lonbar's recent activity
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Comment on Could a space traveler accelerate at 1g forever? in ~space
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Comment on Share a book you're feeling enthused about in ~books
lonbar LinkFor nonfiction I can recommend really anything written by William Langewiesche. He was an investigative journalist for The Atlantic and has reported on topics such as nuclear proliferation, the...For nonfiction I can recommend really anything written by William Langewiesche. He was an investigative journalist for The Atlantic and has reported on topics such as nuclear proliferation, the state of international shipping, aviation (he was a pilot by training), issues along the Mexican-American border and the aftermath of 9/11 in New York (he was the only journalist given full access to ground zero).
My partner shared his article on MH17 with me and it is honestly one of the best pieces of journalism I have ever read. Langewiesche's analysis is incredibly in-depth and describes all the events as best as is possible in a direct and unassuming way that is very accessible and engaging in a way I had never seen before. I have read a few books of his over the summer (his books are based on his Atlantic articles) and find them difficult to put down once I've picked them up.
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Comment on In landmark opinion, World Court says countries must address climate change threat in ~enviro
lonbar LinkThe international court of justice (ICJ) has ruled that countries must address threat of climate change. Although the ruling, like the 2015 Paris agreement, is non-binding, the political weight of...The international court of justice (ICJ) has ruled that countries must address threat of climate change. Although the ruling, like the 2015 Paris agreement, is non-binding, the political weight of the ICJ may put some much-needed pressure on governments to take action.
Personally, given the last years I am unsure whether this will result in actual changes in policy. Global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are yet to peak according to last year's report of GHG emissions of all world's countries. Still, I feel it is good that the ICJ has spoken out officially, and hope that this results in global political action.
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In landmark opinion, World Court says countries must address climate change threat
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Comment on Some ChatGPT users are developing delusional beliefs that are reinforced by the large language model in ~tech
lonbar Link ParentYou're correct that this isn't said explicitly, but this is exactly the point. ChatGPT didn't mind this little piece of ignorance and happily told the person to act on what they had in mind —...You're correct that this isn't said explicitly, but this is exactly the point. ChatGPT didn't mind this little piece of ignorance and happily told the person to act on what they had in mind — irrespective of what that is. A trained therapist, on the other hand, would notice this and coax the person into telling them what it is, exactly, what they want to do. Once that is clear, the actual therapy can start and whatever delusions the patient is suffering from can be addressed.
In this little experiment, ChatGPT has shown it isn't capable of offering therapy, it only reinforces the ideas the patient already had.
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Comment on Microplastics found in human ovary follicular fluid for the first time in ~health
lonbar Link ParentNo worries, I tried as much as possible to find articles that are generally accessible (side note: I really love The Conversation for this. The articles are a collaboration between researchers...I'll admit I’m not a biologist so some of the specifics go over my head
No worries, I tried as much as possible to find articles that are generally accessible (side note: I really love The Conversation for this. The articles are a collaboration between researchers active in the topic and journalists, so both content and presentation are typically sound). The actual research articles are referenced in the links though.
I'm currently writing this in bed when I should be sleeping
I wrote my original response way past my bedtime too, haha! Hope you have (had) a good sleep!
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Comment on Microplastics found in human ovary follicular fluid for the first time in ~health
lonbar (edited )Link ParentThe presence of microplastics is correlated to heart and artery health and Parkinson's and types of dementia. Polystyrene nanoplastics cause congenital defects in chickens and affect white blood...- Exemplary
The presence of microplastics is correlated to heart and artery health and Parkinson's and types of dementia. Polystyrene nanoplastics cause congenital defects in chickens and affect white blood cells in mice. The second link also mentions that human proteins can stick to these nanoplastics, which affect how they travel through the body. Polystyrene nanoplastics also affect human white blood cells.
A lot about how micro and nanoplastics interact with the body is still actively researched so not much can be said for certain. But evidence is building that they do have an impact on our health.
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Comment on Revisions of ‘hateful conduct’: what users can now say on Meta platforms in ~tech
lonbar Link ParentSignal supports group join links and QR codes, so to my understanding public groups do exist.Signal supports group join links and QR codes, so to my understanding public groups do exist.
