Tag Archives: Science

Quantum Decoherence

In 1935, the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger, proposed a theory that has captivated philosophers and simultaneously appalled cat lovers. Schrödinger, one of quantum theory’s founders, devised an experiment “using” cats to illustrate how radically the quantum realm differs from the macroscopic, everyday world that most of us inhabit.  He theorized that a particle such as an electron exists in [...]
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Inside the boundaries

Someone once told me that English critic John Ruskin suffered from horror vacui (the fear of empty spaces) and I initially thought that I finally had a name for my taste in interior design (though soon realized this was not the case).  In philosophy, the term originates with Aristotle, who theorized that nature “fears” empty space; therefore, [...]
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Slowly but surely, scientists are getting closer to developing a drug that will allow people to eliminate unpleasant memories. The new issue of Neuron features a report from a group of Chinese scientists who were able to use a chemical – the protein alpha-CaM kinase II – to successfully erase memories from the minds of [...]
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A sacred disease.

Epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder, is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The condition is named from the Greek word epilepsia, meaning “a taking hold of or seizing”. The disorder has been associated with religious experiences and also demonic possession. Historically, epilepsy was called the “Sacred Disease” because people thought [...]
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The peat people: tales from the bog

My last name translates to “of (or from) the peat,” referring to my ancestors who once farmed peat bogs in southern Holland.  It is a relatively common Dutch last name, and was a common form of farming. Peat bogs are the equivalent to rain forests in some countries:  they are a huge source of carbon and [...]
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Screwston

Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city, has the worst recycling rate among the 15 largest American cities, according to a 2008 study by Waste News, a trade magazine … Houston recycles just 2.6 percent of its total waste, according to a study this year by Waste News, a trade magazine. By comparison, San Francisco and New [...]
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Dump

The World’s Largest Dump: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Discover Magazine featured an article recently on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a garbage “dump” (or, more like diffuse plastic soup) in the Pacific Ocean that is estimated to be one-and-a-half times the size of the United States and at least 100 feet deep.  While it is [...]
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Words

According to the August issue of Harper’s, top ten songs have gotten wordier in the last forty plus years. Like, a lot wordier. The average count in the 1960’s, for a top ten song, came in at 176. The average in 2007? 436. But are musicians really saying more when they say more? Some, including William Weir, [...]
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