Electric arguments

Brian Koberlein, the physicist with a most amazing humility and clarity in his expositions, at this link to his website  examines the claims of an alternate model which apparently is popular among some quite intelligent folk.

I post this because it made me think about the kind of minds that would originate a theory like the Electric Universe. A hallmark to me, in this EU alternative to the picture painted by modern physics, is that it seems to be based on a view of the mind which says I can understand everything and complexity is obfuscation. On the one hand this is an admirable approch, and explains the progress of modern science: the human mind is capable of comprehending the world of which it is a part. The implication that the measure of the world is the measure of my own mind, however, means we may see a collapses into egoism. Of course it is comforting to think that the ordinary binary mind is the best measurer of our world. Scientists, kooks, and EU proponents all crave this plank. But the ability to teeter on the plank of rational thought, to reach higher, see farther, to risk even, falling off the plank, adds bravery to the mix of what it takes to apprehend an edge between knowledge and mystery, along with a determination to press on, regardless of consequences, The fine minds have this to some degree.  Koberlein, in listening to an alternate theory, is a good example.

My notes here, towards what may be called an anthropology of the human mind, point toward a love of complexity as a distinguishing factor for true pioneers. I suspect, and wonder, if mathematicians might not fall into this category. I know it is a broader category than even scientists imagine. 

A Charming Example

Chad Orzel . a science blogger, wrote recently these sensible words:

“Science Is Never Over,” ... there are a nearly infinite number of phenomena that you can investigate scientifically. The universe is a never-ending source of amazement and wonder, with surprisingly rich dynamics in the simplest of things. I mean, look at the thousands of words I’ve gotten out of talking about sticky tape."

This approach could take you far, I almost put this note in the american mysticism blog. What interested me is the evidence here of a certain stance: there is always the manageable spigot. Notice the word "nearly." What the heck does that mean. If you were getting near counting finits, you could characterize that point somehow, and yet he cannot, and one has to wonder if that 'nearly infinite' is not some deflection of a rigorous pursuit of the logic, or the evidence. He gets his infinites, notoriously hard to corral, and yet can twist the faucet whenever he gets panicky.  He gets to look out the plane window -- to change the metaphor mid altitude-- and know he won't have to use the parachute.

"A nearly infinite number' puts the reality of change in a squarely nouny [static] context. That spigot is binary thought, two options. To make sure, the mind, does not get overwhelmed by --- reality.

How true his words though---...[There is] an infinite number of phenomena that you can investigate scientifically. The universe is a never-ending source of amazement and wonder,

What's the topic again?

The headline says a lot, a lot more than it delivers, but that is the nature of headlines: A tiny part of the most low level memory is what they are mentioning.

Breakthrough allows scientists to watch how molecules morph into memories

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-01-breakthrough-scientists-molecules-morph-memories.html#nwlt

Wormholes and Quantum Entanglement

Is quantum entanglement the result of standard space-time wormholes?? John Baez thinks it is worth considering:

http://golem.ph.utexas.edu/category/2014/01/wormholes_and_entanglement.html

If we posit an ultimately physical nature for all reality, consciousness, and the whole chirping business, this might be a nice model of how that would work. What natural scientists don't grasp is that there is nothing contradictory between the material and the mystical. Not if you soldier on in your theorizing.

Veering towards reality

How birds fly in a V formation --

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/01/15/birds-that-fly-in-a-v-formation-use-an-amazing-trick/

Notice the big questions are unanswered, like how the birds manage to stay in tune.

Atomic level details still a mystery

This is a description of an article, behind a pay wall at a magazine named: Nature Structural & Molecular BiologyA molecular motor finds its track pp920 - 921
Jared C Cochran and F Jon Kull
doi:10.1038/nsmb.2644
The detailed mechanism by which the molecular motors kinesin and
myosin travel along their respective protein tracks as they generate
force during motile processes is still poorly understood. In a recent
breakthrough, a crystal structure of kinesin in complex with tubulin
illuminates the atomic-level details of a motor-track interaction,
answering many questions yet leaving a number of mysteries unresolved.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=37&ms=NDIyMzkwMDkS1&r=MTc2OTgwNzA4NAS2&b=2&j=MTk3NDk3ODEwS0&mt=1&rt=0

Rip and click

Science finds:

- If you can remember it, you can remember it wrong