1. Robot with a Biological Brain: new research provides insights into how the brain works

Comment #236744 by wonder on August 25, 2008 at 8:59 am

the most interesting part for me would be a more in-depth discussion of this one critical part of the video where he talks about how the neurons communicate with the sensors:

"that electrical activity goes through fairly complex processing steps..." to control the robot.

what i'm mainly wondering is, what elements of the "processing steps" give rise to goals? what do the neurons "work towards"? not high-level goals, of course, but in order to do useful, directed work and "learn" the neurons would need to organize their signals around some goal, avoid or seek a pattern of input of some kind. i wonder how that's implemented. fascinating stuff.

2. Scientists reshape Y chromosome haplogroup tree gaining new insights into human ancestry

Comment #154185 by wonder on April 2, 2008 at 8:10 pm

https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/

I signed up and submitted a DNA sample for analysis about a year ago. The information you receive is amazing. It turns out my ancestors weren't created in my present form 6,000 years ago. The resolution of the data continually increases as more and more people submit samples, so the results refine over time.

3. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116393 by wonder on January 26, 2008 at 11:47 am

What a great article! I'm really looking forward to soaking up all this great info. Fascinating stuff!
Thanks for posting these videos.

4. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #111507 by wonder on January 14, 2008 at 9:07 pm

What a war has been fought
What a victory wrought
By courage it were bought

While superstition there were naught

As reason unites our stride
From challenges ahead we will not hide
Into battles many we will bravely ride

And gladly stand by your side


Get well soon brave sir!

Robert Wade
Memphis, TN

5. Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #92714 by wonder on December 1, 2007 at 9:44 am

I'm surprised that she didn't point out to AC that the word "Islam" doesn't literally mean "peace" as he said. If she had pointed out that it actually means "SUBMISSION" I think it would have had a nice effect as she was talking about the way women are treated in Saudi Arabia.

6. Schools should put faith in science

Comment #91938 by wonder on November 29, 2007 at 3:18 pm

I've had a lot of success with rearranging the words and always saying, "evolution theory" instead of "the theory of evolution." It sounds more authoritarian like electromagnetic theory, aerodynamics theory, relativity theory, etc. Since they don't say, "the theory of electromagnetism is only a theory, we should teach magic theory too..." I think it would be a step in the right direction to always refer to evolution theory in the same way.

FTA - If we indoctrinate our children with pseudo-science like creationism or intelligent design, or dumb down the curriculum to avoid "offending religious sensibilities,"we are robbing them of exciting careers and harming Canada's future scientific and economic power.