Seems that I should have mentioned why (some) leaves turn red in fall: The leaves produce anthocyanins (a reddish stuff). If there are little nitrogen (and other elements) in the ground, the leaves produce more anthocyanins. The trees get (some of) the nutritionts from the leaves when they fall on the ground near the trees and decompose (and perhaps also some of the nutritionts when the leaves are still left on the trees). See link below.
Anthocyanins occur naturally in some plants with red leaves, especially if the photosynthesis isn't so active in those plants. That means they get more of other nutritionts directly from the leaves (perhaps some antioxidants) by use of the anthocyanins.
Red berries and blue berries in the woods also protect the plants they grow on against microbes and plant illnesses (and probably other plants) by their content of antioxidants. Blueberry plants often have some red leaves, especially if they live in the shade of other plants or trees (or the ground make much shade). So anthocyanins is (at least in some degree) a sort of replacement for photosynthesis among several plants.
If you look at trees getting reddish leaves, you see that leaves in cold or windy parts are more reddish. They still contribute with some temperature protection of the more green leaves on the inside parts, so the green leaves still have some photosynthesis.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071025112042.htm
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Chapter II: Why (Most) Africans Are Poor
During Ice Ages (and somewhat between) some Neandertals, living in the North or the Middle of Europe, probably were moving South, but (old) Erectus or (new) Sapiens on the other side were travelling North to avoid too much heat and thereby little resources even further South. Besides, the South of Europe and North of Africa had a much wetter climate due to glacier melting or the blocking of downfall in the North of Europe. Ice and snow areas blocked much of the downfall in North of Europe, and rivers of melting water and rainfall nearby in the south meant that more food resources were available there.
Because the Neandertals had been living in the North and the Middle of Europe, they knew how to claim the food, that gradually were much of the same type that they got further north. The Sapiens were probably driven somewhat south by the Neandertals, but after a while a few smarter individuals adapted to both food in the north and south. They who could not adapt, went to stay back in the North of Africa. There they built large villages that meant a lot of people on a familiar diet, but the resources of food there got smaller and smaller. War between tribes had to arise; that meant the best warriors got rewarded on the expense of more intelligent or creative people. "Brawn over brain".
After a lot of generations the savage genes dominated much of the populations in Africa, while the Sapiens in the north (and partly south) had to keep together and cooperate to outwit the Neandertals, that probably got scared off to barren land in the end. Ingenuity were rewarded in the north, while strength and quick abilities were rewarded in the south (the best athletic people are often Africans, while inventors and discoverers are most often people with origins in the northern parts of Earth).
With the most aggressive men to be rewarded with the best resources (women, cattle and land) in Africa (and partly Asia) during hundreds of generations, there is no wonder that Africans (and some Asians and Latinos) are inferior to other people (with origins in the north) by running the societies in a peaceful and democratic manner. This the politicans must learn and understand to ever manage to reverse the bad developments we have seen the last hundred years.
Because the Neandertals had been living in the North and the Middle of Europe, they knew how to claim the food, that gradually were much of the same type that they got further north. The Sapiens were probably driven somewhat south by the Neandertals, but after a while a few smarter individuals adapted to both food in the north and south. They who could not adapt, went to stay back in the North of Africa. There they built large villages that meant a lot of people on a familiar diet, but the resources of food there got smaller and smaller. War between tribes had to arise; that meant the best warriors got rewarded on the expense of more intelligent or creative people. "Brawn over brain".
After a lot of generations the savage genes dominated much of the populations in Africa, while the Sapiens in the north (and partly south) had to keep together and cooperate to outwit the Neandertals, that probably got scared off to barren land in the end. Ingenuity were rewarded in the north, while strength and quick abilities were rewarded in the south (the best athletic people are often Africans, while inventors and discoverers are most often people with origins in the northern parts of Earth).
With the most aggressive men to be rewarded with the best resources (women, cattle and land) in Africa (and partly Asia) during hundreds of generations, there is no wonder that Africans (and some Asians and Latinos) are inferior to other people (with origins in the north) by running the societies in a peaceful and democratic manner. This the politicans must learn and understand to ever manage to reverse the bad developments we have seen the last hundred years.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Chapter I: We All Do Math
To make fast decisions we all calculate by guessing the (almost) right number of items. Why do we all have that ability? The scientists are puzzled... And who do they "call"?
