Science and You

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Regardless of whether you're currently involved in science, planning to be in the future, are just interested in it as a hobby or know absolutely nothing about it, we're interested in finding out a little about your connection with the field and what it means to you.

Feel free to contribute as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing. Your favourite/least favourite branches of science/topics, experience in the field...anything you can think of.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

To get us started:

I've found all branches of science extremely interesting since I was very young, and often spent time watching documentaries or reading about something obscure that was well outside of my comprehensive abilities. After exploring a number of different areas of science I quickly isolated the life sciences (biology, zoology, etc) as my "favourite." The way things interact and function at both cellular and ecosystemic level is fascinating to me. While the physical sciences (physics, chemistry, etc) were interesting, I had trouble following them at times, and I found the social/psychological sciences to be boring. So I did the most logical thing and decided to work towards becoming a psychologist. Wait, what?

My psychology origin story is a pretty interesting one and I might touch on that in a future post - but put simply, after initially disliking the field, I fell in love with it. In particular, I fell in love with the brain, and decided that I wanted to pursue neuropsychology for a whole host of reasons.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) in 2015. I'm currently out experiencing the big scary real world with a view to completing a Doctor of Clinical Neuropsychology and pursuing a career in an acute neurology setting in the future.

Around here, you'll most frequently find me in threads about the brain and cultural issues in science, and also asking annoying questions in order to stop my own brain from exploding in physics threads.

 

[Deaneus!]

I love science, especially the physical sciences.

Why?

You can argue about imaginary people in the sky, argue about morality, argue about a bunch of stuff, but you can't argue about science (well, you can in the peer-review process, but you get what i mean). It's inspiring to think the world is how it is now, because we stand on the shoulders of giants.

If i had a choice, and i was smart enough, i'd have become a particle physicist or an astronomer (right after finishing my world concert tour and marrying a supermodel).

and this

That's gravitational lensing, where a source of light is so far away that we see it at different times in different places.

Think of standing in an empty football stadium... like you're at a GWS match at Etihad. One barracker at the other end of the stadium yells to you. Her yell echoes from the west wall, the east wall, and the roof, in such a way that you hear it three times coming from three different directions.

The same happens with light - except instead of bouncing off the walls and roof, it curves around massive objects like other galaxies, and it's so far away that the light gets to you at different times by a magnitude of years (!!!!!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_Cross

The mind boggles, and you can't help but be overawed by the sheer scale and magnificence.

 

[Chrizzt]

Pretty interested to see how this board goes.

I've got a PhD in Physics (thermodynamics/vacuum surface science/liquids) - so have a general interest in all physics areas, and other areas like nanotechnology and even other random fields like anthropology.

 

[footyfan1978]

Actually enjoyed studying a bit of physics for a few years in 1990s but too many other things as a youngster gained my interest such as going out seeing live music that just never stuck with it. You needed to be dedicated and have head in books often to do long term. It was enjoyable to understand better some of the fundamentals of our physical universe. I still remember working on some quantum mechanics mathematical equation for half an hour and how pain staking it can be to work through it all and have it make some sense at the end as a proof to yourself to follow it all. I cannot even imagine my brain be tuned into the maths now that it took to get your head around it back then. Gee, even used to do a bit of special relativity type maths back then. It really sinks in when you do the maths how brilliant a thinker Einstein was back in his day. You got to keep in the practice of it to keep the same head space. I am always amazed at people the pursue a science career long term and can focus totally on one niche area of study for rest of their life.

I am too interested in general day to day life, sports and other interests but I do take a laymans interest from time to time. Used to watch a show like Catalyst most weeks about 10 to 15 years ago. It was good stuff back then. Not sure if it is still as good. Not even sure what time of week it is on now.

 

[G Mus]

Have a half finished degree in sports science, a completed one in health information management and undertaking honours in population health at the moment.

I've always been interested in healthcare throughout my life but only as I went through the later years in high school and university did I realise I have a greater interest in healthcare systems and populations as opposed to individual healthcare

 

[GreyCrow]

I graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) in 2015. For those interested, my thesis explored the subjective presentation of stroke and resultant cognitive impairment across cultures, as well as cultural differences in the subjective experience of neuropsychological testing.

Nice work. I am confident you know of the work of Norman Doidge and his ideas on Neuro-Plasticity. For those who don't , NP is the idea that our brains aren't hard-wired but can be re-wired down different pathways.


