthetic was not implanted on the patient, only connected through the electrodes. During the news conference, video was shown of 26-year-old Pierpaolo Petruzziello as he concentrated to give orders to the hand placed next to him.

etc

Why won't God heal amputees?

Because he isn't there. Science is.

MrPudding · 03-12-2009 2:23pm

Please forgive me for linking to the Daily Mail, but the story is interesting:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1213257/Men-producing-super-sperm-fast-powerful-impregnate-women-evolution-leads-infertility-rise.html

MrP

Galvasean · 03-12-2009 2:26pm

I was kind of half expecting to read about sperm with teeth who could nibble through condoms.

Flamed Diving · 03-12-2009 2:26pm

Immigrant sperm on the rise.

Goduznt Xzst · 03-12-2009 5:09pm

found this video to be very interesting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpj0emEGShQ

RodgerTheDoger · 04-12-2009 3:08pm

Galvasean wrote: »

Ideas about how humans might evolve in the future:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091124-origin-of-species-150-darwin-human-evolution.html

Pencil me in for some wings, this drive from Donegal to Dublin every weeks is killing me.

RodgerTheDoger · 04-12-2009 3:19pm

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Why won't God heal amputees?

Because he isn't there. Science is.

I have often thought about this. Our Dna has the blue print to our physical appearance. It builds our body a bit like a builder builds a house.

It done it once why can't it do it again?
I have seen some interested programs on this, looking at lizards etc that can do it.

Others people pray for a mircle other people try to heal themselves via positive energy / thinking, but who is to say that both could have an impact on it actually happening!

Our brain does a lot more than what our consious mind is aware of.
People talking about "Positive thinking" or believing in something positive like god or a miricle.
But maybe this is a trigger that is simply pushing or dna or brain or individual cells to do something it can already do.

Remember we might be 99.9% the same as an ape but we are also 50% the same as a banana!!

Zombrex · 04-12-2009 3:41pm

RodgerTheDoger wrote: »

I have often thought about this. Our Dna has the blue print to our physical appearance. It builds our body a bit like a builder builds a house.

It done it once why can't it do it again?
I have seen some interested programs on this, looking at lizards etc that can do it.

Others people pray for a mircle other people try to heal themselves via positive energy / thinking, but who is to say that both could have an impact on it actually happening!

Our brain does a lot more than what our consious mind is aware of.
People talking about "Positive thinking" or believing in something positive like god or a miricle.
But maybe this is a trigger that is simply pushing or dna or brain or individual cells to do something it can already do.

Remember we might be 99.9% the same as an ape but we are also 50% the same as a banana!!

"Positive thinking" has been shown to have a physical effect on the body, this can be seen in things like the placebo effect.

Though I think, if I understand correctly, scientists think it is more a cause that stress and depression have negative effects, so if you don't have that or lessen that you will heal better than someone under stress.

marco_polo · 07-12-2009 5:50pm

Quite an interesting study here:

In a nutshell These RNA chains formed in water, at moderate temperatures (40–90 °C), in the absence of enzymes or inorganic catalysts.

http://www.scientistlive.com/European-Science-News/Genetics/Generating_RNA_molecules_in_water/23727/

A key question in the origin of biological molecules like RNA and DNA is how they first came together billions of years ago from simple precursors. Now, in a study appearing in this week's JBC, researchers in Italy have reconstructed one of the earliest evolutionary steps yet: generating long chains of RNA from individual subunits using nothing but warm water.

Many researchers believe that RNA was one of the first biological molecules present, before DNA and proteins; however, there has been little success in recreating the formation on RNA from simple "prebiotic" molecules that likely were present on primordial earth billions of years ago.

Now, Ernesto Di Mauro and colleagues found that ancient molecules called cyclic nucleotides can merge together in water and form polymers over 100 nucleotides long in water ranging from 40-90 °C -similar to water temperatures on ancient Earth.

Cyclic nucleotides like cyclic-AMP are very similar to the nucleotides that make up individual pieces of DNA or RNA (A, T, G and C), except that they form an extra chemical bond and assume a ring-shaped structure. That extra bond makes cyclic nucleotides more reactive, though, and thus they were able to join together into long chains at a decent rate (about 200 hours to reach 100 nucleotides long).

This finding is exciting as cyclic nucleotides themselves can be easily formed from simple chemicals like formamide, thus making them plausible prebiotic compounds present during primordial times. Thus, this study may be revealing how the first bits of genetic information were created.

