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Interesting Stuff Thread

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Comments

  • #1472
    Sarky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31,967 ✭✭✭✭Sarky


    I thought animals weren't supposed to have free will, but there they are clearly defying God all the same. It's probably just a test of faith, like all those dinosaur fossils that LOOK like they prove the earth to be older then 6,000 years, but were just put there by God for some other reason.


  • #1473
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,989 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    There are many other examples of same-sex pairing in the avian world.
    In monogamous gulls and albatrosses, it gives females the chance to breed without a male partner.

    "Female partners copulate with a paired male then rear the young together," Dr Elie explained.
    There seems to be an element of avian hypocrisy going on here, in regard to "monogamy".


  • #1474
    Galvasean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    recedite wrote: »
    There seems to be an element of avian hypocrisy going on here, in regard to "monogamy".

    It's just their way of getting a sperm doner. They just haven't invented artificial insemination yet.


  • #1475
    swiss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,745 ✭✭✭swiss


    I haven't seen this mentioned yet, and it certainly piqued my curiosity.

    A sequel to Cosmos, with Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

    http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/08/cosmos-to-get-a-sequel-hosted-by-neil-degrasse-tyson/

    Seth McFarlane is producing, and there are some serious collaborators. Oddly (or so I thought), Fox is going to air it. It won't show until 2013 though.


  • #1476
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 4,630 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    swiss wrote: »
    I haven't seen this mentioned yet, and it certainly piqued my curiosity.

    A sequel to Cosmos, with Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

    http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/08/cosmos-to-get-a-sequel-hosted-by-neil-degrasse-tyson/

    Seth McFarlane is producing, and there are some serious collaborators. Oddly (or so I thought), Fox is going to air it. It won't show until 2013 though.

    Cosmos doesn't need a sequel! I hope they don't ruin Cosmos' name by titling this "sequel" something similar.

    Also, the fact that it'll air on Fox--which is a network I despise--and will be produced by McFarlane--who is an individual I cannot stand--leads me to nothing but a grimace.


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  • #1477
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    gvn wrote: »
    Cosmos doesn't need a sequel! I hope they don't ruin Cosmos' name by titling this "sequel" something similar.

    Also, the fact that it'll air on Fox--which is a network I despise--and will be produced by McFarlane--who is an individual I cannot stand--leads me to nothing but a grimace.

    Cosmos badly needs an update. Obviously I hope they handle the material well, but with Degrasse Tyson my confidence is very high for this one. Fox and FoxNews aren't the same thing. :)


  • #1478
    Coriolanus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,879 ✭✭✭Coriolanus


    9421225.jpg


  • #1479
    cavedave
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,164 ✭✭✭cavedave


    what if the archetype of the visionary/mystical leader with charisma is responsible for the distinctiveness of modern human groups? This is not a common individual, but not exceptionally rare. Most humans are not particular visionary, nor are they prone to mysticism.
    The point mutation which made humanity


  • #1480
    The Mad Hatter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,718 ✭✭✭The Mad Hatter


    In fairness, if there's anyone who's a philosophical and intellectual successor to Sagan, it's Tyson. This video is rather marvelous:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imS6H1JAkGY


  • #1481
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,989 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    cavedave wrote: »
    The point mutation which made humanity

    In a primitive society of spear throwing hunter/gatherers, who is more responsible for human progress; the local shaman with his mystical superstitions, or the guy who invents the bow and arrow?


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  • #1482
    cavedave
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,164 ✭✭✭cavedave


    recedite

    In a primitive society of spear throwing hunter/gatherers, who is more responsible for human progress; the local shaman with his mystical superstitions, or the guy who invents the bow and arrow?

    I'll go with the rational optimist theory that human development in the last several thousand years is mainly due to trade. Trade that allows specialisation and the creation of a much larger amount of stored knowledge then relying on a single local group to hold all the knowledge. An example he gives is that Tasmanian locals returned back to stone age living because they did not have enough numbers to sustain an iron age level of trade.

    In this model the most important person is the one who persuades you to trade your arrow heads with the next tribe over for something else. Whoever it was that persuaded us not to carry out the fairly standard 'kill anyone I don't know' rule probably has most responsibility IMHO.

    *On an unrelated note "I don't know, so I'm an atheist libertarian
    By Penn Jillette" http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/08/16/jillette.atheist.libertarian/index.html?hpt=hp_t2


  • #1483
    Alopex
    Closed Accounts Posts: 632 ✭✭✭Alopex


    David Quinn is on the vincent browne show and is talking sense. Its weird to see.


  • #1484
    marishJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭marishJ


    An observational study has decided that homosexual couples develop hardy commitments to each other, at least in Zebra finches (Same-sex twosomes of finches form strong bonds). The goal of the study was to see if gender played a factor among animal species that partner for life. Are people just so paranoid about this ? Same sex friendships can be found everywhere, there's nothing wrong with that.


