SCIENCE – Page 14 – REVIEWS AND VIEWS OF LIFE

MAR’S ROVER

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

Mars Rover Curiosity: An Inside Account from Curiosity’s Chief Engineer

Written by: Rob Manning, William L. Simon

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

This antenna-tailed super dog, and a Rover named Opportunity, are in the news this month. After analysis of elemental particles by Curiosity, organic molecules are discovered. An astro-biologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands suggests life may have existed or originated on Mars.

Curiosity is a mechanical, one-eyed, six wheeled, antenna-tailed super dog. It can stiff the air, drill rocks, analyze elemental particles, roam a countryside at a snail’s pace (300 feet per hour), and talk to humans. Its language is in 1s and 0s. It speaks to Earth from Mars across 49 million miles of space with a message that continues to amaze and encourage human exploration of the universe.

Curiosity Rover Animation:

Sadly, it was reported on February 13, 2019–that an earlier Mars Rover died. It was called Opportunity. Curiosity, according to a “Life Science” article, cannot repair Opportunity because of time and distance.

A slightly earlier Mars Rover called Sprit, a twin of Opportunity, died on March 20, 2010.

However, like the movie musical “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, we should not mourn their loss. Both of these earlier rovers outlast their expected lives. In addition to “Curiosity”, more is yet to come. On this Thursday, 2.19.2021 @ 3:55 pm EST, a new rover named “Perseverance” is scheduled to land in the Jerzero Crater of Mars.

Robert Manning, in collaboration with William Simon (a ghost writer), reflects on the technological feat of creating and delivering a robotic laboratory to the fourth rock from the sun.

Curiosity launched on November 26, 2011 to arrive on Mars August 6, 2012. It landed on the Aeolis Palus plain, a crater that may be an ancient lake bed. Robert Manning, in collaboration with William Simon (a ghost writer), reflects on the technological feat of creating and delivering a robotic laboratory to the fourth rock from the sun. Manning heads a team of NASA scientists and engineers to design the latest land rover, called Curiosity, to explore Mars.

The first 12 months of Curiosity’s First Year on Mars:

In June 2018, Curiosity continues to explore Mars and deliver information on the history of earth’s mysterious neighbor.

What Curiosity is Discovering:

Curiosity is meant to search for artifacts of life on Mars while testing the potential for colonization of another planet. To date, no definitive answers are given but Manning’s story suggests most of the building blocks of life were at one time present on Mars. Now, it appears Manning’s story is tentatively confirmed.

Life on Mars?:

The primary atmospheric conditions of Mars are made of carbon dioxide and some water vapor as opposed to nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other elements of earth. The average temperature on Mars is 81 degrees Fahrenheit versus 57 degrees on Earth (a misleading metric because of the huge extremes on Mars). Mars gravity is only .375 that of Earth which has significant ramification for sustainability of human life on the planet.

No indisputable historical evidence of life on Mars has been discovered but the existence of fluctuating amounts of methane in the atmosphere may mean Mars is geologically active and holds the potential for microscopic life. Methane contains hydrogen and carbon but, with little discovered oxygen, there is limited chance of any life form representative of earth; at least, that is larger than a microbe.

“Mars Rover Curiosity” and “Perseverance” are a tribute to NASA and its organizational skill in achieving a land mark experiment in human exploration. In listening to Manning’s story, one feels they are on the edge of a continent in the 15^th century, planning to sail to an unexplored place to find answers about what there is beyond imagination.

“Mars Rover Curiosity” is a tribute to NASA and its organizational skill in achieving a land mark experiment in human exploration. In listening to Manning’s story, one feels they are on the edge of a continent in the 15^th century, planning to sail to an unexplored place to find answers about what there is beyond imagination. NASA’s contribution to science and a possible future for humanity seems inferred by Manning’s story; particularly in light of current scientific evidence for Earth’s global warming.

Curiosity’s exploration (though only a mechanical creation of NASA) reminds one of Marco Polo, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, Magellan, Cortes, and Neil Armstrong in their discovery of new continents.

AI VS. HUMAN INTELLIGENCE

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

The Island of Knowledge: The Limits of Science and the Search for Meaning

Written by: Marcelo Gleiser

Narration by: William Neenan

MARCELO GLEISER (BRAZILIAN PHYSICIST AND ASTRONOMER, PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY PROFESSOR AT DARTMOUTH)

MARCELO GLEISER (AUTHOR, BRAZILIAN PHYSICIST AND ASTRONOMER, PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY PROFESSOR AT DARTMOUTH)

Marcelo Gleiser believes an A.I. singularity predicted by Ray Kurzweil is a myth of science that will be stranded on “The Island of Knowledge”. His point is that the nature of science, human cognition, and quantum physics make computers incapable of superseding or equaling human intelligence. The horizon of the unknown will always be present for human beings, even with computational advances. Gleiser implies that the computer will only be a tool of humankind to explore the unknown.

Gleiser notes the nature of science is to explain natural phenomena. Sciences’ explanations create an island of knowledge that is like Plato’s Socratic cave; i.e. a cave for humanity that only reveals shadows of reality.

