About a century ago, a fundamental problem emerged in physics: quantum mechanics and general relativity both produced highly accurate predictions, yet the two theories were mathematically incompatible. This sparked the ongoing search for a "theory of everything"—a framework that unifies gravity with the other fundamental forces of nature.
One of the most prominent approaches has been string theory, a mathematically sophisticated model that proposes the existence of tiny, vibrating strings as the basic building blocks of reality. String theory also predicts the existence of extra spatial dimensions. However, so far there is no experimental evidence to confirm it, and attempts to test its predictions have not been successful.
Because much of scientific research is supported by government funding, researchers are often under pressure to publish results regularly. This can encourage the production of work—whether or not it ultimately provides strong evidence or practical progress—since publishing is essential to sustaining an academic career.
These oils—which include canola, grapeseed, sunflower, and soy—are extracted from the seeds of plants. Critics say that their high levels of omega-6 fats raise inflammation in the body and that consuming them can lead to cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other illnesses.
But the scientific evidence doesn't support that. "In dozens of studies looking at omega-6s and inflammation, I haven't seen one that shows an inflammatory effect, and roughly half of studies are showing anti-inflammatory effects," Willett says. For example, a 2019 review of 30 studies, published in the journal Circulation, found that people with the highest blood levels of a type of omega-6 fat called linoleic acid had a 7 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly because linoleic acid reduces inflammation. Plus, Willett says, we've known for decades that these oils also cut LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, and a higher intake of them has contributed significantly to the large decline in deaths from heart disease in the U.S."
@john2001plus 0 seconds ago The problem is that many devices, like remote controls, use AAA batteries that have a third of the power and cost as much. Some of these devices could have easily used the more powerful AA batteries.
According to the most recent data publicized by the CDC, more than 1.2 million Americans had died from COVID as of Aug. 23. Numerous independent studies have found COVID vaccinations saved millions of lives in the United States and millions more around the world. More than 3.2 million American lives were saved from the first two years of COVID vaccinations, according to researchers in one study from the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund...
Kennedy blamed "dismal" data from the Biden administration for lacking clear answers about COVID, accusing the CDC under former President Joe Biden of "firing all the people who questioned the orthodoxy."
In another tense exchange with Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Kennedy said he agreed with comments from Dr. Retsef Levi, one of his handpicked appointments to a vaccine advisory panel, critical of the mRNA vaccine. Bennet singled out Levi previously saying mRNA vaccines "cause serious harm, including death, especially among young people."
"I wasn't aware he said it, but I agree with it," Kennedy said.
I saw the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a potential problem. He appeared to be a conspiracy theorist, and likely would not be impartial in his judgement.
Now, if only the rescuers knew you are inside a metal coffin buried in the building debris. Then again the building may catch fire and you will literally be baked upon being discovered. It's a unique idea, possibly life saving, except for the "what ifs" of earthquakes.
The only earthquake I experienced was around 1987 in southern Indiana. It was mild, and earthquakes aren't a major risk in Indiana.
In Utah, there were reports of mild tremors, but none that affected me. The Wasatch mountain range follows a fault line that experts predict could cause a major earthquake someday.
I'm more concerned about tornadoes. We live in Tornado Alley. After moving to New Whiteland, Indiana, I saw what looked like a funnel cloud in Greenwood, and then the news reported a tornado hitting Greenwood. Year later, after I moved to Columbus, Whiteland was hit by a tornado.
Bartholomew County, where I live now, had three tornado warnings this spring, though none of them hit the city. About three years ago, a tornado-related windstorm knocked down trees all over the city, including trees across the street from me. At the time, I thought my house was being hit by a tornado, but the actual funnel touched down on the west side of the county.
My sister's house was hit by a tornado.
When I was living in Columbus in 1974, a tornado struck the city and caused moderate damage. It destroyed one of my favorite restaurants. I was 14 years old at the time.
In the late 1980s, while living in Scott County, Indiana, I was relatively close to a tornado that hit Austin.
Back in 1999, there was a very rare summer tornado that struck downtown Salt Lake City. I lived near downtown, but I worked farther away in Sandy, Utah, where the storm only brought hail.
I've been saying for decades that we live on top of a massive ball of molten iron. About 84% of the Earth's volume is molten. I've argued that there is no shortage of energy, only that some forms of energy are more difficult to access.
Basically I agree, but I don't understand your comment on switching from coal to natural gas. Natural gas is very clean, but it still produces CO2, just not all the particulates. I think electricity production in Utah is almost entirely from coal fired plants, and coal reserves are projected to last about 1,000 years.
