Epigenetic mechanisms which involve biochemical alterations to DNA structure have been documented to result in heritable changes in gene expression. Unlike mutations, however, epigenetic changes do not involve changes in the primary DNA sequence, such that a nucleotide would change into a different nucleotide. Nevertheless, the field of epigenetics has been a fertile ground for […]
Read more "The Charade of Epigenetic Evolution"A deep connection exists between the microscopic world of atoms that holds together small molecules and the features of the macroscopic world around us, typified by complex structures, the likes of which include life, stars, and galaxies. The properties of the universe at large that have allowed biological life to evolve are determined by the […]
Read more "Diverse Scales"Whenever we speak of the truth, we tend to divide it along a certain objective-subjective dichotomy. But, the very idea that that there is such a thing as “subjective truth” hardly does justice to the concept of truth itself. The term “subjective truth” is largely an oxymoron and has given rise to common philosophical tendencies […]
Read more "The Assault on Truth"It can be argued that the birth of modern science in the 17th Century has relegated much of philosophy’s influence, overtaking its epistemological capability. The dissolution of philosophy into the the natural sciences saw increasing attempts to redefine philosophy in the face of an ever-increasing scientific eclipse. In fact, much of philosophy, today, can be […]
Read more "Is Philosophy Dead?"Mysticism quite often reinforces itself by delimiting the bounds of reason. It thrives on absolving itself of rational justification. This complacent evasion of intellectual responsibility, which the mystical realm so often enjoys, allows it to suspend the very thing that holds it into account. The scientific process is accused of being dogmatically reductionist and biasedly […]
Read more "What We Don’t Know"August 21st 2017, the effulgent glares of the sun are quelled by the shadows of the Moon into a spectacular phenomenon that unites the entire of North America. The sun’s much fainter corona are projected into prominent display and the sky is gradually darkened into an unearthly hue bedecked with bright stars and planets. The […]
Read more "Path of Totality 2017"In 18th century Europe, a most potent killer was ravaging entire populations. It had been claiming the lives of 400,000 victims a year. Those who survived its horrors were left disfigured or blinded. Those who did not internally bled to death. The destruction caused was so great, the dread so severe enough to merit its […]
Read more "The Speckled Monster"Whenever science is praised, its advances are often exemplified in light of the enormous practical benefits through which they had eased the labours of human life. The prolongation of life, the construction of machinery, the improvement of welfare are themes that give a somewhat distorted impression of science as solely an enterprise for practical gain, serviced entirely […]
Read more "On the Meaning of Science"It takes the processes of scientific thought to look beyond the prejudice that human intuition so inconveniently sets upon our views of the natural world. The natural world operates not according to our preconceptions and short-sight but rather according to logical consequences of reasoned thought. The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes once reflected that “it is […]
Read more "Remembering Charles Darwin"Is there a definition for life? The great physicist, Erwin Schrodinger, in his influential 1944 book What is Life? posed this question and remarked that “the obvious inability of present-day physics and chemistry to account for such events is no reason at all for doubting that they can be accounted for by those sciences”. But, […]
Read more "What is Life?"