Thursday, May 23, 2002
Stephen Jay Gould
Stephen Gould, one of the worlds most recognized scientists, died this past Monday of cancer at age 60. Gould was most famous for his writings on evolutionary theory and paleontology. He also championed the teaching of evolution in schools and was against creationism being taught along side it. Gould argued that evolution didn't happen at a slow steady rate but was in fact punctuated with rapid bursts of changes. In some of his later writings he attempted to reconcile science and religion by putting forth the opinion that the two could coexist in harmony. His thought was that religion was about ethics and values and science was about facts, both are needed but don't have much to do with one another. I would certainly tend to disagree if only because religion tries to present itself as fact and many times a scientific fact in itself. Regardless of whether you agree with him or not he will be missed in a world where known scientists are a vanishing item in our culture. god speed?
Stephen Gould, one of the worlds most recognized scientists, died this past Monday of cancer at age 60. Gould was most famous for his writings on evolutionary theory and paleontology. He also championed the teaching of evolution in schools and was against creationism being taught along side it. Gould argued that evolution didn't happen at a slow steady rate but was in fact punctuated with rapid bursts of changes. In some of his later writings he attempted to reconcile science and religion by putting forth the opinion that the two could coexist in harmony. His thought was that religion was about ethics and values and science was about facts, both are needed but don't have much to do with one another. I would certainly tend to disagree if only because religion tries to present itself as fact and many times a scientific fact in itself. Regardless of whether you agree with him or not he will be missed in a world where known scientists are a vanishing item in our culture. god speed?
Sunday, May 19, 2002
So Be Nice Eh?
This is going to be a bit of a diversion here. I've read many articles about how some feel that the problems of society are because we've become a godless society and religion doesn't play such a big role as it used to. Okay, so no diversion so far, sorry. I don't think this is the reason obviously but I do have a very simplistic theory. I'm gonna blame all of our woes on a common lack of courtesy. This is nowhere more evident than if you've driven a car the past few years. You know, you've been out there and of course it's never you right? Uh-huh ... Well, I think it's all of us and we're all guilty at one time or another. So I think the solution starts right there and it starts with us. I'm trying to drive less aggressively and more courteous. Sure, that's not gonna stop the arsewads from pulling in ahead of you when you're one car length from the guy in front of you and there's 20 car lengths behind you, they'll still be goofs. But that's what gets us doing the same sorta crap though, we drive even closer to the guy in front to prevent him from doing that right? So let's be careful out there, and gosh darn it, friendly. Now how's that for a diversion eh?
This is going to be a bit of a diversion here. I've read many articles about how some feel that the problems of society are because we've become a godless society and religion doesn't play such a big role as it used to. Okay, so no diversion so far, sorry. I don't think this is the reason obviously but I do have a very simplistic theory. I'm gonna blame all of our woes on a common lack of courtesy. This is nowhere more evident than if you've driven a car the past few years. You know, you've been out there and of course it's never you right? Uh-huh ... Well, I think it's all of us and we're all guilty at one time or another. So I think the solution starts right there and it starts with us. I'm trying to drive less aggressively and more courteous. Sure, that's not gonna stop the arsewads from pulling in ahead of you when you're one car length from the guy in front of you and there's 20 car lengths behind you, they'll still be goofs. But that's what gets us doing the same sorta crap though, we drive even closer to the guy in front to prevent him from doing that right? So let's be careful out there, and gosh darn it, friendly. Now how's that for a diversion eh?
Wednesday, May 15, 2002
TOE: Theory of Everything
Many scientists believe we are on the verge of discovering a Theory of Everything, a unifying set of equations that describe our entire existense. Up until now there have been 2 theories that have advanced the way we view the world. Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity is used to talk about the behaviour of planets, stars, entire galaxies. The second, Quantum Mechanics describes how we view the world at a sub-atomic level. Both theories have proven useful in describing our physical existence and yet there are parts of each that do not reconcile with one another. The great quest of the later part of the 20th century has been in reconciling these 2 seemingly different theories into one TOE, the Theory of Everything. Stephen Hawking has reportedly said that he believes there's a 50-50 chance that a completely unified theory will be uncovered effectively reaching the end of physics. The most promising candidate is emerging as String Theory.
String Theory replaces the concept of fundamental particles we all learned in highschool. Instead of an electron there's a subatomic looped string of energy. All properties of particles we observe are just the patterns of these strings vibrating. From a mathematical view point, the equations of String Theory are thought to be solvable by an infinite set of solutions. Thing is only one describes our universe. So what are these other solutions then? Well get ready to bend that brain, the infinite set of solutions implies that there are perhaps multiple if not infinite universes. Each solution set would describe a different and unique universe.
This is certainly a simplistic description but it's the only one I'm able to offer. Only a few select individuals understand String Theory in it's totality for obvious reasons. Hope it makes ya go hmmmm though. Head to the Science and Nature part of your bookstore.
Many scientists believe we are on the verge of discovering a Theory of Everything, a unifying set of equations that describe our entire existense. Up until now there have been 2 theories that have advanced the way we view the world. Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity is used to talk about the behaviour of planets, stars, entire galaxies. The second, Quantum Mechanics describes how we view the world at a sub-atomic level. Both theories have proven useful in describing our physical existence and yet there are parts of each that do not reconcile with one another. The great quest of the later part of the 20th century has been in reconciling these 2 seemingly different theories into one TOE, the Theory of Everything. Stephen Hawking has reportedly said that he believes there's a 50-50 chance that a completely unified theory will be uncovered effectively reaching the end of physics. The most promising candidate is emerging as String Theory.
String Theory replaces the concept of fundamental particles we all learned in highschool. Instead of an electron there's a subatomic looped string of energy. All properties of particles we observe are just the patterns of these strings vibrating. From a mathematical view point, the equations of String Theory are thought to be solvable by an infinite set of solutions. Thing is only one describes our universe. So what are these other solutions then? Well get ready to bend that brain, the infinite set of solutions implies that there are perhaps multiple if not infinite universes. Each solution set would describe a different and unique universe.
This is certainly a simplistic description but it's the only one I'm able to offer. Only a few select individuals understand String Theory in it's totality for obvious reasons. Hope it makes ya go hmmmm though. Head to the Science and Nature part of your bookstore.
