Neurophysiologists have discovered clusters of brain nerve cells that respond to identical stimulus at random rates each time the stimulus is provided. The response is as random as is the flip of a coin as to whether or not it turns up heads or tails.

In the article, Roger Carpenter of the University of Cambridge, UK, says "It seems that the brain has a gratuitous randomizer, a sort of cerebral roulette wheel."

This aspect of brain activity may be used to explain aspects of behavior that appear to be unpredictable in animals as well as that which is interpreted as creativity in humans, as various areas of the brain respond in random ways to assorted stimuli.

In a reductionist manner, as the many neuron cells in the brain respond at random to the many stimuli available to human perception, different random rates of responses compete, yielding that which is in essence a race within the brain to result in the behavior or idea expressed.

Due to the enormous number of random neuron cells interacting in the human brain, for example, humans perceive activity as being controlled or directed when, if examined in an objective manner, the following is a most likely explanation which includes this aspect of random brain neuron interaction ...

... All activity as witnessed at any moment in time is no more or less than the totality of that which makes up an individual brain-neuron sensing network, a network resulting from genes + memes + stimuli (totality of life experiences) + the interaction (random response times and competition within all responding areas of the brain activity) of an enormously complex nature.

On a philosophical level, this aspect of existence explains all behavior, putting the lie to the notion that any of us is really "in control". The "in control" we feel is merely an illusion resulting from our inability to be conscious of the enormously complex array of neuron cells' response times and interactions which yield all of our activity.

Consciousness, identity, behavior direction, every act, every deed, every aspect of being, understandable as a result of haphazard interactions (competition of brain neuron cells) that none of us is "in control" of.

Source:

• Nature [link inactive]

Nanotechnology

Recent developments in nanotechnology:

• Clear sunscreen which blocks harmful ultraviolet light with zinc particles a few dozen nanometers wide
• Scratch-proof plastic coating for navy helmet visors and jet windows (may some day be used to scratch-proof regular eyeglasses)
• Nano-engineered plastic pouch for helium-filled sneakers (in Japan)
• High-temperature lubricants (able to handle temperatures about 100 degrees higher than current lubricants)
• Nanoplastic missiles cheaper and easier to manufacture than current metal-jacketed ones
• Weatherproof circuit boards in boats and swimming pools
• Odor-trapping fabrics
• Stain-resistant fabrics
• Synthetic fabrics with comfort qualities of cotton

A few nanotechnology developments currently being researched:

• Clothes that change color and size upon command (being researched by DuPont)
• Breathable clothing that lets air in and keeps chemical and biological toxins out (by the U.S. Army - estimated to be available in two years)
• Combat uniforms which can stop bullets, monitor vital signs, change appearance for camouflage purposes (by the U.S. Army - estimated to be available in ten years)
  

Sources:

• CNN [link inactive]
• CNN (nanotechnology graphic description) [link inactive]

Background Reference:

• Scientific American (Little Big Science) [link inactive]

For 14 months, 7 monkeys given a new AIDS vaccine have remained AIDS-free despite being infected with the AIDS virus. The vaccine can be administered via a nasal spray. The article refers to this as bringing scientists "one step closer to an effective vaccine for humans".

Source:

• Scientific American [link inactive]

In a story from a more general research perspective on an AIDS vaccine, from the BBC on Thursday, September 6th, scientists have expressed optimism that an AIDS vaccine may be developed in years rather than decades.

The report, from an international conference in Philadelphia of scientists working on an effective AIDS vaccine, indicates that as more knowledge is gained on how the human immune system works, one of the many vaccines being tested will become effectual in the coming years.

A word of caution, however. Optimism is great, but patience must go along with that optimism as it's difficult to predict with any degree of accuracy how long it will be until an actual safe and effective AIDS vaccine becomes widely available for humans.

Source:

• BBC

Definition of No God?

Well, based on one's definition of god, thereby would be the definition of no god.

For example, if one defines god as a 'god of love', presence of no love from said god would be evidence of no god (reference horror, death, cancer, AIDS, etc... for a clue regarding the evidence of no love and no god of love).

If one defines god as a 'god of prayers answered', evidence of prayers not answered would be evidence of no god. As George Carlin has put it (paraphrasing here), praying to Joe Pesci would yield the same "success" or lack thereof as praying to any god. Imagining a god is listening to you is quite apart from a god listening to you.

Imagining a god is interacting with the real world is not necessary if a god wishes to impart that supposedly key piece of information in a manner beyond dispute. It is god we're talking about, here, after all, not some magic act of "make believe", isn't it?

If one defines god as a 'god of anything / everything one wishes / desires', evidence of that god would be little more than a confirmation that by wishing / desiring something, you can, indeed, imagine that it exists. As to whether god exists anywhere other than in the human imagination, that's an entirely objective and testable phenomena, and there has yet to be anything other than superstition and claims presented in that regard.

To put it bluntly, god exists in a distinct and identifiable location, that location being in the human imagination, the same exact location for every imaginary being / place / fantasy / myth that humans have ever constructed.

Source:

• Pro-Humanist FREELOVER