Requarth: “Russell’s conception of our species, along with every other living thing, as mere energy patterns, ultimately born of rogue fluctuations in the Universe’s infancy, might make us feel a little less special.” Maybe that’s the point of many origin of life theories…
Chemistry
Tour deals with the rhetorical tactics of a critic
HT Q, here is Dr Tour’s response to a critic’s rhetoric (with some addressing of substantial matters through interacting with an expert caught in the cross fire): It is sad to see that this had to be dealt with. As a point of reference, let us highlight first duties and principles of right reason, extending Read More…
Tour further replies to his critics
Here: Let’s add a clip: And: Notice the balance of substance vs personalities. END
At Phys.org: Ancient source of oxygen for life hidden deep in the Earth’s crust
Scientists at Newcastle University have uncovered a source of oxygen that may have influenced the evolution of life before the advent of photosynthesis. The pioneering research project, led by Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and published today in Nature Communications, uncovered a mechanism that can generate hydrogen peroxide from rocks during the movement of geological faults. While Read More…
Found: The ‘holy grail of catalysis’—turning methane into methanol under ambient conditions using light
An international team of researchers has developed a fast and economical method of converting methane, or natural gas, into liquid methanol at ambient temperature and pressure.
At Reasons to Believe: Could Life Be Silicon-Based?
Biochemist Fuz Rana discusses a 2020 review article published in the journal Life in which a team of astrobiologists from MIT present a detailed evaluation of silicon’s life-support capacity.
We can now add some sharks to the list of bioluminescent animals
The Guardian: The kitefin, which can grow to 180cm, is now the largest-known luminous vertebrate: what researchers referred to as a “giant luminous shark” …
Surprisingly, we don’t know much about fire
We are fond of ridiculing our ancestors for belief in phlogiston but a more accurate description of combustion, we are told, involves many uncertainties.
James Tour: Open access Zoom seminar September 3
Topic: Scientists are Clueless about Origin of Life
Chemist Marcos Eberlin on the molecules: They say “Design!”
Marcos Eberlin, the bad boy chemist from Brazil who says, yes, it’s design—but is too productive to just be fired—talks about why he thinks molecules demonstrate design: Biology, cosmology, physics, mathematics, computer engineering, chemistry… You could have an interesting argument among proponents of intelligent design about which field of science will ultimately clinch the argument Read More…
Are God and science good chemistry?
Oxford mathematician John Lennox offers some thoughts, speaking as a guest of the Claremont Center for Reason, Religion, and Public Affairs
Even bird droppings can confute science expectations
Apparently, bird droppings are not corrosive or hard to remove because of uric acid because there is little uric acid in them. As the wag once said, it’s not what we know that’s the problem; it’s what we know that ain’t so.
Most chemistry papers retracted for serious, not trivial problems
Trust science? No. Trust but verify.
Something new to learn about water?
Who will be surprised if the odd new phases turn out to relate in some way to the fine-tuning of the universe? Don’t know. Just wondering.
Shedding light on water’s weird qualities
Researchers: Both highly ordered and disordered tetrahedral arrangements give water its “peculiar properties.” The paper’s title spells this out: “Water-like anomalies as a function of tetrahedrality.”