Everyday Science and Children and New Discoveries:

Discussion in 'General Science & Technology' started by paddoboy, Jan 9, 2017.

  1. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    My mind goes back to a Carl Sagan video I once saw, where he commented on apparent simplistic questions by children that most adults simply brush off with such remarks as "Don't ask silly questions Johnny!" or "Go and ask Daddy" instead of the less put down remark of "I'm not sure Johnny, let's go check it up in Encyclopedia Britannica, or google it" or possibly even "We don't really know Johnny, but perhaps one day you might discover the answer yourself if you decide to be a scientists".
    Let's look at our printed media........Near every daily paper and/or magazine has a column devoted to the greatest fraud ever perpetrated by ignorant man....Astrology

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    But how many have a daily "science column" that may explain in simple terms the questions asked by Johnny...questions like, "Why is the grass green" or "Why is the sky blue"
    How many come to science forums such as this, to keep up with the latest knowledge and discoveries re science and physics....how many know that forums such as this even exist.
    How many ordinary folk are familiar with great scientific minds beyond Hawking, Einstein, Newton, Curie or Galilleo.
    Names such as Bohr, Feynman and Bethe are unknown to them.
    Even the late, great Carl Sagan, in my opinion, the greatest educator of our time, is comparitively unknown by most.
    And yet we have those stupid, fraudulent nonsensical astrology columns in near all daily Newspapers and the simplest questions as to why the sky is blue and why the grass is green remain unanswered for curious young minds! Can someone give me a logical explanation as to why that is so?

    From your friendly science forum cheerleader!

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  3. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    Here is that video and is a tribute to legendary astronomer and public science educator Carl Sagan and the example of what I believe should be compulsory viewing/teaching in all schools.


     
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  5. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    Most people don't find science entertaining.
     
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  7. Bowser Namaste Valued Senior Member

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    When I was a kid my parents had a set of books published by Life Magazine that covered most of what was know at the time. It was mental candy that seemed to stroke my imagination. I do remember watching Carl's Cosmos series on PBS when I was a kid--loved it. I'm not certain that every one can appreciate science the same way. I tend to believe you need a touch of nerdism to really get into it. But you are right, it doesn't get enough exposure in the media unless it's wrapped in drama.
     
  8. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    I have always been a space fanatic since I was 6 or 7 years old.
    Watching the first "Sputnik"travel across the night sky!
    The space race between the USA and USSR really grabbed my attention!
    How can anyone really view space as "not entertaining?"

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    I really am unable to fathom that...the great expanse of the largely unknown, the possibilities, the potential...if not entertaining then certainly exciting in my opinion anyway.

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    My real interest in science started at school in science experiment classes, and watching some great original sci/fi movies such as the original "War of the Worlds" and "The Day the earth Stood Still" but I was first and foremost into sport, cricket, tennis and Rugby League....So perhaps in that respect my "nerdism" started later on with Sagan's Cosmos series and Hawking's Brief History of Time"
    From that point, it was all uphill!

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  9. Bowser Namaste Valued Senior Member

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    Where my imagination is concerned, it's always been the opportunity to look beyond the ordinary. That's what science does, it gives us a vantage point from which to view the world, the universe and life. It's an alternative perspective from the ordinary. Had I been more disciplined I might have pursued a career in science, but I'm happy being a pirate.

    What really stands out in my mind is the night when the neighbor kid and I took his telescope to the local school yard. He pointed it at the Andromeda Galaxy. Seeing it in that manner--rather than a photograph--made it all that much more real...simply cool.
     
  10. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    I think your question could be extended to include many things which although not in a newspaper are present in our culture.

    I will leave out religion but apart from religion there clearly exists a need on the part of many humans for mystery on the one hand but a desire to be informed about the future on the other.

    So many folk have a lucky object which they must have with them if they compete or travel.

    Often we hear of a professional sports star having a "lucky" something.

    I blame the parents as there would be little hope that children would accept strange ideas unless the parents had not somehow endorsed them.

    I always provided my children with real answers.
    I developed an ability to explain things simply and to absolutely avoid giving a throw away answer.

    A problem that exists with most humans and therefore parents is an inbuilt inability to say the simple words " I don't know"..

