Cuz it's LIFE!

Week 13 - Bringing Forth Worlds

1. Would I agree that "to live is to know"?
2. Memory & Magic - how might I view things differently in the light of this article?

1.
"To live is to know" - define what is means to be alive and then define what it means to know...

I am able to find these agreeable definitions - to live is to exist and to know is to be aware.
In the context of autopoiesis, which is to 'self create', I would like to explain a little into why it is I believe that all of reality is 'self-creating' and simultaneously interrelating.

Here we have an attempt at explaining what it means to be 'living', to be 'cognitive' and to simply 'be' as put forth by Capra: "In the emerging theory of living systems mind is not a thing, but a process. It is cognition, the process of knowing [awareness], and it is identified with the process of life [existence] itself."

In his definitions of life, knowing and being, Capra describes a process of constant transformation, detailing, "A living system [existing system] is a multiply-interconnected network whose components are constantly changing, being transformed and replaced by other components." I read this statement as saying that any existing identifiable entity/system/living organism is a collection of distinct processes, interrelated with other similar systems of processes. At certain scales of observation we begin to identify the system of these systems and such an fractal-nature of reality can be observed to infinity into the very small to the very large... as seen in this elegant illustration -



With the logic of this mathematically-derived visualization, it is clear to me that if we find ourselves in the process of cognition/knowledge/awareness as a living being/self-existing, everything beyond and everything within to the infinite levels will carry the same basic structure and organizational nature, that is 'to exist' and 'to be aware'.

Fritjof illustrates the puzzle of 'things' and the seeming separateness of things, saying:

There is no fixed world out there or fixed objects. This is a difficult subject because it does not mean there is nothing there. It means that there are no "things" there with fixed outlines. So, for instance, when we look at a tree we see a certain outline of the tree and we say, "this is a tree"...we draw a picture of the tree and if we did a little test we would find that most of us wouldn't draw the roots...The part above the ground would be larger than the part showing the roots. But in nature, that's not so. The part below the earth is just as large. In fact, in the forest all the trees are interlinked so there is really only one system, only one network, and the trees nourish each other through this network of roots.

So who is to say where one tree begins and another tree ends? Then if you take a cat or a deer looking at a tree, they will see different outlines because their sensory apparatus is different. So what's the correct outline of the tree? Is it mine or is it the deer's or the rabbit's?

This shows you that what we call an object really depends on how we look at it and how we look at it depends on who we are.

But the important thing to recognize is that we don't need to go through this analysis all the time. This is important to understand.... this process of cognition and to understand how cognition is part of all levels of life. Once you have understood that, you can revert back to seeing external objects. You know in the back of your mind there are no really fixed objects but for us, as humans, we all see more or less the same objects. This is important so that we can say, "let's meet at such and such a place at such and such a time." We don't say there really is no such place; we bring it forth together. (1)

This brings to mind the Zen saying, which, of course, Fritjof shares -

Before you study Zen,
rivers are rivers and mountains are mountains.
While you study Zen rivers are no longer rivers
and mountains are no longer mountains.
But when you have reached enlightenment
rivers are again rivers and mountains are again mountains.

Separateness is only an illusion, perhaps useful, perhaps not. It is ultimately our choice to decide at which level(s) we wish to participate. I believe that by becoming aware of the universality of our nature, we take conscious part in more or all levels of Being and thus begin to participate in cooperation rather than in conflict...

Let's reconsider this position -

"When part of a dandelion is eaten by a rabbit, or when an animal is injured in an accident, those structural changes are not specified and directed by the organism; they are not changes of choice and are thus not acts of cognition. However, these imposed physical changes are accompanied by other structural changes (perception, response of the immune system, etc.) that are acts of cognition." (2)

What if this experience of being 'acted upon' is simply a limited cognition and therefore it appears as though the dandelion is 'not making a choice'? If we shift our understanding, we can understand that perhaps no one thing is making the decision or perhaps the ONLY thing is making decision - hence the conception and remembering of what is called 'Tao' or GOD or ALOHA...

Here is a description of how to experience this unity through conscious awareness or aware consciousness:

"The question may arise, why is it necessary to make contactwith the universal life energy? Are we not in direct and constant communication with it at all times? Yes, but we are not concious of it. On the contrary, we conciously beleive we are independant of it, that we have a life force of our own. We think we are seperate from all power. Therefore we need to reestblish on the mental plane that which was lost there, though we never lost that contact on the spiritual plane."

" There are different methods of contacting Primal energy. The easiest and the simplest way is through mental contact. In order to do it, we must relax completely as we can, physically, mentally, emotionally. And when we feel harmony within us then we must say to ourslves " I am one with the universal life energy it is flowing through me now, I feel it"


"In order to overcome that difficulty and enable everybody, even the most skeptical and timid, to make successful that conciouss contact with the universal life energy, there is another method of pure physical contact, based on pure physical laws. That second method has this advantage over the mental one, that it does not require any faith in it. It works for the reason that the physical laws are put into operation, and the physical contact with the universal energy is made, not because we think it or want it, but because we cannot help it." (3)

The prime-moving force of ALL THAT IS...

you can choose to be aware of yourself in it or choose to be (un)aware of your separate and unique qualities... either way you are taking part in greater and smaller processes...

so is "to live to know"? - surely, seeing as how it is that all we can know is that we exist [live], how could I assume anything else?


