Fun Sayings To Do With Bamboo Fan

walls Is science neutral?

Today I read an article on Divulcat neutrality of science, and I have ventured to state my views on the subject, although I must admit my ignorance in deep philosophical issues.

often hear or read statements by senior scientists, in which is seen tremendous confidence in science as a form of knowledge entirely objective and independent of social context in which it operates.

However, in my humble opinion this is certainly not the case.

Compared with other major forms of knowledge, such as religion, philosophy and mythical thinking, it is possible that science itself is concerned more objective knowledge that humans have developed. But far from being free of social influence.
One of the great benefits of science is that it places its own limits. Science only works with assertions that can be falsifiable, so that this restraint, it managed to develop a much more objective understanding of religions or philosophical systems. Apart from this, science has fine tools and powerful weapons to correct its own mistakes and progress (what with a lot of rhetoric, Sagan called baloney detection kit).
In this regard, it is the way to approach the objective reality that has developed.

But this understanding of science, it only takes account of science as an abstract entity. There is no denying that science, in a conceptual, it is objective.
But this is only half true. The science of the abstract is objective, but should not be forgotten, that those who used science, scientists are human and as such humans will only be able to be fairly objective. Very few people would deny that science affects society. The opposite relationship, that society influences science, is more controversial.
Needless to say, technological development, ie, applied science to society, is very influenced by it. The applications of science are determined by society (applications that, unfortunately, are not always just for the benefit of all.) Are the social necesiades (whether meédicas, military, political, ...) that drive technological development. Think of if not the Manhattan Project (which Oppehneimer said represented the time when science met sin).
However, when we walked out of applied science and entered the field of basic science, the thing might not be so clear.
In basic science research there are many interests at stake, and it is they who "ordered" many times the conduct of research projects. Scientific research depends on budgets, so there will be certain lines of study which will enjoy more economic, while others will be more difficult to thrive. Moreover, when a well-established scientific paradigm, those jobs that are out of the conventional paradigm that makes it, do not enjoy good support from the rest of the scientific community, or a large impact. Its most likely destination is the neglect and indifference. Scientific Revolutions (Kuhn-style) take time and are very slow. Recall, for example, which took about 40 years that motorists ideas of plate tectonics was finally installed in geology and geophysics.
These two facts show that science is not free from external influences. There are many issues that influence the "Big Science" to overlook. However, that's what makes it different from any other form of knowledge, science has the powerful ability to recycle itself, and gobbling up their mistakes corrected.

paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould wrote a delightful book, The Mismeasure of Man , which was hiding a fierce critic of the intelligence test. For this work circulated the names of leading scientists of the mind, as Paul Broca, Cesare Lombroso or Cyril Burt, and showed how their work was directly related to the social context in which they developed. According to Gould, all research in psychology of intelligence nineteenth century to mid-twentieth century was strongly influenced by social ideas.
similar conclusions were set out in the work of similar hue, is not in the genes , written, among others, Richard Lewontin, which refute the theories of biological determinism and theories about the genetic basis of differences between human groups and human behavior.
History of Biology provides many examples of how it is influenced by social ideas.
A classification system of living beings, as proposed by Linnaeus in the eighteenth century (in some ways still in force, is the hierarchical classification system based on kingdoms, families, species, ...) only have been possible in a society in which attributed the diversity of life to the action of the Divine Maker, and in which it was believed that species were immutable and static entities.
Cuvier's catastrophic ideas, which were an obstacle to the distribution transformer Lamarck, were, to some extent, influenced by the religious climate of the time. Disregarding the opposition he encountered, from the religious world, the theory of evolution by natural selection of Darwin in his early years.
even later evolutionary thinkers like the Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin, developed their ultimate vision of the evolution, influenced by his strong religious convictions. Similar example would be for example, the model of evolution by orthogenesis (the idea that evolution agencies cuasidivina by an outside force that directs your changes) that arose in the early twentieth century.

