/sci/ - Science & Math

Why isn't this required reading in all high schools??

Because Jesus said it's bad.

Because it's outdated and a good portion of the things taught in the show are incorrect now. Sad, but true.
It's like asking: Why aren't textbooks from the 1970s still used in schools?

Still a great series to watch.

>>3164731
Because it is irrelevant to the curriculum.

>>3164707  

The vast majority of people place zero importance in astronomy, knowing that space is filled with nothing but floating rocks and trippy lights that don't effect us in any way. It's is a tremendously boring, repetitive and unnecessary field.

>>3164731
Why isn't this required listening in everywhere?

>>3164751
>that don't effect us in any way

fullretard.jpg

>>3164751

I really need to keep a copy of that Asteroid mining copypasta.

Suffice to say, if by "floating rocks" you mean "more material wealth than the total mass of this planet within the asteroid belt alone", then yes, you're right. there sure is nothing useful out there at all.

>>3164763

I go out to my shit job, go home and play vidya, get drunk and bang my girlfriend, all day err day. Such is life. Cosmic radio waves and lunar cycles ain't gonna change them.

>>3164764

OH RLY? Well go out and mine them then.

>>3164747

>implying the curriculum is some divine ordinance that can never be tampered with

>>3164783

Nice to see how you equate yourself with the grand sum of humanity.

And I'd love to go out an mine them, but because a large percentage of idiots would rather shoot brown people for oil than invest in aerospace engineering (besides to create superiority fighters) or invest in alternate energy research which could actually move us off the black gold standard, there are a few problems that need to be solved first.

>>3164808

But hey, at least you made a huge leap foward with the Mars Rover, which pioneered the way towards space industry... oh wait, all it does is roll around on some barren desert. You uh, might want to reconsider how space agencies use the funding they already have before bitching about not having enough.

>>3164747

Technically this is correct. Schools as of right now do not intend to make the student a literate person interested in science or the advancement of the human race.

>>3164731

Because it's controversial. Even as of right now, quite a big percentage of the worlds population are religious zealots. Introducing a book like this to 14 year olds whose parents pay 5-10% of their earnings to their local church would mean death (physical or social).

Also, picture very related.

>>3164783

Also... Please leave /sci/

>>3164805
>implying we teach science that isn't fundamentally accepted 20 years after the fact

>>3164751
>filled with nothing but floating rocks and trippy lights that don't effect us in any way. It's is a tremendously boring, repetitive and
Take some LSD and it won't be boring.

>implying that teaching kids about black holes and gamma rays will inspire them to become geniuses that eventually perfect FLT

Keep dreaming bitch nigga.

>>3164906
>> Implying you can watch the following video without crying like a little bitch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C8lG9L4XDk

>>3164971

U SRS? Oh wow, Earth + a bajillion miles = deep and spiritual.

Don't be a faggot.

>>3165006

If you are satisfied with mediocrity, you are welcome to wallow in it.

I would prefer to touch the stars.

>>3165020
If you are satisfied with delusions of grandeur you are welcome to wallow in it

>>3165033

They are only delusions if you fail.

If you don't even try, you've already failed.

I would prefer to at least try.

>>3165041

listen, you're talking about watching a carl sagan video.

please get over yourself.

>>3164751

>The vast majority of people place zero importance in astronomy, knowing that space is filled with nothing but floating rocks and trippy lights that don't effect us in any way. It's is a tremendously boring, repetitive and unnecessary field.

Are you fucking serious?

How dense are you?

>>3165044

No, I'm talking about the content of the video, the wonder and utility of exploratory spaceflight.

It's the message that is important. The medium is merely the medium.

>>3164783

>I go out to my shit job, go home and play vidya, get drunk and bang my girlfriend, all day err day. Such is life. Cosmic radio waves and lunar cycles ain't gonna change them.
>Cosmic radio waves and lunar cycles ain't gonna change them.


Again, how fucking dense?

I'm disappointed in your ignorance today, /sci/.

>>3164853
>Schools as of right now do not intend to make the student a literate person interested in science or the advancement of the human race.
Good thing we have /sci/

>>3165055
>>3165047

I'm fairly certain at this point that we're just being trolled.

The depressing part is that he is probably right about the opinions of a large percentage of people.

This of course doesn't mean they are right. Just that the majority of people are self-centred morons who can't look beyond today.

Which was something we already knew, anyways.

>prefers giant balls of hot gas that he'll never, ever interact with to living on Earth, enjoying life and the trillion beautiful things in it

Keep at it though son, I'm sure you'll build that spaceship someday.

>>3164764
>>3164763
>>3164808
>>3165055

our existence is and will be just an insignificant blip in the history of the universe. any astrophysical phenomena that will negatively affect us will likely not happen for a long time in human terms. humans will be long gone by the time a comet hits earth. our current and future efforts are better spent on our own planet where our tangible existence lie.