2.
This article on magic reminds me of some of the consciousness training that is described in the Dune series - in the distant future, human beings hone their mental faculties to be able to manipulate and alter perceptions through thought and intention. Some people are genetically and socially developed/trained to have extremely sensitive and focussed intellects/minds that can hold multiple layers of thought-emotion and control the bodily expression of such inner experiences.

I do not view things differently because I have already allowed my understanding of mind to incorporate so much more than is generally accepted.

Enjoy this...

Week 11 - The Gates of Life & Cell Biology

1. Connections between TCM & cell biology;
2. How Cells Divide: Mitosis & Meiosis
3. Other Links

1.
Traditional Chinese Medicine - a science rooted in the wisdom of the self-reflecting and eternal wisdom of Nature
Cell Biology - the conceptualization and collection of externally measured observations of a specific scale of life-form

In many ways, I see TCM as the distillation of the intuitive knowledge of the human body and its natural energetic pathways/tendencies into a mechanized, static and cogent system of information. There is a parallel that reveals itself to me between the systemization of intuitive body-knowledge and the systemization of the human body system(s) into a 'science' - cell biology. These two systems or sciences illustrate a slow progression away from inner-understanding and direct knowledge garnered & cultivated through experience into a disconnected space of pure observation and a priori misunderstanding. When one is assumed to be separate/disconnected then anything observed is automatically mis-understood as unrelated and alien. The inherent connectivity of the observer and the observed is dissolved into a seemingly delusional assumption that we must fill in the gap, the space of disconnection, with knowledge and 'science'. We have moved away from the true spirit of ourselves and all of nature...

True Dao is not a way that can be conceptualized.
Its true name has no identity.

Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth.
Name is the mother of the ten thousand.

We are told, at the very start of the Daodejing, that Dao, as a model for life and the human spiritual path, is fundamentally non-conceptual and/or non-dualistic. We are told implicitly that we (the reader [de]) are inherently an inseparable part of true Dao whose activity (wuwei) is ungraspable – names, concepts and words fail to capture “it” (Dao) or “us” (de) in an enduring way. We are invited to embrace the paradox that unknowing is wisdom. Our path is natural and inherent - not something we are mandated to search for, discover, struggle with or master. The title of this text is the Daode classic. The fundamental teaching of wuwei is that Nature (Dao) and self (nature: de) are arising naturally and resolving naturally. (Liu Ming)

So what other parallels

and connections

can be poetically strung through

or seen true

in our two sciences?

I resist any temptation to explore the meanings of the signs and signifying substances and instead, resign to accepting the loss of false feed. There is nothing to know beyond what I have seen. Unless you see something else...

2.
How cells divide...
These are very lovely animations. I very much appreciate their aesthetic and communicative simplicity. Interestingly, this is part of a series on the NOVA website called "18 Ways to Make a Baby". Humans have moved beyond themselves into something else... we can now channel life without the emotional-energetic and physical relationships that we define ourselves by. Interesting no? Check out this crazy bio-technology... they call it a 'spermatozoa', 'sperm' for short.

3.
Other Links to review:

• The Citric Acid (Krebs, TCA) Cycle
• A cool animation site
• Cells
• Meiosis
• Mitosis

The "Cool Animation Site" is indeed a very cool animation of the Kreb's Cycle. In fact, it is fascinating to see the chemical flow go on and on. It is like a little machine! Isn't it wonderful and also strange that we observe or choose to observe the mechanistic qualities of the energetic transformation? Why not see the variation of colors derived from the molecular vibrations through the process?? or the sounds?

The "Cells site is interesting but less well designed. It is what I call 'old school' web design, which is, a bit too linear and blocky.

Wikipedia. The death of Britannica.

Week 10 - Living Diversity

1. Diversity surrounding me - what is in my immediate environment?
2. Cell Biology - review the links
3. Spike's Gallery

1.
Aside from the thousands of bacteria, micro-creatures (ie. dust-mites), and fungal spores that float and fly in invisible clouds around my body, there is a lively diversity in my own yard up in the Berkeley Hills.

We have a great diversity of bird species, insects, plants, and trees. I saw a deer recently and I imagine, being so close to Tilden park, that a variety of small mammals live around me.

There is some sort of mildew in the basement, among the billions of other spores and bacteria that probably live in the dirt and decaying concrete foundation.

There is a lovely diversity of plant-tree life in our garden and we are about to exponentially add to this diversity by planting vegetables, flowers, and herbs.




2.

What's under a microscope? A Psychedelic wonderland of formidable fractalized matter and energy folding into forms.

This image is of the amino acid methionine.

I really like this website. It is super rich with images/ information and is organized quite well.

They have microscopic images of everything from beer to cells to birthstones. Diamonds look beautiful up closerest!



3.
Spike's Gallery - Aquatic Life

"Spike Walker, a well known and award winning British photomicrographer, has kindly suggested that Micscape can share a selection of images from his extensive portfolio."

"Spike comments on the images: Most are from scans of 35 mm transparencies but some are ex-Coolpix 4500/5000 or D70. All have been spruced up, to some extent, in Photoshop 7. The low-power Rheinberg shots were mostly done with a Zeiss Tessovar, otherwise with Luminars on an Ultraphot IIIB or a Leica MZ 95 stereo. The rest are ex-Zetopan (all the anoptral contrast), Ultraphot III or Photomic. III."

Gotta love it - The multi-dimensional perspectives provided by cameras. These photos are amazing. We have found alien creatures within our own planet. Why seek anywhere else?

As a visual artist and a naturalist, I have view-gasms with this type of imagery. The Natural World is a Miracle within a miracle within a miracle...

These also remind me of Ernst Haeckel's biographical illustrations from the turn of the last century.

