CheekyQi

Physics/Biophysics 2018 ACCHS Professor Spears Sarah Donnelly TCM & Physics             Of all the fascinating material covered in this course, it was quantum physics which really stuck with me. The impossibly small world which underlies our macro world is governed by different laws, because when things get very small, apparently they also get very weird. The laws which rule the quantum level can't be applied to the world on our scale, and vice versa. It would like assuming breathing air would be like breathing water. The different worlds just work in different ways. Some favorite weirdnesses: •       Entangled particles, separated by the globe, will simultaneously react even if only one particle is subjected to a stimuli. •       Molecules can exist in more than one physical state at the same time, temporarily stopping at one particular state when being observed. Is it a wave? Particle? Depends on who's watching and what their expectations are •

This week we covered bionics for those who have lost limbs or full musculoskeletal function of their bodies. Would you support the development of a bionic person? Yes, absolutely. The articles we covered in class were inspiring, these stories of huge-hearted people who were driven to help those who want full use of their bodies. From athletes to children, everyone deserves a chance to use their minds and bodies to their full abilities. There was a lot of discussion in class about the possible shadow side of this technology, but we can't get hung up on pessimistic maybes - foretelling the future is not a skill I have, nor would I want it. The technology is a tool, and in the hands of unscrupulous people it may become a weapon. But for now, the potential benefits to humankind outweigh the potential for bad. Would your view change if this were for a military purpose? 'Military purpose' was probably intentionally vague. I'd support the technology, regardless.

This is a terrible truth. "The human species is living as if it had more than one planet to occupy". And more weighty than ever with the present administration - at first impression, it seemed they were simply overturning their predecessor's policies across the board. But worse than that, they are overturning the earth-protecting policies which hamper the profits of large corporations.  The Dakota Access Pipeline, disavowing all evidence of climate change, dismantling protections for the earth, air and water, endangered animals - not to mention horrific crimes against people who aren't wealthy or white. It's hard to even write about without getting my heat up and feeling frustrated and angry at myself for not taking action. I'm gone off topic a little here, focusing on the crimes of this administration specifically instead of humankind in general, but the ones here on home soil are so much more glaring to me.  In the US, we seem to be living as i

Found this adorable animation of how a virus replicates - viruses are really cool! They act alive but aren't 'alive' as we define life. They are fully parasitic, depending on their hosts to support their reproductive functions. What I find so interesting is their uncompromising drive to replicate - it can be so aggressive, that it kills the host too quickly, before it can spread - as in the case of filoviruses like Ebola, some strains of which have mortality of up to 90%. Influenza is a 'smarter' virus, in that there is a longer incubation period in which the host might spread the disease while exhibiting few to zero symptoms. Viruses can adapt, but only in the most direct, obvious ways - by manipulating the defenses and metabolism of the host cells. Thank goodness, because these mighty little machines would be terrifying if capable of critical thinking. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0002397 http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/ce

Death, illness, suffering are as natural a part of life as birth. From these shadow subjects comes the richness of religion, philosophy and faith - the very fearsomeness of death gives life it's spice and energy. How we deal with suffering - whether we accept it or fight it - has everything to do with the culture of our community. Do we intend to avoid suffering at all cost? Do we intend to enjoy the life we have, and connect with the people we call family? Do we choose not only run towards pain, but help shepherd others through theirs?  My grandfather had been living alone and mostly isolated after my grandma passed away. When my uncle stopped in to visit, he found that grandpa was sleeping downstairs on an old, broken, moldy couch covered in dog hair and urine, using a loaf of bread as a pillow. He was disoriented and in pain. Uncle Derrick took him to the hospital and they found a huge colorectal tumor, nearly complete hearing loss and borderline vision. We had

Biophysics encompasses so many parts of other disciplines of science, and I like how the definition of biophysics seems to change depending on what it's trying to describe. Biology is the study of living systems, and so this week we covered: - alternative ideas on the origins of life on earth - what it means to be alive vs. dead - whether clinically brain dead patients are aware/can communicate - whether we ought to expect a mass extinction soonish - discussion on the mad tetris skills of mother nature when packing in DNA Judging from this week's readings, I'd conclude that biophysics means biology and physics and all that entails...with a healthy dose of ethics, alternative ideas, and how to see things from different perspectives. Curiosity. Compassion. Connectedness. Biophysics feels like the best of what science has to offer. This body I ride around in sure feels like a living system - it gets worn down and tired, it demands constant feeding and