Decoding Reality

Decoding Reality PDF Author: Vlatko Vedral
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191636290
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 206

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Book Description
For a physicist, all the world is information. The Universe and its workings are the ebb and flow of information. We are all transient patterns of information, passing on the recipe for our basic forms to future generations using a four-letter digital code called DNA. In this engaging and mind-stretching account, Vlatko Vedral considers some of the deepest questions about the Universe and considers the implications of interpreting it in terms of information. He explains the nature of information, the idea of entropy, and the roots of this thinking in thermodynamics. He describes the bizarre effects of quantum behaviour — effects such as 'entanglement', which Einstein called 'spooky action at a distance', and explores cutting edge work on harnessing quantum effects in hyperfast quantum computers, and how recent evidence suggests that the weirdness of the quantum world, once thought limited to the tiniest scales, may reach into the macro world. Vedral finishes by considering the answer to the ultimate question: where did all of the information in the Universe come from? The answers he considers are exhilarating, drawing upon the work of distinguished physicist John Wheeler. The ideas challenge our concept of the nature of particles, of time, of determinism, and of reality itself. This edition includes a new foreword from the author, reflecting on changes in the world of quantum information since first publication. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.

Decoding Reality

Decoding Reality PDF Author: Vlatko Vedral
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191636290
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 206

Get Book Here

Book Description
For a physicist, all the world is information. The Universe and its workings are the ebb and flow of information. We are all transient patterns of information, passing on the recipe for our basic forms to future generations using a four-letter digital code called DNA. In this engaging and mind-stretching account, Vlatko Vedral considers some of the deepest questions about the Universe and considers the implications of interpreting it in terms of information. He explains the nature of information, the idea of entropy, and the roots of this thinking in thermodynamics. He describes the bizarre effects of quantum behaviour — effects such as 'entanglement', which Einstein called 'spooky action at a distance', and explores cutting edge work on harnessing quantum effects in hyperfast quantum computers, and how recent evidence suggests that the weirdness of the quantum world, once thought limited to the tiniest scales, may reach into the macro world. Vedral finishes by considering the answer to the ultimate question: where did all of the information in the Universe come from? The answers he considers are exhilarating, drawing upon the work of distinguished physicist John Wheeler. The ideas challenge our concept of the nature of particles, of time, of determinism, and of reality itself. This edition includes a new foreword from the author, reflecting on changes in the world of quantum information since first publication. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.

Nature Displayed

Nature Displayed PDF Author: L.J. Jordanova
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317884965
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 273

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Book Description
A collection of essays - including 3 that have never been published before - by one of the leading figures in cultural history. Professor Jordanova examines and reinterprets the writings of eighteenth-century thinkers and, in the process, sheds light on contemporary views on issues such as motherhood, sexuality, the body, art and medicine. The volume includes some of the author's most controversial and pioneering work, all the pieces have been revised in the light of the latest historiography and much of the material is published here for the first time.

Decoding the Social World

Decoding the Social World PDF Author: Sandra Gonzalez-Bailon
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262343460
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 257

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Book Description
How data science and the analysis of networks help us solve the puzzle of unintended consequences. Social life is full of paradoxes. Our intentional actions often trigger outcomes that we did not intend or even envision. How do we explain those unintended effects and what can we do to regulate them? In Decoding the Social World, Sandra González-Bailón explains how data science and digital traces help us solve the puzzle of unintended consequences—offering the solution to a social paradox that has intrigued thinkers for centuries. Communication has always been the force that makes a collection of people more than the sum of individuals, but only now can we explain why: digital technologies have made it possible to parse the information we generate by being social in new, imaginative ways. And yet we must look at that data, González-Bailón argues, through the lens of theories that capture the nature of social life. The technologies we use, in the end, are also a manifestation of the social world we inhabit. González-Bailón discusses how the unpredictability of social life relates to communication networks, social influence, and the unintended effects that derive from individual decisions. She describes how communication generates social dynamics in aggregate (leading to episodes of “collective effervescence”) and discusses the mechanisms that underlie large-scale diffusion, when information and behavior spread “like wildfire.” She applies the theory of networks to illuminate why collective outcomes can differ drastically even when they arise from the same individual actions. By opening the black box of unintended effects, González-Bailón identifies strategies for social intervention and discusses the policy implications—and how data science and evidence-based research embolden critical thinking in a world that is constantly changing.

