Two windows and a bathtub

Yesterday and the day before, I found myself once again quoting recent remarks from Freeman Dyson (b. 1923), the eminent English-born theoretical physicist and mathematician who is now more or less retired from the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey.  Here is a quotation from Professor Dyson and a surprising item about him:

“Science and religion are two windows that people look through, trying to understand the big universe outside, trying to understand why we are here. The two windows give different views, but both look out at the same universe. Both views are one-sided, neither is complete. Both leave out essential features of the real world. And both are worthy of respect.”  

On 16 April 2015, the New York Times published an interview with Professor Dyson.  In that interview, entitled “Freeman Dyson: By the Book,” he was asked “What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?”  He replied, “‘The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.’ I treasure it because some of my best friends are Mormons, and the book tells a dramatic story in a fine biblical style. The reader has to wait with growing tension almost until the end of the story to reach the final climax, when Jesus arrives in America and founds his second kingdom here.”

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Should you prefer organic foods?  Should you pay extra money for them?

Maybe.  Maybe not.

“Bad Science Promoting Organic Apples”

On related issues:

“Is today’s generation of children “the sickest generation”?  Presidential candidate and New Age self-help guru Marianne Williamson has been repeating a claim that over half of our children have chronic illness and implying that the expansion of the vaccine schedule since the late 1980s is responsible. But is it true? Are over half of our children sick? Is this “the sickest generation”?”

“Hospitalizations highlight potential dangers of e-cigs to teens’ lungs: Eight Wisconsin teens developed severe injuries to the organs after using the devices”

“Wisconsin Health Officials Urge People to Stop Vaping After a Sudden and Mysterious Rise in Lung Disease”

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“Startling Facts About the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagaski”

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“A new map is the best view yet of how fast Antarctica is shedding ice: The research could help improve projections of sea level rise”

“The Arctic is burning and Greenland is melting, thanks to record heat: Blazes are pumping record amounts of CO2 into the air, which could make the problem worse”

“How the 5 riskiest U.S. cities for coastal flooding are preparing for rising tides: Of the urban areas most at risk, some are further along than others”

“With nowhere to hide from rising seas, Boston prepares for a wetter future: The coastal city is taking the hint from recent storms and floods”

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While we’re on the theme of “ice,” I think that you should view this extraordinarily important science video:

“The Truth about the RMS Titanic Coverup”

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Finally, I’ve obviously been around considerably longer than even some of my critics realize:

“This newfound predator may have terrorized the Cambrian seafloor: With rakelike claws and a toothy mouth, it could snag prey even under the sand”