According to Google AI:
Natural gas produces less CO2 than other fossil fuels because it has a higher proportion of hydrogen relative to carbon. When burned, the hydrogen in natural gas combines with oxygen to form water (H2O), while the carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO2). Since natural gas has more hydrogen and less carbon, it produces less CO2 per unit of energy compared to fuels like coal or oil.
The temperature data, which shows a very slow warming partly caused by human activity, has led me to believe that we are not in a climate crisis. It has taken 140 years for the average global atmospheric temperature to rise by 1 degree Celsius, and this follows the end of the Little Ice Age and the 1880s—one of the coldest periods in United States history that killed hundreds of Americans. Many more people die from cold than they do from heat.
My view is reinforced by what I see as questionable behavior from Climate Alarmists and the IPCC. Politicians and alarmists have created a moral hazard in which scientists risk losing funding if they do not support the official narrative. The IPCC reportedly refuses to hire anyone who does not already believe in catastrophic man-made warming, and the infamous email leak suggested they were trying to "hide the decline"—concealing that tree ring proxies used for reconstructing past temperatures were unreliable compared with recent data. People have quit the IPCC claiming that it is corrupt. One person claimed that the real goal of the IPCC was to do away with free market capitalism.
By the mid-2010s, it was evident that climate computer model predictions were running far too hot. This led to shifting target temperatures. Around 2010, I watched videos warning that by the year 2100, we were on track for a 3°C increase—considered dangerous—but that limiting the rise to 2°C would be manageable. Only a few years later, the claim shifted: we were supposedly on track for a 2°C rise—now deemed dangerous—and that limiting it to 1.5°C would be manageable. I remain unconvinced that half a degree would make a significant difference.
To me, climate alarmism appears to be driven more by politics than by reliable science. There has been a political shift where fewer people are taking it seriously. Reportedly, climate policy has cost trillions of dollars, so I think that this is the greatest scam in human history.
However, there are simply too many unknown variables. Most of the debate centers on the amount of positive feedback to warming. But since feedbacks can be both positive and negative, and since these processes are not fully understood, it is difficult to make reliable long-term predictions. The current major point of contention is cloud cover. Skeptics argue that increasing cloud cover would produce a net negative feedback—seemingly common sense—while the IPCC claims the opposite.
Although the United States has reduced its CO₂ emissions, largely by switching from coal to natural gas, China has tripled its emissions through massive coal plant construction. While China has paid lip service to fighting climate change, its actions suggest that they don't care.
It is also worth noting that we may run out of most fossil fuels by the year 2100. Current estimates suggest 40–50 years of oil reserves remain. Reportedly, the United States has a very large shale oil reserve that could last the United States 300 years, but most of it is so difficult to mine that it would cost $10 per gallon at the pump.
Coal will last the longest, so we may eventually be forced to burn more of it.
@john2001plus 2 years ago I disagree. Evolution seems to occur in spurts, often due to changes in the environment. There would have been a transition, but one that was relatively sudden.
I have heard that cancer cells are weaker than normal cells because of their constant replication. This makes them easier to kill, yet we still have not cured cancer. I believe it is likely that a cure could be found in my lifetime.
I have always been skeptical of quantum computing. Some of the claims made about it don't seem to make sense, such as suggestions that quantum computers access physical dimensions we cannot see. Others even claim they do not fully understand how their quantum computers work.
I am sure quantum computing works to some degree, but there are practical limitations. The number of qubits that can be packed into a small space will likely always be restricted. Furthermore, many systems require cooling their circuits to near absolute zero, making them impractical for widespread use.
Annual global climate finance flows reached almost $1.3 trillion in 2021/2022, doubling from 2019/2020 levels. However, this represents only about 1% of global GDP, and experts estimate that much larger investments are needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
"Jordan Peterson continues to follow a carnivore diet, specifically a restricted version focusing on beef, salt, and water.He and his daughter, Mikhaila, have both spoken publicly about their experiences with this diet, citing improvements in various health issues like autoimmune conditions, depression, and sleep problems.
More Details:
Lion Diet:
Peterson and his daughter follow a strict carnivore diet called the "lion diet," which limits their food intake to only beef, salt, and water.
Rationale:
They believe this diet, which eliminates all other foods, can help with autoimmune conditions, mental health issues, and other health problems.
Impact on Peterson:
Peterson has reported experiencing positive impacts, such as reduced inflammation, improved gum health, and increased strength, since adopting the diet.
Controversy and Concerns:
The diet has faced criticism and concern from some experts, who point to potential health risks like nutrient deficiencies and the difficulty of maintaining such a restrictive diet long-term.
No Recommendation for Others:
While Peterson and his daughter have shared their experiences, they have also emphasized that they don't recommend this diet for everyone."
