1

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: Today at 15:19:06 »

Couldn't agree more on this conclusion

They are not conclusions, he states they are flawed assumptions.

2

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: Yesterday at 18:29:07 »

It's the best way. And indeed the entire ethos of warfare - it's not like cricket. 

Seems like someone assumed a war (sorry, special military operation) would be one sided.
World is a terrible place when not everyone plays cricket

3

Marine Science / Re: Can whales eat when they are in fresh water ?

« on: Yesterday at 15:25:21 »

I suppose it is too dangerous to let the babies alone (they could drown etc).

I suspect it is also to do with protection from predators, Orca will certainly attack calves with lone mothers.

Interestingly, I found this report on humpbacks which suggests that the mothers do forage while nursing
“ researchers observed nursing events that averaged 23 seconds in duration, often interspersed between the mothers’ foraging forays. “The mothers balance their needs with the needs of the calves,” the researchers report. They also note that calves remain in close proximity to their mothers, and even nurse, while she is engaged in higher overall activity states, such as foraging.” https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/mar20/new-research-humpback-whale-nursing-behavior.html

One here that expands on why Belugas move to brackish water in summer.
“Belugas generally give birth during summer in areas where the water is relatively warm, as newborn calves lack a thick blubber layer to protect them from cold water. Calves benefit from the warmer waters found in shallow tidal flats and estuaries. Calves nurse for at least 2 years”.  https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/beluga-whale

4

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: Yesterday at 15:06:30 »

I don't think anyone can 'win' a nuclear war.

The western allies have already done so.

it was a bit one sided!

5

General Science / MOVED: most powerful forum engine

« on: Yesterday at 15:00:58 »

This topic has been moved to Geek Speak.

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=85299.0

6

Physiology & Medicine / Re: Crucial problems of membrane thinking in cell biology

« on: Yesterday at 09:50:16 »

Please phrase your title as a question and ask a science question in the first post. Otherwise your post will be removed after 48hrs
Thank you

7

The Environment / Re: Is Single Plastic Uses Harmful Our nature

« on: Yesterday at 09:45:06 »

Hello Everyone I Am New Here

Welcome to the forum. Can I suggest you don’t start all your words with capitals, it will make your posts easier to read.
I’ve moved your post here as you are more likely to get answers.

The obvious answer is that single use means it is discarded and unless recycled will go into the environment. I’m sure you will get some more detailed discussion.

8

Just Chat! / MOVED: Is Single Plastic Uses Harmful Our nature

« on: Yesterday at 09:40:46 »

This topic has been moved to The Environment.

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=85295.0

9

Marine Science / Re: Can whales eat when they are in fresh water ?

« on: 07/08/2022 17:15:50 »

All populations of belugas use estuaries during the summer where shallower and warmer water is a benefit for feeding and raising young.

Yes but they dont need to feed during this time.

“ Belugas are usually found in shallow coastal waters during the summer months, often in shallow water” https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/beluga-whale

So you are saying that they don’t need to feed during the summer months? That seems counterintuitive, especially if they are raising young! Do you have a reference?

10

New Theories / Re: Does Recursive Functions lead to Contradiction?

« on: 07/08/2022 15:44:04 »

The contradiction only exists if you end up with a circular argument.
Can you please give an example of where this occurs with a recursive function, rather than the function being called as part of an algorithm or computation?

11

New Theories / Re: Is Mathematics Unintuitive?

« on: 07/08/2022 15:35:40 »



Intuitive has nothing to do with reality. Intuitive means not requiring proof and much of maths is intuitive.

You are totaly wrong.
Intuitive is the adjective related to intuition. 

Well, I can’t be totally wrong because this was never in dispute.
What is in dispute is the OP’s assertion that all maths is unintuitive.

Intuition is a faculty some sentient beings use to do some "calculation" without be able to express how they did the "calculation"


I beg to differ.
The Cambridge dictionary defines intuitive as:
“Being based on feelings rather than facts or proof”
 “Able to know or understand something because of feelings rather than facts or proof”
“Easy to use or learn without any special knowledge”

So it has nothing to do with performing calculations, but on feelings. Feelings vary from person to person, so what is intuitive to me might not seem so to you. Either you understand maths or you don’t.
Neither has it to do with what is real. If I imagine meeting a unicorn in a woodland glade, I might (where I a virgin in flowing white) intuitively know how to ride the beast; but unicorns are not real (neither is my imagined virginity).
Many aspects of maths are intuitive even to children. Show a child a sum 1+3=? and they will intuitively know that the answer is neither 1 nor 3; they intuitively understand the principle of a+b=c.

