Video: Power of Books
Books, not one book, are what empowers us to new discoveries and adventures. Freedom of speech, is a true genuin right that is dear to me and worth fighting for. Let us stand up against censorship!
Travel: El Gouna – Egypt. 2012
El Gouna over looks the red sea, is a place were the privileged go to have fun on the beach. It wasn’t one of my favorite places but if you are into Kite surfing and diving then this is the place to be. On the way to the beach you get to walk between an art installation of human Figure representing different segments of Egyptian society in this time we live in.
Interest: Home Microscope
A few years ago, my family got me a digital microscope for my birthday. The samples that come with the package include slices of onion skin, a horse fly leg, cotton and a wood stem. It’s fascinating to see cells form into patterns and designs on a microscopic level through artistic eyes, when the reality is what we see is years of evolution, construction and the random complexity of life. There is so much to see and I can’t wait to look into more fun stuff. Any recommendations?
Video: The Great Debate: The Storytelling of Science
What an amazing event! Intriguing stories, great thinkers and most of all, a very entertaining gathering of some of the best in their field. I truly recommend watching both parts of the symposium, as part 2 has the questions and answers portion, with some extra enthusiasm with Neil deGrasse Tyson’s participation.
Video: The Burden of Proof
Sometimes it is okay to admit that you don’t know the answers to some of the major questions about life; where do we come from and what are we doing here? If you claim to have the answers, then it is your duty to present proof, not the skeptic. “When someone makes a factual claim, the obligation lies with them to support their claim, it is not the obligation of the skeptic to prove the claim false.” Absolute certainty comes with the burden of proof. Doubt, skepticism and questioning are tools to search for the truth and not the truth itself.
Video: Scientific Perspective – Lawrence Krauss
Video: Jim Al-Khalili – Quantum Life: How Physics Can Revolutionise Biology
Quantum mechanics is a bizarre topic in science, and the many scientists who specialize in this field usually say the same thing about it. Richard Feynman once said” I think I can safely say nobody understands quantum mechanics.” Niel Bohr, who was the father of quantum physics, chimed in and said ” If quantum mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet.” In his speech, Jim Al-Khalili describes how European Robins (the birds) migrate in a direction that might link the way they navigate to the earth’s magnetic fields on a quantum level. Complicated but very thrilling, alluding to understanding biology, chemistry and physics in quantum level. Imagine if he is right! This will shed light on many important fields in the future such as quantum computers, medicine and the origins of the universe. Experiments and tests are still being conducted in this field since it first started in the 1920′s and I think in order to understand quantum mechanics, we have to use our imaginations because in the quantum world some major principles do not necessarily apply. Enjoy!
Video: Lawrence Krauss on Physics
Some topics in science, like quantum mechanics and evolution, are overwhelmingly confusing. I feel the majority of people do not take the time to understand science because of this particular reason. People confuse this confusion between sadness and frustration when instead it should be excitement and adventure. Richard Dawkins explains ” We evolved to avoid tigers in the wild, we didn’t evolve to do quantum physics.” Physics is a very exciting topic to me. I am awestruck with its principles, always a humbling experience and it is a very powerful tool to understanding the world around us. I think Lawrence Krauss is an excellent teacher of modern science. I recommend taking the time out of your busy schedule to understand this little bit of science. Enjoy!
THE GENERALIST 