The Wonders of Science 

Science is cool… I mean you never know where you’ll end up. But what makes it really wonderful is being able to use science to help others and make their lives easier. Bionics for instance “the flow of concepts from biology to engineering and vice versa” can be used to replace or even enhance body parts or other organs with mechanical versions.

There are many individuals that have lost body parts due to unfortunate events and some the easiest tasks become something that they need assistance with. From tying shoes to even walking, depending on what where they were affected, can be a challenge and having someone to assist with everything is not a pleasant solution. Fortunately there is science that has allowed many people to return to their daily lives! There are amputees who are dancers and even rock climbers that have been given a second chance by bionics.

Check out this awesome Ted Talk by Hugh Herr, a man that is building next generation bionic limbs, he lost both legs in an accident but helps others walk now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDsNZJTWw0w

The way that these bionic limbs work is also rad!  For instance a bionic arm utilizes signals sent from the brain to allow the user to use the bionic arm with their thoughts. The motor cortex of the brain, the area that controls voluntary muscle movements, sends signals to the nerve stubs (end of the area of amputation). The never ending that control the movements of the arm are redirected to an area that is still working in the body, such as the chest. Those redirected nerve ending are read by electrodes that are places on the surface of the chest muscles and each electrode controls a part of the biotical arm to allow for movement.  When the never endings receive signals, the chest muscles contract and the electrodes detect this and move the bionic arm. 

Of course this is no where close to how it feels like a real arm, I mean you cannot "feel" objects, or determine how much grip something requires so you won't let go or break it, but its a good start and has great prospects. 

Mind over Matter: 
The Placebo Phenomenon  

Science has been one of the greatest areas of discovery for humanity from the past few centuries. Our ability to ask questions and seek answers has led us to many unique discoveries and even inventions which at one point in time, humans could not even imagine.

Science has been answering all of our questions and has been explaining the wonders of natures, but there are still some phenomenon’s that are unanswered and science has got not a single clue of its actions.

Here is a list of some of the most common Phenomena that remain to be unexplained:

-       Intuition

-       Cosmological constant problem

-       Dark matter

-       The Vacuum catastrophe

-       The Placebo Phenomenon 

This article will be focusing on the biggest phenomenon: The Placebo Phenomenon

Here is a small piece of an article from Live Science, where the Placebo Phenomenon was rated the number one unexplained Phenomena

Medical science is only beginning to understand the ways in which the mind influences the body. The placebo effect, for example, demonstrates that people can at times cause a relief in medical symptoms or suffering by believing the cures to be effective — whether they actually are or not. Using processes only poorly understood, the body's ability to heal itself is far more amazing than anything modern medicine could create.

http://www.livescience.com/11345-top-ten-unexplained-phenomena.html

What is the Placebo Phenomenon?

Definition: placebo effect (any effect that seems to be a consequence of administering a placebo; the change is usually beneficial and is assumed result from the person's faith in the treatment or preconceptions about what the experimental drug was supposed to do; pharmacologists were the first to talk about placebo effects but now the idea has been generalized to many situations having nothing to do with drugs)

In other words, placebos are something that seems to be like an actual medical treatment but it’s not. It could be anything from a shot to a pill or even a false surgery to make the patient seem as if their treatment is in process but in reality nothing is being done. What all placebos have in common is that there's nothing in them that can treat a medical condition in a way that is understood by science.

   How are Placeboes used ?

The usage for placebo’s is to test new medicine. Researches would use placeboes during studies and to help them better understand new medicine that was being devoloped and to know the effects and side effects.

For example, researches might study a medicine that cures headaches. To do so, they will have two test groups. One would get the actual mediscine and others will get the placebo medicine (the fake mediscine, that is just a pill). In this case no one is aware that there is a placebo mediscine and every group thinks that they are getting the actual thing.

Finally, researches can compare the results from the group that had the placebo and the group that had the original medicine and check for side effects.

When is this Phenomenon Seen?