Another good example of influencing society in biology is the question of spontaneous generation: the fact that this idea goes back to Aristotle, and to be defended by the great thinkers of the Church, like St. Thomas or St. Augustine, were sufficient authority for argument has long been assumed to be true.
Biology also has a couple of good examples of use of scientific ideas and legitimating of social ideas, social Darwinism, which involved the use of the idea of \u200b\u200bnatural selection and competition as a justification of capitalism, or the revival and effect of Lamarckism and inheritance of acquired characters throughout the first half of the twentieth century, in the former Soviet Union's hand Tromfin Lysenko. Not only

biology or psychology, or evolutionary thinking have been subjected to social influences. In my view, other branches of science, a priori more sheltered and more objective fashion, such as physics or chemistry, are subject to influence.
And you do not go back to archirepetido example of Galileo's heliocentric theory to justify that statement.
whole theory of heat and thermodynamics is developed from the late eighteenth century, in my opinion, it influenced by the pressure of the Industrial Revolution.

The great physical chemist, recently deceased, Ilya Prigogine, Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1977, wrote in one of his books and various scientific concepts of time are influenced by philosophical ideas of the physicist in question.

In chemistry, for his part, during the second half of the eighteenth century, the scientific community was divided between mechanistic, trying to explain biological phenomena were explained as inorganic compounds, and vitalistic, posed that organic substances could not be synthesized in the laboratory, and that action could only be built by a "vital force" that separated the living from the inert. Berzelius important organic chemicals such as defending vitalist thesis. It was not until 1828 that Wöhler synthesized urea, since then, other chemicals to do the same with other compounds, such as the acetic Kolbe, Berthelot with methane, ..., so the idea of \u200b\u200blife force was finally banished . It goes without saying that this idea of \u200b\u200bvitalism and life force has certain religious reminiscences, and behind it lies the idea that there is a guiding hand of creation (so-called life force) that the dead live comvierte.

The idea of \u200b\u200bcreating the universe from nothing, as is the Big Bang theory, could only have arisen, I believe, in the West, with our vision Christian world. It is significant that one of the fathers of Big Bang, the French mathematician and astrophysicist George Henri Lemaître, was a priest. So is the fact that, great philosophers and thinkers, atheists and materialists like Kant, Engels and Marx, were supporters of the idea of \u200b\u200ban infinite universe had existed forever.

remember now, too, have read once that the Physical Society of Japan had decided to expel from its meetings any physical work to protest military reaction to the manipulation of science.

In my opinion, these are all examples that show that science is not no means alien to the social context in which they live by scientists (I notice also that the idea is neither new, nor is mine, lol). Perhaps
science as an abstract idea as a tool itself is objective. But its products, different scientific paradigms are far from neutrality and to be free of social influence, or at least the influence of certain "truths" assumed. As well Realizing Heisenberg with his uncertainty principle, the explanation depends on who explains.

Can I Upgrade My Celeron To A Dual Core

on tsunamis and energy conservation

These days we received the unfortunate news that a tsunami has left nearly 20,000 dead in Southeast Asia. Once again, nature becomes a whip is there to remind us that our planet is a dynamic planet.
again turns to see the human drama of the disaster.
From here I will try to give some brief hints about natural phenomenon, that of the tsunamis.

WAVE SPEED

Although treatment of the waves in a specific coastal area is complicated and involves the use of statistics, it is possible some simple mathematical formalization of the phenomenon of waves.
The waves can be treated as a wave, like all waves, can be characterized by a series of parameters: wavelength, which is the distance between two crests of the wave amplitude, which is the height of the wave, and wave speed.
There are certain mathematical expressions that allow us to estimate the speed of a wave if we know the amplitude and wavelength.
It can be shown that, in regard to the speed of a wave there are 2 cases:

- In the case of waves that meet the wavelength is much smaller than the depth of the water column (which is called short waves), as when a wave travels in deep water, the speed is given by the expression:

V = [(GXL) / 2pi] exp 1 / 2, where g is the value of the acceleration of gravity, l the wavelength and pi pi.

Our interest in this expression is that when the wave travels in deep water, its speed depends only on its wavelength.
- Where the waves where the wavelength is much greater than the depth of water (so-called long waves) and waves propagating in shallow water near shore, is satisfied that:

V = (gxh) exp ½, where "h" is the height of the wave.

