Living in a Quantum World.The June cover of Scientific American really caught my eye. It seems that for a while now, physicists have been saying yes, quantum mechanics exists, but it only applies to a category of small things, very small things. However, the author of this article, along with a growing chorus of other physicists, says it looks like quantum mechanics applies to bigger things too.
So what?
The author, Vlatko Vedral, writes, “In a quantum world, a particle does not just have to take one path at one time; it can take all of them simultaneously.” All of them, at the same time. Imagine if you or I could take various paths simultaneously. That would really break our concepts of space and time. My understanding is that sometimes physicists refer to this as non-locality, or perhaps, infinity. Continue reading →
Some scientists are digging into a fascinating question – why do sugar pills have an effect?
In a blog network that highlights diverse perspectives on science and medicine, Steve Silberman wrote an interesting piece called Meet the Ethical Placebo: A Story that Heals. He discusses a study showing that some patients who take sugar pills, even when they are told they are taking sugar pills, get better.
Some of these scientists have decided that this effect should be studied, instead of just being thought of as a “statistical distraction,” as many pharmaceutical companies may have considered them. Continue reading →
Like many people, I’ve been so thrilled to hear the good news about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ recovery. What a wonderful turn of events out of such a tragedy in Tuscon several weeks ago.
MSNBC has a clip of Dr. Michael Lemole, Giffords’ chief neurosurgeon in Tuscon, saying, “Miracles happen every day. And in medicine we like to very much attribute them to either what we do or others do around us, but a lot of medicine is outside of our control and we’re wise to acknowledge miracles.”
Can 25 big ideas change the world? Sure. Even implementing one would change it.
Recently the Christian Science Monitor published a piece called Ideas for a better world in 2011, which contains ideas from 25 thinkers – professors and policy makers, entrepreneurs and scientists, you name it. And what would it take to implement some of their ideas? Rational, deep thinking. Prayer. It’s striking how many of the ideas have to do with changing our outlook, and loving our neighbor better. We can do this. Continue reading →
Recently a poster stopped me in my tracks in a crowed airport. It contained an image of a poor woman in a developing country with the words “I am powerful.”
Yes, she is, I thought.
The world might tend to think that this same person could be one of the least powerful people around. But what gives her power?
Is it education? Money? Fame? Well, those things can certainly help, but it’s really ideas that enable her to make a powerful difference.
In “Walking away from church,” Robert Putnam and David Campbell dig into underlying reasons for growth of young “nones” — people who indicate that they have no religious affiliation. According to a national survey called Faith Matters, young people today increasingly associate religion with political conservatism, and conclude that religion is therefore not for them.
So what impact might this news flash have? Well, for one, it sounds like a wake up call regarding the combination of church and politics. Young people are taking the lead in pointing this out, by not walking in to churches, many of which may have very differing political views from their own. The survey indicated that young people tend to see religion as “intolerant, hypocritical, judgmental and homophobic.” I think that gives those of us involved in religion some good food for thought. Continue reading →
Hi reader, I hope to share some interesting news items , and I hope you enjoy them. I will likely share my personal perspective as someone who practices Christian Science, and occasionally my posts may be reposted on a blog on christianscience.com, since that’s part of my job. I’ll love to hear your feedback and engage in meaningful dialogue, if that’s possible in this format.