PLATO’S CAVE (Gleiser suggests Sciences’ explanations create an island of knowledge that is like Plato’s Socratic cave; i.e. a cave for humanity that only reveals shadows of reality.

Human beings cannot leave the cave because every scientific discovery only leads to another question about shadows that represent the real thing. Gleiser prepares one for that conclusion by recounting the history of great scientists like Isaac Newton, James Maxwell, Max Planck, Earnest Rutherford, Albert Einstein, Edwin Schrodinger, Werner Heisenberg, Paul Dirac, and others. Each of these scientists contributes to “The Island of Knowledge” but each raises more questions about phenomena that remain shadows of nature’s reality.

Gleiser acknowledges that Newton and Einstein sharpen shadowy outlines of nature’s reality but each fails to discover absolute truth. Newton misses the fundamental truth of time. Einstein misses the truth of quantum physics. Newton’s time is relative and Einstein’s presumed certainties are probabilities.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1642-1727)

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Gleiser argues that human cognition is limited by “The Island of Knowledge” because cognition is influenced by the mind’s senses. For example, history is reported with facts that are selected by the historian. The facts may be accurate but not all facts of the past are reported and thereby history becomes a shadow of the truth.

In science, experiments do not prove truth; i.e. experiments only eliminate false positives, leaving only another experiment to disprove another presumed truth. Experiments theoretically get one closer to a truth but the truth remains a shadow because the new truth has to be explored by further experiment. As Karl Popper notes: “In so far as a scientific statement speaks about reality, it must be falsifiable; and in so far as it is not falsifiable, it does not speak about reality.”

KARL POPPER (1902-1994) Popper suggests there are no verifiable truths; only probabilities. If so, A.I. (at least) has the potential for improving the odds of factual truth.

Gleiser implies the idea of a Turing Computer that can know the origin of life is as specious as belief in the myth of the Holy Grail. Gleiser explains that artificial intelligence will never supersede or equal human intelligence because natural phenomena are found to be probabilistic and not defined by yes and no, or ones and zeros. Artificial Intelligence is a misnomer.

Finally, Gleiser suggests artificial intelligence will never supersede or equal human intelligence because natural phenomena are found to be probabilistic and not defined by yes and no, or ones and zeros. Artificial Intelligence is a misnomer in Gleiser’s opinion.

AI is a man-made construct, subject to “The Island of Knowledge” created by human beings. Gleiser argues there are serious dangers in expansion of AI because it reduces complexity to yes and no answers. One wonders if Gleiser takes into consideration experiments being conducted with quantum computing. These experiments are meant to create a neural network that emulates human consciousness but with improved probabilistic calculations.

Gleiser’s implication is that a computer that programs itself becomes a Frankenstein; not a sentient being. He argues that A.I. creations are likely to disrupt, if not destroy, human life. He believes A.I. will always be based on shadows of unverifiable truths.

Gleiser implies the idea of a Turing Computer that can know the origin of life is as specious as belief in the myth of the Holy Grail. He may be right. Although, Popper suggests there are no verifiable truths; only probabilities. The Holy Grail is a myth because nothing can ever be absolutly proven. If so, A.I. seems to have the potential of improving the odds of factual truth.

Gleiser touches on the mysteries of “spooky action at a distance” which challenges Einstein’s dictum that nothing exceeds the speed of light. Gleiser recounts experiments that prove “spooky action at a distance” are real.

Experiments with “spooky action at a distance” open a new field of inquiry. This and “string theory” are examples of challenges to belief that human beings will ever have a theory of everything. A.I. seems a credible tool for further experimentation. whether it is a “Frankenstein” or not.

Gleiser believes “The Island of Knowledge” is as close as humanity will ever get to a theory of everything and it will always be a shadow of nature’s truth. Karl Popper would agree. Gleiser is saying pursuit of truth is important but precise truth is unattainable. He argues that a final truth will never be found because discoveries of science will only lead to more questions, more experiments, and better tools of measurement. Nature’s truth will always be beyond human understanding; i.e. at best, nature’s truth will only be shadows of reality with sharper outlines. Humanity may not be capable of escaping the cave to discover the truth of life.

Gleiser is quick to point out that his concept of the human island of knowledge is not meant to discourage scientific exploration. He believes human beings have an innate desire to understand nature. Life experience suggests wanting to understand nature is true of all cultures because humanity desires immortality.

Humans want to think of themselves as the center of the universe; as false as that may be.

KNOWLEDGE

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

Philosophy of Science

By: Professor Jeffrey L. Kasser

Narrated by Professor Kasser Lecture Series

DR. JEFFREY L. KASSER (ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY)

This is a tough audiobook to adequately summarize. Dr. Jeffrey Kasser offers evidence for the value and advance of human knowledge through philosophy and science. Kasser explains that philosophy is the beginning of what becomes a scientific world view. Kasser attempts to drag skeptics out of Socrates’ cave with a “36 lecture” series titled “The Philosophy of Science”.

