Fourteen billion years ago, the Big Bang sprung forth, sending out matter, light, and energy, giving birth to the universe. In one of the great unsolved mysteries of physics, matter outpaced antimatter, creating something rather than nothing. And as I will explain, everything that happened after represents the ultimate and improbable sequence of events that…
In any human exploration of an unknown place, whether it was sailing to the New World, climbing Mount Everest, or racing to the South Pole, human casualties seemed inevitable. In order to discover new lands, death was expected. As the final frontier, space presents a challenge to human ingenuity unlike any before. Many brave adventurers…
In a 2013 publication of the journal Science, researchers reported the discovery of functioning gears in an insect known as a “planthopper.” These gears are located in the hindlegs of the insect and consist of interlocking teeth that help the planthopper synchronize its movements. The gears rotate to allow the legs to move in concert…
Congressional Hearing On June 17, 2014, Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Turkish-American, cardiothoracic surgeon and host of The Dr. Oz Show, appeared before a congressional hearing convened by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance. Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, the subcommittee Chairman, presided over the session titled “Protecting Consumers from False and…
As the physical embodiment of our consciousness, the human body is a metaphorical gold mine, reminding me how best to live my life. How can the behavior of the microscopic world enhance the macroscopic? Here are a few of my favorite insights: Motion is essential. When was the last time you went for a walk,…