Bouquet #11: Eclectic Mind Food (Plant Cognition, Manhattan line, Ratings, Made up Physics, Eco Math)

Desh Kapoor -
Photo by Arteum.ro / Unsplash
“We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress.” ― Richard P. Feynman

1. Plants and Cognition

Do plants think?  The science is now coming to the understanding that they are cognitive.  And that opens up far more questions about our own intelligence and cognitive abilities.

What Plants Are Saying About Us - Nautilus
Your brain is not the root of cognition.
NautilusAmanda Gefter

2. The line above Manhattan

Called an eruv, there is about 18 miles of translucent wire that stretches around the skyline.  Hardly anyone has noticed it. The reason for its origin - Jewish Sabbath.

There’s a Wire Above Manhattan That You’ve Probably Never Noticed
It’s 18 miles long.
Mental FlossJason Serafino

3. How ratings destroy human lives

The Dutch city of Rotterdam implemented a system to rank individuals based on their risk of fraud. The results, however, were concerning.

This Algorithm Could Ruin Your Life
A system used by the Dutch city of Rotterdam ranked people based on their risk of fraud. The results were troubling.
WIREDCondé Nast

4. Is Physics made up?

There was a time when the math helped science.  Now math creates science.  Where is the science going?

Yes, everything in physics is completely made up – that’s the whole point | BBC Science Focus Magazine
A physicist’s task is to constantly create equations that keep up with our observations of physical phenomena.
BBC Science Focus MagazineDr Katie Mack

5. Math to model Fragility of the Ecosystems

One area where ecology modelers have made significant advancements in recent years is in the use of simplified models. By using just one equation instead of thousands, these models are able to more accurately represent the complex interactions of ecosystems. This is particularly important when it comes to assessing the health of fragile environments, as it allows researchers to more precisely determine how close these ecosystems are to tipping points that could lead to catastrophic consequences. Without these simplified models, it would be much more difficult to predict and prevent the collapse of critical ecosystems, and the loss of biodiversity and essential ecosystem services that would result.

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