David’s Comments (group member since Dec 13, 2009)

David’s comments from the Science and Inquiry group.

Welcome to the group, Polly!

With your interest in science and in design, I can recommend this book to you:
Design in Nature: How the Constructal Law Governs Evolution in Biology, Physics, Technology, and Social Organization

Welcome to our group, Gloria!

Betsy wrote: "Looks like this is a little too new for the monthly read. It was just published in January."

Woah--you are right, Betsy! (How did I manage to check it out of the library so soon?)

I also enjoyed this book very much. Paul Falkowski is a good writer, and his active research on the subject of microbes gives a book a lot of credibility. I learned a lot, since this is definitely not my field. I highly recommend it! Here is my review.

I just started reading a book called The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley. It is an excellent book.

Glynn wrote: "I watched the latest episode of the TV Series "Scorpion" the other night. The character Walter O'Brien claimed on the show to have proved Fermat's Last Theorem when he was 9! He is not mentioned in..."

That was a deliberate oversight? :-)

Welcome to our group, Charlene!

I read the book a year ago, and really really enjoyed it. While the story is about a mathematical problem, the author makes it sound like a detective story! Here is my review.

Welcome to our group, Maya! You will find a lot of people interested in neuroscience and astronomy here (like me!).

Marcus,
Among physicists, I think that DIrac's and Feynman's works are equally well known. Among non-physicists, Feynman is better known because, a) he wrote autobiographies, b) he lived more recently, and c) he was a very colorful character.

Here is a critique of his scientific methods:
http://azureworld.blogspot.com/2010/0...

He himself admits to being weak on science and math. He is a bit self-aggrandizing, too. I would not value his opinions very highly.

I enjoyed this book very much. While some of his silly attempts at humor did not help, I really liked the story of Barbara McClintock. Her discovery of the "jumping gene" was initially dismissed by scientists. However, after genetics progressed, several decades later she was eventually awarded a Nobel Prize.

What do other people think of the book?

Ivo wrote: "Fermat's Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem, by Amir D. Aczel."

Ivo, if you are interested in reading about Fermat's last theorem, may I suggest Fermat's Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve the World's Greatest Mathematical Problem? It is very entertaining and has better ratings (and is much more popular). It is written like a detective story. I am not nominating this book; I am just suggesting you consider replacing your nomination.

I just finished reading The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist's Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain by James Fallon. This book is truly fascinating; the author is a neuroscientist who is himself a psychopath! Here is my review.

Welcome, John. I too enjoyed Master and Commander, as well as a couple of your other films. It looks like you have a mountain of fun with your screenwriting!

And, as Betsy mentioned, don't be shy--please jump into our discussions in this group.

Welcome to our group, D.C.!

I just finished this book. Gawande really helps us to make the right choices for a terminally ill patient. It is truly excellent; I highly recommend it. Here is my review

I just watched the documentary film "Merchants of Doubt" at a theater. The film is excellent. I really liked how the film draws analogies between the tactics used by the hired guns for big companies, and the deceptive tricks used by magicians. I recommend the film for everybody.

Betsy, no, I am not ill. But the stories in the book definitely resonate with experiences I had and am having with loved ones.

I just started reading the book. Of all the books I have read with this group, this one is the most directly relevant to my life. After reading the first third of the book, it's not really about science; it is more about how Western medicine does not really meet the needs of the elderly.