Scale

Scale PDF Author: Geoffrey West
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 014311090X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 498

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Book Description
"This is science writing as wonder and as inspiration." —The Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal From one of the most influential scientists of our time, a dazzling exploration of the hidden laws that govern the life cycle of everything from plants and animals to the cities we live in. Visionary physicist Geoffrey West is a pioneer in the field of complexity science, the science of emergent systems and networks. The term “complexity” can be misleading, however, because what makes West’s discoveries so beautiful is that he has found an underlying simplicity that unites the seemingly complex and diverse phenomena of living systems, including our bodies, our cities and our businesses. Fascinated by aging and mortality, West applied the rigor of a physicist to the biological question of why we live as long as we do and no longer. The result was astonishing, and changed science: West found that despite the riotous diversity in mammals, they are all, to a large degree, scaled versions of each other. If you know the size of a mammal, you can use scaling laws to learn everything from how much food it eats per day, what its heart-rate is, how long it will take to mature, its lifespan, and so on. Furthermore, the efficiency of the mammal’s circulatory systems scales up precisely based on weight: if you compare a mouse, a human and an elephant on a logarithmic graph, you find with every doubling of average weight, a species gets 25% more efficient—and lives 25% longer. Fundamentally, he has proven, the issue has to do with the fractal geometry of the networks that supply energy and remove waste from the organism’s body. West’s work has been game-changing for biologists, but then he made the even bolder move of exploring his work’s applicability. Cities, too, are constellations of networks and laws of scalability relate with eerie precision to them. Recently, West has applied his revolutionary work to the business world. This investigation has led to powerful insights into why some companies thrive while others fail. The implications of these discoveries are far-reaching, and are just beginning to be explored. Scale is a thrilling scientific adventure story about the elemental natural laws that bind us together in simple but profound ways. Through the brilliant mind of Geoffrey West, we can envision how cities, companies and biological life alike are dancing to the same simple, powerful tune.

The Neuroscience of Social Interaction

The Neuroscience of Social Interaction PDF Author: Christopher D. Frith
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 9780198529262
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 329

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Book Description
"Originating from a theme issue first published by Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, series B."

Decoding the Human Body-Field

Decoding the Human Body-Field PDF Author: Peter H. Fraser
Publisher: Inner Traditions / Bear & Co
ISBN: 1594772258
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 420

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Book Description
In this revolutionary look at the energetic physiology of the human body, Peter Fraser and Harry Massey introduce Infoceuticals--liquid remedies infused with electrodynamic information. Infoceuticals promote health by reestablishing the proper flow of information in the body's energetic fields.

Hadron Spectroscopy And Structure - Proceedings Of The Xviii International Conference

Hadron Spectroscopy And Structure - Proceedings Of The Xviii International Conference PDF Author: Feng-kun Guo
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 981121932X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 801

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Book Description
This is the conference proceedings for the 18th International Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy and Structure (HADRON2019), held in Guilin, China. It is among the most important conference series in the field of hadron spectroscopy and structure. Collecting more than 130 contributions from this conference, the book spans over the topics of meson and baryon spectroscopy, exotic hadrons, hadron production and interactions, analysis tools, QCD and hadron structure, hadrons in nuclear environment and hypernuclei. Summaries of the recent discoveries from Belle, BESIII, LHCb and other high-energy experiments, as well as recent theoretical developments in the above mentioned topics, are contained in this volume, rendering it as a valuable resource for researchers working on hadron spectroscopy and structure.

