[willyd]

You can log in to NYTIMES for the rest of the article...just thought the questions were interesting. Many of them were broached your freshman year in college.

[willyd]

(10) The big date...lol

[JohnLongIsland]

(26)does the slimes matter?

[nmh]

Of all the concerns out there ...

THIS is what they come up with?

Leave it to the NYT to be concerned about THIS.

[warrior9504]

26) If the times writes an article and no one reads it, why does it still become the Democratic talking points?

[Zeroisanumber]

(1) Does Science Matter?

Absolutely.

(2) Is War Our Biological Destiny?

*argh!*

(3) Will Humans Ever Visit Mars?

Of course.

(4) How Does the Brain Work?

Something like a biological computer, but more complex. Science lacks the hueristics to describe what it is exactly.

(5) What Is Gravity, Really?

Don't know, working on it.

(6) Will We Ever Find Atlantis?

Already found the Minoans, close enough.

(7) How Much of the Body is Replaceable?

Not sure; possibly all of it, but that leads to some interesting philosophical questions.

(8) What Should We Eat?

Whatever we like.

(9) When Will the Next Ice Age Begin?

Sometime.

(10) What Happened Before the Big Bang?

We lack the knowledge and conceptual framework to even begin to guess.

(11) Could We Live Forever?

Very possibly. Depends on what you mean by "live".

(12) Are Men Necessary? ...

Yes.

... Are Women Necessary?

Yes.

(13) What Is the Next Plague?

Unknown, probably a flu of some sort.

(14) Can Robots Become Conscious?

Depends on what you mean by "conscious"

(15) Why Do We Sleep?

Recharging some important chemicals and to heal up from the daily abuse we put our bodies through.

(16) Are Animals Smarter Than We Think?

Which animals?

(17) Can Science Prove the Existence of God?

No.

(18) Is Evolution Truly Random?

*ARGH!*

(19) How Did Life Begin?

The current theory is lightning and tapioca pudding, but no one knows for sure.

(20) Can Drugs Make Us Happier? Smarter?

I've certainly felt happier and smarter on drugs.

(21) Should We Improve Our Genome?

If we can.

(22) How Much Nature Is Enough?

*ARGH!*

(23) What Is the Most Important Problem in Math Today?

Where I left all of those goddamn socks.

(24) Where Are Those Aliens?

Somewhere, around.

(25) Do Paranormal Phenomena Exist?

Just your imagination.

[G.Mason]

"(2) Is War Our Biological Destiny?"

How obviously pathetic.

The NYT is grasping at straws for fillers in their rag.

From a David Limbaugh article of November 14, 2003 ...

"Is War Our Biological Destiny?" That is the question posed in a recent New York Times article by Natalie Angier."

http://www.davidlimbaugh.com/111403.htm

[meowmeow]

Why did my cat poop in the bedroom?

What should I make for dinner tonight?

Where did I put my keys?

Did I overwater my Christmas cactus?

So many mysteries.

[G.Mason]

My bad. In my haste to condem the NYT, I neglected to observe the date of the article.

Opened mouth ... inserted foot.

[Cincinna]

Reminds me of High School and the Admiral Stockdale question:
"Who am I ? Why am I here?"

[Fresh Wind]

(23) What Is the Most Important Problem in Math Today?

Determining what is the most important problem in Math today.

[Fresh Wind]

(26) Does The New York Times Exist, Or Is It A Paranormal Phenomenon?

[yer gonna put yer eye out]

(27) can the N.Y. Times be more irrelevant?

[7thson]

... Are Women Necessary? Absolutely!

[Fresh Wind]

(16) Are Animals Smarter Than We Think?

Of course. How many cats and dogs do you see driving to work every day on congested freeways? How many cats and dogs do you see pulling out their fur as they struggle with their tax forms? How many cats and dogs do you see at the supermarket, cooking their meals, or washing the dishes?

Cats and dogs get to sleep all day in a warm dry house, and have their meals provided on a regular schedule by their human servants. So, who's smarter? Them or us?

[BillCompton]

Science

(1) Does Science Matter?

No.

(2) Is War Our Biological Destiny?

Good question. If we built an elevator into space that used the centrifugal force of the earth's rotation to lift payloads into space, would some idiot destroy it? You betcha.