>>3165055
>>3165047

Go ahead and tell me how a quasar effects anything on Earth whatsoever. A supernova? Io? A black hole?

Other than being pretty things to look at.

>I go out to my shit job, go home and play vidya, get drunk and bang my girlfriend, all day err day.
You get drunk everyday? I bet your GF LOVES you.

>>3165089

>humans will be long gone by the time a comet hits earth.

And how would you know this? Oh right, astronomy.

>>3165069

It saddens me as an aspiring astronomer to see such blatant disinterest in the truly awesome beauty of nature.

And to underline: Regardless of what you may think, study of astronomical phenomenon is EXTREMELY important.


And if you're about to question me as to why, then perhaps you need to reevaluate your humanity.

>>3165094

>Go ahead and tell me how a quasar effects anything on Earth whatsoever.

>Hurr it doesn't effect me at this time, it's of no use ever.

>>3165109
>And how would you know this? Oh right, astronomy.
it's more geology than astronomy

>study of astronomical phenomenon is EXTREMELY important.
why?

>>3165094

A supernova within a few parsecs of earth would give off enough gamma rays to wipe out all life on this planet, burn off the atmosphere, and evaporate the oceans.

A rogue black hole could alter the orbit of the planet, pulling us out of the goldilocks zone and into fire or ice, depending on location.

An asteroid (Like, I don't know, the one that caused the K-T extinction event) of about 2km in diamter could trike the planet with the force of 2-5 gigatons of TNT, create either a) a 300 foot tsunami or b) throw up enough dust to block out the sun for a few centuries.

Also, by actually looking up, and knowing what the fuck we are doing, we can prevent the latter, and by spreading out among the stars, we reduce the chance of our entire race being destroyed by the former.

So, as before, Go back to your little life. Adults are talking now.

>>3165127
what would knowing about an impending astronomical disaster accomplish besides creating mass panic?

>A supernova
there's nothing we can do against a super nova

>A rogue black hole
there's nothing we can do against a black hole

>An asteroid
there's nothing we can do against an asteroid

>>3165143

Today on actual experts in the field, Neil Degrasse Tyson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ReuLZ2quc

>>3165127
I was about to write something to this effect. You saved me the effort. Great minds think alike.

>>3164740

What parts are outdated? Granted, I haven't watched it in a while, but I don't remember many things in particular which stood out as incorrect.

>>3165158
>mass delusion

>>3165158

Well, I try. Most of /sci/ is fine, but luddites really annoy me.

Humanity has never gained anything from people who believe we are better off never learning new things, or regressing back to old ones.

>>3165143
Well, we could at least try to divert an asteroid. But yeah, other than that, which is unlikely to be useful in the near future, and past the basics of mapping out the solar system and noting that nothing outside of that is going to affect us any time soon, astronomy isn't useful at all. Worth doing because it's cool and interesting, sure, but don't go calling what you're doing useful, it's only a step above history as far as being useful goes and certainly below art and entertainment.

>>3165143
2 options.
You're a troll.
You're retarded.

>>3165168
>I find people who are skeptical of technology saving us to be bores


Everyone knows Jesus is the only super technology we need.

>>3165158
>Great minds think alike

>>3165166

You understand how advancements work right? You do understand that you need to learn what a virus is before you can create a vaccine?

But damn, until you create a vaccine, that knowledge about the virus is useless! Let's just dump all research into everything that doesn't have immediate, instant, payoffs, and pump the money into creating new reality television to function as an opiate to the masses!

Now you're thinking!

>>3165166
>it's only a step above history as far as being useful goes
>implying history is useless
>implying you're not absolutely retarded

This entire thread is trolls.

>there's nothing we can do against an asteroid
Wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_impact_avoidance

At least watch Armageddon or SOMETHING.

>>3165033
i hope you die.
i hope your descendants die.

eh... at least my descendants won't have to waste ammo on your descendant's puny space vessel, because they'll still be on earth...

>>3165160
Pluto

>>3164740
>Because it's outdated and a good portion of the things taught in the show are incorrect now.
Yes.

>Still a great series to watch.
I found the TV show boring as fuck (WAY TOO SLOW), but I loved the book.

The people who make science shows need to learn that their audience has all the time in the world after the show is over to be awestruck by the immensity, intricacy, and beauty of the natural world: spend your precious minutes of screentime PRESENTING that immensity, intricacy, and beauty, not tediously yammering about how immense, intricate, and beautiful it is.

>>3165193
>thinks the new version of IPAD has gotten us closer to mars

>>3165205
I personally found that Sagan pointing out and elaborating on the beauty of the universe was able to garner my fascination after watching the show.

>>3165212
are you referring to the wrong post?

FUCK YEAH SAGAN

I love watching it and thinking about all that has happened/not happened since then.