Week 9 - Biochemistry

1. Gene Therapy - My Thoughts & Feelings
2. Definitions of Biochemistry - A Review
3. Biochemistry Animations - A Review

1.
'Gene therapy' is a very general term to describe the insertion of genetic proteins into cells by way of either a virus or a variety of other, less successful methods like direct insertion of the genetic material.

Here is a list of problems and ethics regarding gene therapy posted on Wikipedia:

• Short-lived nature of gene therapy - Before gene therapy can become a permanent cure for any condition, the therapeutic DNA introduced into target cells must remain functional and the cells containing the therapeutic DNA must be long-lived and stable. Problems with integrating therapeutic DNA into the genome and the rapidly dividing nature of many cells prevent gene therapy from achieving any long-term benefits. Patients will have to undergo multiple rounds of gene therapy.
• Immune response - Anytime a foreign object is introduced into human tissues, the immune system has evolved to attack the invader. The risk of stimulating the immune system in a way that reduces gene therapy effectiveness is always a possibility. Furthermore, the immune system's enhanced response to invaders it has seen before makes it difficult for gene therapy to be repeated in patients.
• Problems with viral vectors - Viruses, while the carrier of choice in most gene therapy studies, present a variety of potential problems to the patient --toxicity, immune and inflammatory responses, and gene control and targeting issues. In addition, there is always the fear that the viral vector, once inside the patient, may recover its ability to cause disease.
• Multigene disorders - Conditions or disorders that arise from mutations in a single gene are the best candidates for gene therapy. Unfortunately, some of the most commonly occurring disorders, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, and diabetes, are caused by the combined effects of variations in many genes. Multigene or multifactorial disorders such as these would be especially difficult to treat effectively using gene therapy.
• Chance of inducing a tumor (insertional mutagenesis) - If the DNA is integrated in the wrong place in the genome, for example in a tumor suppressor gene, it could induce a tumor. This has occurred in clinical trials for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) patients, in which hematopoietic stem cells were transduced with a corrective transgene using a retrovirus, and this led to the development of T cell leukemia in 3 of 20 patients.^[2]
• Religious concerns - among people who believe that humans were created in God's image, some may consider the alteration of an individual's genes as tampering or corrupting God's work.

Deaths have occurred due to gene therapy, including that of Jesse Gelsinger.

from:http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetherapy.shtml (1)

Based on these issues, I see gene therapy as a highly underdeveloped, under-researched and highly unaccountable form of treatment. In the article we read about simply mapping the genetic material of certain parasitic organisms that cause illness in human beings. The scientists are very hopeful in their projection of the effectiveness of drugs upon their mapping and understanding of the parasite genome. Considering the ineffectiveness of gene therapy as it now stands and the ineffectiveness of pharmaceutical drugs against viral and bacterial infections, I am doubtful of the truly worthwhile benefit of this research. I see it was a very narrow way to deal with the illness - it requires a very small amount of people to do many hours or years of research that is not guaranteed to work effectively. In my opinion, the time, energy and monies would be better spent if they were spread over a number of research and developmental problem solving projects.

Here is the only really significant quotation from the entire article (emphasis mine):

"Knowing the precise sequence of genetic "letters" that make up the alphabet of the microbes' genes should now allow scientists to design effective drugs and vaccines against the three killers. At present, there are no vaccines or cheap, effective remedies against any of the parasites, each transmitted by the bites of different insects in some of the poorest countries." (The Independent Online)

I don't see anything inherently wrong with genetic manipulation. I see it as a naive and ultimately arrogant science that is either doomed to horrible failure or a very long and challenging road ahead of itself, if it is to succeed. I say this, realizing my own arrogance in asserting such a statement without much knowledge of the subject. To be honest, I feel like this kind of research is a waste of money and is just another march against disease in the name of science and human achievement. The article offers no real evidence for the idea that any genetic research will actually be a worthwhile and fulfilling scientific project. They also don't offer the idea or search for any other idea that doesn't require modern scientific science and pharmaceutical drugs. What about helping these extremely poor people get clean water? and help them to reduce the breeding of these insects in some simple, natural way?

We always have a choice... but our choices are limited if we choose to only see such a narrow range of options, solutions, and resources.

2.
This is the most accurate definition out of the entire list, in my opinion -

Biochemistry is the study of the fundamental mechanisms of life at the molecular level.

I feel this is so because it doesn't limit the definition of life by saying that it only has to do with 'living organisms' and it states that it's focus is on the molecular level.

3.
The Chemistry Animations site is very minimal and supplemental to the study of chemistry. I looked at the Benzine ring animation and found it to be very short, simple, and marginally helpful. Perhaps it would be more helpful to me if I could see how it interacts in various molecular combinations or if I could manipulate it.

The animations themselves are quite beautiful. It is a shame they don't go on forever.

Week 8 Assignment - Balancing Acts

1. Semi-conductor of the Week
2. Chembalancer!
3. gEN-chEM - Balancing equations

1.
Semi-conductors: substances that conduct a limited and controllable amount of electricity. They can be made from single substances or a combination of materials. It's all about the electrons and the interplay of harmonious and disharmonious exchanges of these pieces of energy:

In a semiconductor, the distance between the valence band and the conduction band is fairly small. At a low temperature the semiconductor has a completely filled valence band. There are no empty energy positions available for the electrons to be accelerated in. Therefore, at low temperatures the semiconductor behaves like an insulator. At room temperature, the atoms in the semiconductor material vibrate enough so that a few electrons may escape from their positions in the valence band into unoccupied positions in the conduction band. The conduction at room temperature, however, is so small that no significant current can be said to pass. (1)

Arsenic - 33

atomic mass - 74.92

Three metalloidal forms of arsenic with different crystal structures are found free in nature (the minerals arsenic sensu stricto and the much rarer arsenolamprite and pararsenolamprite), but it is more commonly found as arsenide and arsenate compounds. Several hundred such mineral species are known. Arsenic and its compounds are used as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and various alloys.