RodgerTheDoger · 08-12-2009 6:38pm

marco_polo wrote: »

Quite an interesting study here:

In a nutshell These RNA chains formed in water, at moderate temperatures (40–90 °C), in the absence of enzymes or inorganic catalysts.

I actually watched a program about this, the enzyme was basically put into water and shaken. When it began to settle the long strings that made up the enzyme (Subunit) appeared to take on a similar shape, the long strings form what looks like a circle that look very similar to what you might call a cell.

But I think that is far is it goes, I was not convinced other than the visual similarities that it could be argued that it is the starting point for life.
Maybe if the next step in the process is realised maybe then it could be argued to be more than just a coincidence [FONT=&quot][/FONT].

But it was interesting.

Turtwig · 08-12-2009 6:41pm

The internetz is now abuzz with the rumour that physicists have discovered dark matter particles. Needless to say if it is true, it would be groundbreaking.

However, this could all be an elaborate hoax started by some sly blogger.
Dec 18th awaits.

Dades · 08-12-2009 7:11pm

Malty_T wrote: »

The internetz is now abuzz with the rumour that physicists have discovered dark matter particles.

Do the particles have long white beards? :eek:

Either way - whoa.

marco_polo · 08-12-2009 7:20pm

RodgerTheDoger wrote: »

I actually watched a program about this, the enzyme was basically put into water and shaken. When it began to settle the long strings that made up the enzyme (Subunit) appeared to take on a similar shape, the long strings form what looks like a circle that look very similar to what you might call a cell.

But I think that is far is it goes, I was not convinced other than the visual similarities that it could be argued that it is the starting point for life.
Maybe if the next step in the process is realised maybe then it could be argued to be more than just a coincidence [FONT=&quot][/FONT].

But it was interesting.

The RNA first hypothesis is a step believed to have taken place log before the first cells were formed. What is interesting here is not that it looks superficially similar, but that one of the main proplems with the RNA World hypothesis was that until this paper was published a few months ago, a plausible chemical pathway to get RNA to form in primordial like conditions from its constituent nuclotides was not understood fully, so to get a form of RNA to literally self assemble in warm water could be a potentially important development.

Are you sure the program wasnt about lipids forming a cell like membrane in water, as this paper was only published less than a week ago?

robindch · 08-12-2009 7:48pm

Dades wrote: »

Do the particles have long white beards?

Given it's "dark matter", seems more likely they'll come with horns and a pointy tail.(*)

(*) That said, dark matter (which contributes nothing except gravitational interactions) is one thing. The Higgs Boson (which is consumed by the Higgs field to produce the effect we understand as 'mass') is quite another.

Turtwig · 08-12-2009 8:40pm

Finding Higgs would be class, until some media outlet *cough* Newscientist *cough* runs "PHYSICISTS FIND GOD" or something similar as the cover story.

Disclaimer : Even if it did, I'd probably still love the magazine.

Dave! · 09-12-2009 12:12am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCHUx9KlVrM

Dades · 09-12-2009 10:46am

^^ A deserved breakthrough - given the cold shoulder amputees have been getting from deities.

5uspect · 09-12-2009 11:39am

Dades wrote: »

^^ A deserved breakthrough - given the cold shoulder amputees have been getting from deities.

zing!

Flamed Diving · 09-12-2009 11:48am

Where's your God now, eh?

5uspect · 09-12-2009 8:22pm

I haven't seen this posted here.

They've taken a new Ultra Deep Field with Hubble and it's shiny new optics:
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2009/31/

December 8, 2009: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has made the deepest image of the universe ever taken in near-infrared light. The faintest and reddest objects in the image are galaxies that formed 600 million years after the Big Bang. No galaxies have been seen before at such early times. The new deep view, taken in late August 2009, also provides insights into how galaxies grew in their formative years early in the universe's history. The image was taken in the same region as the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF), which was taken in 2004 and is the deepest visible-light image of the universe. Hubble's newly installed Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) collects light from near-infrared wavelengths and therefore looks even deeper into the universe, because the light from very distant galaxies is stretched out of the ultraviolet and visible regions of the spectrum into near-infrared wavelengths by the expansion of the universe.

Galvasean · 10-12-2009 5:27pm

It's official. Palaeontology IS the most popular science.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/12/091202-top-ten-discoveries-2009-year-science-news.html

A palaeontology story is National Geographic's most viewed of the year. Palaeontology stories also tok 5th and 7th place.

Interesting Stuff Thread

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