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It can be done
OPINION LETTERS One man’s hacker… From Byron Rigby In his review of Marcus Wohlsen’s book Biopunk (9 April, p 50), Jonathon Keats claimed that amateur science started in the 1960s, whereas it was actually founded by the “gentleman scientists” who established the entire scientific enterprise when it was considered fashionable to do chemical and electrical experiments at home. Keats also seems ambivalent about do-it-yourself science. He recognises its playful element, but seems to condone the “biohacking” label, with its overtones of illegitimacy. He even says the “greater threat” from DIY bioscience is to “mainstream thinking”. Competition perhaps, but “threat”? Is an attempt to “crowdsource a cure for cancer” an attempt to “subvert academia”? It seems more likely that it is the wealth tied up in biotech that
has led to its amateur practice being labelled “hacking”. I imagine most amateur scientists would say that the damaging applications of science have been almost exclusively perpetrated by governments and institutions, not by individuals. Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Spiritual path From Dirk Pons Markings and structures recently found in the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt have sparked much speculation (28 May, p 14). The Egyptians had a formalised style of writing for everything of importance. If it was worth noting, they did it properly. So the first assumption, as your article says, has to be that the less formal hieroglyphs found were left by stonemasons. They are in a small chamber at the end of a narrow tunnel
Enigma Number 1653
Cut-free SUSAN DENHAM The image, right, shows six dominoes forming a rectangle. The dotted line shows how the rectangle can be cut into two rectangles without cutting through a domino. I started again with a standard set of 28 dominoes and used some of them to make another rectangle. This time it was impossible to find a line that cuts it into two rectangles without cutting a domino. I then broke up that rectangle, added two further dominoes from
It can be done the set, and used them all to make a new rectangle. Once again, it was impossible to find a line that cut this into two rectangles without cutting a domino. How many dominoes did I use in this last rectangle?
WIN £15 will be awarded to the sender of the first correct answer opened on Wednesday 3 August. The Editor’s decision is final. Please send entries to Enigma 1653, New Scientist, Lacon House, 84 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8NS, or to [email protected] (please include your postal address). Answer to 1647 Fifth-division clincher: 943785 The winner A. Harrison of Rugby, Warwickshire, UK
30 | NewScientist | 2 July 2011
emanating from a tomb. The chamber is backed by a blocking stone with a rough carved door. There is nothing strange in this structure. The ancient Egyptians believed in symbolic representation, such as doors, and that spirits could pass through solid objects. Their rituals and votive inscriptions generally convey a deep sense of uncertainty about resurrection and anxiety about the journey to the afterlife. In that belief system it would be a nightmare to be resurrected but then set off in the wrong direction and miss out on eternal life. So a nice bit of guiding shaft could be reassuring. Once on the right path the blocking stone would not be a problem to the spirit. There need not be another tomb beyond for the tunnel to have spiritual significance. Kaiapoi, New Zealand
From Rod Hine In his observations on the factors influencing bicycle stability, Jerry Cain stated that crashes were “inevitable if we crossed our arms on the handlebars” (Letters, 18 June). I beg to differ. Riding in Cambridge, UK, as an undergraduate in 1964, I experimented by moving one hand to the other side but close to the steering axis, keeping the other hand firmly in the correct place on the handlebar grip. This way I gradually learned
the reversed feedback, and eventually could swap both hands completely, with barely a wobble. However, this nearly caused a nasty accident when I showed my friend my new skill as we were cycling. His last words before hitting the ground were: “I’m sure I can do that.” Happily he forgave me and healed quickly. It just shows the amazing adaptability of the body, given suitable training. Just don’t try it all at once! Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK From Steve Lockwood I have always thought the gyroscopic effect of bicycle wheels was negligible, as suggested by your feature on the physics of bike stability (28 May, p 44). When riding, I have never had the feeling of being “held upright” by such forces, which would also make turning difficult. Also, bikes with lightweight wheels would be less stable than ones with heavy wheels and I have never experienced any such effect. Frame geometry has always seemed the biggest factor in stability: a well-made bike leans into corners naturally, without any apparent resistance. If you are unlucky enough to have a geometry which causes understeer or oversteer, the experience can be quite fraught. Studley, Warwickshire, UK
