A trip down the weirdness path

I've been reading 'High Weirdness' by Erik Davis.  The books tag line:  Drugs, Esoterica and Visionary Experience in the Seventies sums up the strangeness of the book.  In exploring these concepts, Erik Davis focuses on three of my favorite authors (Robert Anton Wilson, Philip K Dick and Terence Mckenna).  The book is dense, but I am really enjoying it. 

In discussing the strangeness of quantum physics, Erik Davis mentions that it was a 1976 issue of Analog magazine that first drew the public's attention to Hugh Everett's 'many-worlds' interpretation of quantum foolery.  That lead me (in this world) to googling around in which I discovered that the 1976 issue with the aforementioned article was the December issue.  With that knowledge I ran to Ebay and found that I  could purchase that issue.  Of course I couldn't just buy that single issue when someone was selling a lot of 21 different issues, including the one I was looking for!

Analog December 1976 Cover by Rick Sternback

The article in question.

The other 20.

Dug this cover by Mike Hinge from February of 1977.

Anyways, I am looking forward to exploring these worlds of wonder.  Thanks Eric Davis for leading me down this path, I look forward to some further discoveries.    

"The possibility of 10^100+ universes, all imperfect copies of each other and all totally unaware of each other's presence, has awesome implications. Here is a system of parallel or alternate worlds beyond the manipulative skill of any science fiction writer. [editor's note:  I feel Robert Anton Wilson did a good job with this in his Schrodinger's Cat trilogy.]  In Schrodinger's experiment, for every cat that survives in our universe, in another universe one dies.  Not only does every quantum mechanical event in our universe cause an indefinite - a number so incomprehensibly large that it cannot even be called infinite! - number of divisions, but perhaps all possible realities exist simultaneously.  In such a garden of the forking paths, the solution to the dilemma of indeterminism may be a universe in which all possible outcomes of an experiment actually occur." - Analog December 1976 'Quantum Physics and Reality' by Michael Talbot and Lloyd Biggle Jr.

High weirdness indeed. 

Star Talk with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Season 5, Episode 11

 "Red pill or blue pill? You get both when Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews Morpheus himself, actor Laurence Fishburne. They sat down while Neil was in New Mexico filming COSMOS and Laurence was filming The Signal, a new indie sci-fi film. You’ll get a healthy dose of reality, as they talk about Fishburne’s roles in The Matrix, Searching for Bobby Fischer, and CSI. And you’ll dive into the world of the imagination as the two sci-fi fans discuss why style can be more important than substance in sci-fi and geek out over Star Trek, Superman and Watchmen. They also talk about chess, science vs. religion, planetariums and using math and science to explore the world. Laurence tells Neil how and why he became an actor at age 10, and discusses his future plans to produce, direct, write plays and return to Broadway. You’ll also find out what role Laurence wanted to play but didn’t, and why he got the key to the city of Cambridge."  (via StarTalkRadio)

How do we know the Earth goes about the sun?

Image: NASA. A view of the sunrise (and moon) as seen from the ISS captured by astronaut Karen Nyberg

"The geocentric model is no more crazy than saying that a tennis ball is made of protons, neutrons and electrons. Sure, we all (most of us) believe there are these particles like electrons – but how do normal humans know this? In fact, the evidence in our everyday lives doesn’t make it obvious that there are protons and electrons (yes, you could argue the mere fact of things like computers says these have to exist). The same is true for the heliocentric model."

"The first big problem with the geocentric model was the retrograde motion of planets like Mars. If you looked at the location of Mars each night, it might sometimes do this."

(Read the rest  at Wired)

How big is the Universe?

How Big Is The Universe? from Beakus on Vimeo.

(via IO9.com)

Jack White - "High Ball Stepper" (Lazaretto Album Track)

Web Nuggets Five

I really enjoy the idea of zeppelin travel, though I have never actually been in one.  It seems slow and relaxing.  So, while I daydream about floating around the world, here is Web Nuggets Number Five for you: 

An Airship the Size of a Football Field Could Revolutionize Travel - Smithsonianmag.com

"A new fuel-efficient airship, capable of carrying up to 50 tons, can stay aloft for weeks and can land just about anywhere"

(credit: Chris Baldwin)

Super resolution atom by atom laser machining - Kurzweilai.net 
"Australian researchers have discovered how to use laser light to pick apart a substance atom by atom, allowing for creating new nanoscale diamond devices."  

30 Cult Movies that Absolutely Everybody Must See - i09.com

Golden Age Comics from the Digital Comic Museum - OpenCulture.com
The Digital Comic Museum offers free access to hundreds of pre-1959 comic books, uploaded by users who often offer historical research and commentary alongside high-quality scans.

