Space, time and sleeping non-quantum cats (1)
The problem for me with Vlatko Vedral’s beautiful new vision of reality is that all theories about the world in which we find ourselves are created by observers proposing ideas. Examination of those ideas by other observers (i.e. the use of the scientific method) winnows them to those that pass the tests (1 November, p 30).
The trouble with quantum mechanics is that Western scientists are trained to think in terms of objects and their categorisation, so that, somehow, there is a divide between the world of the very small and our everyday world. But let us consider the cat. When I return home, my cat could be sleeping in a number of different places, to which I can assign probabilities. These, of course, “collapse” as soon as I arrive and observe my cat in just one of them. This is a collapse of probabilities, just as in the quantum case. Is that a problem?
Space, time and sleeping non-quantum cats (2)
I agree with Vedral that space and time don’t exist, but I don’t believe we can explain reality in any meaningful way without particles because, for any sentient organism, reality is its understanding of itself and anything outside itself as perceived by its senses. It may be argued that atoms and subatomic particles are minute bundles of energy, but I see and feel solids, liquids, gases etc., not quantum fields or tables of “q-numbers”.
The debate regarding consciousness rumbles on (1)
Further to your exploration of the wide variety of ideas about consciousness, biological consciousness is the only one we know exists. It is most likely to have come from an evolutionary process that involves reaction to stimuli, which allows entities to find energy sources. As such, levels of awareness in the biological world range from basic heat and light sensing to complex, abstract thought. Ice senses heat and reacts by melting, but it is probably not considered conscious by most (25 October, p 36).
The debate regarding consciousness rumbles on (2)
I cannot believe we are still debating consciousness. For self-preservation, we must be conscious of where we are and what’s happening around us. Our sense of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch etc. all help us survive any danger that might threaten us. We must be conscious, therefore, when we use these senses. It seems to me that “experts” are dragging this subject out. Why make simple things complicated?
Here's one solution for satellite pollution
To reduce the problem of old satellites releasing pollution when they burn up in the atmosphere, it should be internationally mandated that every satellite keeps enough reserve fuel to move it into a designated “capture orbit”. Small rocket drones could refuel still functioning satellites if needed using universal connectors or collect them for delivery to a large cargo rocket ready for return to Earth. Having separate spaces on this rocket for different countries and companies would provide security (25 October, p 32).
Does the punishment really fit the crime?
David Aldred’s suggestion to burn the money gained by criminal means could lead to unpleasant socioeconomic consequences. Money isn’t an asset per se. It is more like a share certificate that entitles you to a fraction of society’s actual assets (like food, houses or magazines). Just as the value of a share certificate can be diluted by issuing more shares, burning money does the reverse: increasing the entitlement value of everyone else’s 拢10 notes. This could lead to populist demands for more punishment (and money destruction), so more offences would be created. Not a nice society to live in (Letters, 1 November).
The hottest peppers make the strongest deterrent
I read James Wong’s article on the use of capsaicin to deter mammals from damaging gardens with great interest. Recent development where I live has resulted in an overpopulation of eastern meadow voles.
I noticed that these voles have been happy to eat the accessible parts of jalape帽o peppers in the raised vegetable beds in my garden, while the equally accessible habanero peppers have remained untouched. From painful experience, I have found that these habanero peppers are sufficiently high on the Scoville spiciness scale that gloves and a face mask are necessary when preparing them for dehydration.
The biologists versus the engineers
In 1965, I started postgraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During a presentation on a new degree programme in bioengineering, the speaker apologised that a short course in biology would be required, saying that it was trivial for engineers to pick up the biology basics, but, of course, you couldn’t expect a biologist to master all the necessary engineering principles. I thought at the time that it was staggeringly condescending, but it may have been an early shoot of what Aleks Krotoski describes as “engineer’s syndrome” in her book 0n the “tech bros” aiming to cheat death (25 October, p 25).
Beware the relentless spread of bamboo
While bamboo might be a possible candidate as a renewable source of plastic, I hope no one decides to start growing bamboo on their own in the hope of starting a lucrative business (18 October, p 15).
Its rapid growth rate, while adding to its attractiveness as a renewable source, is accompanied by a virtually unstoppable capability to spread via underground rhizomes, which can result in neighbouring property owners spending what seems like an eternity cutting the invading bamboo shoots. Sadly, I have learned this from personal experience.
For the record
The nanodiscs in a new kind of e-paper reflect light and each one’s brightness can be varied by a brief electrical pulse that places ions inside the disc (1 November, p 12).