Random Thought #221

Biomimicry is a field of study that I always found interesting. We can learn a lot from Nature. This particular TED talk is all about learning from ants to see how we can apply what they seem to know to complex networks. In particular, it could help us understand about our brains, computer networks, and even diseases such as cancer. I think there are also lessons learned about how to run teams in any organization.


http://www.ted.com/talks/deborah_gordon_what_ants_teach_us_about_the_brain_cancer_and_the_internet

Random Thought #220

I love this guy's website/comic strip called XKCD. Just to give you a flavor of what kind of person this is. XKCD, if you take their position in the alphabet and add them together, it equals 42, which if you watched Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you would know that 42 is the answer to everything in the universe. X=24, K=11, C=3, and D=4. 24+11+3+4 = 42. Anyways, his comics are hilarious and insightful. As a side project, he answers "what if" questions from his readers using science and math and in this funny TED talk, he sort of explains his process for doing this. Its a fun watch and should inspire the inner mathematician in you.


http://www.ted.com/talks/randall_munroe_comics_that_ask_what_if

Random Thought #219

I always love a good medical advancement but this is pretty darn cool. I've posted previously about synthesizing new organs with 3D printing but this takes it to a totally different level being able to do it within water droplets. Its pretty cool. Check out the link below


http://motherboard.vice.com/read/how-to-3d-print-synthetic-tissue-out-of-water-droplets

Random Thought #218

I think everyone either knows or hopes that we are not alone in the universe. Given the number of stars and planets there are in the universe and just the general immensity of space, there has to be!! Why is it so hard for us to find a planet that could harbor life just like Earth? This video very succinctly tells us why and what we're doing about it. Pretty cool!


http://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_kasdin_the_flower_shaped_starshade_that_might_help_us_detect_earth_like_planets

Random Thought #217

Should we live for our resume or our eulogy? I think this is a great question and one that I have often wrestled with myself. From a theoretical perspective, of course, everyone would say that they would live for their eulogy or the "Adam II" lifestyle but practicalities of this world make that extremely difficult. This is our ultimate test. I find the author very elegant in his portrayal of this fundamental dilemma.

http://www.ted.com/talks/david_brooks_should_you_live_for_your_resume_or_your_eulogy

Random Thought #216

WHOA!

http://www.ted.com/talks/louie_schwartzberg_hidden_miracles_of_the_natural_world

Random Thought #215

Are we alone in this universe? This is a question that has been asked time and time again by scientists and non-scientists alike. D&C 88:51-61 would seem to indicate that we are not. The Lord speaking to Moses talks about worlds without number has He created. Imagine how many other worlds have been created by Gods other than Him. Heavenly Father himself is an exalted being but He wasn't always that way. Imagine how many others there are like Him that each have their creations and how far back that pattern must go. It simply blows your mind. I recently read a book that is called "The Kolob Theorem" that posits that all of Heavenly Father's creations are contained within the Milky Way and that the star Kolob is near the center of the galaxy and that all the other galaxies are kingdoms of other gods like Heavenly Father. It makes a lot of sense and I definitely recommend the read to anyone interested but here is a little science that may also back this up

http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_adams_the_discovery_that_could_rewrite_physics