Elemental arsenic is found in many solid forms: the yellow form is soft, waxy and unstable, and is made of tetrahedral As₄ molecules similar to the molecules of white phosphorus. The gray, black or 'metallic' forms have somewhat layered crystal structures with bonds extending throughout the crystal. They are brittle semiconductors with a metallic luster.

Gallium arsenide is an important semiconductor material, used in integrated circuits. Circuits made using the compound are much faster (but also much more expensive) than those made in silicon. Unlike silicon it is direct bandgap, and so can be used in laser diodes and LEDs to directly convert electricity into light. (2)

And by the way, I prefer to learn about semi-conductors from Britney Spears (acutally, this is not a very helpful site). If you really want a great lesson in semi-conductors, I reccomend this site: Nobel Prize.org - Semi-Conductors

2.
ChemBalancer - This is a slightly under-developed yet useful quiz that is helpful in refreshing the basic arithmetic skills needed to do chemical equation balancing. I find it useful but slightly confusing in it's design.

I scored well after it figured out what it wanted me to enter into the boxes.

3.
General Chemistry - Balancing Equations Tutorial -
I had to open Internet Explorer and download some plug-ins in order to do this exercise. This is not ideal and in fact, quite annoying. In any case, once it got going, it was quite fun and visually well-designed and easy to follow.

I think this is a very useful educational tool.

Concept Map - Essential Oils

I have chosen to explore 'essential oils' with the concept map project.


I have found the process of going over and through the concepts and their relationships to be a helpful mental exercise that reveals to me, more than anything, how little detail I really know about any one subject. Upon doing some research, I find an immense amount of detailed information about the subject that could be added to my concept map. It seems as though the map could be potentially endless.

In the case of essential oils, I have basically stuck to what I know and have realized that they are a class of organic chemistry that can be used by anyone. They are relatively safe, non-toxic, and easy to make basic use of. While they are often used in aromatherapy, they have a variety of applications ranging from household cleaning, to insecticides, to perfumes, to hygiene products, to food enhancers (spices).

I really enjoy exploring these substances, both experimentally/sensually and conceptually.

Week 7 - Molecular Weight

1. Inert Gas of the Week
2. Avogadro's Hypothesis
3. What is a Mole?
4. How is Chikyu doing?

1.
Inert gases - the most stable of the elements on the periodic table, i.e. they are not reactive in normal conditions;
I choose to look at Helium, specifically in liquefied form of isotope He-4

• Helium is a Noble Gas with 2 protons, 2 neutrons, and 2 electrons - 4.002602(2) g·mol
• Helium-4 is the most naturally occurring isotope of Helium -"making up about 99.99986% of the helium on earth"
• With regard to the liquefied state of Helium, I find this particularly fascinating - "When helium-4 is cooled to below 2.17 kelvins (–271 °C), it becomes a superfluid, with properties that are very unlike those of an ordinary liquid. For example, if helium-4 is kept in an open vessel, a thin film will climb up the sides of the vessel and overflow. Another name for this property of Helium is Rollin film. This strange behaviour is a result of the Clausius-Clapeyron relation and cannot be explained by the current model of classical mechanics nor by nuclear or electrical models; it is only understood as a quantum mechanical phenomenon." (wikipedia)
• 
  
• Due to Helium's naturally stable state and resistance to bond, especially with itself, it resists forming into a liquid and requires extremely low temperatures to achieve liquid states. It will remain a liquid even at absolute zero temperatures (without added pressure)!
• With added pressures and absolute zero temperatures, helium can achieve crystalline formation with only slight distinguishing qualities from liquid forms.
• More on Helium's amazing liquid and superfluid properties -

• Helium II is a superfluid, a quantum-mechanical state of matter with strange properties. For example, when it flows through even capillaries of 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁸ m width it has no measurable viscosity. However, when measurements were done between two moving discs, a viscosity comparable to that of gaseous helium was observed. Current theory explains this using the two-fluid model for helium II. In this model, liquid helium below the lambda point is viewed as containing a proportion of helium atoms in a ground state, which are superfluid and flow with exactly zero viscosity, and a proportion of helium atoms in an excited state, which behave more like an ordinary fluid.^[7]

  Helium II also exhibits a creeping effect. When a surface extends past the level of helium II, the helium II moves along the surface, seemingly against the force of gravity. Helium II will escape from a vessel that is not sealed by creeping along the sides until it reaches a warmer region where it evaporates. It moves in a 30 nm-thick film regardless of surface material. This film is called a Rollin film and is named after the man who first characterized this trait, Bernard V. Rollin.^[8][9] As a result of this creeping behavior and helium II's ability to leak rapidly through tiny openings, it is very difficult to confine liquid helium. Unless the container is carefully constructed, the helium II will creep along the surfaces and through valves until it reaches somewhere warmer, where it will evaporate. Waves propagating across a Rollin film are governed by the same equation as gravity waves in shallow water, but rather than gravity, the restoring force is the Van der Waals force.^[10] These waves are known as third sound.

