Science

The Biology of Belief

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Dr Lipton explains how our environment, relationships, and belief system can actually change us on a biological level.

Here are a few interesting points made in the book.

  • Cells teach us about the mechanisms of life, and how to live rich, full lives.
  • Positive thoughts have a profound effect on behavior and genes, but only when they are in harmony with subconscious programming.  Negative thoughts have an equally powerful effect.
  • Single cells are capable of learning through environmental experiences and are able to create cellular memories, which they pass on to their offspring.

You don’t have to be a science major to understand and benefit from this book.  It’s easy to read and I found it to be uplifting.

Cooking an Egg on the Sidewalk Experiment

When it gets really hot, people often say, “It’s so hot you could fry an egg on the sidewalk.”

This month the temperatures in Alabama have been in the triple digits, so I decided to try cooking an egg on my sidewalk.

The egg didn’t exactly fry, but it did cook.  It kind of looks like it was broiled.  Anyway, now I know you can cook an egg on the sidewalk.

 

Floating Flag Football

Astronauts spend large amounts of time in space.  I wonder what they do for fun.  I would recommend floating flag football.

I can see it now.  An astronaut is sailing toward the guy with the ball, but just before he grabs the flag the guy with the ball starts spinning and rolls out of the way.

This not only sounds like a fun game to play, it also sounds like a fun game to watch.  NASA could use floating flag football to teach people about the space program and capture the interest of children all over the world.

What happened to the Neanderthals?

It was originally believed the Neanderthals were killed by humans that migrated out of Africa.  However, recent evidence from genetic studies prove humans and Neanderthals were interbreeding.

Researchers at National Geographic discovered, “the Neanderthal linage disappeared, because it was absorbed into the much larger human population.”  They found Neanderthal DNA in humans, especially in those with a strong European heritage.

Basically, the Neanderthals intermingled with humans until they were breed out of existence.

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Source:  Genographic Project:  nationalgeogrpahic.com

 

Snoopy – First Beagle in Space

After a tragic fire killed three astronauts in 1967, the employee moral at NASA was devastated.  The nation also began to question the validity of America’s space program.

Al Chop was the Deputy of Public Affairs at the time.  He decided to use Snoopy as NASA’s safety mascot.  The goal was to get workers and the public to feel connected to the space program.  This would improve safety compliance among the workers and develop a renewed interest among the population. 

Charles Schulz’s agreed to allow NASA to use his character and “Snoopy, the Astronaut” program was born in 1968.

Forced Childhood Vaccination

With the current measles outbreak in our country, I started to wonder if the government should force parents to vaccinate their children for the safety of the child and the general public.

While it may sound radical, forcing medical treatments against the parent’s wishes is not without precedent.

In 2015, a Hartford, Connecticut, teenager was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  With treatment her chances of recovery would be 85%; however, without treatment the condition is 100% lethal within two years.

Her parents rejected conventional treatments, so the state stepped in and forced the child to receive chemotherapy.  She survived and is now in remission (1).

Members of the Jehovah’s Witness church will refuse blood transfusions for religious reasons.  However, the state has forced the parents to allow their children to receive transfusions in emergency situations.

What about the parent’s rights to raise their children as they wish?  The courts have already made a determination on this issue.

  • Courts throughout the western world recognize that parents have rights but additionally recognize that these rights are not absolute and exist only to promote the welfare of children.  Prince v Massachusetts12 set out the reigning legal principle:  Parents may be free to become martyrs themselves. But it does not follow that they are free, in identical circumstances, to make martyrs of their children (2).

What are your thoughts on this matter?  Should parents be forced to have their children vaccinated?

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Sources:
  1.  www.cbsnews.com/news/teen-cancer-patient-forced-to-have-chemotherapy-in-remission
  2. adc.bmj.com/content/90/7/715