Kasser recounts the history of science from a world controlled by fickle gods to a world of cause and effect. Then, in the early twentieth century, Kasser notes that science reveals a world of probability. Kasser reports on views of science changed by philosophers like Karl Popper, Paul Feyerabend, and Bas van Frassen.

KARL POPPER (1902-1994) Popper suggests science cannot be proven but only falsified. His point is that only infinite experimentation can prove the truth of a scientific theory.

Infinity, by definition, is boundless; therefore, science offers limited truth in so far as no one can reach an infinite number of experiments to prove a theory.

PAUL FEYERABEND (1924-1994)

Feyerabend argues that scientific method is a constraint rather than exploratory tool of science. To Feyerabend, when science begins with hypothesis, research is restricted and experimentation becomes biased by pre-conceived or experienced perception.

Bas van Fraasen (Philosopher)

Bas van Fraassen suggests that, at best, science can only reveal approximate truth about the physical world. His view lends itself to quantum physics where cause and effect become probabilistic rather than definitive.

These three philosophers, as well as several others noted by Kasser, steer science to a category of understanding called logical positivism. Logical positivism is argued to be the primary focus of what is called good science. Logical positivism suggests that science must be based on direct experience and logic; within limitations like those argued by Popper, Feyerabend, Frassen, and others.

However, Kassen suggests even logical positivism is challenged by the realization that acts of analysis, particularly measurement of results, distort reality.

Distortion comes from the act of measurement and the bias of human cognition. In other words, experiments done by different scientists with the same results remain only qualified scientific truths. Experimentation, even accompanied by logic, becomes suspect. Observational measurement and human perception are critically important to science but, by nature, both measurement and perception taint objective truth.

Kasser explains the truth of science lays in experiment designed to disprove hypothesis. Logic generates hypothesis. Hypothesis is tested for falsity through experiment. Experiment requires measurement. Science experiment is influenced by measurement and human perception which raises doubt about results of tested hypothesis.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1642-1727) Kasser notes that Newton’s laws infer a cause-and-effect world

Newton’s laws work in the macro world. We no longer believe rocks fall to the ground because they live there. Newton’s laws of motion suggest that a bowling ball and a basketball will fall at the same rate of speed, even though their mass is different. This is experimentally and logically provable. If a rock, bowling ball, or basketball are picked up and dropped, they will fall to the ground. If they are in a vacuum, they will fall to the ground at the same rate of speed.

In the micro world, components of atoms that combine to form what we see as bowling balls and basketballs cohere to each other in a way that does not conform to Newton’s laws. The components of atoms operate in accordance with quantum mechanics which shows that elements of atoms in bowling balls and basketballs do not follow Newton’s laws of motion. The orbital planes of atomic elements like quarks and leptons appear and disappear; i.e. they do not follow a predictable pattern of action.

Cause and effect in the macro world is replaced by probability in the micro world.

None of this is to suggest that Newton’s laws are false or that quantum mechanics are anything more than an expansion of Newton’s laws. However, at this stage of scientific discovery, the two laws are not compatible even though both laws are experimentally confirm-able. Attempts have been made to unify these laws. String theory is the present day most studied hypothesis but it fails the criteria of null hypothesis because of today’s instrumental and cognitive limitations.

Philosophy and science are integral to the advance of human civilization. We are still looking at shadows of reality but Kasser infers philosophy and science are the best hope for Socrates’ spelunkers.

NUCLEAR POWER

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

Atomic Accidents: A History of Nuclear Meltdowns and Disasters

By James Mahaffey

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Listening to Atomic Accidents, the first thing that comes to mind is point-of-view, second the author’s qualification, and third writing skill. Mahaffey’s book is historically fascinating, and enlightening. And happily, Mahaffey writes well.

Doctor James Mahaffey’s professional career is founded on the nuclear industry. Educated at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Mahaffey holds a bachelor’s degree in physics, a master’s in science, and doctoral in nuclear engineering.

Mahaffey is well versed in the science, engineering, and mechanics of nuclear energy. Because of education, one presumes Mahaffey is a proponent of the nuclear power industry. After dissection of several atomic accidents, a listener becomes unsure of Mahaffey’s point of view. By the end, his point of view is clear.

nagasaki bombing aftermath — The best known nukes, Big Boy and Little Boy, were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII.

America has dropped and lost nuclear bombs around the world. The best known nukes, Big Boy and Little Boy, were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII.

Less known bomb drops were in peace time. Nukes were accidentally released on remote military bases, in sparsely populated residential areas, and in the sea. Some of those dropped in the sea remain unrecoverable. None of the peace time bombs exploded.

America chose to keep nuclear secrets from Great Britain after WWII because of concern over nuclear bomb proliferation. Because of America’s secrecy and lack of cooperation, Mahaffey suggests design mistakes were made.

In reviewing the history of nuclear energy, Mahaffey notes English scientists and engineers designed graphite nuclear power plants that were inherently dangerous. Graphite catches fire at high temperatures and is notoriously hard to extinguish. However, graphite nuclear plants became widely copied throughout the world.

Mahaffey’s stories of nuclear mishaps range from dumb to dumber; i.e. from wind fans that feed graphite nuclear plant fires to technicians that ignore rules of reactor management. Nuclear accidents seem inevitable and insurmountable.

CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR REACTOR (e.g. A FAMOUS GRAPHITE REACTOR ACCIDENT.) — CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR REACTOR ( Chernobyl is an example of a major graphite nuclear reactor failure.)

Mahaffey explains that the former U.S.S.R. ignored environment in their nuclear bombs race with America. They dumped plutonium in Russian waters and blew up a graphite nuclear plant that killed Russian workers in a steam explosion. The explosion contaminated miles of Russian homeland with radioactive fallout.

Later, the U.S.S.R. mismanaged Chernobyl’s nuclear facilities and created a nuclear meltdown that reportedly killed over 60 people from radiation and left an area of Russia uninhabitable for generations to come.

FRANCIS GARY POWERS (1929-1977, CAPTAIN IN THE US AIR FORCE, SHOT DOWN OVER RUSSIA IN 1960 AND HELD PRISONER FOR 2 YEARS) — FRANCIS GARY POWERS (1929-1977)

Mahaffey tells the story of the American, Gary Powers, the pilot shot down by the Russians in the 1950s. Powers is taking aerial pictures of plutonium manufacturing facilities in the U.S.S.R. Eisenhower is compelled to lie and then apologize to Russia for the clandestine operation. Mahaffey makes the story interesting by revealing the monumental effort made by the U.S.S.R. to shoot down Powers’ airplane and reassemble plane parts to prove Powers was spying.

FRANCIS GARY POWERS (DIES IN HELECOPTER CRASH WORKING AS KNBC WEATHER PILOT) — FRANCIS GARY POWERS (DIES IN A 1977 HELECOPTER CRASH WORKING AS KNBC WEATHER PILOT)

In the end, Mahaffey discounts the many nuclear accidents and incidents he examines. His conclusion is that nuclear power can be made probabilistically safe. Mahaffey argues for the design of nuclear energy facilities that are small and simple to operate. He suggests that small nuclear power plants be designed and manufactured for specific industrial facilities.

Rolls Royce is entering the nuclear facilities market in Great Britain. Small nuclear plants could meet industrial energy demands while limiting environmental carbon emission from other sources of energy Rolls Royce Small Nuclear Plant Production

With small nuclear energy plants, the potential for catastrophic Chernobyl-like’ events would not happen. The massive underwater earthquake and tsunami would not have decimated Japan’s nuclear energy capability if the power plants had not been so massive and concentrated on the coast.

Mahaffey implies proper design and training for small, simple nuclear energy facilities will mitigate the world energy crises. Mahaffey infers nuclear accidents are unavoidable, but human and environmental damage is minimized with smaller nuclear energy plants.

Rolls-Royce recently (in November 2021) announced they are getting into the small nuclear reactor business.

Mahaffey explains that radiation is a naturally occurring phenomenon. He argues that shutting down nuclear waste disposal facilities like Yucca Mountain in Nevada are a mistake. Many in Las Vegas oppose President Trump’s resurrection of the Yucca Mountain waste site.

Mahaffey’s point of view is that nuclear power accidents will happen but their consequences can be minimized with smaller plants and better planning for treatment of victims when accidents occur. He believes nuclear energy benefits far out weigh their risks.

The 2020 Presidential election is over. President Biden’s campaign speaks to America’s gradual transition from fossil fuels to wind, water, and solar power. That transition is a potential source for thousands of new American jobs. Mahaffey persuasively argues there should be a place for nuclear energy in that transition.

GOD’S EXISTENCE

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

36 Arguments for the Existence of God
By Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Narrated by Stephen Pinker, Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, Oliver Wyman

Rebecca Goldstein writes like Stephen Pinker on steroids. (Coincidentally, Goldstein is married to Pinker.) Goldstein’s novel is not the story one expects from its title because “36 Arguments for the Existence of God” is about denial; not affirmation of existence.

STEVEN PINKER (Cognitive psychologist, linguist, and author) — STEVEN PINKER (Cognitive psychologist, linguist, and author who wrote “How the Mind Works”, “The Blank Slate”, “Angels of Our Better Nature”, etc.)

A more apt title for Goldstein’s book might be “The Science of Human Nature Denies the Existence of God”.

Goldstein has done a masterful job of creating “fear and trembling” in believers. This is “fear and trembling” in the opposite sense of Soren Kierkegaard’s meaning. Kierkegaard’s meaning awakens believers in God. Kierkegaard, an author, theologian, and philosopher, argues one should fear and tremble at the truth of God’s existence.

SOREN KIERKEGAARD (1813-1855, DANISH PHILOSOPHER, AUTHOR, THEOLOGIAN) — SOREN KIERKEGAARD 1813-1855 (Kierkegaard, an author, theologian, and philosopher, argues one should fear or tremble at the truth of God’s existence.)

On one level this is a story about a man named Cass Seltzer and his personal (sometimes romantic) relationships.

On a second level it is about human ethnocentrism. Characters, including Cass Seltzer, see through myopic eyes based on who they have become and what peer group they belong to.

