Skip to main content

And the Answer Is...


The greatest contribution of the USA.  The USA has produced remarkably to the world over the past century or two.  Include construction, metals production, electronics, machinery, nuclear energy sources, aviation, medicine, and more.  Which is the greatest? 
And the answer is … 

Agriculture.  American scientists have developed the disease resistant crops, fertilizers, and farming methods currently feeding the world.  Without all this chow there would be no now – as we know it.  
----------------
Today’s math problem.  Let’s say the prime interest rate is 5%, and it goes up to 5.5%. Clearly the interest rate is up by 0.5%.  But, in going from 5% to 5.5% the increase is really 10%.  So which is it? Up by 0.5% or up by 10%? 
And the answer is…

Both.  It depends on what and how you’re counting.  In the 0.5% increase we are discussing the net increase in the borrowing percentage.  But in the 10% increase we are discussing the percentage increase of the percentage.  The confusion is with the double use of the symbol “%”, one to be the units of the quantity and the other to measure its relative change. 
--------------
How dark is dark?  For cosmologists to explain their current observations of the universe, they have required at least 96% of its substance to be called “dark,” meaning we can’t see it but only detect its gravitational effects.  What is this stuff?
And the answer is…

Nobody knows.  Indeed, you don’t know and really can’t know if there is dark matter in your morning cup of coffee.

A little humor... I'm not really overweight. I'm just overburdened by dark matter. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Behavioral Science and Problem-Solving

I.                                       I.                 Introduction.                Concerning our general behavior, it’s high about time we all had some understanding of how we operate on ourselves, and it is just as important how we are operated on by others. This is the wheelhouse of behavioral sciences. It is a vast subject. It touches our lives constantly. It’s influence is pervasive and can be so subtle we never notice it. Behavioral sciences profoundly affect our ability and success at problem-solving, from the elementary level to highly complex wicked problems. This is discussed in Section IV. We begin with the basics of behavioral sciences, Section II, and then through the lens of multiple categories and examples, Section III. II.     ...

Where is AI (Artificial Intelligence) Going?

  How to view Artificial Intelligence (AI).  Imagine you go to the store to buy a TV, but all they have are 1950s models, black and white, circular screens, picture rolls, and picture imperfect, no remote. You’d say no thanks. Back in the day, they sold wildly. The TV was a must-have for everyone with $250 to spend* (about $3000 today). Compared to where AI is today, this is more or less where TVs were 70 years ago. In only a few decades AI will be advanced beyond comprehension, just like TVs today are from the 50s viewpoint. Just like we could not imagine where the video concept was going back then, we cannot really imagine where AI is going. Buckle up. But it will be spectacular.    *Back then minimum wage was $0.75/hr. Thus, a TV cost more than eight weeks' wages. ------------------------- 

Principles of Insufficiency and Sufficiency

   The principles we use but don't know it.  1.      Introduction . Every field, scientific or otherwise, rests on foundational principles—think buoyancy, behavior, or democracy. Here, we explore a unique subset: principles modified by "insufficiency" and "sufficiency." While you may never have heard of them, you use them often. These terms frame principles that blend theory, practicality, and aspiration, by offering distinct perspectives. Insufficiency often implies inaction unless justified, while sufficiency suggests something exists or must be done. We’ll examine key examples and introduce a new principle with potential significance. As a principle of principles of these is that something or some action is not done enough while others may be done too much. The first six (§2-6) of our principles are in the literature, and you can easily search them online. The others are relatively new, but fit the concepts in the real world. At times, these pri...