NYT : Scientists Bypass Need for Embryo to Get Stem Cells

Recently, two teams of scientists reported that they have figured out how to turn skin cells into embryonic stem cells without having to make or destroy an embryo. This could be good news because this could ease down the ethical debate, especially with these groups who are against creating or destroying embryos. Bush seems to take the news very well. However, I think that this has detoured the scientific advancement for some years but I am pleased that the scientists have finally made the progress. For further reading, click on the link below.

Scientists Bypass Need for Embryo to Get Stem Cells

China's Lunar Probe Is Visiting the Moon

It's about time. China's lunar probe entered moon's orbit. In 2003, they became the third country to send the rocket into space. If everything goes as planned, they would send men to the moon within 15 years and possibly to Mars. It would be a great accomplishment for them. Will this start another space race? We will see! I don't think that it's that important for the United States to return to the moon until they have meet many other goals. For further reading, click on the link below :

China's lunar probe enters moon's orbit

Watch out! Robots will drive better than us!

Even though rebotic vehicles are under testing today, they are yet ready to be used in the public today. We could see robotic vehicles becoming available in about 10 years from now. The robots are still too human but will be much better drivers than us in several years from now. We are getting closer to this point. For further reading, click on the link below.

Crashes and Traffic Jams in Military Test of Robotic Vehicles

Is dark matter purely science fiction? You tell me!

Now, two Canadian scientists think there is a good reason dark matter doesn't exist at all. No one has come up with a strong evidence that it exists.

Since I have yet seen one, I have no knowledge whether it exists. The universe has a lot of strange things. Scientists have yet understood many factors, especially with the Big Bang theory and how long the universe will continue to expand, possibly eternity.

Will we ever be around to determine whether the dark matter theory is valid or not? I doubt it but we will see! For further reading, click on the link below.

Scientists Say Dark Matter Doesn't Exist

Bush : "Global Warming what?"

Why does the White House want to edit the climate change testimony? Do they know that they are keeping us out of sight? Don't they want us to know the truth about global warming? Has Bush been doing this because he's skeptical about science?

For further reading, click on the link below:

Climate Change Testimony Was Edited by White House

Please note that the image was from The New York Times web site.

Invention of the Light Bulb

I'm currently reading The Wizard of Menlo Park, a biography of Thomas Alva Edison. I was astonished to see different type of filaments that were used during the experiments. The carbon filament included "cotton and linen thread, wood splints, papes. Edison's team later discovered a carbonized bamboo filament that could last over 1200 hours.

The inscandescent light bulb was invented in 1840 by British scientist Warren de la Rue. That time, electric light bulb was not invented. Edison was not born until February 11, 1947 and didn't start to experiment with the electric light bulb until around 1879. The successful experiment was on October 22, 1879.

The electric light bulb didn't become common for homes until 1920's.

I'm enjoying the book tremendously.

My view about life from other planets

I'm responding to Jacob Haqq-Milsra's question.

Jacob Haqq-Misra said...
I'm curious as to why you think the evolution of what we call intelligence is uncommon (if in fact this is what you mean)?

Of course, we cannot say anything for certain at this point, but I am inclined to think given the vast number of galaxies in the universe (100 billion) this type of complex life (however we define it) is probably present in some other galaxy--if not our own.

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I do agree with you that there is a vast number of galaxies in the universe. I'm not ruling out any life on other planets.

I have read a few books about history of evolution. As you know, our planet started with very simple life about 2 billion years ago. The life didn't start to become complex until more than 550 million years. I'm inclined to support the Cambrian explosion theory. Before us, there were many millions of species and they didn't have intelligence that is similiar to ours.

When the apes started to evolve in Africa, they didn't have to compete that much. Africa was just an island. They had an advantage for some time. We can say that isolation has helped them. I am pretty sure that there are other species roaming in Africa during that time.

If there are species living on other worlds that have successfully become complex, they are likely to compete for food. It doesn't require any intelligence to do that. What's the odd of species becoming isolated from deadly predators? In my own opinion, it's pretty slim. Can species become lucky by developing hands that are more sophisticated? Can their brains get bigger and complex enough to bring them to the same level as ours, or even better?

The way I see, the process of evolution has to do with climate, sexual selection, geography, competition, and luck. Yes, I have to say that we are lucky that we are here today. It's like winning a lottery.

If we have to start all over again by going back to 2 billion years ago, will the apes ever emerge? I'm doubtful but I could be wrong. I will never know for sure.

One last thing, I wouldn't rule out any life out there that has intelligence like ours. If we ever find out by establishing communication with them or even meet them, I would be surprised and jubilant.

I'm open for any debate.m>