• Mercury is used for all sorts of things... of course for balloons and blimps but also for deep-sea diving oxygen mixtures, rocketry, arc-welding, as a tracer-gas, and in liquid states as a superconductor.

2.
Avogadro's famous hypothesis - that equal volumes of gases, at the same temperature and pressure, contain equal numbers of molecules.

1. Correct - Hypotheses do not become Laws
2. Correct - Cl2O is the correct formula for Chlorine 50 mL Oxygen 25 mL
3. Initially incorrect, I misstated that equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of particles when it is in fact equal numbers of molecules. I then selected the correct answer - the formula for ammonia as Dalton would have it would have been NH.

Avogadro's number - N_A the number 6.02 x 10²³ (or more accurately 6.022 1415 x 10²³ with an uncertainty of 0.000 0010 x 10²³)

3.
What exactly is a mole? A mole is a unit of measurement that equals the chemical amount of a substance. It is a quantity of something that equals the molecular mass of a certain element. (1)

4.
Chikyu - the ship that was drilling to the deepest parts of the Earth; how is it doing??


In an article about the ship and its technology on Ship Technology.com, I found mention of it not having really begun drilling until 2007;

"The Chikyu was delivered to its owners in 2005, but since then it has been carrying out a range of system integration tests. These were followed by a shakedown cruise, undertaking test drilling off the Shimokita Peninsula to ensure that everything is working satisfactorily before it commences full operations in 2007. It is anticipated that future operations will be carried out off Kenya as well as off Australia."

And Science Daily.com has some more news from early 2007:

"Their achievement marks the launch phase of the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE), a major research initiative into the triggers and mechanisms of earthquakes and tsunamis supported by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). NanTroSEIZE is expected to continue until 2012, with the ultimate objectives of drilling across the plate boundary fault responsible for magnitude 8 earthquakes to sample the rocks and fluids in the fault, and to place instruments within it to monitor activity and conditions leading up to the next great earthquake."

It appears as though Chikyu has only just begun to explore the Earth's crust.

Holes In Heaven - H.A.A.R.P

As I had said I would, I added a link to the video(s) about the technologies that are intended to manipulate the Ionosphere and cause shifts in weather, human thought-emotion, and telecommunications. Enjoy...

Lunarily Speaking

Week 6 Inquiries - Electro-Alchemy

1. Halogen of the Week
2. Scientific Explorations - Science Toys
   
3. Alchemy - what's this?

1. Halogens -

The halogens or halogen elements are a series of nonmetal elements from Group 17IUPAC Style) of the periodic table, comprising fluorine, F; chlorine, Cl; bromine, Br; iodine, I; and astatine, At. The undiscovered element 117, temporarily named ununseptium, may also be considered a halogen. (old-style: VII or VIIA; Group 7

The group of halogens is the only group which contains elements in all three familiar states of matter at standard temperature and pressure.

Chlorine (IPA: /ˈklɔəriːn/, Greek: χλωρóς chloros, meaning "pale green"), is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is a halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17 (formerly VIIa or VIIb). As the chloride ion, which is part of common salt and other compounds, it is abundant in nature and necessary to most forms of life, including humans. In its common elemental form (Cl₂ or "dichlorine") under standard conditions, it is a pale green gas about 2.5 times as dense as air. It has a disagreeable, suffocating odor that is detectable in concentrations as low as 3.5 ppm^[1] and is poisonous. Chlorine is a powerful oxidant and is used in bleaching and disinfectants. As a common disinfectant, chlorine compounds are used in swimming pools to keep them clean and sanitary. In the upper atmosphere, chlorine based molecules have been implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer. (gotta love Wikipedia)

2. This is what science is all about - understanding the processes and mechanics of nature! I found the solar cell particularly amazing. While not being practical or efficient, I understand better how and why a solar cell works. I look forward to more innovations of solar energy-capturing technologies in the future.















3. Alchemy - the root of chemical science. When combined with astronomy, the root of mathematics and physics, we have a completely amazing understanding of the natural world in the context of the natural world.

It is my understanding that alchemy is the practical application of the inner knowledge that spontaneously arises through being still and doing nothing ('non-conceptual meditation' as my teacher calls it; zuowang - to sit & forget). So in a sense, alchemy is the fluid activity that arises out of the stillness and is manifest in various forms that sometimes look something like science, or something like art, and sometimes have a magical or "difficult to grasp" quality.

Alchemy is an artistic investigation and play that when harmonized with the natural power of nature, becomes naturally 'magical' and mysterious to those who do not understand the ways of nature. Alchemy is simply the playful interaction we have with our surroundings (heaven & Earth | Yin & Yang)

Laozi says, "My words are easy to understand and easy to apply, yet no one in the world can understand them and no one could apply them. Words have their origin, and events have their leader. Only because of prevailing ignorance am I not understood. The fewer who understand me, the more precious I am. So the sage wears the shabby cloth, but holds treasures within."
| translated in a slightly different way:
"My words are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet few people in the world can understand them, and fewer still put them into practice. My words have a view, and my practice has a precedent. if you do not apply the view and practice it is difficult to understand me. Those who understand are rare and those who practice are rare, indeed. Yet, it is by these few that we can measure the greatness of the Way. The adept practitioner shows an unrefined appearance, but conceals precious jade."

With respect to science and the Modern Mind-view, Laozi's words respond:
"I see that those who want to take over the world and manipulate it do not succeed. The sacred mechanism of the world cannot be manipulated. Those who manipulate it will fail, those who hold onto it will lose it. Matter either leads or follows, heats or chills, strengthens or weakens, enhances or destroys. So the sage abandons extremes, extravagance, multiplicity."

