Two researchers have revised the Drake equation, a mathematical formula for the probability of finding life or advanced civilizations in the universe. University of Rochester. Are We Alone in the Universe? Revisiting the Drake Equation, NASA Topics: Astrobiology, Astrophysics, Artificial Intelligence, Civilization, SETI See: Britannica.com/The-Fermi-Paradox/Where-Are-All-The-Aliens AbstractThis study examines the hypothesis that the rapid development ofContinue reading “AI and the Great Filter…”
Category Archives: Civilization
Seventy Years Ago…
Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Existentialism, Fascism, History “On **May 17, 1954**, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren delivered the unanimous ruling in the landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. State-sanctioned segregation of public schools was a violation of the 14th Amendment and was, therefore, unconstitutional. This historic decisionContinue reading “Seventy Years Ago…”
Communal…
Topics: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Carl Sagan, Civilization, Existentialism, Star Wars, Star Trek, STEM Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969) was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, and Armstrong became the first person to step onto the Moon’s surface six hours and 39 minutes later, onContinue reading “Communal…”
Avatars and Horses…
The Greek Myth of Odysseus and the Trojan Horse, Greek Boston Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Democracy, Existentialism, Fascism Avatar (n) – an electronic image (as in a video game) that represents and may be manipulated by a computer user; the incarnation of a Hindu deity (such as Vishnu); an incarnation in human form; an embodiment (asContinue reading “Avatars and Horses…”
Science, or Spectacle…
Avi Loeb, a Harvard University astrophysicist, displays a small vial of material recovered from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. The material, Loeb says, includes fragments of a meteorite that he claims came from another star system—and perhaps even from an alien spacecraft. Credit: Anibal Martel/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Topics: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Civilization, Cosmology,Continue reading “Science, or Spectacle…”
It’s On Us…
― Gaylord Nelson, former Republican Governor and Senator of Wisconsin, Founder of Earth Day, April 20, 1970, which led to the formation of the U.S. EPA, December 2, 1970. Image: Nelson Institute of Environmental Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Democracy, Existentialism, Fascism Robert Mueller was the subject of Internet memesContinue reading “It’s On Us…”
Origin…
Image source: Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures – Isabel Wilkerson, Livestream (2022) Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Existentialism, Fascism “While I was at the hotel today, an elderly gentleman called upon me to know whether I was really in favor of producing a perfect equality between the negroes and white people. [Great Laughter.] WhileContinue reading “Origin…”
Brookhaven and Fake News
Climate of fear Anti-science protestors led to the closure of the High Flux Beam Reactor at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in the US 25 years ago using tactics that are widespread today. (Courtesy: iStock/DanielVilleneuve) Topics: Biology, Cancer, Carl Sagan, Civilization, Climate Change, Philosophy, Physics I typically don’t comment on articles, but this one resonated with myContinue reading “Brookhaven and Fake News”
Bedlam, Swatting, Terrorism…
Image source: CSO online – Swatting Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Existentialism, Fascism, Star Trek Bedlam is a scene of madness, chaos, or great confusion. The term bedlam comes from the name of a hospital in London, “Saint Mary of Bethlehem,” which was devoted to treating the mentally ill in the 1400s. Over time, the pronunciation ofContinue reading “Bedlam, Swatting, Terrorism…”
Curated, Created Realities…
Image source: Facebook meme Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Democracy, Existentialism, Fascism What is lost in the above Facebook meme: 5:00 – 5:30 pm was typically your local news. 6:00 – 6:30 pm, before “Bewitched,” was your international news, the Walter Cronkites, Mike Wallaces, and Harry Reasoner’s time to scare the living crapContinue reading “Curated, Created Realities…”
Physics and Nano 