>>3165181
You're an absolute fool if you don't understand that our present knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics is centuries ahead of related engineering technology. When we're within a century of warp drives or FTL travel, astronomy will be useful again, but that time is not now.
>>3165184
In what context, exactly, is studying history useful? I honestly can't think of one. Of course knowledge of history is relevant in many other fields, knowledge of astronomy is extremely important for some fields as well, but as far as actual professions in the field being useful?

>>3165221
No, it is the droids I am looking for

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vpu6yJPRVQ


>carl sagan, talking about basic scientific principles, that are constantly misinterpreted.


but remember, it is popsci. it isn't there to be a textbook, it is there to inspire.

anyone recommend some more popsci shows?

>>3165247
then i fail to see what your message is....

>>3165196


That became outdated in 2006, and it changes literally no other information about it. All the teacher would have to do is say "We now refer to that as a dwarf planet for X Y and Z reasons".

I'm not actually for making cosmos mandatory viewing in schools, but I feel like the episode which discussed evolution did a very good job introducing the concept and could be used effectively by a high school bio class.

>>3165266
Well then you have two independant choices:

1. Believe your own EGO, and that I have communicated poorly
2. Disregard your EGO and scrutinize the information in a competent and rational manner.

>your move

>>3165278
yes, that is great, what where you trying to say in that first post(>>3165212)

>>3165291

Not the first post, try again.

>>3164740
>>3164740
because textbook companies would go bankrupt

>>3165302
>>3165302
that was the first post referring to anything i posted....

so i have no idea what the context is of this comment(>>3165212) is

>>3165127

All stuff that isn't happening, won't happen, and cannot be prevented regardless. How do these things effect my life right here and now, the intent of the original question?

As for detecting and destroying or deflecting dangerous rogue asteroids, don't roll that out like it's a victory for astronomy. Millions of asteroids hit Earth all the time with people being none the wiser, so that it is yet another perfectly mundane aspect of life on this planet. A particularly big asteroid heading our way is a minor blip. Any mook with a pair of binoculars could spot it, and any 2-bit government with a nuclear arsenal and a computer guidance system could effectively deal with it. Life would go on the very next day uninterrupted.

Just admit it. You wasted your life in college memorising the names of the planets and astronomers are socially irrelevant nobody's who's job is to stare at pretty, twinkling lights.

>>3165127

All stuff that isn't happening, won't happen, and cannot be prevented regardless. How do these things effect my life right here and now, the intent of the original question?

As for detecting and destroying or deflecting dangerous rogue asteroids, don't roll that out like it's a victory for astronomy. Millions of asteroids hit Earth all the time with people being none the wiser, so that it is yet another perfectly mundane aspect of life on this planet. A particularly big asteroid heading our way is a minor blip. Any mook with a pair of binoculars could spot it, and any 2-bit government with a nuclear arsenal and a computer guidance system could effectively deal with it. Life would go on the very next day uninterrupted.

Just admit it. You wasted your life in college memorising the names of the planets and astronomers are socially irrelevant nobodies who's job is to stare at pretty, twinkling lights.

Fucking captcha bullshit...

>>3165318
Am I supposed to determine who is and who isn't anonymous? Or as you just being completely ignorant about the chain of references?

>irony, how does science work again?

Because school is THE institution that's supposed to protect children from logic and reason and manipulate them in the most critical state of developing an own opinion about thing.

Because old people in the government who believe in the talking snake say so. Because they were told so as a child. See where I'm going with this?

>According to the California Academy of Sciences, around 41% of U.S. adults mistakenly believe humans and dinosaurs coexisted.[109] However, the last of the non-avian dinosaurs died 65.5 million years ago, after the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, whereas the earliest Homo genus (humans) evolved between 2.3 and 2.4 million years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_misconceptions

Kinda sad that "the alternative to evolution" that must be taught in school in America is refuted on the "Wikipedia List of common misconceptions" along with "Chewing gum does not take 7 years to digest".

>>3165359
>According to the California Academy of Sciences, around 41% of U.S. adults mistakenly believe humans and dinosaurs coexisted.
>Worse yet, many of them are also unaware that birds are dinosaurs, and are still around today.

ITT: Arguing against anti-science trolls.

Fucking stop it.

>>3165190
>a bunch of unproven theoretical designs and methods

>>3165379
ITT: Arguing with irrational grandiosity

>>3165353
oh god... this post just shows you are the one with the inflated ego....


i simply asked if you were referring to the correct post, then you belligerently posted this >>3165247, to which i asked what your intended message was, to which you said >>3165278

that massive ego seems to be blocking your vision and preventing blood flow to your brain....


i simply asked

>>3165390

The earthly purpose of astronomy is to inspire improvements in fundamental physics.

Newton's mechanics were inspired by astronomy, and that alone would justify every expense humanity has ever borne in the study of the night sky, but it went on and on from there.

>Why isn't this required viewing in all high schools??
Maybe because it has ZERO relevance to everyday life?

>>3165563

>Maybe because it has ZERO relevance to everyday life?

Try again, pal.

>>3165630
>it helps me serve people the best Big Mac I can.