The site’s moderators and administrators are particularly careful to avoid posting non-public-domain comics (a complicated designation, as described in this forum thread). The resulting archive is devoid of many familiar comic-book characters, like those from Marvel, D.C., or Disney.

On the other hand, because of this restriction, the archive offers an interesting window into the themes of lesser-known comics in the Golden Age—romance, Westerns, combat, crime, supernatural and horror. The covers of the romance comics are great examples of popular art.

“A human being is part of the whole called by us ‘universe’, a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive. “ (Albert Einstein, 1954)

Paleo Ale, Brewed from fossils

Craft beer is all about pushing the boundaries.  Fossil Yeast? Pretty crazy, but, why not? 

    

Bone Dusters Paleo Ale, Brewed from Real Fossils! - Scientific American

"With craft brewing on the rise and many breweries tinkering with flavorings that range from the somewhat obvious (honey or citrus) to the eyebrow-raising (jalapeño, hemp, or even peanut butter cup) it was only a matter of time before someone stared a 35-million year old fossil in the face and thought, “would you make a good brew?” Well, the time has come, people. Now you can have a beer that is derived from a fossil icon. Really? Yes, really! Here’s how:

Jason Osborne, co-founder of Paleo Quest, a non-profit dedicated to advancing paleontology and geology, was daydreaming about how to engage the public in conversations about science. He made the natural connection between lively conversation and throwing back a cold one and wondered if he could sneak science in there somehow. Knowing that yeast, the organism responsible for turning sugar into alcohol, is everywhere, he wondered whether there was an undiscovered strain hanging out on fossils that could be roped into making beer."  Read the rest

(via grahamhancock.com)

Web Nuggets 4

How Ancient Alexandria Became an Intellectual Center - Wired Science

"They had to start from scratch. Alexandria was a brand-new city with a population consisting most of soldiers and sailors of the Ptolemies’ armed forces, bureaucrats and clerks of their administration, and the mixed bag of traders, businessmen, craftsman [sic], swindlers, and whatnot, who see opportunity in, as it were, a fresh playing field. Intellectuals had to be blandished into coming to a place that to all outward appearances was a cultural wasteland."  

Can't find a time machine to go back to Ancient Alexandria?  Looking for something closer to home to read?  Check out openlibrary.org 

Gravitational Waves and Inflation explained by PHD comics.  

 (via I09)

A few posts on Art.  

The Guardian had an article titled "The 10 Greatest works of art ever".  Pretty tough list to put together.  Though I do enjoy this one:

(Chauvet Cave Paintins (c 30,000 years ago)

BoingBoing.net had this great picture of some London Street Art. 

(photo: Jason Weisberger)

Huffington Post had an article on 'The Gorgeous History of Tattoos, From 1900 to Present". 

"The mind is an endless train weaving its way through the landscape of reality.

But who made the train tracks and where is the conductor?”

From the book ‘Sex, Drugs, Einstein, and Elves: Sushi, Psychedelics, Parallel Universes, and the Quest for Transcendence’ by Clifford A. Pickover

Web Nuggets 3

New Sensor Paves Way for Night Vision Contact Lenses.
"Contact lenses sharpen our blurry vision,  and free us from the hassle of pushing sliding glasses back up our noses. But the future of contacts is nigh: Researchers have created a super-thin infrared sensor that could lead to the development of night vision contact lenses." 
(via Grahamhancock.com)

Five Reasons you Should Watch Adventure Time
"If you haven’t been watching Pendleton Ward’s cult animation Adventure Time already, here are some reasons why you should start "
(via reddit)

Map of Coffee Chains across America (and Canada) 
(via boingboing.net)

Web Nuggets 2

Just some stuff around the web that I have had kicking around:

Check out the Ulysses comic that these guys are creating at ulyssesseen.com

“The Reign of the Penitents”

More illustrations of classic works.  Check out Dali's 100 Illustrations of Dante's Divine Comedy at lockportstreetgallery.  (via open culture)

How the world will end in one chart:

You can actually read it at the washington post.

Science!

In two studies in the January 24 issue of Science, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University used advanced imaging techniques to provide a window into how the brain makes memories. These insights into the molecular basis of memory were made possible by a technological tour de force never before achieved in animals: a mouse model developed at Einstein in which molecules crucial to making memories were given fluorescent "tags" so they could be observed traveling in real time in living brain cells.  (read the rest here)

In the take it with a 'grain of salt, category.  Scientists claim that Quantum Theory proves consciousness moves to another universe at death.

Words I should follow:
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."  - Jack London

Web Nuggets 1

Some of the interesting articles I have bumped up against while surfing the information superhighway...