THE BRAIN CAN CHANGE ITSELF. It is a plastic, living organ that can actually change its own structure and function, even into old age. Arguably the most important breakthrough in neuroscience since scientists first sketched out the brain’s basic anatomy, this revolutionary discovery, called neuroplasticity, promises to overthrow the centuries-old notion that the brain is fixed and unchanging. The brain is not, as was thought, like a machine, or “hardwired” like a computer. Neuroplasticity not only gives hope to those with mental limitations, or what was thought to be incurable brain damage, but expands our understanding of the healthy brain and the resilience of human nature.

I found out about Norman through counselling when after an especially difficult day I said '' I wont change'' etc etc and was given some links to check up and it became a bit of a breakthrough ( along with other things) .

My Science desire is more anthropological , especially DNA and the spread of mankind and the intermingling of cultures.

 

[GreyCrow]

I love science, especially the physical sciences.
Why?
You can argue about imaginary people in the sky, argue about morality, argue about a bunch of stuff, but you can't argue about science (well, you can in the peer-review process, but you get what i mean). It's inspiring to think the world is how it is now, because we stand on the shoulders of giants.

If i had a choice, and i was smart enough, i'd have become a particle physicist or an astronomer (right after finishing my world concert tour and marrying a supermodel).

and this

That's gravitational lensing, where a source of light is so far away that we see it at different times in different places.

Think of standing in an empty football stadium... like you're at a GWS match at Etihad. One barracker at the other end of the stadium yells to you. Her yell echoes from the west wall, the east wall, and the roof, in such a way that you hear it three times coming from three different directions.

The same happens with light - except instead of bouncing off the walls and roof, it curves around massive objects like other galaxies, and it's so far away that the light gets to you at different times by a magnitude of years (!!!!!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_Cross

The mind boggles, and you can't help but be overawed by the sheer scale and magnificence.

Brian Cox likes this

 

[eldorado]

Long time psychology/history teacher...with a dilletente's interest in all the other sciences, particularly since I 'grew up'

As well as teaching psych to seniors for many years, I've been teaching a great new subject to year 9s called Big History, covering everything from the Big Bang and the Cosmic dawn, up to the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment, with the fusion of the elements, the various theories on the origin of self organising and replicating molecules, Evolution, the birth of Civilisation, and all things in between.

Perfect for young minds trying to make sense of things, to see cause and effect, to be critical of information around them. In other words, to be scientific.

Currently trying to teach myself biology, and the marvels of DNA replication, translation and transcription, and all the other incredible cellular mechanisms via torrented lecture series. I've given up on quantum theory, it doesn't fit into my mind.

You rule, science! Keep it up!

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Nice work. I am confident you know of the work of Norman Doidge and his ideas on Neuro-Plasticity. For those who don't , NP is the idea that our brains aren't hard-wired but can be re-wired down different pathways.


THE BRAIN CAN CHANGE ITSELF. It is a plastic, living organ that can actually change its own structure and function, even into old age. Arguably the most important breakthrough in neuroscience since scientists first sketched out the brain’s basic anatomy, this revolutionary discovery, called neuroplasticity, promises to overthrow the centuries-old notion that the brain is fixed and unchanging. The brain is not, as was thought, like a machine, or “hardwired” like a computer. Neuroplasticity not only gives hope to those with mental limitations, or what was thought to be incurable brain damage, but expands our understanding of the healthy brain and the resilience of human nature.

I found out about Norman through counselling when after an especially difficult day I said '' I wont change'' etc etc and was given some links to check up and it became a bit of a breakthrough ( along with other things) .

My Science desire is more anthropological , especially DNA and the spread of mankind and the intermingling of cultures.

I haven't actually read the book, but I'm familiar with it. It's great to hear that it gives people hope - a couple of people that have survived a stroke that I've spoken to have said similar things, so you're definitely not alone in that regard.

Neuroplasticity itself is incredible, particularly when you get down to the complexities of it. Thinking about healthy regions of the brain taking over the functions of damaged, malfunctioning or absent areas is especially mind-blowing.

 

[iBeng]

SCIENCE!

 

[Admiral Byng]

I did a business degree. but I've always been interested in technology.

Recently I have taken an interest in the latest in genomics, after hearing about how the Max Planck Institute have sequenced Neanderthal DNA, and then found a completely new genome of an unknown humanid species from a single finger bone from Denisova Cave. I find this area of study incredibly fascinating.

 

[GreyCrow]

I did a business degree. but I've always been interested in technology.

Recently I have taken an interest in the latest in genomics, after hearing about how the Max Planck Institute have sequenced Neanderthal DNA, and then found a completely new genome of an unknown humanid species from a single finger bone from Denisova Cave. I find this area of study incredibly fascinating.