In this way, we may begin to understand how trying to break apart and force the natural world and our own bodies (which are intimately connected to the natural world) to behave and perform and react however we desire, will ultimately lead to failure and dissolution of our desires.

Alchemy, both Western and Eastern, are harmonizing arts that explore the playful and abundant qualities of reality/experience through working with the subtle and dense substances of what is considered to be sacred and powerful stuff.

Luminescence

Isn't reality fascinating?

Light is energy! energy is all things - solid to subtle!

Luminescence is an amazing quality. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see the subtle light cascading off of the localized molecular processes around our bodies?
I suppose this describes what is called 'bioluminescence'.

Every range of light has a specific vibration which has a specific effect on vibrations (of molescules/atoms) around it. These various radiations of light, (i.e. luminescence, bioluminescence, photoluminescence, etc.) are generating entire cascades of electromagnetic wave/particle effect - which could be compared to the effect of the Butterfly flapping its wings. Even the most subtle release of energy can cause massive shifts in the realities surrounding it.

WOW.

Colors of Food

In our kitchen there is an abundance of green, yellow and brown with some lightly added orange/red. There is a heavy lack of blue but there are in fact some blueberries!

As a visual artist and chef, I try to incorporate color and variety of texture/color into the meals I make. It is important that the varying elements blend and mutually enhance one another. From an aesthetic veiwpoint, this has to do with harmony of composition - the correct placement of the correct amount of something in a context. From the health and nutrition standpoint, this means a fuller spectrum of nutrients and vibrational energies.

Did you know that blue light kills certain bacteria?

Some people do LED light therapy.

Alkaline Earth Metal(s)

"The alkaline earth metals are named after their oxides, the alkaline earths, whose old-fashioned names were beryllia, magnesia, lime, strontia and baryta. These oxides are basic (alkaline) when combined with water. "Earth" is an old term applied by early chemists to nonmetallic substances that are insoluble in water and resistant to heating--properties shared by these oxides. The realization that these earths were not elements but compounds is attributed to the chemist Antoine Lavoisier." (wikipedia)

I am going to choose Calcium due to a powerful and painful experience I had with calcium deposits getting lodged in my kidney and causing me INTENSE pain; commonly called a 'kidney stone'.

Oh Calcium, what is there to understand about this massivley available element?

"It has an atomic mass of 40.078. Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth most abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust. Calcium is the fifth most abundant dissolved ion in seawater by both molarity and mass, after sodium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfate.<sup>[1]" (wikipedia)

What else?

Oh yes! That's right, our bones are made from this amazing element!! In fact "</sup>As a major materal used in mineralization of bones and shells, calcium is the most abundant metal by mass in many animals." (wikipedia)

I also find it interesting that Calcium is one key element in slaked lime, which is a product used in natural building to seal earthen walls. I actually used some lime mixed with saw-dust as a filler in the spaces between the Cob-Earthen walls and the logs I placed on that wall. WOW



"Other compounds include Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), one of the common compounds of calcium. It is heated to form quicklime (CaO), which is then added to water (H₂O). This forms another material known as slaked lime (Ca(OH)₂), which is an inexpensive base material used throughout the chemical industry. Chalk, marble, and limestone are all forms of calcium carbonate."

That's pretty amazing. we actually need a constant supply of calcium in our diets BECAUSE it is used in various chemical processes and is the primary element that makes up the structure of our bones.

Week 4 - Review of Greener Industry's Atom Economy

Upon first viewing, this site impresses upon me the fact that it was designed by either an engineer or a scientist. It is perfectly rectilinear and sterile in its communications. Perfect for the information it holds yet perfectly isolated in its mechanistic construction.

And so now I will go on to read it...

[reading site]

Wow. This information on atom economy is almost as cryptic as this:



I think Atom Economy is wonderful, especially for a materially obsessed and reductionist-scientific world-view. What else is there to say except that we are living in the absurdity of illness in an ever-expanding and abundantly healthy universe.

Have you ever heard of chem-trails?

"Barium salt, polymer fibers and other chemicals, in the atmosphere are the physical irritants that are responsible, for the recent epidemic increase in cases of nose bleed, asthma, allergies, pneumonia, upper respiratory symptoms and a noticeable increase in arthritis symptoms, recently reported nationwide. Chemicals illegally sprayed into the atmosphere are producing atmospheric and ground conditions detrimental to human and animal health but favorable to the growth of harmful molds and fungus."

Now THAT'S some chemical negligence!

And I can only stand in insanity with the poetic truths pointed out by Terence McKenna who, in a flashing-back today while I listened to a talk of his on the world and it's double, says, "A true language is beheld... I think that the real nub that we are trying to get at is that the world is mental... in some way that we do not yet understand... the world is made of language... so... whenever we get into these discussions about reality or effects in space and time, we are operating outside this assumption that the world is made of language... I mean do we really need to believe in the existence of distant galaxies like GNC-245 if in fact the world is being produced in the cerebellum as a phenomenon of language?"

Gotta love the titanic poetics of such a pot-head.

Try listening to his trialogues with chaos mathematician Ralph Abraham and biologist Rupert Sheldrake to get some real DEEP scientific discussion and thought provoking goodies.

MAHALO to you humans.

Studies Show...

Studies show that studies are inherently flawed...

