Month: December 2018
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Copying nature. For what?
Sunlight reflected by solar cells is lost as unused energy. The wings of the butterfly Pachliopta aristolochiae are drilled by nanostructures (nanoholes) that help absorbing light over a wide spectrum far better than smooth surfaces. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now succeeded in transferring these nanostructures to solar cells and, thus, enhancing…
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Remembering… (for no reason at all)
Recalling the names of old classmates 50 years after graduation or of favorite childhood television series illustrates the amazing abilities of human memory. Emotion and repeated exposure are both known to play a role in long-term memorization, but why do we remember things that are not emotionally charged and have only been seen or experienced…
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From Galileo to Hubble: Copernican principle as a philosophical dogma defining modern astronomy
Abstract For centuries the case of Galileo Galilei has been the cornerstone of every major argument against the church and its supposedly unscientific dogmatism. The church seems to have condemned Galileo for his heresies, just because it couldn’t and wouldn’t handle the truth. Galileo was a hero of science wrongfully accused and now – at…
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Philosophy in a sip (of espresso)…
Introduction Learn about one philosopher or a philosophical movement in 3 seconds! Learn for a philosopher in a sip of coffee; or tea! This article contains brief one or two-sentence descriptions of the philosophy produced by great philosophers or by important philosophical movements. Note that this is a very personal view and should not be…
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