Sword Saints

The science of sin

As seen on Slashdot: MIT explains why bad habits are hard to break.

Habitual activity--smoking, eating fatty foods, gambling--changes neural activity patterns in a specific region of the brain when habits are formed. These neural patterns created by habit can be changed or altered. But when a stimulus from the old days returns, the dormant pattern can reassert itself, according to a new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, putting an individual in a neural state akin to being on autopilot.

That's an interesting explanation for the ever-present effect of sin in the lives of believers, and why it's so vitally important for us to make war on the sin in our lives. And I love how this is something the Apostle Paul understood almost two thousand years ago when he penned his letter to the Romans.

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Is it really about science?

As expected, there is a serious lather about President Bush's quasi-endorsement of intelligent design being taught in schools. And, as expected, there is the usual mischaracterization in the media of both evolution and intelligent design. The former is shown as pure and undefiled Science. The latter is labeled as little more than politically correct creationism, ancient mythology dressed up in modern language. And so we're brought to the seemingly ever-present conflict of sober reason versus blind faith.

You could say I lost my faith in science

There's a lively discussion at Slashdot about goings-on in Kansas regarding the teaching of evolution. They link to a story from the New York Times that has some nuggets that are getting everyone's hackles up.

The proposed changes to the state's science standards would edit everything from the introduction to notes advising teachers on specific benchmarks for individual grades. Perhaps the most significant shift would be in the very definition of science - instead of "seeking natural explanations for what we observe around us," the new standards would describe it as a "continuing investigation that uses observation, hypothesis testing, measurement, experimentation, logical argument and theory building to lead to more adequate explanations of natural phenomena."

Well. The new definition actually sounds to me more like the science that's been practiced since science began. The Slashdot critics are making it sound like "seeking natural explanations for what we observe around us" is being changed to "seeking supernatural explanations for what we observe around us" -- and I guess if you're a paranoid fundamentalist naturalist you'd be inclined to interpret it that way (come to think of it, that would also explain the caricature of all intelligent design proponents as young-earth creationists, and the casting of the whole debate as Scopes II). Scientifically, though, the latter definition seems like it's a bigger tent: it still allows for purely natural explanations, but it also allows for a supernatural explanation. It all pretty much boils down to, "In the beginning, God", or not. But hey, what do I know? I'm just an engineer.

Cooling to warming

It was the impeccable timing (coupled with a heaping helping of irony) that led me to spew my half-chewed toast all over the newspaper this morning in a fit of laughter. See, I'd just finished Michael Crichton's State of Fear last night. Though a work of fiction, it is his manifesto against junk science and the political-legal-media axis that use it to maintain a state of fear and anxiety among the general populace (and their own grip on power). So what should confronts my sleepy eyes in the morning paper but this: Extinction Tied to Global Warming.

Fear! Anxiety! Panic! Uncertainty! The world is ending! Global warming killed off most of the life on earth and it will do it again! Quick, sign Kyoto! Bush lied, dinosaurs died!

Well, no.

Carbon clothing

Slashdot has a story on carbon nanotube 'smart' yarns (that's y-a-r-n-s, not y-a-m-s):

Initial research into the potential uses of the new material is focussed on the production of vests and 'soft' body armour to provide protection from bullets and other small ballistic missiles. This application exploits the excellent mechanical properties of the CNTs.

However, the ability to incorporate electronic sensors and actuators into CNT yarn also makes it a potentially valuable addition to the range of specialist materials now being used in medical and military applications. It could, for example, be used to produce garments that act as electrically-driven 'muscles'.

Yes. I want some! Just go ahead and weave it into an stillsuit (as found in Dune) with some armor and muscular enhancement (like Phaethon's suit in The Golden Age trilogy). Of course, such technology could be used for sinister purposes ... what would stop some boss from wrapping his code-trolls in such a suit, getting them to type twice as fast and never getting up to go to the bathroom? I shudder to think of it.

Better living through chemistry

Oh, dear. Corporate America is going to love this (courtesy of Slashdot):

Using a new molecular genetic technique, scientists have turned procrastinating primates into workaholics by temporarily suppressing a gene in a brain circuit involved in reward learning. Without the gene, the monkeys lost their sense of balance between reward and the work required to get it, say researchers at the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Coming soon to a pharmacy near you! It's the latest in medical technology, designed to block the body's resistance to P.H.B., a common workplace substance that reduces the desire to work. No more daydreaming during mind-numbing meetings! No more web-surfing when you should be writing code! No more slipping schedules and hidden bugs! Ask your doctor if Ergomax is right for you.

Ugh. I like procrastinating. So you can just keep your hands off my dopamine receptors!