Week Four Inquiries - Part 2 - Green Economy

Well, we have people discussing the subject and the market is being driven (by top down or bottom up???) into an almost hyper-active 'greening'. One may find it hard to really say whether this process of 'greening' is genuine or not and how profound and widespread the level of actual ecological and environmental concern truly is. Surely we are 'waking up' to the need to reorganize and reevaluate our obviously misguided and disturbed concept of ourselves and the Earth we live in thus leading to conversations about such topics as Environmental Economics, and Green Economy.

I think we are quite far from our goal of completely renewable and clean technologies and I feel that if we are lucky and courageous and strong, we will survive in such a ways as to pursue these technologies and these economic systems on a global scale. There is a great shifting and re-birthing of awareness on our planet and I look forward to the creative expansion and explosion that arises out of it.

I am gratefully reminded that our outer experiences are very intimately connected to our inner psyche and that any unresolved energy/material will eventually have to be moved through and re-processed in a manner that is reflective of the awareness and willingness of the individual or system or group or universe. In other words, we see in our world what we choose to misunderstand or not-relate with in our own selves. So in the case of our global crisis, we can view it as a random and uncontrollable destruction of life caused by our own ignorance, greed, and unwillingness to cooperate with Nature, OR we can view it as a transformational cleansing process that will lead us through and into a higher experience and understanding of our interrelatedness, mysteriousness, and magnificent elegance. It is a death or a birth...

ALOHA - may you simply breath the breathe of ALL THAT IS - GOD - AUM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM

Week Four Inquiries - Part 1 - Catalysts

1. Catalysts - Did you know that a catalyst is used in the production of some margarines?
1. Metals such as Palladium and Nickel are used in the hydrogenation of oils/fats
1. Let's look at Nickel, shall we - Nickel - atomic number 28, Nickel is a natural cubic crystalline structure is commonly used "in electroplating and metal alloys because of its resistance to corrosion. Also in nickel-cadmium batteries; as a catalyst and for coins." (1)
2. Powdered Nickel assists in the catalytic hydrogenation of the fats by helping the hydrogen atoms to bond to the fatty acid chains, thus altering their structure and hence creating a more solid fat or 'fatty plastic'. The Nickel is removed prior to the cooling of the oil. (2) (Sounds lovely don't it?)

Sources:

1. Margarine and Nickel - http://www.hyfoma.com/en/content/food-branches-processing-manufacturing/oil-margarines-sauces/margarine
2. Hydrogenation - http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-278814/hydrogenation
3. Info on Nickel - http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Ni.html#Overview

OH NO Zone!

I spoke with my family about ozone today and they had not known that ozone was created at our atmospheric level. I didn't know that until our class read about it. I find this to be a slightly disturbing and curious situation; why don't we know about toxic substances that are in our environment? What can we do to become more aware and to work to remove and prevent the proliferation of such thing in our environment?

Education for everyone.

Element of the Week: Palladium

Palladium - Pd-46
Atomic Weight 106.42
Density 12.023 g/cc
Melting Point 1554.9°C
Boiling Point 2963°C

known for;

• being more far valuable than silver but has a distinctly yellow hue and never tarnishes
  
• used in a variety of industrial applications including: autoclasts, dentistry, automobile parts, jewelry, fuel cells, oil refining, chemistry, polyester, photography water treatment and more...
• it is used to make fine objects such as this royal coffee-maker:

Sources

1. http://periodictable.com/Elements/046/index.html
2. http://www.stillwaterpalladium.com/uses.html
3. http://www.nwtmintbullion.com/palladium_uses.php

The Secret of Scent - Smell is Chemistry

Biophysicist Luca Turin explains the 'magic' of scent in his book The Secret of Scent,

"Molecules are what we smell: smell is our chemical sense, and we are so used to it that we do not stop to think about how amazing it is. Consider this: a bit of brain grows downwards through a bone shot through with holes and dangles in the breeze somewhere up your nose. Smells, unlike sound and light, do not act at a distance: if you smell something, it is because pieces of the smelly stuff are evaporating from whatever it is you are smelling - whether it is Ruis de Nuit or frying bacon - flying through the air and ending up in your nose. The fact that they are colorless makes it look like a mysterious agency is at work, but if you were to add perfume to colorless smoke you would soon realize that you only smell the stuff when the color reaches you. A complex smell is just what it says: a complicated mixture of different molecules, each adding its own odor, the sum total of which is the thing we call the smell. But what are these smelly molecules? ...molecules are assemblages of atoms. Atoms come in different flavors, or elements, and the elements differ in their ability to connect with each other. As was figured out about a hundred years ago, atoms are not unlike tiny solar systems, with a central sun (the nucleus) and planets around them (electrons). The nucleus is made up of positive charges and the electrons are negative. Equal numbers of negative and positive charges are required to give a nice neutral, well-behaved atom. The negative planets don't simply stack up in increasingly larger orbits, but instead form groups - groups of eight to be exact. It's as if in each orbit there was room for eight planets, then when that orbit is considered filled up, you start with the next one.
What is important about all of this is that the social behavior of atoms - the branch of science known as chemistry - depends largely on how many atoms there are in the outer orbit. It is as if atoms are more comfortable with filled orbits, and are constantly searching for partners to swap electrons and achieve peace. For example, if one atom has seven electrons in its outer circle, it behaves like a collector trying to fill that yawning gap on its shelf and snaps up any electron around. Similarly, if an atom has just started the next electron orbit, and has only one electron in it, it is quite happy to give that up to go back to the neat arrangement of a properly filled eight-electron orbit. As you can readily imagine, when this generous soul meets the manic collector, it's Love."

And so on.... a more scientific explanation of Luca Turin's theory of smell can be found here.