As in the previous case, it is interesting to note that when a wave moves near the coast, its velocity only depends on the depth, so that the smaller the depth, the lower its speed.
NOTE: For the waves "intermediate" in that its wavelength is of the same order of magnitude as the depth, the expression of its velocity is more complicated and depends on the depth and the wavelength.


This and another idea, let us understand a phenomenon we've all seen: the surf.
That other idea is pervasive in science, the principle of conservation of energy: it says that any process in which no external forces act, the energy is conserved, not lost or created, it becomes ..

Well, a wave will have a certain energy, this energy will be of two types: the "kinetic energy", associated and dependent on his speed, and another called "potential energy" which depends on the height wave.

waves arise, usually due to the wind stress exerted on the water surface. Normally form at some distance from the beach.
At that time, the wave will have a certain kinetic energy, related to its velocity as the wave gets closer to the coastline, will Sience shrinking the depth of the water column have lower until it reaches a time when the wavelength is greater than the depth. At that time, if we remember what we said above, is satisfied that its speed will be decreased by less than the depth. This will mean that as the wave approaches the beach, will have less kinetic energy.
But we said that if no external forces act (and if we handle simplified wave can be assumed, although there is some friction because friction with the air surface water and bottom), the energy is to be retained.
If the kinetic energy decreases, the only possibility for that energy is conserved, is that kinetic energy is "lost" becomes potential energy. We say that the potential energy depends on the height. Therefore, if the potential energy is increasing, that means you are increasing the height of the wave.
is, when a wave is near the beach, as you proceed, following the principle of conservation of energy, will increase its height. This will cause the wave becomes unstable and reaches a time when their height is greater than the depth: at the time the wave "clash" with the bottom and break.

WHAT HAPPENS TO A TSUNAMI?

A tsunami, a wave or wave train produced a body of water when violently displaced by a force of great magnitude, as can be an undersea earthquake, a volcanic colpaso, a landslide or ( is espcula with) the fall of a meteorite.
not be confused with tidal waves tsunami or the called sea confused, generated by storms, high winds or hurricanes, because those are generated by horizontal movements of surface water caused by wind, rarely spread beyond 100 meters coast line and its energy decreases from the area where they occur. Tsunamis, by contrast, originate from sea by vertical movements, and retain their power from the beginning to the end

As we have seen, tsunamis are caused by any reason that causes the mass of ocean water moves vertically abruptly, causing that water is removed from its normal balance. At that point, the water will attempt to recover its equilibrium position and result in the wave or wave train of unique characteristics that call tsunami.
Today I heard on television that this process is analogous to a whip, and it really is a very good example, because the movement makes the water surface is very similar to a whip. Tsunamis are
to be waves with a wavelength of magnitude equal to the radius of the ocean where they are generated, hence, this wave lonitud will never be less than 100-200 km. His height, at the point where the open sea where it is generated, is only half a meter to a meter.
If we consider that the depth of the ocean has an average of about 5 km, this implies that the wavelength of the wave is much greater than the depth of the water column.
If we remember what we saw in the previous section, this is the characteristic of waves are called long waves. And in these waves, speed is proportional to the depth. For this reason, in water, tsunamis have enormous velocities of the order of 700-800 km / h. These high speeds, along with his small height offshore, are responsible for ensuring that ships are sailing at high distances from the coast not notice the wave. These two characteristics mean that these waves only affect the open sea.
The problem arises when tsunamis approach the coast. In this case the situation is similar to the phenomenon of breaking that described above.
Approaching the shelf and coastal environment, the depth will be lower. Consequently, the speed is reduced (remember that the speed tsunami depends on the depth), which determines the kinetic energy is reduced. As the principle of energy conservation "Mandates" that energy is conserved, kinetic energy is being lost is turning it into potential energy. The potential energy depends on the height, which implies that increasing the potential energy increases the height of the wave.
This increase in wave height near the coast, coupled with the fact that since the lower speed makes waves are approaching coast be-determined stacking a large mass of water rushed inland , sometimes leading to affect several miles away (taking advantage sometimes enter rivers and estuaries).
To this we must add two aggravating circumstances: in some coasts, particularly sheltered shores, resonance phenomena occur (the free movement of water itself is combined with the tsunami), which amplifies the wave and its destructive effects, and drag the tsunami due to the effects of erosion, rock fragments, remains of buildings demolished, ... that increase their negative effects. For

tsunamis in 1949 Inamura, proposed a level of destructiveness, analogous to the Richter scale earthquake or hurricane Saffir.

is amazing that with an idea, a principle as abstract and arbitrary as the principle of conservation of energy, science achieves explain a phenomenon as real and complicated as the tsunamis.
A beautiful demonstration of effectiveness of the mathematization of science. Serve as a good replica for those who say that the mathematization of science has been far from reality and the explanation of natural phenomena.

