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ScienceIs Mathematics Discovered Or Invented?Posted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 04:54:46 PM EST
The question is posed here. I vote for "discovered"; certainly, no one has invented particular mathematical laws and theorems just as no one has invented laws of physics, economics, or biology. These are phenomena that are independent of the human mind and require human cogitation to be revealed and explained to human beings. Fermat didn't invent his famous Last Theorem. He discovered it, couldn't write down the proof and left it for future generations to discover it. Mathematicians ought to be applauded for having done the necessary detective work to figure out the theorem. No one made stuff up to either pose the question the theorem answered or to spell out the answer itself.
Further on the Monty Hall ProblemPosted by Jessica Doyle on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 10:30:39 AM EST If you have ever been intrigued by the so-called "Monty Hall Problem" (or are just way too fond of old game shows), the New York Times has a treat for you this morning. A John Tierney column on probabilities and cognitive dissonance research includes an interactive version of the problem, a further discussion on Tierney's blog, and best of all, a reprint of a 1991 article in which Monty Hall himself explained to Tierney why, despite the probabilities involved, it might not have been the best strategy for a "Let's Make a Deal" contestant to switch from Door #1 to Door #3. And people wonder why I read the Times online only. For My Next Car . . .Posted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:39:52 PM EST
I really want this.
Soon, They Will Run For OfficePosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:55:26 PM EST
Robots have learned to lie. And no, I am not making that up.
Your Jawdrop-Inducing Reading Of The DayPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 07:49:51 PM EST
Behold. The mind--whatever its state--reels. (Via Tyler Cowen.)
Comments >> (1 comment) And Now I Have Seen EverythingPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Sat Jan 12, 2008 at 05:42:04 PM EST Will Wonders Never Cease?Posted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 05:17:19 PM EST
The Bible meets nanotechnology.
I've said it before and will say it again: It is wonderful to be alive and to see such dramatic technological advances. Just imagine what tomorrow might bring. Running Out Of Time?Posted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 06:52:51 PM EST
It's entirely possible, according to this story. If we do indeed run out, things would be . . . well . . . read on:
The group bases its idea on one particular variant of superstring theory, a so called theory of everything, in which our universe is confined to the surface of a membrane, or brane, floating in a higher-dimensional space, known as the "bulk". To say that all of this is quite weird would be to seriously underst Comments >> (1 comment) Why The Internet Is WonderfulPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 06:01:19 PM EST
Because it has made the teaching of physics popular throughout the world.
Cool Science Stuff Of The DayPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 04:29:02 PM EST
Behold:
A jet of highly charged radiation from a supermassive black hole at the center of a distant galaxy is blasting another galaxy nearby -- an act of galactic violence that astronomers said yesterday they have never seen before. Comments >> (1 comment) Utterly ExtraordinaryPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 07:32:00 PM EST Comments >> (1 comment) Think Evolution Has Come To A Halt?Posted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 02:57:14 PM EST
Think again:
Human evolution has been moving at breakneck speed in the past several thousand years, far from plodding along as some scientists had thought, researchers said on Monday. Lots of this sounds prosaic--especially the business about the earwax. But it actually is quite fascinating. Comments >> (1 comment) In Which We Learn That Santa May Move His Base Of OperationsPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Thu Dec 06, 2007 at 07:03:09 PM EST
I love the holidays. It brings out the wonderful quirks in all of us.
"The Internet Of Things"Posted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 03:42:38 PM EST
The technology described here will be really, really, really useful for me since I find myself in bookstores quite often.
Wonderful NewsPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 01:09:10 AM EST
I am sure there will be a lot of "I told you so" comments and perhaps not a little bit of schadenfreude concerning this news. Personally, I am just glad that we have a tremendous scientific advance that involves no moral qualms whatsoever.
And really, that's the most important issue. Sure, Halloween Is Fun . . .Posted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Wed Oct 31, 2007 at 02:13:35 PM EST
But please, let's have some perspective.
The Next MemePosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 02:01:12 PM EST
Global warming is responsible for an alarmingly low amount of cyclone activity.
All snark aside, I would certainly not be surprised if there is global warming activity and that we are causing it. I proceed on the assumption that we are until proven otherwise, being the cautious person I tend to be when issues like potential global cataclysms come to the fore. But after hearing that cyclones and hurricanes would dramatically increase in number, thanks to global warming, this should show that we have not yet fully mastered the art of predicting what Nature will do. A little humility is in order. It Does A Body GoodPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Tue Oct 16, 2007 at 01:00:28 PM EST
Dear Children:
Best, Nice Guys Finish FirstPosted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Sat Oct 06, 2007 at 03:03:30 PM EST
A very good read about perhaps the greatest mathematician who ever lived.
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