Ruins of Bustling Port Unearthed at Egypt’s Giza Pyramids- livescience.com

“The remains of a bustling port and barracks for sailors or military troops have been discovered near the Giza Pyramids. They were in use while the pyramids were being built about 4,500 years ago.”
(found via grahamhancock.com)

NASA to Make Water on the Moon and Oxygen on Mars - Discovery.com

“NASA is planning missions to demonstrate how to make water on the moon and oxygen on Mars.”
(via grahamhancock.com)

20 Year Old Hunter S. Thompson’s Superb Advice on How to Find Your Purpose and Live a Meaningful Life - Brainpickings.org

“It is not necessary to accept the choices handed down to you by life as you know it.”

(via disinfo.com)

A New Scientific Model That Defines Alien Intelligence - IO9.com

“Should we ever detect an extraterrestrial civilization, or any kind of alien life for that matter, it's a safe bet they'll look very different from us. They'll also probably think in a way that's completely foreign to what we're used to. Here's how experts believe we might be able to predict what the minds of aliens will be like."

Schrödinger's Cat - 60-Second Adventures in Thought

The Universe in a Glass of Wine

Sun Gazing 101

Super Human Abilities Confirmed by NASA...

The Internet often can have some way out there concepts, ideas, conspiracies, which all have their place in the human story. But this is one of the most intriguing ideas I've come across in a while. The idea is that instead of getting our nutrition from the "normal" way we can get all we need from "Sun gazing (also known as sun-eating) [which] is the strict practice of gradually introducing sunlight into your eyes at the lowest ultraviolet-index times of day – sunrise and sunset."

Read on at the link above or watch the documentaries below and start staring at the sun.

The World Outside My Window - Time Lapse of Earth from the ISS

Awesome time lapse Footage from the ISS






(Via IO9.com)

The overview effect... Awesome!

"On the 40th anniversary of the famous ‘Blue Marble’ photograph taken of Earth from space, Planetary Collective presents a short film documenting astronauts’ life-changing stories of seeing the Earth from the outside – a perspective-altering experience often described as the Overview Effect."

OVERVIEW from Planetary Collective on Vimeo.

Thanks 2E for bringing this to my attention. Coob.

Finding planets

Nasa's Hubble telescope finds signs of water of five distant planets.
(via the Independent)

"Nasa has reported that “faint signatures of water” have been found in the atmospheres of five planets outside our solar system, marking a further development in the search for planets capable of supporting alien life." read the rest


Alien Super-Earths Plentiful in Exoplanet Search.
(via space.com) 

"Observations using space-based and ground-based telescopes have indicated that a new class of objects dubbed super-Earths – worlds that are about two to 10 times our planet's mass and up to two times its radius – could be among the most common type of planets orbiting other stars." read the rest

Mmmm...Tasty electric impulses

Taste Simulator Lets You Relish Virtual Food

Discovery News 

"A team of researchers led by Nimesha Ranasinghe at the National University of Singapore have developed a digital simulator capable of transmitting the taste of virtual food and drink to the tongue...
The device consists of a small silver electrode attached to the tip of the tongue. By slightly alternating the current and temperature of the semiconductor, taste receptors can be fooled by signals that replicate the four major tastes: salty, sweet, sour and bitter."

Inner Space and quantum Space

NASA gets itself a quantum computer.  What are their plans?

"According to physicist David Deutsch, a quantum system can work on a million computations at once while a standard desktop PC works on just one. Put another way, a 30-qubit system would be equal in processing power to a traditional 10 teraflop machine, which crunches trillions of operations each second.
These computers will help us find the most expedient solution to a complex problem. As such, they're poised to revolutionize the way we go about data analysis and optimization — including such realms as air traffic control, courier routing, protein modeling, weather prediction, database querying, and hacking tough encryption schemes."

Read the rest. 

(via IO9)


A Neuroscientist's Radical Theory of How Networks become Consciousness

"It’s a question that’s perplexed philosophers for centuries and scientists for decades: Where does consciousness come from? We know it exists, at least in ourselves. But how it arises from chemistry and electricity in our brains is an unsolved mystery.
Neuroscientist Christof Koch, chief scientific officer at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, thinks he might know the answer. According to Koch, consciousness arises within any sufficiently complex, information-processing system. All animals, from humans on down to earthworms, are conscious; even the internet could be. That’s just the way the universe works."

Read the rest on Wired.com

(via Grahamhancock.com)

Cool Animation: "Why Do I Study Physics?"

Cool animation on physics...

Why Do I Study Physics? (2013) from Xiangjun Shi on Vimeo.

(via io9)