Philosophy Wire: Where are thou my heart?

Photo by Spiros Kakos @ Pexels

Heart muscle cells derived from stem cells show remarkable adaptability to their environment during and after spaceflight, according to a new study. The researchers examined cell-level cardiac function and gene expression in human heart cells cultured aboard the International Space Station for 5.5 weeks. Exposure to microgravity altered the expression of thousands of genes, but largely normal patterns of gene expression reappeared within 10 days after returning to Earth. [1] Funny. We learn to crawl. We learn to walk. We run. We learn to fly. Eager to go to the stars. Flying away from home. Exploring the cosmos. We will know things. We will learn. We will reach the end of the cosmos. But only when we go back at home, into that cradle where we first listened to our mother, will we be who we are again… Only when you know where you started from does the destination have a meaning… Father… Are you still there?

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Philosophy Wire: Going to the Moon... Touching the dirt…

Some years ago, Jeff Bezos unveiled Blue Origin’s vision for space, and a Moon lander. [1] A man of sin, guiding mankind to the stars. It could not be any other way. Holy men are too busy touching Earth. Getting their hand dirty. So that others can be clean. Rolling on the dirt, so that others can fly for heaven…

When you get there, try to remember...

Only the full circle is perfect.

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Philosophy Wire: Plants. Sun. Darkness.

Plants need sunlight or other light sources to power the chemical reactions of photosynthesis and make food for themselves. But some plants rely on others to make food for them and can survive without sunlight. Parasitic plants take nutrients directly from other plants. For example, the many species of the genus Cuscuta, commonly called dodder or witch’s hair, use structures called haustoria to pierce the stems of other plants. Once contact has been made, the dodder's own roots disappear, and its thin vines, with only vestigial leaves, grow using the host plant's resources. [1] Once upon a time we were trees. Then we decided to eat that apple (Tree of Knowledge). And we became dependent of another tree (Tree of Life). Deciding to cut off our own roots to reality and rely on our senses and logic to see through the veil of existence. Once upon a time we needed light to grow. Now we can survive in the darkness. Once upon a time we were hungry. Now we are just eating apples. Once upon a time we were gods. Now we are just humans…

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Philosophy Wire: Cannibals. Chaos. Peace.

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory induced a two-dimensional material to cannibalize itself for atomic "building blocks" from which stable structures formed. [1] In a world of constant change, scientists try to find ways to achieve stability. In a world of chaos, humans are eating themselves to find peace. But life and being is not about peace. Existence is all about chaos and mistakes. Life is all about flaws and sin. Accept that sin. That’s the only way to turn into a saint…

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Philosophy Wire: Falling. To stay up.

Professor George Mylonakis, from Bristol's Department of Civil Engineering, was invited to join a 16-member research team, led by Professor Camillo Nuti at Roma Tre University, to explore this Leaning Tower of Pisa mystery that has puzzled engineers for many years.

Despite leaning precariously at a five-degree angle, leading to an offset at the top of over five metres, the 58-metre tall Tower has managed to survive, undamaged, at least four strong earthquakes that have hit the region since 1280. Given the vulnerability of the structure, which barely manages to stand vertically, it was expected to sustain serious damage or even collapse because of moderate seismic activity. Surprisingly this hasn't happened and until now this has mystified engineers for a long time.

After studying available seismological, geotechnical and structural information, the research team concluded that the survival of the Tower can be attributed to a phenomenon known as dynamic soil-structure interaction (DSSI). The considerable height and stiffness of the Tower combined with the softness of the foundation soil, causes the vibrational characteristics of the structure to be modified substantially, in such a way that the Tower does not resonate with earthquake ground motion. This has been the key to its survival. The unique combination of these characteristics gives the Tower of Pisa the world record in DSSI effects. [1]

Humans look a lot like the tower of Pisa.
The same reason which led to our fall,
Will also lead to our theosis.
We are sons of God.
And that is why we questioned Him.
Only to love Him again once more…

Our eagerness to understand, our love for knowledge, our lust for acceptance, led us into analyzing the world into pieces. Our eagerness to understand, our love for knowledge, our lust for acceptance, will make us put all the pieces back together at the end. And when we knock on the door of our home, from where we left aeons ago, we are waiting with tears in our eyes to listen to what we always longed to listen.

Welcome back my child…

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Philosophy Wire: Quantum effects. Limitless effects. Overflowing river…

Quantum phenomena once thought to be happening under specific conditions or in certain circumstances, are now observed more and more in all sorts of conditions and circumstances. [see here and here for common time crystals and here and here for some articles on quantum phenomena – entanglement – observed at larger than before scales] Man started from God. And went on to analyze the cosmos. We ate the apple. And broke God into pieces; essentially killing Him in order to see what we wanted to see. Our need to philosophize about everything – instead of accepting them – has led to our quest for the ever-changing river in the forest; ignoring Silenus’ calls. We did approach the river. We tried to step in it. But we were too obsessed with it to notice the ground around us. At some point we will turn our gaze away from it to look around. And only then will we notice that the river is overflowing. Engulfing everything, At the end the land will quench its thirst. At the end there will be no river anymore. What was dead will soon be alive again. And the Sun will come up after the Moon. Killing everything. Look at that little cloud in the sky… What is not dead cannot die… Look… A river forming…

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