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Scientists Crack Silk's Secret
AEton writes "Researchers at Tufts University have reportedly discovered the mechanism by which spidersilk is produced. Besides the obvious use as a Kevlar substitute in bulletproof vests, silk has applications in microprocessor production, nanoscale optical fiber, a and any other application requiring strength and flexbility. Scientists have long grappled with the issue of creating silk; artificial silk is inferior to the real stuff, and the spiders can't be farmed (when you put them too close together, they eat each other). The method these Tufts researchers have found makes "strong silk" production feasible; if they can make it economical, the impact on safety equipment alone makes this material a worthwhile investment."
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The islam has proven to be very scientific hundreds of years ago, nobody knows how fast science might have advanced had christian crusaders not burned all those islamic bibliaries.
The islamic world also was able to govern itself without sinking into anarchy, before it was raped by the christian world.
While the islam and it's followers tend to be a little more hot-tempered than christians, the islam is quite peaceful by nature.
The problem with the islam is that recently, too many islamic people have become religious fanatics.
Violent fanatics, this includes religios fanatics of all religions as well as any others like drug bosses seeking wealth and power, are a threat to peace.
That radical islamists have pulled a few big stunts lately and are right now maybe the biggest threat to world peace should not give you ideas about what the islam is like.
If you'd want to make your mind about catholic people, would you only look at what the IRA did and conclude that this was the nature of catholic religion?
Most muslims who have not been turned extreme by extreme circumstances (like having to endure terror and torture by having to live in the Iraq as a shiite under Saddam), will agree that radical islamists have indeed left the path of islam a long time ago.
Btw: The roman catholic church needed 500 years to acknoledge that the earth circles around the sun. This was little more then ten years ago. Let the islam beat that.
On the other hand, if you STATE that your post will be modded up as something, that almost always means it won't be modded up. Moderators don't like proving people right, and may just mod it offtopic or troll out of spite.
ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI
Given GWB's attitude towards science (stem-cell research, genetics, etc.), the fact that 83% of Americans believe in the virgin birth of Jesus and only 28% percent believe that evolution is valid, and that 58% of the population thinks that in order to be a moral person you have to be a christian, where do you think America is heading right now?
BOO! TERRO
Let me re-phrase my response to better illustrate. Some objectivity, with subtle well-informed opinions is typically far superior than knee-jerk responses brought on by radical/reactionary philosophy. Always has been, always will be.
Assuming your statistics aren't just made up, I think that most of the 72% who don't "believe" evolution is valid don't understand evolution. I'm not sure that I "believe" quantum mechanics is "valid".
The foundation of religion is belief. The foundation of science is disbelief. It seems more than reasonable more people would believe a religious story than a scientific theory.
Erik
That's OK. You're still wrong on all accounts.
The modern atheistic regimes have killed more people than all of the "religious" wars in history.
Show me the statistics.
You'll probably include the blatantly atheistic Pol Pot, Hitler and the Stalin inspired eastern-bloc of the 20th century. Feel free to add your non-religious favourites to this crowd. Once you are done with the atheistic nations, I'll make my case by invoking all the nationalistic/tribal wars - down to the ancients wars of biblical times and before that. I think you can hardly surpass this number of atrocities.
Why should I collaborate with you if I can get what I want without it?
Because being collaborative benefits you in the long run. Why do you think modern societies built on collaboration are mostly peaceful and so successful? No. It's not because of laws imposed and enforced from above either by a secular or a divine authority. Societies are collaborative and peaceful because the most people benefit from it.
It's because collaboration (which should not be confused with charity) pays off. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. The danger of getting ripped off is outweighed by the obvious benefits.
BOO! TERRO
Evolution is superior to "creationism" in the sense that it is falsifiable. It is possible to adjust or reject the theory if solid proof or arguments are found. It will always logically and practically win from theories along the lines of "it's in ". Just like we nowadays accept that the earth is indeed round and not flat.
I plan to plan / Dutch course in The Hague
Evolution is MUCH more feasible than creation. It's based on a few already proven principles: 1) mutation happens 2) offspring carry on the genetic traits of their parents. proving that humans arose from apes is one of the easier tasks. just look at dogs, who all came from the same ancestor. look at such difference in form. suddenly apes dont look so different from humans. As for the age of the earth, I'm no expert. but it's much harder to believe that the earth is just a few thousands of years old. Science never claims to have all the answers. religion does claim to have many unproven answers. I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound hostile, but this is how I feel about things. I used to be religious but eventually there were many things I could not accept.
I realize that you're just trying to pick a fight here, but the notable thing about those Morning Star crazies isn't just that they don't believe in evolution. It's the way that they'll let *that* disbelief define their worldview at least as much as they will the Bible. They'll ignore the clearest of fact if they suspect that it might be useful as evidence of evolution. They'd argue that the theory of gravity was false if it in any way supported the theory of evolution.
The luddites don't have a monopoly on crazy. That's all I was saying. I'm sure you agree.
PS. If you want to pick a fight about evolution, drop me an email. I don't feel like a firefight on slashdot, thanks.
There are no trails. There are no trees out here.