As one is given a placebo treatment unknowingly, people actually get a response to a placebo. The response can be positive but also negative. Patients’ symptoms may improve and ultimately go away but on the other hand a person may have what seem to be the side effects of the medicine.

The unique thing about a placebo is that it can even work if someone knows that they are given a placebo treatment. Studies have shown that the placebo effect has treated depression, pain, sleep disorders and other syndromes.

Is there an Explanation?

There have been many debates and lots of research done on this topic and how the placebo effect works but one of the most common theories suggests that the reason of this effect has something to do with the relationship of the mind and body. This theory states that due to the persons expectations of getting better/or having side effects, the body’s own chemistry can sauce effects similar to the medicine.

The strength of the expectation or feeling is also key according to this theory. The stronger the person feels that the “medicine”, which is actually just an ordinary pill will work for them, the greater the effect and cure is. This potentially is the cure to any problem but the key in this is belief and expectation, the patient needs to be 100% sure that it will work just as one behaves with a real pill.

The same effect appears for negative effects as well. When people expect to have side effects they will.

This can essentially cure anyone, not just mentally but physically too! Studies have shown that when patients are given placebo as pain killers, the body produces endorphins which are the natural pain relievers.

                                                 

What is The Purpose of Life?

In our busy lives, one may not spend too much time thinking about it but in the back of our heads one question still wanders and roams around there constantly asking us…

What is the purpose of Life?

                 Why is there something rather than nothing?

                        What is the purpose of existence?"

This is a very vast question and has many different answers but here are a few perspectives to help you decide, what your purpose of life is.

Through the Scientific Perspective

Looking purely through the eyes of science, our purpose of life is to reproduce. It is a goal of ever species to reproduce and to stay in vast numbers. Reproduction is the vital key for prosperity of a species so it can live and stay for hundreds, thousands or even millions of years. Our main goal is to live long enough to pass our genes, and make sure our offspring reproduces. Generally, species need to reproduce a lot but because humanity has mastered this art, it seems as though there is something more to life than reproduction.

Looking through science, adaptability is another vital purpose to life. Darwin even stated it is not the strongest species, not the smartest but the species that can adapt the fastest that can survive. In science surviving and passing your genes is your sole purpose but adapting is very important to that because if humans were not able to adapt then reproduction would not be successful. So in the end, if you want to look through a scientific perspective your sole purpose is to reproduce and adapt successfully to changes.

“There is competition for resources. If you have a population where there is variation, some variants will be fitter than others, meaning more successful at surviving and leaving offspring. If the variations are inherited, that will cause the population to evolve in the direction of the variants that are fittest.”   - Darwin   (Natural Selection)

 

Purpose of Life through a Religious Perspective

Although there are countless religions in the world, the main idea which most religions shares is to purify yourself meditate on God and eventually become one with God. This requires one to first of all believe that there is a god and understand the concept that our soul has been separated from god and we are on a “mission” to reunite with the originated form.

"This human body has been given to you. This is your chance to meet God. All other works are of no use. Join the holy congregation and meditate on the Name of God" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 12).

The goal is to break away from the cycle of birth and death and attain salvation by being one with God. Our soul has been separated from God filled of many impurities such as lust, anger, greed, attachment to materialistic things, and ego. We are to purify our soul so that we can become one with God. We can do so by living an honest and humble lifestyle and meditating on God.

Generally, science and religion do not go hand in hand but it does not mean that you cannot merge the two and have a greater purpose of life.

Purpose of Life through a Spiritual Perspective

Religion and a Spiritual Perspective have many things in common but it does not mean that they are congruent and share the same ideas. Spiritually our purpose of life understands that we are all one, and we are connected one way or another.  We should treat others the way we want to be treated because it all comes back a.k.a Karma. In the end its all about understanding yourself and realizing you can do anything you set your mind to. It’s a mind game and many famous philosophers, businessmen and athletes have said this.