On a third level “36 Arguments…” is about human nature and cultural memes (Richard Dawkins defines a cultural meme as an inherited learned behavior).

On multiple levels, Goldstein’s writing is about the elephant in the room; i.e. mankind’s belief in a Supreme Being.

The story of Cass Seltzer’s life is absorbing. The women he loves are monumentally independent, fantastically alluring, and maddeningly self-centered (as self-centered as Cass Seltzer). Each character believes what they believe with conviction that directs their lives.

The introduction of Felix Fidley exemplifies tribal ethnocentrism and conviction; i.e. a believer who says one way is the only way.

RELIGIOUS BELIEF — Goldstein’s introduction of Felix Fidley in her novel exemplifies tribal ethnocentrism and conviction; i.e. a believer who says one way is the only way.

Ms. Goldstein cleverly introduces the town of New Walden. Its isolated belief system reflects the heritability of good and bad genetic markers and memes that trap people in worshipful repetition. One might categorize it as a cult or, more politely, a commune.

Finally, Goldstein creates a straw man debate about God, The debate is conducted in the next to last chapter. It pits Cass Seltzer against a purportedly renowned debater. Seltzer beats his debate opponent. Believers in God lose. In the last chapter, 36 arguments for belief in God are stated and refuted.

SCIENCE AND RELIGION — One doubts Goldstein will change the world with her book but its rational arguments are a big add to the non-believing world’s arguments for a scientific theory of the world that explains everything about everything.

One doubts Goldstein will change the world with her book but its rational arguments are a big add to the non-believing world’s arguments for a scientific theory of the world that explains everything about everything.

PREACHER PREACHING — Faith is always a refuge but is it enough?

If you are a believer, “36 Arguments…” is a clear explanation of your battleground; it reveals the manifesto, strategy, and tactics of a non-believer. Faith is always a refuge but is it enough?

“36 Arguments for the Existence of God” is a fascinating piece of literature.

COSMOLOGY

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

Death by Black Hole
By Neil deGrasse Tyson

Narrated by Don Graham

NEIL deGRASSE TYSON (AMERICAN ASTROPHYSICIST, AUTHOR, SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR.)

Neil deGrasse Tyson has become a famous translator of the science of cosmology for the layman because of appearances on Nova, and comedy programs like “The Daily Show”, “The Colbert Report”, and “Real Time with Bill Maher”.

“Death by Black Hole” is an exploration of the universe; i.e. how it was formed, where life comes from, whether life exists on other planets or in other universes, how the world might end, what a black hole in space is, and what would happen to the human body entering a black hole.

Tyson explores the molecular basis of creation. He notes how ethnocentric concepts of life have evolved from a belief in man as the center of the universe to man as a grain of sand in the desert; randomly placed by the “big bang” of creation.

Tyson describes man as a concretion of star dust molded by a molecular carbon based combination of atoms, super heated, cooled, and evolved over eons of cosmological time. He suggests that all planets may have forms of life. His evidence is the existence of extremophiles in earth environments. An extremophile is a living organism that survives in environments in which no human being could live.

THERMOPHILE ENVIRONMENT IN THE HOT SPRINGS OF YELLOWSTONE — ENVIRONMENT IN THE HOT SPRINGS OF YELLOWSTONE (Tyson writes of thermophiles, a type of extremophile that thrives in temperatures of 113 to 252 degrees Fahrenheit. )

Tyson writes of thermophiles, a type of extremophile that thrives in temperatures of 113 to 252 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tyson explores current understanding of an expanding universe, how it is measured through spectrographic analysis, and how expansion of the universe is accelerating.

He notes that the end of times for man may come from death of the sun, the turning of this universe’s white star to a red star to a black hole. Tyson notes that another possibility is that accelerating expansion of earth’s universe will cause a gradual cooling of the planet that will only allow extremophiles to survive.

Tyson suggests the most likely cosmological cause of the human race’s end is collision with an asteroid. Of course, the end that concerns us is humankind. Like Dyson’s explanation of the likely cause of dinosaur’s demise, human existence would disappear from the cataclysmic effects of a sunless planet hidden, cooled, and smothered by the debris of collision.

ASTEROID COLLISION WITH EARTH — Tyson suggests the most likely cosmological cause of the human race’s end is collision with an asteroid.

ET (FICTIONAL EXTRA TERRESTRIAL) — Tyson laughs at the idea of a movies creation of other life forms as distorted caricatures of human beings (like ET).

Tyson speculates about contact with extraterrestrials by noting that the general media fails to base concepts of other life forms on 20^th and 21^st century science. Tyson laughs at the idea of a movies creation of other life forms as distorted caricatures of human beings (like ET).

Tyson explains that SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is a long shot to hear a transmission from space as a first sign of contact. He wonders if other intelligent life is listening rather than transmitting so that everyone is listening and no one is transmitting. On the other hand, Tyson recounts sciences’ effort to send a radio transmission to a star cluster that will reach its destination a 1000 years from now. Ironically, the high concentration of stars in that system, makes that particular star cluster a bad focal point for intelligible reception. Extraterrestrial radio wave contact seems unlikely, based on these first attempts.