Building A Frame For A Large Mirror

Blue Planet


Photo taken by astronaut Bill Anders' Apollo 8 "

I wanted the first photograph that hung on my blog (which I struggled to figure out how to) outside it. For several reasons. Because I love all the deeds and stories that happened during the space race. I'm excited because all that it represented the Apollo program . Because of all missions there, the ones I liked were the Apollo 8 and Apollo 17 . Because I'm a fan of the geosciences. Because I love this picture, and above all, because I love the Earth.
And also because this day marks the anniversary of something very special.
These days are fulfilled 36 years of a historical event. Met 36 years of Apollo 8 moon mission , the legendary mission took 3 men to bypasses for the first time our only natural satellite.
A date like today, 36 years ago, the 3 crew Apollo 8, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, were road the Moon. A December 21, 1968, were put in motion the engines of the Saturn V rocket , and he also tore the Apollo 8 mission . She forged then one of the greatest moments of the entire Apollo program, all the space race and, by extension, one of the most glorious moments in the history of mankind.
The main objective of the mission was to carry the ring to the moon, which was considered as a step to be able to make a landing. Much of the success of the entire Apollo program resided precisely in this mission. Actually, these 3 astronauts were the real pioneers. After a trip
70 hours, December 24 (nice date spot) entered lunar orbit and gave 10 returns to the moon. With this mission, NASA was able to verify that it was indeed possible to go to the moon, were able to see the mission with a spacecraft reentry from the Moon, and finally opened the door for a man were to land on the lunar surface.
Contrary to what might appear, the appearance of the moon that watched the 3 astronauts were amazed. It seemed extremely bleak and desolate, reaching their own words qualify as a desolate landscape tremendously. However, in its first lunar orbit was something that moved. When passed through the path orbit corresponding to the dark side were startled to discover that the moon disappeared and took on the appearance of a massive black hole. But when they began to enter the part corresponding to the visible face ran into a stunning spectacle and, so far, few have been able to see, could see an "out" of the Earth. As you begin to enter the visible, due to be orbiting, they could see as the globe began to take off in the distance something like a terrestrial dawn. And they saw our planet as remarkable for its intense blue color. Frank Bormann is when our planet qualifies as "Blue Planet", a phrase that surely we've all heard. Such was the admiration and sense of beauty that sparked this scenario in the 3 astronauts, who, contrary to schedule, Bill Anders took the camera from the mission and took a picture of our planet. In my opinion the most beautiful and moving picture that has ever made.
The achievement of these 3 men and the entire team of scientists and engineers who made this possible, is at the height of the rush by Magellan and Elcano when first circumnavigated the globe.
When talking about the moon landing, often speaks of the Apollo 11 , and forgets or ignores the other missions. No However, there were missions missions before and after. And they have all been linked with history.
Finally, a phrase I remember hearing Bill Anders said in an interview to mark the anniversary of the landing on the moon. Not exact words, but he said something like what he felt when he entered lunar orbit was a "feeling that we had traveled thousands of miles and come so far, for the most important thing that we contemplated outside our own planet, Earth" . Paradoxically, having to go so far to marvel at what we have so close. Could not have been better expressed.

