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From Posts Secret

I'm A Trig Truther

sin² θ + cos² θ = 1

Getting The Finger

Getting this kind of finger is a good thing.

The results of numeracy and literacy tests for seven-year-old children can be predicted by measuring the length of their fingers, shows new research.

In a study to be published in the British Journal of Psychology, scientists compared the finger lengths of 75 children with their Standardised Assessment Test (SAT) scores.

They found a clear link between a child's performance in numeracy and literacy tests and the relative lengths of their index (pointing) and ring fingers.

Scientists believe that the link is caused by different levels of the hormones testosterone and oestrogen in the womb and the effect they have on both brain development and finger length.

"Testosterone has been argued to promote development of the areas of the brain which are often associated with spatial and mathematical skills," said Dr Mark Brosnan, Head of the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, who led the study.

"Oestrogen is thought to do the same in the areas of the brain which are often associated with verbal ability.

"Interestingly, these hormones are also thought have a say in the relative lengths of our index and ring fingers.

"We can use measurements of these fingers as a way of gauging the relative exposure to these two hormones in the womb and as we have shown through this study, we can also use them to predict ability in the key areas of numeracy and literacy."

I had first heard about this some years back and when I told my daughter about it she immediately checked out her fingers. She definitely had "math fingers". It made her happy to hear that. Currently she is a second year student in chemical engineering. So maybe there is something to the finger thing.

But fingers don't tell the whole story - just the relative strength of the influences. You can do well at language and math. It is how you get an 1600 on the SATs. Some people do it. Me? I have "math fingers" but did better on my verbal SAT than on the math/science part (not by much). I wound up being an engineer. I can assure you my reports are well written.

Cross Posted at Classical Values

Skip The Numbahs

Consequently he who wishes to attain to human perfection, must therefore first study Logic, next the various branches of Mathematics in their proper order, then Physics, and lastly Metaphysics. - Maimonides

It seems the trend these days is to skip all the hard stuff like logic, math, and physics (including chemistry) and go straight for the metaphysics. It leaves out all that tiresome stuff subject to experiment and proof and goes straight for the ineffable. Which no one can possibly eff. Very convenient.

Cross Posted at Classical Values

Faith In Numbers

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Do The Math

"As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality."--Albert Einstein

I have mentioned this before but I think the Feynman Lectures linked here provide a very good example of the connection between mathematics and reality.

Einstein further expounds on the proposition:

"It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure." -- Albert Einstein

A Certain Reality

"As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality."--Albert Einstein

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
- Albert Einstein

STEM

STEM stands for The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Institute. It is a volunteer program designed to get kids interested in science and technology.

One of its programs is an effort to increase scientific understanding among K-12 school teachers. Another program is STEM Rays, a program to encourage more science clubs in grades 4 to 8. Start early and you will get these kids for life. At the very least it will help reduce scientific illiteracy in America. Which is a good thing.

H/T commenter Chatteron

Fun With Physics

Commenter Keegan at talk.polywell found this really neat site with a bunch of Java applets that show how the natural world works - electrostatic fields, magnetic fields, etc. Plus some good math and engineering applets. All with very nice graphics.

A New Kind of Science - Stephen Wolfram

There is a very interesting video on Google by Stephen Wolfram, inventor of Mathematica.

He talks about how simple systems with simple rules can generate very complex results.

Here is the book the lecture is based on: A New Kind of Science

Explore Wolfram Science.