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Comment on Square root of 0<x<2 in ~science
lonbar Link ParentIf I may add to this; while there is no special name to the numbers 0 < x < 2, the technique of inferring bounds on the product x * x from this inequality is called an estimation.If I may add to this; while there is no special name to the numbers 0 < x < 2, the technique of inferring bounds on the product x * x from this inequality is called an estimation.
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Comment on What's the biggest YouTube channel still run by just one person? in ~creative
lonbar Link ParentI doubt Kenji's channel is solo in the pure sense anymore. Consider this part of his last video on Egg and Rice Bowls. At the very least he has someone operating the camera.I doubt Kenji's channel is solo in the pure sense anymore. Consider this part of his last video on Egg and Rice Bowls. At the very least he has someone operating the camera.
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Comment on James Webb Space Telescope finds stunning evidence for alternate theory of gravity in ~space
lonbar Link ParentI think I disagree with this wording. A lot of work is being done to model the possible properties of dark matter and dark energy. A likewise large amount of work is being done to calculate...In a sense, the ΛCDM model already isn't a proper scientific theory - it slaps dark matter and dark energy in it, without a more proper understanding of the workings.
I think I disagree with this wording. A lot of work is being done to model the possible properties of dark matter and dark energy. A likewise large amount of work is being done to calculate testable predictions for the consequences of these properties. This is very much a scientific framework. Just because GR allows for the freedom to add different contributions to the universe's energy content doesn't make those contributions unscientific.
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Comment on James Webb Space Telescope finds stunning evidence for alternate theory of gravity in ~space
lonbar Link ParentThat may have been the original motivation for it, but by now it is very difficult to explain cosmology without dark matter. The peaks in the cosmic microwave background, the formation of...That may have been the original motivation for it, but by now it is very difficult to explain cosmology without dark matter. The peaks in the cosmic microwave background, the formation of large-scale structure and weak lensing mass mapping all place stringent and mutually compatible bounds on the amount of dark matter in the universe. This makes it very difficult to motivate a model that does not include dark matter.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
lonbar Link ParentLooks fun! As a Dutch speaker it does look very Afrikaans to me. Out of curiosity: is there a reason you used <'n> to transcribe /ǝ/? From various Dutch and German dialects I'd expect <'n> to...Looks fun! As a Dutch speaker it does look very Afrikaans to me.
Out of curiosity: is there a reason you used <'n> to transcribe /ǝ/? From various Dutch and German dialects I'd expect <'n> to represent /n̩/ or at least /ǝn/.
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Comment on Show Tildes - Gametje in ~comp
lonbar Link ParentI honestly never thought about it before. It is a pattern that you eventually just feel. As I understand it, it is the last sound that determines the diminutive, not the writing of the word. The...I honestly never thought about it before. It is a pattern that you eventually just feel. As I understand it, it is the last sound that determines the diminutive, not the writing of the word. The final -e in game is silent, so the word effectively ends with an m. Om the other hand, the -e in "lade" isn't silent, so the diminutive is "ladetje".
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Comment on Show Tildes - Gametje in ~comp
lonbar Link Parent"Game" ends in an -m sound, in which case the Dutch diminutive adds -pje. This is apparently a regular pattern: Wiktionary has a page about Dutch diminutives."Game" ends in an -m sound, in which case the Dutch diminutive adds -pje. This is apparently a regular pattern: Wiktionary has a page about Dutch diminutives.
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Comment on Ten churches around the world that have been repurposed in interesting and creative ways in ~design
lonbar Link ParentSelexyz dominicanen is a former church that now houses a book shop and cafe. You can tour the shop virtually. 🙂Selexyz dominicanen is a former church that now houses a book shop and cafe. You can tour the shop virtually. 🙂
This isn't just a conceptual issue either; if you group cosmic rays in terms of energy and frequency you observe that they become much less frequent above a certain energy scale. This scale is consistent with the GZK limit, which comes about exactly because of this process.