  • #1485
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    Another terrific video!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH_9QcMCkvg


  • #1486
    muppeteer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 445 ✭✭muppeteer


    IBM has developed a microprocessor which it claims comes closer than ever to replicating the human brain.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14574747


    _54674441_brainmap.jpg

    Slightly disappointed they didn't mention a positronic net:p


  • #1487
    liamw
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,780 ✭✭✭liamw


    Malty_T wrote: »
    Another terrific video!

    I0X7H.png


  • #1488
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    Really think the fallacy should have been called something else, but still a nice video.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUYjnL2PqUg


    Reckon the point is too good and non exclusive to post it in the A&A video related thread. :)


  • #1489
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,989 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    muppeteer wrote: »
    IBM has developed a microprocessor which it claims comes closer than ever to replicating the human brain.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14574747


    _54674441_brainmap.jpg
    Research funding from US Defense dept..........can we expect mechanised drone infantry next?!


  • #1490
    muppeteer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 445 ✭✭muppeteer


    One of my favourite open source projects is a desktop 3D printing machine that aims to be as self replicating as possible. It can build all of its own plastic parts and efforts are under way to lay its own electronics.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUB1WgiAFHg


    Though sometimes my imagination runs wild:D
    190px-Assembled-prusa-mendel.jpg
    +
    _54674441_brainmap.jpg
    =
    terminator_10-450x360.jpg
    ^Drone infantry v1.0:)


  • #1491
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,473 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Via /., A 13 year old boy builds a solar collector in the shape of a tree, where the arrangement of the individual panels matches the positions of branches, twigs + leaves (which is dictated by the Fibonnaci sequence).

    Turns out that the static tree pattern generates between 20 and 50% more power than the traditional static array arrangement at 45 degrees.

    He won a prize and a provisional patent:

    http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2011/aidan.html

    That's cool.


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  • #1492
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,989 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    robindch wrote: »
    Via /., A 13 year old boy builds a solar collector in the shape of a tree:

    http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2011/aidan.html
    Fibonacci divine numbers is all very romantic but...
    Looks like the tree has 16 or 17 panels, but the 45 degree angle mounting only has 10.
    Unless the other 6 or 7 are mounted on the shady side of the mount, which defeats the purpose of it.
    The most efficient design would be one whose angle matches the location's latitude (53 degrees for mid Ireland) and which tracks the sun, east to west, like a sunflower does.


  • #1493
    vibe666
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,016 ✭✭✭✭vibe666


    a type of female insect has started making clones of its father internally to fertilise it's own unborn female offspring before they are even born. or something...

    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/08/110817-insects-sex-hermaphrodites-science-evolution-clones-mate-fathers/

    i keep thinking of fry in futurama. :D


  • #1494
    Genghiz Cohen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,182 ✭✭✭Genghiz Cohen


    vibe666 wrote: »
    a type of female insect has started making clones of its father internally to fertilise it's own unborn female offspring before they are even born. or something...

    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/08/110817-insects-sex-hermaphrodites-science-evolution-clones-mate-fathers/

    i keep thinking of fry in futurama. :D

    It's like past nastification, but in the present...


  • #1495
    pts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭pts


    Interesting opinion piece in the NYT about morality by Joel Marks.
    http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/confessions-of-an-ex-moralist/


  • #1496
    vibe666
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,016 ✭✭✭✭vibe666


    quite nicely put. :)

    PiZWc.png


  • #1497
    cavedave
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,164 ✭✭✭cavedave


    I thought this was interesting "Abortion may be legal, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get one" with a survey of what religion of ob-gyns are most likely to perform abortions.

    Without looking who is most and least likely to provide abortions? No religion, Jewish, Hindu, Catholic, Evangelicals, other Protestants and Muslim?


  • #1498
    Coriolanus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,879 ✭✭✭Coriolanus


    cavedave wrote: »
    I thought this was interesting "Abortion may be legal, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get one" with a survey of what religion of ob-gyns are most likely to perform abortions.

    Without looking who is most and least likely to provide abortions? No religion, Jewish, Hindu, Catholic, Evangelicals, other Protestants and Muslim?
    Hmm. I don't know much about the moral systems of the Jews and Hindus so they're placement is arbritrarily in the middle.
    From Most likely to least likely.
    Other Protestants
    Catholic
    Jewish/Hindu
    No religion
    Evangelicals
    Muslims

    Edit: Read the article. Hmmm...


  • #1499
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 54,582 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    reminds me of what attenborough uses to counter the argument that lovely nature is obviously a divine creation:

    http://www.cracked.com/article_19384_the-5-creepiest-ways-animals-have-mastered-mind-control.html


  • #1500
    Galvasean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    Possible ancestor of all placental mammals from the time of the dinosaurs found.
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056367784


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  • #1501
    Sarky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31,967 ✭✭✭✭Sarky


    New planet discovered... Made mostly of diamond, apparently.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/25/us-planet-diamond-idUSTRE77O69A20110825


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