4% of current day humans are said to have Neanderthal Genes. The Denisovans are said to be the connectors between European Asia and the Americas. DNA is also changing the way we look at Polynesia and its own connection to South America.

 

[Admiral Byng]

4% of current day humans are said to have Neanderthal Genes. The Denisovans are said to be the connectors between European Asia and the Americas. DNA is also changing the way we look at Polynesia and its own connection to South America.

It is changing everything.

It took 10 years and 1.5 Billion Euro to sequence the human human genome back in the 1990s. Today machines can sequence a genome in one day for 500 Euro. It is revolutionising every field of biology, from virus to blue whales and every size in between.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

In short...

I work for an international alcohol company, and have spent time in and around labs formulating and managing the brands that you and I drink, so I deal in basic science most days.

I own a marine reef aquarium, which is a science all of its own.

Have always loved space, science, biology, technology....

 

[eldorado]

I understand some current thinking suggests a number of hominid species capable of interbreeding in the last 200,000 years, whereas previous thinking was that neanderthal and homo-sapiens are/were the final 2 species of the line.

I seem to recall they believe up to 6 'modern' human species may have co-existed before homo-sapiens became the dominant gene line. I'll try to find the link/source...

 

[Deaneus!]

Brian Cox likes this

For a second i thought you meant Brian May

 

[bontshow]

Cool board. I work in IT and have an interest in the General Relativity v Quantum Mechanics problem, and the EM drive

 

[Loonerty]

Gee, even used to do a bit of special relativity type maths back then. It really sinks in when you do the maths how brilliant a thinker Einstein was back in his day.

The more amazing thing to me is Newton. Had an idea about gravitation but couldn't explain it using existing mathematics, so he just developed calculus.

Absolutely amazing stuff.

 

[Loonerty]

As for me - just finished my sixth year of Uni with a physics degree with Honours and a mathematics degree as well. Likely starting a PhD next year in climate science, whether I get the scholarship for it is another story.

 

[Cmarsh]

To get us started:

I've found all branches of science extremely interesting since I was very young, and often spent time watching documentaries or reading about something obscure that was well outside of my comprehensive abilities. After exploring a number of different areas of science I quickly isolated the life sciences (biology, zoology, etc) as my "favourite." The way things interact and function at both cellular and ecosystemic level is fascinating to me. While the physical sciences (physics, chemistry, etc) were interesting, I had trouble following them at times, and I found the social/psychological sciences to be boring. So I did the most logical thing and decided to work towards becoming a psychologist. Wait, what?

My psychology origin story is a pretty interesting one and I might touch on that in a future post - but put simply, after initially disliking the field, I fell in love with it. In particular, I fell in love with the brain, and decided that I wanted to pursue neuropsychology for a whole host of reasons.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) in 2015. For those interested, my thesis explored the subjective presentation of stroke and resultant cognitive impairment across cultures, as well as cultural differences in the subjective experience of neuropsychological testing.

I'm currently out experiencing the big scary real world with a view to completing a Doctor of Clinical Neuropsychology and pursuing a career in an acute neurology setting in the future.

Around here, you'll most frequently find me in threads about the brain and cultural issues in science, and also asking annoying questions in order to stop my own brain from exploding in physics threads.

How you've done all that and posted 27000 posts on BF in 4 years is a great mystery of science.

 

[Werewolf]

I've had two papers published this year and have nearly finished my PhD in Physics - it's been a long hard slog!

Also interested in space travel and have a passing interest in other areas of science and environmentalism

 

[Vicky Park]

My interests, and qualifications, are in humanities and the arts. But I hate it that many people ignore science, and dismiss scientific research, in preference for believing pseudoscientific hogwash. Why is that? I dont get it. It occurs with food, medicine, exercise. The rubbish that people believe flabbergasts me.

Think. Query. Question. Be critical. Weigh up evidence. Why is that not commonplace?

 

[Vicky Park]

Speaking of pseudoscientific hogwash, someone should study, and expose, the utter crap claimed about women's cosmetics. The more ridiculous the claims, and the more made up words used, the more expensive is the product. Some examples:

Product A:

• Developed with Ceramide Plumping Technology for plumping, lifting & firming effects, and formulated with Ceramide Triple Complex to consolidate & re-texturize skin

Product B:

• Bio-performing, and blended with advanced Super Bio Hyaluronic Acid N & hydroxyproline

Product C:

• Developed with revolutionary CPR-75 Technology proven to double skin's natural collagen building power

WOT?

 

[Glenno23]

I'm absolutely fascinated by Space

Where does it end? NASA did the fly by of Pluto and the satellite is still just "going" but when does it stop?

It's just ridiculous to think how small we really are and what the hell is out there