Review of Site

I chose to review Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

I find it to be very simple, concise, and relatively easy to understand. My only criticism is the aesthetic or lack thereof, and slightly unclear design of the information. I can imagine the same information appearing in a much more clearly defined diagram, but for a website, this works.

It is a great review tool.

Element of the Week - Bismuth

Bismuth
Atomic Weight 208.98038
Density 9.78 g/cc
Melting Point 271.3°C
Boiling Point 1564.°C

known for;

• has the interesting physical property of being less dense as a solid than it is as a liquid
• naturally forms beautiful crystals
• poorly conducts electricity and heat
• used in producing malleable irons
• bismuth is non-toxic
• as a catalyst for making acrylic fibers
  
• the metal is used as a thermocouple material (has highest negativity known)
• carrier for uranium fuel in nuclear reactors
• fire detection, extinguishing systems
• cosmetics
• medicine

Sources

1. http://www.webelements.com/webelements/scholar/elements/bismuth/uses.html
2. http://periodictable.com/
3. http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photobis.html
   

On the Topic of Atmosphere

Quiz?

The Quiz

I scored perfectly until I assumed that table salt was pure Na. forgetting the Cl and all the other micro-minerals.
I then assumed Sugar, CHO?, was impure but this site says that it is pure. I don't know about that.
I then made one ore mistake by not knowing that water's boiling point is a physical property, rather than chemical.

Jargon uchmay?

Periodic Table of Elements

The periodic table has so many variations and with the interactivity of the computer/Internet, there are wonderfully rich tables like this one at Periodictable.com.

I really like the interactivity, pictures, roll-over information-display, and the written descriptions have a lovely sarcastic wit to them.

Other tables of interest (Periodically-speaking of course):

• A collection of interesting tables; I especially like the spiral
  
• A table showing the increasing atomic radius
• A fun Flash-animated song to learn with
• A basic Periodic Table with great detailed information
• This one is from the The Omnificent English Dictionary In Limerick Form:

• The Omnificent Periodic Table of Elements in Limerick Form

Such variety could kill, or at least stun.

Alchemy - The Root of Modern Chemistry Knowledge

The root of chemistry is alchemy, the 'art of the dark earth'. I find this extremely beautiful and poetic;

Alchemy and it's child, chemistry carry their meaning from the Egyptian work 'Khem', which, according to th University of Bristol School of Chemistry's website, "was used in reference to the fertility of the flood plains around the Nile."

The earth, our Mother, Mater... is the ever fertile dark earth = dark matter. Symbolically, and perhaps quite literally, dark matter is the inner and non-physical aspects of reality which is in constant and unending fluctuation and transformation. We study the universe to understand ourselves. The sciences/arts of alchemy and chemistry are the creative and intellectual pursuits of knowledge and understanding; alchemy being the more subtle/symbolic/spiritual expression (more yang within yin), while chemistry is the more intellectual/material/rationalist approach to the same understanding and yearning (more yin within yang). No matter how we go about and eventually explain our experience of searching for knowledge, we explore in the darkness filled with light through our energetic mind/body/spirit aspects.

Please enjoy this living alchemical video that is, in many ways, the inner spiritual-scientific process of transmuting energies within ourselves:



The dual nature of reality, so rooted and basic to many of the Eastern Philosophies and their applications (such as Traditional Oriental Medicine), is understood in the tradition of alchemy and explained through the symbols of the Sun and the Moon;

"The first way of knowing is the rational, deductive, argumentative, intellectual thinking that is the hallmark of science and our patriarchal Western culture. The alchemists called this kind of consciousness Solar and assigned it many code words, such as the Sun, Fire, Sophic Sulfur, the King, the Father, Spirit, and ultimately, the One Mind of the universe. Throughout this website, whenever the material involves left-brain activity like lists, linear thought, schematics, formulae, arguments and logic, the icon used will be the Sun symbol to the left." (1)

"The alchemists called the other way of knowing Lunar. This intelligence of the heart is a non-linear, image-driven, intuitive way of thinking that is an accepted tool of the arts and religion. Among its many symbols are the Moon, Water, Sophic Salt, the Queen, the Holy Ghost, Soul, and ultimately, the One Thing of the universe. Throughout this website, whenever the material involves right-brain activity dealing with drawings, paintings, mandalas, symbols, music, and meditation, the icon used will be the Moon symbol to the left [on their website]." (2)

In my experience, the more balanced and poetic knowledge systems have a fuller and deeper understanding of reality. This is part of what attracts me to Eastern medicines and philosophies, as well as the science/art of alchemy.

Bio - Greetings

As an Sino-astrological Earth-Rabbit, I am the Brown Rabbit.

I am also known as Michael Eugene Brown Jr., the eldest son of a gardener/real-estate appraiser/mechanist and a Master-mother/accountant/chef. I am an unfolding of their endless Love and I have only just begun to flower.

I now begin my studies at AIMC in Berkeley, California where I have chosen to dedicate myself to the healing profession through a rigorous and focussed study of Traditional Oriental Medicine complimented and enhanced by the supplementation of Integrative Perspectives/Methods.

This Blog is the living document of my experience of learning and education in the Basic Science course entitled 'Integrative Chemistry'. This course is a fundamental requirement for me in my studies of medicine and I look forward to exploring the practical, philosophical, and integrative depths of chemistry through this Blog. We also have a class blog that can be found here.

Please enjoy my ruminations and explorations as they joyously and deeply unfold.
To the truth that is yet to be told,
Cheers.