Image of My Own Personal Nothingness - From a childhood hallucination to the halls of theoretical physics
My Own Personal Nothingness - From a childhood hallucination to the halls of theoretical physics
nautil.us link posted by in philosophy
“Nothing will come of nothing.”(William Shakespeare, King Lear) “Man is equally incapable of seeing the nothingness from which he emerges and the infinity in which he is engulfed.”(Blaise...
Image of Killer viruses - should we make them?
Killer viruses - should we make them?
editorial posted by in braincrave
We all have previously learned about the Great Flu Pandemic of 1918, which killed between 20-40 million people worldwide in our history classes. Now with the advance of modern molecular biology techn...
Image of Madly in love - is there a rational basis to love?
Madly in love - is there a rational basis to love?
editorial posted by in braincrave
We need a new demotivational poster: "Science. A quick way to mess-up all those great love poems." The definition of rational isn't very controversial: "having reason or understanding." The defini...
Image of An interview with David Eagleman, neuroscientist
An interview with David Eagleman, neuroscientist
editorial posted by in braincrave
A neuroscientist is someone who studies "the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, or molecular biology of nerves and nervous tissue and especially their relation to behavior and learning." Although the...
Image of Science helps explain why men are confused about female orgasms
Science helps explain why men are confused about female orgasms
editorial posted by in braincrave
It is claimed that women fake orgasms because of insecurities. But as women have a tremendous capacity for pleasure, perhaps men just aren't stimulating the right places. As scary as it might sound t...
Image of TIL drinking eight glasses of water a day is bunk
TIL drinking eight glasses of water a day is bunk
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that the accepted wisdom of drinking eight glasses of water a day, including the accompanying reminder that beverages containing caffeine and alcohol do not count, is not supported by...
Image of Well I'll be a monkey's uncle - evolution is not a matter of faith
Well I'll be a monkey's uncle - evolution is not a matter of faith
editorial posted by in braincrave
Humans and chimpanzees share 96% of the same DNA. In other words, from a scientific perspective, humans and chimpanzees are genetically very similar. As the battle between evolution and intelligen...
Image of TIL why helium makes your voice squeaky
TIL why helium makes your voice squeaky
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned why light gasses like helium make your voice squeaky and heavy gasses like sulfur hexafluoride or xenon make your voice sound like Barry White. In summary, the timbre of your voice...
Image of TIL why hair turns grey
TIL why hair turns grey
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that hair turns grey with age because of naturally-secreted hydrogen peroxide. Guess blondes were onto something. Good to know someone is finally getting at the "root" of the problem....
Image of Engineering the perfect human
Engineering the perfect human
editorial posted by in braincrave
Recently, Harvard University had a panel discussing the legacy of the Human Genome Project. Started in 1990, and with scientists from six countries and initial funding of $3 billion, the project publ...
Image of Optical Illusions - Proof That The Senses Are Valid
Optical Illusions - Proof That The Senses Are Valid
editorial posted by in braincrave
The senses have no power of distortion; what they observe is what is. Optical illusions do not validate the claim that the senses can deceive us: optical illusions are the senses making valid observa...
Image of Scientists Baffled After Finding 10th Century Medicine that Kills Antibiotic-Resistant ‘Superbug’ MRSA
Scientists Baffled After Finding 10th Century Medicine that Kills Antibiotic-Resistant ‘Superbug’ MRSA
thefreethoughtproject.com link posted by in health
London, U.K. – An ancient Anglo-Saxon potion, used to treat eye infections in the 10th-century, has shown the potential to eradicate the modern MRSA superbug, according to research. The ancient...
Image of “race is simply not a level of biological division …in…humans”
“race is simply not a level of biological division …in…humans”
lewrockwell.com link posted by in politics
In the spirit of Morgan Freeman's excellent advice on how to solve the race problem and just "stop talking about it," I'm reposting this thoughtful perspective from lewrockwell.com. Rachel Dol...
Image of Yes, You Can Catch Insanity: Reviving the debate about the immune system and mental illness.
Yes, You Can Catch Insanity: Reviving the debate about the immune system and mental illness.
nautil.us link posted by in health
One day in March 2010, Isak McCune started clearing his throat with a forceful, violent sound. The New Hampshire toddler was 3, with a Beatles mop of blonde hair and a cuddly, loving personality. H...