    So , and I have witnessed this many times, a child will ask the patent a question that clearly the parent can not answer, however rather than to say so, but the parent will invent an answer.

    That answer often not science based. Any answer that is a mere guess is best with held.

    That answer can be founded in religious belief.

    Daddy why does it rain?
    That's the angels crying because of the evil in the world.


    Why are many folk happy to believe UFOs are alien space ships, why do many folk believe in the predictive power of Tarot cards or fortune tellers.

    Look in your local paper and you may find folk advertising a service of fortune telling.(unless now banned but I stumbled on one many years ago).

    Unfortunately our society does not care about hunting down liars.

    It should.

    You want to claim angels are real provide evidence or stop lieing.

    You want to say UFOs are alien craft well provide evidence or stop lieing.

    Astrology is lieing and should not be excepted or tolerated.

    The fact it is in a newspaper to a child, and unfortunately some adults, lends credibility.

    Alex
     
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  11. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    Nice post as usual Alex!

    Hmmm, my old man told me the Angels were having a piss.

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    What gets me is the airs of refinement the nuts pushing these things have, and the indignant pretentious nonsense we get in reply, if anyone dare questions their motives and/or judgment.

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    There's a few threads I stay clear of now, when the certified nut/God botherer tag is obvious for the initiator of those threads.......[believe it or not]
     
  12. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    Your probably closer but it might be your old man didn't want you going out in the rain.

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  13. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    I am surprised you have not turned to astronomy.
    Scopes are rather cheap these days.
    And a good scope at the beach with the boats etc passing would be nice, although you would need to play to get the image turned right side up.
    Alex
     
  14. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    Just living in the City Alex and light pollution.

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  15. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    Yes but if you are into it you travel far out i to the bush and then billions of miles out into space.
    Viewing the Moon is rather cool.
    I miss it, this place is sourounded by trees and I have about 30 degrees window.
    It is cool looking at three galaxies in the field of view knowing the huge distances involved.
    Alex
     
  16. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    I have done plenty of Moon viewing via scopes...One was at a time of a Lunar eclipse around 10 years ago.
    Also had a mate living at Emu Planes who had a Reflector Telescope.
     
  17. river

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    Did you know people that Carl Sagan wrote a paper about ;

    DIRECT CONTACT AMONG GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS BY REALATIVISTIC INTERSTELLER SPACEFLIGHT .

    In December 16, 1962 .

    In the journal ; PLANETRY AND SPACE SCIENCE .
     
  18. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    Sure river....
    here it is...........................
    http://epizodsspace.no-ip.org/bibl/inostr-yazyki/planetary-and-space-science/1963/sagan_direct.pdf

    Carl also wrote some reputable books both on science and science fiction....Pale Blue Dot, Cosmos, The Demon Haunted World, Contact, Billions and Billions and more.....
    He also was a great believer in the Universe being teaming with life of many different types, and yet often took to task, those gullible fools who so often claim without the extraordinary evidence required, that Earth has been visited by Aliens and of course all the UFO nonsense.
    A great educator as I have often noted.
     
  19. river

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    The depth of his paper shows otherwise .
     
  20. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    And your credentials to speak on his behalf river?
    Or is this just more river trolling.... tsk tsk tsk!

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  21. river

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    Have you actually read the paper , pad ?
     
  22. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    Yes river, I read the paper obviously.
    He exactly like me and most astronomers expresses the likelyhood of life throughout the galaxy and universe at various levels.
    Simply because of the near infinite extent of the universe, the near infinite content of the universe, the stuff of life being everywhere we have looked, the probability that other planets in ideal situations, should also see abiogenisis arise, then evolution.
    No one doubts any of those situations and reasoning.....but the fact remains, and Carl will tell you so, as will all other reputable cosmologists, that as yet we still have no evidence of any ETL, and certainly no extraordinary evidence of any Aliens visiting Earth.
    Now are you going to play your game again river?
    Are you going to come out with another of your meaningless one liners?
    Or are you going to attempt to impress the forum, with some more pretentious nonsense about your own non existent investigations?

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    I must now be off.
    You have a good day my friend, OK?

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  23. river

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    What does this mean ?
     

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