Well, it seems that some other animals (other primates, birds and perhaps dolphins/whales) have this ability too. Some of the reasons are obvious - if you belong to a group it's an advantage to have a sense that tells you that something or someone belonging to that group is missing - this give the group better survival conditions.
By fast guessing a number of items, qualities or persons (at least almost correctly!) crises have been avoided from one generation to the next in increased manner. By knowing almost in advance that another (hostile) group would be equally matched by your own, there were no reason to go to war about resources.
This changed much by religions in mankinds later periods ( "The god is on our side"). Neandertals probably didn't believe in any gods judging in their favour, but lived in peace or harmony with their neighbours. Of course, they were chased off by the superstitious Sapiens. If the Neandertals believed in anything superstitious, it would be that the world was full of demons or spirits that all were hostile. Neandertals with less advanced societies were often prey of Nature - so why should they believe in any gods??
Inventions or ideas by the smart Sapiens showed on the other hand that life really could be good. The persons that made the inventions or discoveries and so on were soon forgotten... so who or what could be behind "all the good stuff in life"? Like Neandertals, they probably also believed in evil... so there had to be something (or someone!) that counteracted that evil... and what could that be, you wonder? You guessed it: Gods!
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/36601/title/FOR_KIDS_Math_and_our_number_sense
Well, it seems that some other animals (other primates, birds and perhaps dolphins/whales) have this ability too. Some of the reasons are obvious - if you belong to a group it's an advantage to have a sense that tells you that something or someone belonging to that group is missing - this give the group better survival conditions.
By fast guessing a number of items, qualities or persons (at least almost correctly!) crises have been avoided from one generation to the next in increased manner. By knowing almost in advance that another (hostile) group would be equally matched by your own, there were no reason to go to war about resources.
This changed much by religions in mankinds later periods ( "The god is on our side"). Neandertals probably didn't believe in any gods judging in their favour, but lived in peace or harmony with their neighbours. Of course, they were chased off by the superstitious Sapiens. If the Neandertals believed in anything superstitious, it would be that the world was full of demons or spirits that all were hostile. Neandertals with less advanced societies were often prey of Nature - so why should they believe in any gods??
Inventions or ideas by the smart Sapiens showed on the other hand that life really could be good. The persons that made the inventions or discoveries and so on were soon forgotten... so who or what could be behind "all the good stuff in life"? Like Neandertals, they probably also believed in evil... so there had to be something (or someone!) that counteracted that evil... and what could that be, you wonder? You guessed it: Gods!
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/36601/title/FOR_KIDS_Math_and_our_number_sense
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Nature Behind It All
Just some updates for my future book with the same name...
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
1- The power of four...
Four leaf clover has a sort of propeller shaped leaves... this make it easier for the leaves to wave in the wind since this compact lump is heavier than three leaf clover. And why is it important to clover to wave in the wind? If you look carefully, you see a V-shape pattern on each leaf, which look a bit similar to birds at distance in the air.
When insects approach, they discover the V-shape patterns and try to avoid the (animated) leaves. So they won't lay eggs there (to develop leaf eating worms). If a farmer get propeller like leaves of paper also with a similar V-shape pattern around his crop, his crop will be more left alone from insects, I guess.
2- BUurrr... ("goodbye to Summer..." "...seal it with a kiss" - Hyland)
One most likely reason why the leaves turn reddish is to gradually prepare for winter. It's more cost effective to have the left green (wind and cold protected) leaves to gather the increasing weaker sunlight to produce some nutrition still, while the more cold exposed, reddish leaves don't draw cold nutrition to the three (or plant) - which might be harmful. So it's a bit like us humans - we more likely get a cold when fall is at our doorstep (aaatschooo!).
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
1- The power of four...
Four leaf clover has a sort of propeller shaped leaves... this make it easier for the leaves to wave in the wind since this compact lump is heavier than three leaf clover. And why is it important to clover to wave in the wind? If you look carefully, you see a V-shape pattern on each leaf, which look a bit similar to birds at distance in the air.
When insects approach, they discover the V-shape patterns and try to avoid the (animated) leaves. So they won't lay eggs there (to develop leaf eating worms). If a farmer get propeller like leaves of paper also with a similar V-shape pattern around his crop, his crop will be more left alone from insects, I guess.