(3) Will Humans Ever Visit Mars?

No.

(4) How Does the Brain Work?

If you don't ask me, I know I know, but if you ask me, I know I cannot.

(5) What Is Gravity, Really?

One of three primary forces. What is electricity? What is magnetism? For a complete theory, look at GrandUnification.com

(6) Will We Ever Find Atlantis?

Did it blow up too?

(7) How Much of the Body is Replaceable?

Only the sexual organs are replaceable and then, only imperfectly.

(8) What Should We Eat?

White Castle Combos and Denty Moore Stew. Truthfully, there are other answers to this question.

(9) When Will the Next Ice Age Begin?

1985 according to this Newsweek Article from 1975.

(10) What Happened Before the Big Bang?

God was thinking.

(11) Could We Live Forever?

No. Duh.

(12) Are Men Necessary? ...

No.

... Are Women Necessary?

No.

(13) What Is the Next Plague?

Sir Elton John singing all his song in a lower octave.

(14) Can Robots Become Conscious?

Nope.

(15) Why Do We Sleep?

There are various reasons. (punt)

(16) Are Animals Smarter Than We Think?

Yeah, dogs are. But they are really stupid too. And they like to eat cat poop, which does not speak well for intelligence.

(17) Can Science Prove the Existence of God?

No. It can prove design by a more advanced intelligence, if it happens to exist, but God is beyond human apprehension in an objective sense. That doesn't mean He is hard to find.

(18) Is Evolution Truly Random?

Doubtful, but who the hell knows?

(19) How Did Life Begin?

I think my parents did it a few times. It is the only thing that makes sense. Ewww. Next question.

(20) Can Drugs Make Us Happier? Smarter?

Caffeine can.

(21) Should We Improve Our Genome?

We can't.

(22) How Much Nature Is Enough?

Florida in the summer. Canada in the winter.

(23) What Is the Most Important Problem in Math Today?

I could make up something here, but...nah.

(24) Where Are Those Aliens?

This is the best question. I don't think there are any aliens. I think we are the whole shooting match. Did you know that if any planet in our galaxy were able to produce a colony ship every 10,000 years and that if each ship split (on average) every 10,000 years, that in only 1 million years, there would be trillions of colony ships around every star in the galaxy. Either a) deep space travel is impossible, or b) we are alone, or c) we are the first, or d)(the most unlikely) we happened to develop at exactly the same time as another planet. Option "a" above could also mean that intelligence always destroys itself.

(25) Do Paranormal Phenomena Exist?

no.

[Jack of all Trades]

I'll have lash

1) Does Science Matter?Absolutely.
(2) Is War Our Biological Destiny? ?No
(3) Will Humans Ever Visit Mars? ?I hope so. My son wants to be the first.
(4) How Does the Brain Work? Sometimes like magic, sometimes like mud.
(5) What Is Gravity, Really? ? A patient and crafty foe.
(6) Will We Ever Find Atlantis? Only Leonard Nemo really cares.
(7) How Much of the Body is Replaceable? Not enough
(8) What Should We Eat? Anything, but not too much of it.
(9) When Will the Next Ice Age Begin? Sooner than we think
(10) What Happened Before the Big Bang? That’s like asking where you were before you were born.
(11) Could We Live Forever? I pray every day that I will.
(12) Are Men Necessary? ... ... Are Women Necessary? Are questions like this really necessary?
(13) What Is the Next Plague? Biometric identification
(14) Can Robots Become Conscious? I hope not because that would result in a negative answer to (12) above.
(15) Why Do We Sleep? Because we tire.
(16) Are Animals Smarter Than We Think? Yes
(17) Can Science Prove the Existence of God? The proof is all around you.
(18) Is Evolution Truly Random? Huh?
(19) How Did Life Begin? Well first daddy fell in love with mommy and we got married… Hey look! Sponge Bob is on!
(20) Can Drugs Make Us Happier? Smarter? Perception is not reality.
(21) Should We Improve Our Genome? Yes. Try to marry up.
(22) How Much Nature Is Enough? Huh?
(23) What Is the Most Important Problem in Math Today? Calculator/guessing/group-based education
(24) Where Are Those Aliens? Streaming over the boarder my the millions
(25) Do Paranormal Phenomena Exist? I knew you would ask that.