Humans, Nature, and Birds

Humans, Nature, and Birds PDF Author: Darryl Wheye
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300123884
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 230

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Book Description
This book invites readers to enter a two-floor virtual "gallery” where 60-plus images of birds reflecting the accomplishments of human pictorial history are on display. These are works in a genre the authors term Science Art--that is, art that says something about the natural world and how it works. Darryl Wheye and Donald Kennedy show how these works of art can advance our understanding of the ways nature has been perceived over time, its current vulnerability, and our responsibility to preserve its wealth. Each room in the gallery is dedicated to a single topic. The rooms on the first floor show birds as icons, birds as resources, birds as teaching tools, and more. On the second floor, the images and their captions clarify what Science Art is and how the intertwining of art and science can change the way we look at each. The authors also provide a timeline linking scientific innovations with the production of images of birds, and they offer a checklist of steps to promote the creation and accessibility of Science Art. Readers who tour this unique and fascinating gallery will never look at art depicting nature in the same way again. Published with assistance from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Public Understanding of Science and Technology Program.

Conversing with Nature

Conversing with Nature PDF Author: Barrett Williams
Publisher: Barrett Williams
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 77

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Book Description
Unlock the mysteries of the natural world with "Conversing with Nature," an illuminating exploration of how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing our understanding and interaction with nature's complex communication systems. This groundbreaking eBook delves deep into the hidden languages of plants and animals, revealing the intricate ways in which all life forms converse—both with each other and through us. Start your journey with an insightful look into the fundamental communication methods of nature, dissecting the ways in which plants whisper among the roots, animals signal across the air, and humans perceive these silent conversations. Progress into the world where technology meets nature—discover the origins and evolution of AI within biological studies, highlighting key developments that have reshaped our approach to natural interactions. Dive into the fascinating realm of plant communication, where AI is breaking new ground, allowing us to decode plant signals and create a bridge to human language. Experience eye-opening case studies that illustrate practical applications of technology in deciphering nature's secrets. Shift to the dynamic sphere of animal communication, where AI is key in interpreting behaviors and analyzing a wide range of vocalizations. Learn about the innovative technologies making strides in improving human-animal interactions, demonstrating the profound impact of AI on our understanding of animal languages. The eBook also tackles the cutting-edge advancements enabling AI, from machine learning and sensor technologies to bioacoustics and complex data analyses. It further examines the impact of robotics on environmental communications, including ethical considerations and the balance between tech and nature. Explore AI's transformative role in conservation, uncovering strategies for species protection and biodiversity enhancement. Forecast into the future, and be inspired by emerging technologies poised to reshape our engagement with the natural world. "Conversing with Nature" invites you to find harmony with nature through technology, guiding you toward a better understanding of the extraordinary dialogue happening all around us. This essential read promises to inspire and inform a new wave of eco-conscious thought.

Recoding: Expansion of Decoding Rules Enriches Gene Expression

Recoding: Expansion of Decoding Rules Enriches Gene Expression PDF Author: John F. Atkins
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0387893822
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 473

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Book Description
The literature on recoding is scattered, so this superb book ?lls a need by prov- ing up-to-date, comprehensive, authoritative reviews of the many kinds of recoding phenomena. Between 1961 and 1966 my colleagues and I deciphered the genetic code in Escherichia coli and showed that the genetic code is the same in E. coli, Xenopus laevis, and guinea pig tissues. These results showed that the code has been c- served during evolution and strongly suggested that the code appeared very early during biological evolution, that all forms of life on earth descended from a c- mon ancestor, and thus that all forms of life on this planet are related to one another. The problem of biological time was solved by encoding information in DNA and retrieving the information for each new generation, for it is easier to make a new organism than it is to repair an aging, malfunctioning one. Subsequently, small modi?cations of the standard genetic code were found in certain organisms and in mitochondria. Mitochondrial DNA only encodes about 10–13 proteins, so some modi?cations of the genetic code are tolerated that pr- ably would be lethal if applied to the thousands of kinds of proteins encoded by genomic DNA.