SETI (LISTENING FOR ANYBODY OUT THERE) — SETI (LISTENING FOR ANYBODY OUT THERE–Tyson explains that SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is a long shot to hear a transmission from space as a first sign of contact )

EFFECTS OF HUMAN DESCENT INTO A BLACK HOLE

As to the effects of a human body entering into a black hole. Tyson explains the human body would be stretched and contorted. Time and space are dissolved as you approach the event horizon. Before you reach the event horizon, your body is atomized.

Tyson explores the history of cosmology beginning with scientists like Newton, Galileo, Copernicus, Einstein, Durac, Hubble, and many other names known and unknown by the general public. “Death by Black Hole” is interesting but not fascinating. A number of videos on “you tube” summarize Tyson’s commentary.

WONDER OF THE WORLD

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.com

Knocking on Heaven’s Door
By Lisa Randall

Narrated by Carrington MacDuffie

LISA RANDALL (AMERICAN THEORETICAL PHYSICIST)

Lisa Randall believes the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is one of the wonders of the world; competing with the pyramids of Egypt in its colossal achievement. Located near the border of France and Switzerland, it is the largest construction project ever built.

“Knocking on Heaven’s Door” is the story of the Collider’s creation, inner workings, and scientific objectives. Along the way, Randall explores physics, sciences conflict with religion, the process of scientific research, and somewhat ineptly, the near economic collapse of the financial world in 2007.

LHC MAP SHOWING CERN SITE — “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” inspires one to visit the site, near Geneva, Switzerland. Randall’s description is of a 17 mile tunnel that is the coldest and largest vacuum on earth, capable of hurtling particles near the speed of light to collide neutrons that are meant to separate into constituent parts.

Randall’s information about LHC inspires one to visit the site, near Geneva, Switzerland. Her description is of a 17 mile tunnel that is the coldest and largest vacuum on earth, capable of hurtling particles near the speed of light to collide neutrons that are meant to separate into constituent parts. The idea of such a creation challenges one’s understanding; its reality is remarkable. How is it possible to control a neutron? What is the point of causing neutron collisions? Why should anyone care about particles of matter that cannot be seen?

Randall, as a physicist, does a fairly good job of answering those questions for a non-scientist. Neutrons are a chosen accelerator particle because they are divisible. Neutron control is exercised by magnets around an elliptical tunnel that contain accelerating neutrons within a super cooled vacuum that pushes and pulls neutrons to keep them in line.

Neutrons are particles made up of smaller elements, scientifically confirmed through repeated experiments. The makeup of a neutron was found by forcing collisions between neutrons that broke into separate elements. However, not all parts of a neutron have been experimentally identified. Einstein’s balance between energy and mass multiplied by the speed of light squared shows an imbalance between known elements of a neutron and a neutron’s mass/energy equivalence. The imbalance may be the Higgs-boson particle.

This is where the picture gets a little fuzzy for the dim-witted (meaning this reviewer). The Higgs-boson particle is sometimes called the God particle. It is surmised to be the glue or medium of mass in the universe; i.e. the key to dark matter and energy that make up 75% of the known universe.

The consequence of finding Higgs-boson is unknown which is the bête noire of pure science. Scientists seek to know for the sake of knowledge; not necessarily for its practical consequence. Is it important? Was Einstein’s pure science important? Hiroshima and Nagasaki answer that query.

As is well-known, Higgs-boson has been discovered. HIGGS-BOSON DISCOVERY

A quibble one may have with Randall’s book is that she digresses into derivative finance to suggest that more scientific analysis would obviate the kind of financial disaster that occurred in 2007. She suggests that proper analysis of the risk of derivatives would have stopped the madness. The naivete of that argument is that there were only a few that saw the collapse coming. Scientific analysis only convinces some. The history of politics, ignorance, and power are shown to have more influence than science or rational thinking.

TRUMP AND CLIMATE CHANGE — The President of the United States believes he is acting rationally by ignoring science and deregulating industries believed to be huge contributors to global warming.

How different is expert analysis from the scientific community on global warming. Scientific analysis misses part of what makes human’s human; i.e. minds can know something and still act irrationally; not to mention, rationality is often in the mind of the beholder. The President of the United States believes he is acting rationally by ignoring science and deregulating industries believed to be huge contributors to global warming. Randal admits as much in writing about beauty and truth and clearly notes that they are not necessarily equivalent because of human subjectivity.

Randall convinces one of the formidableness of LHC and the potential of its contribution to science. America may have missed a chance to be a leader rather than follower of one of the great contributions to science, the Large Hadron Collider.

KNOWING NOTHING

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

Thinking Fast and Slow

By Daniel Kahneman

Narrated by Patrick Egan

There are certain knowns that are known and certain knowns that are unknown. Well, I know I know nothing and Kahneman seems to prove it. Every chapter of Kahneman’s book suggests something one finds hard to believe is true.

Daniel Kahneman is a renowned psychologist and Nobel laureate. He is an American citizen that served in the Israeli military and used his education, research, and experience to write “Thinking Fast and Slow”. His observations explore many aspects of human decision-making.

