Saturday, November 16, 2013
Saturday, July 30, 2011
A lot of people ask me why I read so much fantasy and science fiction. Here goes an off-the-cuff, rambling answer-
I believe that humans are designed to feed off, and essentially live off, vicarious pleasure. Most humans cannot be satiated by their own experiences, which is why they build associations - with family(especially children!), friends, city, country, whatever. As our bonds with these entities external to us becomes stronger, we extract a higher percentage of our own fulfillment from their experiences. And our brain does a pretty good job filling in the gaps by using our imagination when we try to live through another person. Therefore the pleasure we derive from things like the success of sports teams and in extreme cases, with celebrity obsession.
But human experience is by definition going to be infinitesimal. Our collective knowledge is restricted to vague remembrances of our past and guesses about the future about the infinitesimal portion of space we inhabit. I cannot put in words the frustration I suffer at our collective inability to ever perceive or even know of the wonders imminent in the expanse of time and space? Doesn't everyone else experience the excruciating curiosity of how the human race ends? How is that day? What are people thinking? And what do worlds look like when that happens. And what about the rest of the bloody freaking universe? What unforgettable stories are being written in the perhaps infinite other civilizations out there?
My life is based in the most interesting universe that can be. But I am destined to experience an insignificant portion of it and have absolutely no closure in the most interesting story I know. Therefore I turn to the other numerous universes I have at my disposal. Those of imaginary worlds, described in great detail, with nuanced characters who I can almost believe exist. And worlds which actually have closure, where I know how the story ends. Of course, there is a sense of emptiness once the story does end, there is the curiosity of what is happening in that world once the story is ended, but that pales in comparison to the dissatisfied curiosity about our own universe.And I believe that everyone who believes in religion does the same - they believe in the existence of a very detailed fantasy story with idealized protagonists. And they hold that imaginary protagonist up as a torch for their own identity and by living vicariously through this "perfect" person, they make up for their own imperfections. The only trick of religion is to superimpose this imaginary universe on our real one to give people an escape route since they cannot justify basing real life actions on an imagined universe.
I don't believe in any other universe or anything that ultimately requires a leap of faith. But I don't see why their absence of existence should inhibit my enjoyment of them. In fact, by actually not existing they free my mind in ways they couldn't have if they actually existed.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Here's my next science digest post. This week was a bit slower in terms of science news stories, but still there are a few interesting ones and these ones should have impact a lot sooner than the life-changing ones of last week!
But before we get into science, here's something a little more fun, especially for LOTR fans...enjoy!
http://www.thehuntforgollum.com/
As for the science stories..
1. Telekinesis-moving objects with your mind-is here!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/22/AR2009042204036.html?hpid=topnews/
My comment- This stuff is really awesome, but on a very basic level right now. Give it ten years, and then we’ll really have a lot of mind-controlled stuff on the market.
2. Self printing of books!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/apr/24/espresso-book-machine-launches/print |
My comment-They call it the next biggest thing after the printing press, but there are numerous economic and social challenges that it has to overcome before that becomes true.
By the way, a similar idea, launched by two of my IITK seniors, can be seen here.
3. Human-computer interface that works without touching
My comment- Coming up next, IPod No-Touch!
4. Stems cells are curing diseases-right now!
http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/bio/stem-cell-therapy-today-peoples-republic
My comment- This is one technology that is coming on much faster than expected and has the potential to cure many diseases that are considered incurable just because of its unique nature. And the sooner the
5 . Chemical caterpillar
My comment- the blob is here!
6. The bulb at the edge of classical and quantum physics
7. Models that predict that swine flu will become a pandemic next week..
http://nextgenlog.blogspot.com/2009/05/algorithmschips-lab-models-swine-flus.html
My comment- I initially thought that all this hoopla about the swine-flu was just fear mongering by news media to garner more revenue, but a little bit of doubt is creeping in now. Maybe its just them getting to me. Or maybe I just trust science more than people!
8. Unmanned miniature helicopters that can sniff out drugs being used by the Dutch police!
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6277434/Dwarf-helicopter-sniffs-out-cannabis-plantations
My comment- really cool! Though this thing has the potential to raise the old big-brother-is-watching fears, I think that for better or worse, surveillance is going to be a big part of our future. And if it is, I would really like something nifty like this spying over me rather than just a big camera!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
I read so many science and news stories that is it is difficult to keep track of them. And there is no point in reading them if I don’t track them and remember them. Therefore, I decided to keep a record of all the stories that interest me. Then I thought that rather than storing them on my hard disk, its better to have them on my blog, where everyone can see the stories I liked and maybe some of them will interest you too!
I am planning to update this blog about once a week with the stories I liked. Hopefully that will be about the right duration in terms of amount of content.
Well, here goes nothing then-
1. New discovery may end transplant rejection
My comment: May be crucial for medical science, although I am sure there is a long way to go before this becomes practical
2. A Japanese company is preparing limited mass production of a cybernetic bodysuit which dramatically increases user strength up to ten times
http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/robotics/i-am-ironmanMy comment: This is just cool! I would love one of these-and they are not that expensive either!
3. Are human beings organisms or living ecosystems?
http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/the_body_politic/
My comment- Rather interesting- could explain a lot of things!
4. 1. Supercomputer for rent....
http://www.networkcomputing.in/Supercomputer-as-a-service-001Apr009.aspx
My comment-was always going to happen…
5. US grid penetrated by spieshttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB123914805204099085.html
My comment-scares the hell out of me…but isn’t surprising, really…
6. Car with the power of a hairdryer that can reach upto 60 mph
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/04/07/solar-powered-bethany-race-car/
My comment-These kind of things are the future of automotives..
7. Shooting particles in the air to prevent global warming
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hm1kMpA2nQALOfQL8Y8PxxTHNVtgD97EG5200
My comment- I think that it is one of these innovative solutions that will solve global warming for us, cutting back on consumption is never gonna happen..
8. PG&E makes deal for solar power from space
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30198977/My comment- It is high time we looked for such out-of-the-world(literally!) power sources
9. Work progresses on 10,000 year clock
http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10000718-6.html?tag=mncol
My comment-I would love it if our generation makes something that future generations remember us by for 10,000 years!10. Pirate Bay Trial Ends In Jail Sentences
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090417.wpiratebay0417/BNStory/Technology/home
My comment-Now this is something I followed closely, and the judgment really upset me, though I have to admit it was only fair.
11. Louisiana Rep. Preps State Bill Banning Human-Animal Hybrids
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/humananimal_hybrid_ban_sought.html
My comment- Well, can’t blame the guy- everyone’s afraid of an island of Dr. Moreau, but in my opinion, banning doesn’t work!
12. Device Keeps Lungs Breathing Outside the Body
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22510/
My comment- One more thing with considerable potential benefit, but again, just a stepping stone.
13. Species of ants that reproduce by cloning- no men required!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7998931.stm
My comment- one more of the emerging studies showing that men really aren’t required, after they had made sperm from female bone marrow..
14.Skin computers
http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/enhanced/nano-tattoos
My comment- we are slowly but steadily moving towards human-computer interfaces!