My problem with the video is that it doesn't present any evidence that carbohydrates are harmful. He refers to it as a "glucose diet," but our bodies, especially our brains, run on glucose as a source of energy.
It's important to distinguish between glucose (which comes from starches) and sucrose (table sugar). There is overwhelming evidence that sugar is harmful to our health, but this doesn't apply in the same way to all carbohydrates.
When it comes to poor health, we could blame diet, excess weight, or a combination of the two. People gain weight because they consume more calories than they burn. Eating too many carbohydrates can contribute to this, but that doesn't mean we should eliminate them entirely.
I've also seen a number of videos claiming that humans are carnivores. That's simply not accurate. Only a few species are obligate carnivores that can survive on meat alone. Humans are omnivores; we have teeth and digestive systems adapted to a varied diet.
"Earth normally takes 24 hours, or exactly 86,400 seconds, to complete one full rotation, which is called a solar day."
A solar day is different from one complete rotation. A solar day is the time that elapses from high noon to high noon. But in a day, the Earth moves about 1 degree around the sun. That means that high noon is about 1 degree different from one day to the next.
If we measure by the stars, a full rotation, called a sidereal day, takes 23 hours and 56 minutes.
@john2001plus 0 seconds ago Very few people deny that global warming is happening. The real debate is about how much it's occurring, how fast, and whether it's more dangerous than denying people access to affordable energy. Alarmists often ignore the potential benefits of CO2, moderate warming, and cheap, reliable energy.
I'm not a climate change skeptic; I'm a climate alarmism skeptic. Labeling people as "global warming deniers" or "climate skeptics" creates a straw man argument. The much-cited 97% consensus refers to relatively uncontroversial claims—that the Earth is warming and that human activity contributes to it. That's a far cry from a consensus on whether climate change is catastrophic or whether governments should take control of the energy sector.
@john2001plus 1 minute ago To be a valid theory, Relativity would have to be able to define the 4D shape of space-time. Does the theory do this, or does it just assume that space-time is curved?
My problem with "space-time" is that it equates and combines two things that are not the same at all. It assumes that the progress of time is like physical motion through space. People say that we are moving through space-time at the speed of light.
Time is the interval between sequential events. It is not a distance we travel.
Since we know that there is a cosmic speed limit, time dilation is a physical consequence of approaching that speed limit.
There is much explained by Relativity. Could there be another model that doesn't involve the concept of "space-time"? What if Gravity really is a force?
I haven't had time to research all of his recommendations, although I will try to look into them.
His first recommendation is to avoid spinach and almonds because they are high in oxalates. I had no idea what oxalates are, but here is what Google AI says about them:
For most people, oxalates found in everyday foods are not dangerous and are part of a healthy, balanced diet. However, there are certain situations where elevated oxalate levels can cause issues.
In what cases can oxalates be dangerous?
Kidney stones: Oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, are naturally occurring compounds in plants that can bind with calcium in the urine, forming calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals can develop into painful kidney stones. For individuals prone to kidney stones or with a family history of them, a doctor may recommend a low-oxalate diet to reduce their risk.
Oxalosis: In severe cases of high oxalate levels, a condition called oxalosis can develop, where oxalate builds up in organs and tissues throughout the body, potentially damaging bones, blood vessels, eyes, and even the heart. This can happen if kidneys aren't effectively removing oxalate from the blood due to primary or enteric hyperoxaluria.
Impaired nutrient absorption: Oxalates can bind with minerals like calcium and magnesium in the gut, reducing their absorption. However, this is usually not a significant concern for most people who consume a varied diet with adequate calcium intake.
Specific health conditions: Individuals with certain conditions like primary hyperoxaluria (a rare genetic disorder), enteric hyperoxaluria (due to certain intestinal problems), or those who have had weight-loss surgery may need to monitor their oxalate intake more closely as they are at a higher risk of hyperoxaluria and related complications.
What are symptoms of high oxalates?
Symptoms of high oxalate levels (hyperoxaluria) or oxalate sensitivity can vary, but may include:
Kidney stones: Symptoms like sharp pain in the back, side, lower belly or groin, blood in the urine, painful urination, and frequent urge to urinate.
Joint pain and inflammation: Oxalate crystals can deposit in joints, leading to swelling, pain, and stiffness.
Digestive issues: Abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.
Neurological symptoms: Tingling or numbness, muscle weakness, and in rare cases, seizures or difficulty with coordination.
Eye and skin issues: Burning or itching in the eyes, redness, sensitivity to light, and potentially skin rashes or crystals on the skin.
What to do if you suspect you have high oxalates?