How one runs their business or lives their life is framed by how they think. Kahneman explores two fundamental ways of thinking that reveal human strengths and weaknesses. “Thinking Fast…” is intuitive and easy. It is prejudiced by personal life experience and education. It is activated through an evolved instinct that forms the basis for snap decisions. In contrast, “…Thinking Slow” is a deliberative, calculating, and mind-numbing way of making rational decisions. Kahneman calls these mental functions System 1 and System 2 respectively.

“…Thinking Slow” is undoubtedly prejudiced by Kahneman’s scientific interpretation of “human thought and action”’ but judgment of his observations is the responsibility of the reader or listener; so, caveat emptor.

The more common decision-making tendency of the brain is to use System 1 rather than System 2 when making decisions because it is easier and because, as Kahneman notes, behavioral studies and brain imaging show human brains are lazy (not inclined to use System 2’ thinking because it is more laborious than System 1).

System 1 often leads humans to make incorrect intuitive decisions. System 2 potentially improves probability of making better, or at least more rational, decisions. However, System 1 is important to life and death decisions that require instantaneous action. System 2 requires one to consider options before settling on an action. A current example is the dilemma of choice in regard to social media. Fighting hardly seems logical based on the direction of technology. Flight seems equally illogical for the same reason.

FIGHT, FLIGHT, LIGHT — System 1 is important to life and death decisions that require instantaneous action. System 2 requires one to consider options before settling on an action.

FIREMAN NARROWLY ESACAPES FLOOR COLLAPSE — FIREMAN NARROWLY ESCAPES FLOOR COLLAPSE ( Using System 1 thinking the fire commander tells his team to get out of a burning house because his mind subconsciously gathers experiential information telling him the floor is about to collapse.)

Kahneman gives a more concrete example with an experienced fire commander. Using System 1 thinking the fire commander tells his team to get out of a burning house because his mind subconsciously gathers experiential information telling him the floor is about to collapse. The fire commander’s system 1 thinking saved his team’s lives.

Kahneman contrasts the value of System 2 thinking by exploring System 1’s habit of unconsciously bench-marking manufactured product pricing to seduce consumers to buy at higher prices; i.e. if a product is priced high, System 1 thinking is willing to pay a higher price.

Attention — The “halo” effect caused by System 1’ thinking gives too much weight to a one time “good” interview evaluation of an employee candidate.

Another observation is that employee interviews are often detrimental to the selection of the best job candidate. Kahneman describes the “halo” effect caused by System 1’ thinking that gives too much weight to a one time “good” interview evaluation of an employee candidate. To protect from the “halo” effect, Kahneman suggests that interview questions be structured and an employment process be standardized to give more objective criteria for choosing the best employment candidate. In other words, design an employee selection process based on clearly defined job requirements that are equally measured and fairly weighted for each candidate. Employer hiring solely based on a candidate’s interview is not a good determinant of employee performance.

This brief review is a single drip of sweat in a twenty hour work out. Kahneman undoubtedly exaggerates the import of some scientific studies but his writing engages System 2 thinking. A System 2 person will want to listen to “Thinking Fast and Slow” more than once.

MENTAL DETERIORATION

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough
(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

The Other Brain
By R. Douglas Fields Narrated by Victor Bevine

As we grow older, our physical and mental abilities deteriorate. Knowing that decline is the nature of life, the older one becomes, the more grasping one is for new ideas that mitigate life’s inevitable degradation.

R. DOUGLAS FIELDS (AUTHOR PhD IN NEUROSCIENCE) — R. DOUGLAS FIELDS (AUTHOR Ph.D. IN NEUROSCIENCE)

“The Other Brain”, written by Dr. Douglas Fields (a department head at the National Institute of Health and adjunct Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Maryland) is an expert in the field of cognitive science, i.e., the exploration of how minds work.

DR. THOMAS HARVEY (the pathologist that stole Einstein’s brain and kept it for some twenty years before telling anyone he had it.)

Fields begins with a story of when he is a ten-year old boy requesting a brain to dissect to see how it works. He moves on to tell the story of the pathologist that stole Einstein’s brain and kept it for some twenty years before telling anyone he had it. Einstein’s brain is eventually analyzed to see if there was a physical difference in Einstein’s brain that allowed him to see what others could not.

With this opening, Fields begins an exploration of the brain and how it functions. What he reveals is that Einstein’s brain was different but not because it was any bigger nor had more neurons but that it had more glia cells than the average brain. Until glia cell discoveries were made, the consensus of scientists was that neurological function was singularly based on an electrical impulse, i.e., an impulse transmitted to the brain through neurons via axons and dendrites to command thought and action.

With careful examination of glia cells, scientists found that there is what Fields calls a “second brain”. Glia cells are different from neurons. They do not use the axons and dendrites that transmit electrical pulses to compel performance. Glia cells use a chemical interaction within and between glia that create stimulus and response. The significance of the discovery of glia cells as a chemical alternative to electrical impulse suggests motor and mental function may be improved by other means.

