Nucleons bind to form a nucleus, and some mass is converted to energy, so the mass of the combined nucleus is less than the sum of masses of all nucleons individually. This delta m is known as mass defect. This nuclear binding energy can be found from Einstein’s equation for mass-energy equivalence, E = delta m (c*c), where delta m represents the mass defect.
According to wikipedia,
the ancient Egyptians believed that the placenta was imbued with magical powers.[12] In fact, the placenta of the pharaoh was placed on a pole and carried into battle. This is history’s first flag. <http://www.psychohistory.com/htm/eln04f_footnotestrauma.html>
That is wild! What do you think “magical” meant to a polytheistic civilization such as ancient Egypt? Does it have a connection to medicine, or is it simply the association with birth and the body, that gives it magical properties?
Béla Bartók was a Hungarian composer who carried inspiration from the naturalistic and traditional music of his motherland to develop his own symphonic sound. Some argue that his works segment certain events according to the golden ratio, so that tension is developed or released 61.8% through a movement or melody. Others are quick to point out that there is no concrete proof that this is intended. Listening to his music produces a stange feeling of conflcting scales. One explanation of this sound suggests that an “organic synthesis” of eastern and western music, and that his music relies on resolving the flattened mediant (Eb in C) and the sharpened subdominant (Gb in C) to the tonic in a series of “axis systems”. I don’t understand yet what this means, but the effect is distinct.
In an 8-7 vote, the Texas Board of Education voted against the proposed mandatory insertion of “strengths and weaknesses” into textbooks. That was close! Has anyone wondered why our representatives are split 50/50 regarding an issue as fundamental to our science (and faith) as evolution? 48% of the US population agree that evolution is the best explanation for life on earth, the rest split between a belief in creation and no opinion.
Pew survey
Scientists often avoid discussing the issue out of fear of political pressure. Further dialogue would allow the public to understand the arguments (and scope) of evolutionary theory, which is so fundamental to biology. From developing drug treatment strategies to understanding human origins, aspects of evolution and genetics are the most successful theoretical frameworks to date. Therefore, the passion of the scientist must encounter the furvor of the zealot if both are to maintain their worldviews.
Science in San Antonio