25 of the most provocative questions facing science

NY Times (Science Times) ^ | Nov. 11, 2003 | Anon.

[null and void]

I'll wager every man has, at least once, had the fun of trying to separate the woman he's interested in getting to know from her chosen pack of screaming b*tch harpy girlfriends

Only to discover, after considerable effort, that she BELONGS in a pack of screaming b*tch harpy girlfriends...

[Bon mots]

28) Where do all my unpaired socks go?

Okay. Let's make a deal... give me back some of my coathangers, and I'll give you your missing socks...

[RightWingAtheist]

I think Denis Weaire (the godfather of "foam physics") did a piece on that in Physical Review once

[Doctor Stochastic]

Perhaps others may disagree but I would rate the Riemann Hypothesis as the most important math problem. The ABC conjecture is a close second.

[RightWingAtheist]

You're welcome!

[Ignatz]

Bump for later reading

[jpl]

#2: Yes; Plato was correct, and the dreamers are wrong.

[general_re]

I tell ya, a guy can't win ;)

[facedown]

Okay. Let's make a deal... give me back some of my coathangers, and I'll give you your missing socks...

Throw in a handfull of couch change and we can talk!

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for the bump.

[tallhappy]

You're welcome.

I read a similar list about 15 years ago and they were actually intriguing questions amenable to scientific inquiry. If I can dig it up I'll post it.

This list is mostly doubletalk. I mean, "does science matter?" What is this. That's not a scientific question.

This is liberal salon talk. Fitting for the NY Times.

[truthandjustice1]

"All phenomena are paranormal until explained."

good one!

[Mike Darancette]

(9) When Will the Next Ice Age Begin?

We are still in the present Ice Age and are currently experiencing an iterglacial period.

[new cruelty]

A: 42

[longshadow]

but I would rate the Riemann Hypothesis as the most important math problem. The ABC conjecture is a close second.

Sheesh; doesn't the Continuum Hypothesis get any respect anymore?

[RightWhale]

This is probably a joke listing for the casual inattentive grammar school pupil. No you won't have a car until you buy it yourself.

[Pharmboy]

Well, I actually agree with you (the Atlantis question gave me a smile, as did the men and wimmin questions). Usually the Science Times is better than this (even allowing for the PC-ness). With that said, some of the questions and answers were worthwhile.

[Pharmboy]

# 26b) How does a continuum transfunctioner work?

[jennyp]

My wife thinks that Budweiser commercial, the one that salutes the "wingman" who "takes one for the team" so that his buddy can get to know some other woman a little better, is hilarious, because she doesn't understand that, to men, that's not a joke. The "wingman" is just one of the many ways that men have evolved to deal with the nasty-girlfriend problem...

Wait a sec. You're saying that commercial isn't hilarious; it's poignantly realistic??? Oh my!