SPINAL CORD INJURY — This discovery OF GLIA cells potentially offers alternative ways of treating spinal cord injuries and mental in-capacities caused by diseases that interfere with the neuronal circuits of the brain.

This discovery means that the study of a “second brain” may offer alternative ways of treating spinal cord injuries and mental in-capacities caused by diseases that interfere with the neuronal circuits of the brain. Further, it may offer treatment alternatives for patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, a growing and feared neurological dysfunction.

Fields explores several glia related cells and their positive and negative functions in the neurological system. It is not a panacea for cure of neurologically impaired patients or aging brains because experiments show glia cells are both curative and destructive in their effect on the neurological system. However, a second brain does open a new field of opportunity for cure. Maybe young brains can be re-booted and old brains rehabilitated.

Dementia gives no comfort to one who is older and have a fear of Alzheimer’s and its consequence for others. Others, who are left to care for the stricken.

PARADIGM SHIFT

Audio-book Review
By Chet Yarbrough

(Blog:awalkingdelight)
Website: chetyarbrough.blog

Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills

Recorded by: Professor Steven Novella

Produced by: The Great Courses

STEVEN NOVELLA (AMERICAN CLINICAL NEUROLOGIST, ASST. PROFESSOR AT YALE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE)

“Your Deceptive Mind” offers lessons for two paradigm shifts occurring in America today. One is gun control; the other is sex discrimination. Professor Steven Novella’s lessons apply to other important issues, but none seem to have the same political momentum for change.

Novella begins by inferring we all deceive ourselves. Novella explains it is caused by the nature of human consciousness. Novella argues that human brains are designed to make coherent sense of remembered experience; not to necessarily recount accurate details of events. We often add facts and change details to improve coherence of our memories.

Memory does not work like a film clip. It is not caste on celluloid that can be replayed as a memory. Memory is re-invented by reconstruction of facts to fit a story that makes sense to the person who remembers.

AR-15 (Type of semi-automatic rifle used in Florida High School shooting.)

As of April 15, 2021 there have been 148 people murdered and 485 injured in mass shootings. The most recent is at the Indianapolis FedEx facility that killed eight people. One is reminded of William Butler Yeats:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

The 17-people murdered in a Florida high school in 2018 raises the issue of gun control in America one more time. Americans see this incident from three views. One, from the perspective of people who heard it on the news; two from the perspective of people who responded to the event; and three from the perspective of victims. Based on Novella’s assessment of critical thinking, all three views distort reality.

The 17-people murdered in a Florida high school 2018 raised the issue of gun control in America one more time.

JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION – Memory does not work like a film clip. It is not caste on celluloid that can be replayed as a memory. Memory is re-invented by reconstruction of facts to fit a story that makes sense to the person who remembers.

Novella tells a story of a woman accompanying the John F. Kennedy trip to Dallas, Texas. Soon after Kennedy’s death, she explains that she did not see anything that happened. As the years pass, she recalls seeing smoke from a grassy knoll near the shooting. Novella explains that each time she tells the story more details are revealed. No evidence is ever found to suggest a shot is fired from anywhere but the Dallas, Texas book-depository. What she is doing is creating facts to improve the coherence of a memory.

Facts of Florida’s murders and other gun-related incidents are remembered differently. All who heard of, responded to, or are victimized by guns tell different stories. There is no singular consensus on what caused it to happen, who is responsible, or what can be done. Facts seem not to matter. In Florida, seventeen human beings are dead. One person killed them. One automatic weapon is used by a troubled high school student who used a gun designed ONLY to kill people.

Victims of the school shooting ask why America cannot protect their children. A flood of responses is given but each person at the school is influenced by a subjective recollection of events. In many cases, facts are ignored because they do not fit the narrative of the person telling his/her story. It has little to do with facts; i.e. except as those facts fit the re-created memory of a horrific event. Like the woman seeing smoke coming from a grassy knoll, some facts just fit a reconstructed story; not the truth.

Critical thinking skills mean addressing facts, using those facts to create a constructive analysis, a plan of action, and implementation. Seventeen people are dead in Florida from one shooter. They are dead at the hand of a troubled teen. The weapon used is only designed to kill people. Everything else is irrelevant. Those are the facts. That is the truth. What is needed now is constructive analysis, a plan of action, and implementation.

As far back as the oldest laws of government written by a Sumerian King in 2,050 BC, women have been singled out with human rights’ violations.

The same can be said of sex discrimination. An example is the King’s law that particularly applies to women who speak insolently. They are to have their mouths scoured with salt; i.e. a law applying only to women slaves. Of course, the law begs the question of why women are slaves.

Novella’s argument that every memory is a subjective recollection may mean testimony of women who are abused and/or discriminated against are misreading the facts of their recollection. However, many facts are independent of recollection.

There is overwhelming evidence; i.e. fact-based films, recordings, physical examination records, and statistical studies that show women are abused and discriminated against all over the world. Those are the facts. That is the truth. What is needed is constructive analysis, a plan of action, and implementation.

Gun control and women’s rights: Has America reached the tipping point for acting on critical thinking? Have we finally reached the threshold for a paradigm shift in gun control and women’s rights? Doubtful.

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