December 5, 2008

Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis

The hypothesis postulates that a particular language’s nature influences the habitual thought of its speakers: that different language patterns yield different patterns of thought. This idea challenges the possibility of perfectly representing the world with language, because it implies that the mechanisms of any language condition the thoughts of its speaker community.

From Wikipedia


December 1, 2008

Fundamental Aging Process Similar in Yeast and Rats

Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified

Sirtuin genes have two functions: repair damaged DNA and regulate gene activity in cells. As DNA damage accumulated over time, however, the sirtuin became too distracted to properly regulate gene activity, and as a result, characteristics of aging set in.

“For ten years, this entire phenomenon in yeast was considered to be relevant only to yeast,” says Sinclair. “But we decided to test of this same process occurs in mammals.”

From Science Daily


July 12, 2008

Quantum Entanglements

Space Station Could Beam Secret Quantum Codes by 2014: Scientific American

When two particles such as photons are born from the same event, they emerge entangled, meaning they can communicate instantaneously no matter how far apart they are. Transmitting entangled pairs of photons reliably is the backbone of so-called quantum key distribution—procedures for converting those pairs into potentially unbreakable codes. Quantum cryptography, as it is known, could appeal to banks, covert government agencies and the military, and was tested in a 2007 Swiss election.

Photons can travel perhaps 100 miles (160 kilometers) or so along today’s fiber-optic cables before their quantum character breaks down. That limit vanishes aboveground.