Connecting to Universe

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Albert_Einstein

Lego

Fifty five years ago today, modern Lego bricks were patented!  Lego is from a Danish word meaning "play well".

References:

Diane Sawyer's program on ABC news today, and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego

Keep Playing!

The game is on, and the job is to solve hard scientific problems.  So, in future instead of blaming every bad incident to kids playing computer games too much, people associate scientific breakthroughs, better life quality, and technologies to it.  Instead of kids getting more violent, they may get more innovative and creative, and learn a few things! How about that? Here are some existing games, aiming to solve hard scientific problems, according to the Scientist:

http://www.the-scientist.com//?articles.view/articleNo/33843/title/Game-On/


If all goes well, there will be another one added to this list, by truly yours, maybe next year?

Stay tuned, and keep playing the game of science, discovery, and exploration!

Neanderthals

Neanderthals are now extinct species that were closely related to modern humans.  Their fossils were found in today's Europe and Asia, and they date back to a geological era referred to as Pleistocene, a period from over 2.5 million years ago to 11,700 years ago. Their name comes from Neander Valley in Germany where it was first found.  According to a publication in 2010, 1-4 percent of genome of people in Europe and Asia was contributed by Neanderthals via interbreeding.  A recent NOVA program, provides more history, science findings, and reasons as to why we might have underestimated Neanderthal's intelligence by thinking of them as our cave men cartoon characters!


References:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal
[2] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/decoding-neanderthals.html

Ebn e Sina

Ebn e Sina, or as known to westerners Avicenna, was a Persian man of knowledge and wisdom for his era.  He was born in a village close to Bukhara, in today's Uzbekistan, buried in Hamedan, Iran, and wrote his books and article, in topics ranging from astronomy to medicine,  in his era's scholarly language, Arabic.  So, today many from Uzbaks to Iranians and the Islamic world take pride in him as their own.  What I did not know and learned recently was that he is on bills of Tajikistan of all places!

Why do not  Iranians honor their scientists, scholars, and history in such ways?

Science-Fiction Tales, Today's Reality

I just saw this link that reviews impressive scientific discoveries, innovations, and events that occurred in 2012.  Some are jaw-dropping and mind blowing.  Read this for yourself and tell which one you find most impressive and unbelievable?  Or which one is your favorite?

I did not know we have found a planet, 4 times the size of Earth, made of pure diamond!  Did you? (see #19)  Or that there is a planet orbiting four stars not one! (#26) I am so happy that now there is a way for burnt victim's skin to heal and recover (see # 6 )  and a chance for blind to see again (#20)!And one day I may just get my dream house by designing it in a computer and pushing the print bottom! (# 9)

Reference:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/27-science-fictions-that-became-science-facts-in-2

New Year's Lesson

Happy New Year!  You thought I have disappeared? No, I have just had a slow start of the year for this blog, and I am catching up now.  The first lesson of the year, or the last one of last year, was actually related to how new year's eve is celebrated.  As preparations were made and having Champagne for midnight was expected, I was faced with sparkling white wine, and hence a discussion of it being or not being the same as Champagne!  Well, as it turns out, Champagne is the sparking white wine made from grapes of the Champagne region in France, and that is what makes it special because the French made this law!  So, that sparking white wine qualifies for celebrations!  Cheers!

p.s. Homework, what is the difference between Champagne and Prosecco? 

References:

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparkling_wine
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne