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The Fundamental Assumptions of Science

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As mankind stretches their understanding of the universe, both on the macroscopic and microscopic levels, a strange thing happens: people talk themselves out of religion using the theories of men.  This isn't to say that everyone does this.  I am personally very comfortable with being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and with learning science; they fit together quite nicely and science tends to confirm my faith.  So what’s the difference? Why are some people moved to agnosticism and atheism while others become firmer in their faith? Of course there can be a conscious choice there, but I want to focus on a more subtle choice; or maybe it’s more like an unconscious awareness of a specific fact about science, namely, the scientific method is based upon several fundamental philosophical assumptions.  There are three of these assumptions, any of which needs consideration on a deeper enough level that is not given a thought.  More astoun...
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Pro-life laws are clear

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 Ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages ("spontaneous abortions") are not criminalized.   I had looked at a couple states' laws personally.  These personal investigations were sparked by stories of women allegedly being denied care for ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages by their doctors out of the doctors' "fear" of the law or the law's "ambiguity."  For each law I looked at, it took me maybe 5 minutes to comprehend its clear definition of abortion, that did not include or criminalize in any possible manner, care for ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages. I considered compiling something like the below linked article, but figured someone had already done so.  Lo and behold, a week or so later, it falls into my lap: https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/07/how-every-state-pro-life-law-handles-ectopic-pregnancy-and-miscarriage/ My conclusion, either the doctors are stupid, liars, lazy, or didn't do what the women said they did.  In the first three...
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Down the rabbit hole...

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This is from a 2013 draft for a post: Has anyone else had the feeling recently that they're living in a dream?  Or more precisely, a novel?  Let me share a couple incidents that make me feel that way. First, Mars One .  I came across this project near the end of 2012.  Looking through this proposal to send permanent residents to Mars, I couldn't help but feel that it would work.  It was surreal to realize that I was seriously considering the plausibility of the plans that would separate humans from their primeval home and plant them on a remote sphere out in space.  I really can't lay it out better than that.  If you want to get a sense of what I was experiencing read through the pages in the Mission section of the Mars One website.  Then again, if you're not inclined to read sci-fi novels, then maybe you won't feel the same way.  However this concept ought to rouse some subtle emotions in all of us. Next, this story posted in The Bl...
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On My Way to Better Writing...

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This is just a little disclaimer about the quality and/or content of my current posts.  I do not claim to be a great writer, which is why I'm writing.  Eventually I should be able to express the thoughts in my head clearly.  However, in the meantime my posts are written all at once and left mostly unedited meaning they may fall short of excellent wordsmithery (check MerriamWebster  for that word). Hopefully knowing this will inspire you to help me in this endeavor rather than lull you into apathy about my writing.  So, if you see something that inspires you, or something I could improve, leave comments of liberal length.  I'll read them all. Anyway, until next post, keep being wonderful!
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It's All About Probability

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As a chemistry major and, hopefully, an eventual teacher, I've tried to pay attention to how chemistry is taught.  One particular trend in organic chemistry confused me a little before I figured out what the truth really is. Organic chemists, or maybe just those that teach, tend to describe reactions and chemicals as if they “prefer” or “like to do” certain reactions.  This isn't particularly accurate or quantitative in the scientific sense.  I can appreciate the use of these metaphors to make reactions understandable, but it’s just not correct and, I believe, hinders true understanding of chemical systems.  Here, as in many places, honesty may be the best policy. So what’s the truth about what’s going on?  When a student asks about a potential alternate reaction and the teacher says “That doesn't really happen” what do they mean?  The truth dawned on me as I was finishing up our university’s two-semester o-chem course.  The fact of the matter...
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