 You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind.    -

Here is what I think

To be meaningful, a life must have a purpose.  My purpose is to be good.  Be good morally because any other behavior doesn't make good sense and may get one in trouble sooner or later.    Be good at what you do.  If you are married, be good to your spouse.  Be a good husband.  Be a good father.  Be good to your pets.   They think that you are God, except your cat.  The cat thinks it is God.  Be good to the cat because it may be right.  Be good to your neighbours   I could go on and on but you get my meaning. Do what you want to do and do it to the best of your abilities, succeed in live and have a goal. In the end life is to enjoy so why not make the best of it.

Comment below and tell us what your purpose of life is…

Aftermath: Population Zero

Who knows what the future holds, humanity may transcend and conquer galaxies and stars but at the same time fail to adapt to changes and eventually fade in the dark past. Should humans ever be extent, how would Mother Nature react? But what if humans suddenly disappeared one day?

What would happen?

Would Mother Earth Restore Her Self?

Would Earth Stay the Same?

How Will Earth Change?

Here is a speculation taken from a variety of documentaries and articles.

Immediate Effects:

The most immediate effects would undoubtedly be through accidents as cars lose control and cause an array, quiet similar to dominoes. Most cars would be complete damaged many even burning in fire after have being hit multiple times. The ones that may have survived will continue to burn exhaust until they have no more fuel remaining. Even airplanes and helicopters flying through the vast skies will sooner or later fall causing vast damages, eventually  leading to explosions as they fall on cities, buildings or even on waste lands. Humans have conquered the land, seas and skies but with a Population of Zero, nature will be fast to take the kingdoms down. There will be a catastrophe, with a great mess of flames everywhere, no one will be there to notice but Mother Nature.

 

30 Minutes to an Hour:

Without any humans there is no one to pick up the mess, deal with insurance claims or even report the damages. After the vast destruction caused by the cars and air-planes takes its effect, much will not be affected for quite a while. Major satellites will continue to function; dams will be operating and super computers still processing data. On the other hand, trains will have met their deadly ends and many of them will have crashed and ignited on fire. Even Airports by now are on fire after auto piloted plains fail to land. At this point, Mother Nature will not have taken any major steps either.

Three Hours without Humans

As trains crash and there is no longer a running chain of supply, many power stations will run out of energy or will be on reserve energy and start to shut down. Coal power stations, which generate the majority of electricity will not be getting any supply of coal and will quickly malfunction and be unmaintained as no one is there to operate the power plant. Many factories and industries will also shut down as no machines are being operated, and will stay that way for ever. Much of the well-lit areas such as New York and Las Vegas Will be without electricity. Mother Nature will have taken its first steps, getting its children to sleep at dusk. There will be no light therefore most animas will have gone to sleep at their bedtime. On the other hand, by now house pets will notice their owners are not at home but will not worry just yet.

Much of the Earth will no longer shine from space as it did before

Just after three hours, the face of the earth will have totally changed. There will be a great mess for a while but Mother Nature will be quick to clean it up. Will humans be able to leave a mark of their presence forever or will Mother Nature will totally restore Earth, as it should have been.

6 – 12 Hours:

Areas relying on alternative energy sources such as Pennsylvania powered by wind turbines will have no electricity at all as there will be no one operating the energy generated from the turbines. The turbines will be running fine but will have no use. Shortly after, power stations from Niagara Falls will also go offline as there is no one operating the computers thus, Ontario and New York are the next victims of having zero electricity. The light that used to shine brightly during the night is all gone at this point. Sun is the only source of light at this point.

24 Hours

Just after a day, we realize just how important it is for us to stay on earth. Many nuclear power plants that continue to function will not be receiving electricity which in turn will cause the reactors to stop, which in turn will not allow any reactions to occur, preventing power to be created. This is not all, now there is no electricity and no reactions there is a larger threat. Many stored gases that require super cool temperatures will heat up and build pressure sending toxic gases in to the air and the surrounding environment. With thousands of tanks venting toxic gases into the air, vegetation and animals in the environment will die and plants will no longer grow in the vast abundance as they did before.