Science General Discussion

[the-pi-guy]

When feminists say that men and women are equally capable at math, do they mean that the mean is equal or that they're from the same distribution? - Quora

From the research I've seen, boys and girls tend to be about the same (or girls slightly better) at math until puberty. It is then that boys start pulling ahead, on average.
This actually makes pretty good sense. At puberty, boys get their testosterone levels up. This makes them stronger, more aggressive, and more focused (in order to fight off aggressors). On the other hand, at puberty, girls bodies and brains turn into baby-making machines.
This makes perfect sense from an evolutionary point of view. Most people who lived to adulthood didn't live very long - around age 40 or so. So women would have spent most of their adult lives having and raising children. To do so successfully, they would have to develop better social skills than men.
Primitive men would need to be patient and single-minded when it comes to hunting or protecting.
So now let's think about Einstein. From 1905 to 1915, he spent most of his time thinking about the General Theory of Relativity. It's a wonderful theory, but how many women do you know that would spend 10 years focused on such an abstract topic?
Women, on average, are more social beings.  This has a tremendously beneficial influence on our culture. Biologically, there would be less desire to become a mathematician or theoretical physicist. More women today are becoming doctors, and there's some pretty good evidence that they are better doctors than men, because they listen better.
My wife, daughter and sister all are extremely intelligent. But none of them will stay up all night, as I sometimes do, to solve a math problem, or write a computer program.
I'm sure there are cultural forces at play here. And there probably always will be.
Yet, there are many women who do make great mathematicians. And our society should encourage all children to pursue their passions.
We have some excellent programs at UT Dallas, that are aimed at assisting women to feeling welcome in our Computer Science Department. I strongly commend these efforts.
Those who think that 'true equality' would mean that we should get to the point where every field has 50/50 men and women are not for equality; they are for quotas.    
Only women can give birth to another human - and that mother has more influence on the future of that child than anyone else in the world. If we tried to downplay this, as our culture has done, it will be to the detriment of all.

[Legend]

Eh, that kind of seems a bit off

So now let's think about Einstein. From 1905 to 1915, he spent most of his time thinking about the General Theory of Relativity. It's a wonderful theory, but how many women do you know that would spend 10 years focused on such an abstract topic?

I can think of zero woman, but I can also only think of 1 man. Such a weird point.

[the-pi-guy]

Eh, that kind of seems a bit off
I can think of zero woman, but I can also only think of 1 man. Such a weird point.

Lol, it's true.  

[DD_Bwest]

Rumors Are Flying That We Finally Found Gravitational Waves 

[Legend]

Rumors Are Flying That We Finally Found Gravitational WavesÂ

YES!!!

They were detected a few months ago, but this new round of rumours seems to suggest it wasn't just a test!

[Raven]

Holy shame. This would be a significant leap forward.

[Legend]

SpaceX to Attempt Another Rocket Landing Sunday

[Legend]

[DD_Bwest]

SpaceX to Attempt Another Rocket Landing Sunday

super excited!! but another sea landing..  i guess they gotta get that nailed down for the falcon heavy. lol I remember hearing that the center rocket would be to far down range to land at the same spot as the other 2

[Legend]

super excited!! but another sea landing..  i guess they gotta get that nailed down for the falcon heavy. lol I remember hearing that the center rocket would be to far down range to land at the same spot as the other 2

This rocket is being launched from a different location so their options were sea landing or nothing at all.

However I have a good feeling they'll get this right assuming no pre-landing failures. All the data from last time should help a lot.

[DD_Bwest]

This rocket is being launched from a different location so their options were sea landing or nothing at all.

However I have a good feeling they'll get this right assuming no pre-landing failures. All the data from last time should help a lot.

i think they will make it to,  or atleast really hope they do.    where is this on being launched from?

[Legend]

i think they will make it to,  or atleast really hope they do.    where is this on being launched from?

EDT: Vandenberg Air Force Base California

[Legend]

No one seemed to take note that Stephen Hawkings face and a mysterious numerical code took over a group of billboards in Times Square this morning. I took a picture. What does it mean? : interestingasfuck

[DD_Bwest]

EDT: California

ah,  vandenberg?   have they launched from there before?

[Legend]

ah,  vandenberg?   have they launched from there before?

No clue