12

Marine Science / Re: Can whales eat when they are in fresh water ?

« on: 07/08/2022 15:29:48 »

Whales are able to live in brackish water for a while eg Humphrey the humpback whale who took a detour into the Sacramento River in 1985 during annual whale migration season. Humphrey managed several weeks in the Sacramento River.
All populations of belugas use estuaries during the summer where shallower and warmer water is a benefit for feeding and raising young.

Estuaries and rivers can form a trap for larger whales as the bottom contour funnels them towards shallower, narrower water. When they try to turn they ‘see’ shallower water either side and eventually they don’t have space to turn.
Freshwater is less supportive of the whale and they can soon tire trying to get to the surface, then a viscous cycle sets in of being unable to hunt and getting weaker.  A whale needs a large hunting volume and the density of prey will be far less in narrow, shallow rivers.

13

Physiology & Medicine / Re: Why has no Warp Speed Pill been invented to Stop Periods?

« on: 07/08/2022 07:11:56 »

A famous survey said men think about sex every 7 seconds.

That survey is now used as an example of "how to do a bad survey".
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/thinking-about-sex/

Not sure why this flawed survey became such a myth, despite it being blatantly obvious it had to be wrong.
There have been other attempts, but this one is also flawed:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/men-think-about-sex-every-7-seconds-what-study-says/

A very few men are  so sexually insecure and socially inadequate that they feel a need or even a right to assault women. These are the people who need medical treatment, not all women.

Medical treatment for raging hormones?

Is that not called chemical castration by some?

It’s no more chemical castration, than a birth control pill is chemical sterilisation.
Castration is permanent, medication can reduce raging hormones in those who lack self control and respect for other people.

14

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: 07/08/2022 06:54:19 »

We see it already Collin


https://www.schroders.com/en/sysglobalassets/digital/us/pdfs/the-impact-of-climate-change.pdf

I know.
I read these assessments (and the Guardian 😇, amongst others). We also keep bees, so over the years we have seen first hand the changing seasons and the practical and economic effects that is having. I have a number of farming friends, so I know not just the effect it’s having on them, but the steps they are taking to change working practices (despite unhelpful government policies).
I have also, along with others, supported projects (mainly in Kenya) to help local farmers change their working practices for the better - I don’t mean sending ‘Westerners’ to tell them how to do it, but supporting local experts who understand local conditions. So now you meet one of my pet hates, the one cap fits all school. If I have time I will explain more.

15

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: 06/08/2022 21:13:45 »

You don't Collin?

reread it

I have, still doesn’t make sense.
Clean about what??

16

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: 06/08/2022 16:48:18 »

Took you some time, didn't it Collin?

To come clean about it I mean. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't think I am though

I don’t understand this comment, it doesn’t make sense. Clean about what??

17

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: 06/08/2022 10:54:31 »

What sort of "scientist"  is "stunned" by this?

The sort imagined by press looking for a catchy title, and read by a gullible public

18

That CAN'T be true! / Re: Are home water filtration systems a waste of money?

« on: 05/08/2022 08:03:10 »

Can anyone recommend the best water filter to use in their own experience or at least point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

This is not the best place to ask, you need to go to a home equipment site.
The best that will happen here is that some spammer will come with a recommendation that will be removed.

19

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: 05/08/2022 07:54:17 »

You don't have farmers anymore, you have crop factories, running under the management of multi nationals and the conveyor belt principle.

My cousin is a farmer, he would say you are talking rubbish. I’ve spent a lot of time on his farm, know a lot of local farmers, and I would agree with him.
I know you are saying a lot of things for effect, rather than truth, but broad brush generalisations help no one to understand what is really happening.

20

New Theories / Re: An essay in futility, too long to read :)

« on: 02/08/2022 16:44:43 »

…in a similar way to what some people do, in those 'many worlds' theorems. In where the world we 'know' constantly splits into others, that presumably in their turn do the same, creating new splits, ad infinitum.

That’s the popsci view.
As Sean Carroll put it, it’s a way of working with probabilities