2- BUurrr... ("goodbye to Summer..." "...seal it with a kiss" - Hyland)
One most likely reason why the leaves turn reddish is to gradually prepare for winter. It's more cost effective to have the left green (wind and cold protected) leaves to gather the increasing weaker sunlight to produce some nutrition still, while the more cold exposed, reddish leaves don't draw cold nutrition to the three (or plant) - which might be harmful. So it's a bit like us humans - we more likely get a cold when fall is at our doorstep (aaatschooo!).
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Purpose Of It All?
PUurrr...pose? Why, you poor, lonely guys... (Agneta F)
We may never know what made the whole world, but at least we know that the world will not sustain life forever. There's a rapid increase of space in our universe, but the energy amount here is constant, so the energy possible to exploit will be increasingly difficult as it spreads out in an increased volume of space as the billion years pass by. We will be trapped in our own galaxy - The Milkyway (together with Andromeda and some small neighbour galaxys) with stars that at the later stages won't radiate enough heat. Even the black holes will eventually disappear.
This goes for every galaxy in the universe - there's no escape. What to do then? There's no other option but to find out everything about the nature of 1-particles, 2-energy, 3-time, 4-space and 5-dimensions and how they relate to each other. The sooner we find out, the better... there might be some sort of loopholes that let life survive by altering one or more characters belonging to some of 1-5, or all of those - meaning we have to take the ultimate step by creating a whole new universe.
The "old" universe, our own, may not survive into a new universe... so a sort of doomsday machine will be constructed, either by us (our descendants) or an alien civilization. An AI will calculate the exact moment before a civilization in our galaxy will not be able anymore to slurp up enough energy from their nearby stars and be forced to invade other star systems with life already present, and decide to "push the button".
There's a possibility that this type of AI already is constructed by an alien civilization... so possible hostilities between aliens and natives at a star system might get the AI there (or at the other star system) to push the button EARLY. This threat will keep civilizations at peace with each other. So there's little chance of Earth ever being invaded by hostile aliens. Every civilization would want to build a doomsday machine that has this ability to keep the civilization from going to war with other civilizations. If a primitive civilization doesn't have a doomsday machine, one will be placed nearby, but out of reach for that civilization. Probably would it have a scrambling effect on intelligent signals that reach a primitive civilization (to be on the safe side).
This goes for every galaxy in the universe - there's no escape. What to do then? There's no other option but to find out everything about the nature of 1-particles, 2-energy, 3-time, 4-space and 5-dimensions and how they relate to each other. The sooner we find out, the better... there might be some sort of loopholes that let life survive by altering one or more characters belonging to some of 1-5, or all of those - meaning we have to take the ultimate step by creating a whole new universe.
The "old" universe, our own, may not survive into a new universe... so a sort of doomsday machine will be constructed, either by us (our descendants) or an alien civilization. An AI will calculate the exact moment before a civilization in our galaxy will not be able anymore to slurp up enough energy from their nearby stars and be forced to invade other star systems with life already present, and decide to "push the button".
There's a possibility that this type of AI already is constructed by an alien civilization... so possible hostilities between aliens and natives at a star system might get the AI there (or at the other star system) to push the button EARLY. This threat will keep civilizations at peace with each other. So there's little chance of Earth ever being invaded by hostile aliens. Every civilization would want to build a doomsday machine that has this ability to keep the civilization from going to war with other civilizations. If a primitive civilization doesn't have a doomsday machine, one will be placed nearby, but out of reach for that civilization. Probably would it have a scrambling effect on intelligent signals that reach a primitive civilization (to be on the safe side).
Monday, September 8, 2008
What Is Real?
Hmmmm.... clones... blueprints... zombies...
At last a book with some REAL science! Or perhaps unreal...?
One of man's biggest mysteries... Who are we? What are we?
Why are we? Where are we? Are you more than me? Am I more than you?
In the beginning of reading a lot of "weird" stuff I understood less and less...
It's like having scrambling piles of jig saw puzzles belonging to totally different themes.
But suddenly you find a few pieces that belong together, and you see at least a few outlines that explain in a rough manner how some stuff in this weird universe is related. I want to find those outlines an put'em on this blog... further explanations of mysteries (even women!) will be presented in a book (or books!) I am planning to write.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
