science | J.R. Johnson

Posts Tagged ‘science’

Everyone You Know…

Posted in Likes, Science!, tagged carl sagan, home, inspiration, pale blue dot, photography, science, space, Thoughts on June 28, 2013| 1 Comment »

From an NPR article on a global “self-portrait” scheduled for July 19th. Thank you, Carl, for putting us all in perspective.

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Another Thought After Iain Banks, or, Origins and Destiny

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged atoms, awesome, human body, iain banks, illness, Motivation, neil degrasse tyson, physics, science, stars, Thoughts on June 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Now might be a good time to spend a little time with everyone’s favorite physicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, as he revisits the origins of the atoms that make up the human body.

From stars we came and to the stars we must return.
Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Where Our Atoms Came From

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Passport to Galactic Citizenship

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged arts, awesome, creativity, genre fiction, inspiration, literature, Motivation, science, sff, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 4, 2013| 2 Comments »

In a broader sense, all science fiction prepares young people to live and survive in a world of ever-continuing change by teaching them early that the world does change.… In a more specific sense, science fiction preaches the need for freedom of the mind and the desirability of knowledge; it teaches that prizes go to those who study, who learn, who soak up the difficult fields of knowledge such as mathematics and engineering and biology. And so they do! The prizes of this universe go only to those able and equipped to reach out for them. In short, science fiction is preparing our youngsters to be mature citizens of the galaxy… as indeed they will have to be.

— Robert A. Heinlein (in “Turning Points: Essays on the Art of Science Fiction” by Damon Knight, ed., pp. 26-27)

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Love The One You’re With

Posted in Science!, tagged aliens, awesome, dna, evolution, history, inspiration, science on March 8, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Since I’m on an NPR science kick… this article provides a fascinating glimpse of our dual genetic past… and perhaps future?

What Happened When Humans Met An Alien Intelligence? Sex Happened : Krulwich Wonders… : NPR

… most humans on Earth, especially if they descend from Europe and most of Asia, carry about 1 to 4 percent Neanderthal DNA in their cells. Proportions will vary. British comedian Eddie Izzard, discovered he’s 2.8 percent Neanderthal. You don’t carry Neanderthal DNA unless someone up your family tree coupled with one.

So that’s our proof: that our first encounter with an intelligent alien led to … umm, well … more.

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