There is hope From John Zimmerman Your story “Land-grab strategy doesn’t hold water” (28 May, p 10), on the flow of virtual water between countries in the form of food imports, omitted a significant element. As humanity continues to do more with less, we can look forward to technology that will make more efficient use of water resources. This will also diminish the connection between available water and population growth. Hopkinton, New Hampshire, US
has led to its amateur practice being labelled “hacking”. I imagine most amateur scientists would say that the damaging applications of science have been almost exclusively perpetrated by governments and institutions, not by individuals. Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Spiritual path From Dirk Pons Markings and structures recently found in the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt have sparked much speculation (28 May, p 14). The Egyptians had a formalised style of writing for everything of importance. If it was worth noting, they did it properly. So the first assumption, as your article says, has to be that the less formal hieroglyphs found were left by stonemasons. They are in a small chamber at the end of a narrow tunnel
Enigma Number 1653
Cut-free SUSAN DENHAM The image, right, shows six dominoes forming a rectangle. The dotted line shows how the rectangle can be cut into two rectangles without cutting through a domino. I started again with a standard set of 28 dominoes and used some of them to make another rectangle. This time it was impossible to find a line that cuts it into two rectangles without cutting a domino. I then broke up that rectangle, added two further dominoes from
It can be done the set, and used them all to make a new rectangle. Once again, it was impossible to find a line that cut this into two rectangles without cutting a domino. How many dominoes did I use in this last rectangle?
WIN £15 will be awarded to the sender of the first correct answer opened on Wednesday 3 August. The Editor’s decision is final. Please send entries to Enigma 1653, New Scientist, Lacon House, 84 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8NS, or to [email protected] (please include your postal address). Answer to 1647 Fifth-division clincher: 943785 The winner A. Harrison of Rugby, Warwickshire, UK
30 | NewScientist | 2 July 2011
emanating from a tomb. The chamber is backed by a blocking stone with a rough carved door. There is nothing strange in this structure. The ancient Egyptians believed in symbolic representation, such as doors, and that spirits could pass through solid objects. Their rituals and votive inscriptions generally convey a deep sense of uncertainty about resurrection and anxiety about the journey to the afterlife. In that belief system it would be a nightmare to be resurrected but then set off in the wrong direction and miss out on eternal life. So a nice bit of guiding shaft could be reassuring. Once on the right path the blocking stone would not be a problem to the spirit. There need not be another tomb beyond for the tunnel to have spiritual significance. Kaiapoi, New Zealand
From Rod Hine In his observations on the factors influencing bicycle stability, Jerry Cain stated that crashes were “inevitable if we crossed our arms on the handlebars” (Letters, 18 June). I beg to differ. Riding in Cambridge, UK, as an undergraduate in 1964, I experimented by moving one hand to the other side but close to the steering axis, keeping the other hand firmly in the correct place on the handlebar grip. This way I gradually learned
the reversed feedback, and eventually could swap both hands completely, with barely a wobble. However, this nearly caused a nasty accident when I showed my friend my new skill as we were cycling. His last words before hitting the ground were: “I’m sure I can do that.” Happily he forgave me and healed quickly. It just shows the amazing adaptability of the body, given suitable training. Just don’t try it all at once! Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK From Steve Lockwood I have always thought the gyroscopic effect of bicycle wheels was negligible, as suggested by your feature on the physics of bike stability (28 May, p 44). When riding, I have never had the feeling of being “held upright” by such forces, which would also make turning difficult. Also, bikes with lightweight wheels would be less stable than ones with heavy wheels and I have never experienced any such effect. Frame geometry has always seemed the biggest factor in stability: a well-made bike leans into corners naturally, without any apparent resistance. If you are unlucky enough to have a geometry which causes understeer or oversteer, the experience can be quite fraught. Studley, Warwickshire, UK
There is hope From John Zimmerman Your story “Land-grab strategy doesn’t hold water” (28 May, p 10), on the flow of virtual water between countries in the form of food imports, omitted a significant element. As humanity continues to do more with less, we can look forward to technology that will make more efficient use of water resources. This will also diminish the connection between available water and population growth. Hopkinton, New Hampshire, US