If you are concerned about your oxalate levels or have any of the associated symptoms, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider. They can perform necessary tests, like a 24-hour urine collection, to determine if you have hyperoxaluria and recommend appropriate dietary or medical interventions.
In summary, while oxalates can pose health risks in certain individuals, they are generally not dangerous for the majority of people when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
Foods high in oxalates include spinach, rhubarb, almonds, beets, and certain soy products. Other foods with high oxalate content include Swiss chard,star fruit,cocoa,bran cereals, and some nuts and seeds.
Cocoa, chocolate, and some beverages like black tea and soy milk are also sources of oxalates.
Important Considerations:
Moderation is key:
While some foods are high in oxalates, it's not necessary to eliminate them entirely from your diet. A guide from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests that careful planning and balanced portion sizes can allow you to enjoy these foods.
Individual needs:
The impact of oxalates can vary depending on individual factors, such as kidney health. Consult with a doctor or dietitian for personalized dietary recommendations.
Calcium intake:
Increasing calcium intake, particularly from dairy products, can help bind to oxalates in the digestive system, potentially reducing their absorption.
P.S. I recently read that the average cloud weighs a million pounds. Clouds are made up of water vapor, water droplets and ice crystals so small that they are like dust and can float on the wind.
I found this video very informative. I've often wondered why so many people seem to behave irrationally. I suspected that fear is a major motivator, and this video supports that idea.
By nature, I'm a cautious person. I've seen many friends, family members, coworkers, and others pass away prematurely. The world is a dangerous place.
Reportedly, an ice age in Europe led to the drying of Africa, reducing the Homo sapiens population to about 7,000 individuals living along the southern coast of Africa. However, this event marked the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic period, during which humans learned to fish, built the first permanent settlements, and invented new tools. It has been theorized that this behavioral shift was due to genetic changes, but I believe it was simply a case of necessity being the mother of invention.
When the ice age ended—roughly 50,000 years ago—these better-equipped humans gradually spread across the rest of the world.
I also heard that a climate-related disaster drastically reduced the Homo erectus population—from around one million individuals to just a few thousand—approximately 980,000 years ago.
The entire video presents a thought-provoking philosophical discussion about how scientific paradigms are challenged by facts that don't fit, until they are eventually forced to change.
6 hours ago She will eventually leave you and runaway with your refrigerator or dishwasher. "
P.S. Imagine a robot who looks like a human, talks like a human, knows absolutely everything, and wants to be your servant. It might not be that far off.
I'm not saying that this is a good thing. It will be a tool. It is another way for us to lose connection to the real world.
Robot pets might be interesting. There have been some attempts at this already.
The gains were modest but meaningful. One patient improved by two stages on the Hoehn–Yahr scale, a widely used measure of Parkinson's severity. Another saw a 50% improvement in motor function during off-medication testing.
"It is a significant achievement that we have been able to confirm improvement in patients' symptoms," said Jun Takahashi, director of Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, who is leading the research. "We hope to deliver this treatment to patients as soon as possible."
The International ISO Standard for dates is YYYY-MM-DD. I have been using this format for at least 15 years.
In the computer world, this is called "Big Endian", where the largest value numbers come first. Many computer processors use this format for numbers, although Intel and Intel-compatible processors use "Little Endian", where the least significant part of the number comes first. "Big Endian" has a small advantage because it is easier to sort records using this format.
Correlation is not causality. It could be that healthier people are more likely to engage in brief vigorous activities.
Nevertheless, short vigorous exercise is likely to be beneficial. I prefer to ride my bicycle for 25 minutes.
I found the chart confusing because the bottom histogram is the number of people who met the criteria. The top of the graph shows a curved relationship between exercise and health.
The first 6:45 minutes nails the science, but then it becomes very misleading. It is very misleading to say that CO2 would stay in the atmosphere for 400,000 years. A Google search shows a half-life of 30 to 120 years. It is misleading to say that we have already experienced devastating consequences of Climate Change. We have experienced weather that is not significantly worse than previous periods. Asking what effects you are feeling from human-caused climate change is just an appeal to irrational fear. It does not mention that cold kills more people than heat. It does not mention that we are in a brief warm period between very long periods of mass glaciations. It does not mention that we have been in the Pleistocene ice age for 2.6 million years.
There is an island controlled by India that is extremely dangerous to go to because the Stone Age residents will try to kill anyone who approaches. As a result, India forbids travel to the island.
These islanders have been living there in isolation for 30,000 years.
The number of galaxies in the observable universe is estimated to be between 100 billion and 2 trillion. This estimate is based on deep field observations and extrapolations across the sky. Some estimates place the number closer to 200 billion, while others suggest that the real number could be much higher, possibly in the trillions.
