The anthropomorphization of computers (especially powerful ones) is pretty annoying. A _person used a supercomputer_ to analyze Covid-19, and I’m guessing the theory didn’t just ‘emerge’ from the computer.
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Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
141–150 of 154 posts
Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#142Earlier quoted context omitted.
For category three I feel that goal-seeking (or the appearance of such) is sufficient for the anthropomorphism to kick in. The braitenberg vehicles thought experiment is a good example of this. Quoting from wikipedia "For the simplest vehicles, the motion of the vehicle is directly controlled by some sensors (for example photo cells). Yet the resulting behaviour may appear complex or even intelligent." https://en.m.w…
Trying to follow that wiki article. Is the point that these vehicles appear to have goal-seeking behavior, but that is probably a projection on the part of the observer - and really its behavior is simply an emergent result of the incentives/effects programmed between sensor and effector?
Yes. IMO the thought experiment is really more about us than anything else.
Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#143[deleted]
Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#144Earlier quoted context omitted.
It seems to me like even scientists use the terms not quite interchangeably, but on a spectrum. String theory is still "theoretical physics", not "hypothetical physics", even though it will likely never be tested in our lifetime.
That's because the whole internet idea of "a theory is a well-tested hypothesis" is silly and wrong. A hypothesis is a specific supposition or question about the way things work which if true has some level of explanatory power in a field of study. It can be confirmed or unconfirmed. It's still a hypothesis. An answered question is still a question. A theory is a explanatory framework for a body of knowledge. Unlike…
Right. I'll only add that it's not really an "internet idea". It's a highly idealized, cartoon version of science that has been part of my education since long before I was on the internet.
Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#145Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#146Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know about air, but ultraviolet light is a pretty good disinfectant.
ozone too. And it goes inside your nose, throat, lungs.
I'm still waiting for the results from that whole bleach in the lungs idea Trump had. Hoping that will be the cure for all of this.
Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#147Earlier quoted context omitted.
That air is a natural disinfectant is super interesting. I read that vitamin D and observed benefits for those who have vitamin D is a correlation. Meaning that taking vitamin D supplements might not be as helpful as getting sunlight (a natural way to get vitamin D)
I don't know about air, but ultraviolet light is a pretty good disinfectant.
but patients don't disinfect from the inside when exposed to outdoor air...
Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#148Earlier quoted context omitted.
This Medium article was written on March 10 [1]. "Put simply, medics found that severely ill flu patients nursed outdoors recovered better than those treated indoors. A combination of fresh air and sunlight seems to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff.[1] There is scientific support for this. Research shows that outdoor air is a natural disinfectant. Fresh air can kill the flu vir…
That air is a natural disinfectant is super interesting. I read that vitamin D and observed benefits for those who have vitamin D is a correlation. Meaning that taking vitamin D supplements might not be as helpful as getting sunlight (a natural way to get vitamin D)
UV radiation is the disinfectant. Also the vast amount of air makes a dillution of germs and aerosols more likely which is great.
With regards to sunlight exposure, sunbathing in the alps was a go-to tuberculosis treatment prior to having antibiotics.
Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#149Is this a fake news?
I could find only the article below on IBM's news section (they created this super computer). Speaking about the results of the 2 day analysis, Jeremy Smith, Governor’s Chair at the University of Tennessee, director of the UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, and principal researcher in the study: “Our results don’t mean that we have found a cure or treatment for COVID-19. We are very hopeful, though, that our computational findings will both inform future studies and provide a framework that experimentalists will use to further investigate these compounds. Only then will we know whether any of them exhibit the characteristics needed to mitigate this virus.”
https://newsroom.ibm.com/US-Dept-of-Energy-Brings-the-Worlds...
Re: Supercomputer analysis of Covid-19 leads to new theory
#150Earlier quoted context omitted.
> that is actionable for a lot of people Really hoping this is better by the next few months or my Seattle winter will be even more pill popping to maintain basic human functionality....
If you cook or grow your own food (microgreens, mushroom in a kitchen cabinet), there are alternatives. For example: https://www.milkwood.net/2014/03/31/want-extra-vitamin-d-pla... This works for both shiitake and button (portobello) mushrooms. This trick came from Paul Stamets, one of the world’s foremost mycologist. He is based out in Casscadia. You may have to track down exactly what “2 days” means... I wouldn’t b…
This is a great insight, thank you.