What Ever Happen To Javtalk

The fine art of baloney detection

George Cuvier (1769-1832) was one of the largest academic authorities of his time.
Coming from an aristocratic family, was attracted by natural history, and his work on anatomy of the shellfish caught the attention of one of the great naturalists of the time, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. By invitation, Cuvier became a professor in the Natural History Museum of Paris, and his talent and wisdom, made him prosper quickly, to the point of becoming one of the most respected scientific personalities and influential of the nineteenth century. At the time that Cuvier was an argument of authority to support an idea.
One of the greatest contributions to history Cuvier science was his principle of organic correlation, whereby the different parts and organs of the bodies have been linked as a whole, so that the structure of one depends on the rest. That is, the shape of an organ is related to the agency and other parties (I beg the reader to retain a time in mind this idea of \u200b\u200borganic correlation, it will serve to better understand the story that is relatively more advanced .) Based on this principle, he managed to rebuild many of the remains of organisms based foiled just a loose debris. This principle was summed up by himself with great pride to the phrase "Give me a bone and I will reconstruct the animal. " Reconstructions that made him a legendary figure.
also established a classification of animals into 4 main types: Vertebrates, Articulates, Mollusks and radiated.
Cuvier gave scientific character to the, already old idea of \u200b\u200bdisasters by introducing the concept of extinction. Cuvier interpreted the history of the Earth in a very particular: for him, the Earth throughout its history had gone through periods where intense processes occurred, which called Revolutions (omitted the use of the word disaster, they had strong supernatural connotations), which would have finished lifestyles of each stage and after each revolution, there would be a new creation of life, thus originating new forms. This is what has been termed catastrophic theory.
He opposed the idea of \u200b\u200bevolution, and held a public showdown with Saint-Hilaire in this regard. The ideas of both on the natural history were diverged over time.
Contrary to what is said many times, Cuvier did not give his catastrophic theory nor transcendent religious meaning.

Although his ideas about evolution have proved wrong, it certainly was a great scientist. Introduced the concept of extinction and revolution, which in some thus still in force in geology at the idea of \u200b\u200bevent stratigraphy. It is considered the father of paleontology as a science and comparative anatomy and, no doubt, was one of the great anatomists of the story. Biology extended to the study of fossil forms and emphasized the relationship between fossils and rocks that appear related. And although he opposed the concept of evolution, developed a set of ideas that constituted an important part of the idea of \u200b\u200bevolution, such as: the idea of \u200b\u200bmigration and dispersal of organisms, the idea that the function determines the shape of the body and the random nature of variation. After

This introduction to the figure of Cuvier, I tell a story circulating about him. It turns out that apparently, Cuvier was happening something that is usual in teachers: not look up the sympathy of his students (and certainly, as with almost all the teachers, probably this feeling of rejection was well deserved).
On one occasion, the students decided to take revenge on the hated teacher. For this planned a joke was that one of them in his bedroom colase the devil in disguise (with tail and horns, and all that), while the rest hidden in the dark, expect to laugh at the miserable eminence.
I am now asking whoever is reading this to ask a question. Put yourself in the shoes of a man of the early nineteenth century. Suppose you have a firm belief. They're in your room, sleeping soundly and suddenly depiertan abruptly, and highlights the dark silhouette of the devil, which is also making threatening movements and sounds, and is aimed at you saying, "I am Satan and I will eat. "Now ask yourself, what would your reaction to all this information?
I imagine that at least frightened.
However, the reaction of the ineffable Cuvier was very different, and far more commendable by noting the "demon" exclaimed "You can not eat me, you've got hooves and horns. The principle of organic correlation tells me you're herbivore. " The reaction of all students was to cheer on his teacher.

sagacity and cunning that showed Cuvier are, at least, commendable. Someone
revealed that critical spirit and that way of thinking, reveals that he is someone who not only exercise science, but has taken and conceived as a way of understanding the world.
Perhaps the story is pure legend, but it highlights something that every citizen interested in science should have: the ability to think critically and know doubt. Substitute the joke and the devil, a story UFO, the stains on the wall of a house, Marian apparitions, ... or even the science news that we often pose in the press (where we often sold with bombastic headlines scientific experiences that are both, or are made with minimal rigor.)
is very important in such cases know how to use the capacity to doubt. Learn to reason, and to distinguish an argument consisting of another inconsistent. And not only if you want to be a good career in science, but also if you want to be a difficult person to deceive (as was the Baron Cuvier).
In this story we can draw a valuable lesson that will help us if we are artists in the fine art of baloney detection.