Category: Science

Dr. Carl Sagan speaking before Congress about Climate Change in 1985

Transcript of Dr. Carl Sagan’s Speech on Climate Change to Congress (1985)

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Introduction Carl Sagan testifying before Congress in 1985 on climate change (CarlSagandotCom, 16:53) with the original video on CSPAN. Transcript Senator David Durenberger Alright, our next witness is Dr. Carl Sagan of Cornell University, a man who needs no introduction. He comes to us today from the Center for Radio Physics and Space Sciences. We […]

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Left side shows a slide a with a black background with the following text "Religious Elite Scientists 7%". Right side is a screen cap from the video with Neil deGrasse Tyson on a the stage with a microphone in hand and facing left [towards the slide].

Transcript for Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Section on Religiosity and the Educated American from The Amazing Meeting 6 (Feb 2013)

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Introduction Neil deGrasse Tyson gave a presentation titled Brain Droppings of a Skeptic at That Amazing Meeting 6 (Feb 2013) which had a section on Religiosity and Educated Americans that I have heard every so often. I created this post so that I could maintain a transcript of this content for posterity and so I […]

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An screen cap of Professor Jason Hickel (background extended by generative AI) speaking. In the top right there is the following quote in white letters: “A liberated Palestine means a liberated Middle East. A liberated Middle East means capitalism in the Core really faces a crisis and they will not let that happen.” Along the bottom of the image also in white letters is the following: "Professor Jason Hickel of the University of Barcelona " and "FreeXenon.com".

Transcript of Jason Hickel: Why a Liberated Palestine Threatens Global Capitalism (Transnational Institute, Oct 2024)

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“We’re in this incredible paradox where the world economy is just massively productive .. And, yet the vast majority of the human population lives in conditions of massive deprivation.”

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Entropy and Scarcity within Human Social Systems v2.0 This is a work in progress. What I posit here is descriptive and NOT prescriptive. This flow chart, which flows left to right is broken down into 3 main parts which are as follows: Physics (4 parts which make 4 steps), Evolutionary Psychology (2 parts which make 1 step), and Historical Sociocultural Weight and Entropic Bias (2 parts which make 1 step) with arrows pointing to each step. Physics (left most section with 4 steps) The foundational reading for this section can be found within my post "The Tao of Entropy and Syntropy within Human Social Systems". Another post relevant to this topic is "The Tension within Methods of Exchange". 1. Systems Theory and the Interdependence of All From the First Law of Thermodynamics, A.K.A. The Law of Conservation of Energy, we learn that all things within the universe are one Interdependent and interconnected system, therefore the lens through which we should look and think about all things is Systems Theory. 2. Inviolable Law of Breakdown, Separation, and Change From the Second Law of Thermodynamics, AKA Entropy, when combined with the First Law of Thermodynamics from above, we learn that Entropy is only ever increasing, that break down, separation, and change are inviolable laws. 3. Systemic Bias Towards Entropy Because all things are Interdependent and Entropy is always increasing, this continuously pushes all things towards diffusion, separation, and breakdown, which means that reality has an Entropic bias. Entropy is the path of least resistance, therefore it is always easier to destroy than it is to create. 4. Scarcity (Entropy) Because Entropy will only ever increase over time, Scarcity, as a form of Entropy, will only ever increase over time. 5. Evolutionary Psychology (center section with 1 step and 2 options) Scarcity Triggers Male Predisposition for Competition, Tribalism, Sociopathy, and Violence Within environmental Scarcity males tend to be more dominant because they are physically larger and stronger and because these conditions trigger their evolutionary psychological predisposition towards competition (from competing for mates) which is an Entropic action. This then opens up the door for them to engage in more Entropic and separative actions such as: tribalism, violence, exploitation, and patriarchy. Males tend to be less dominant within environmental abundance. Abundance Triggers Female Predisposition for Egalitarianism, Cooperation, and Sharing Within environmental Abundance females tend to be more dominant because they are the life-givers (Syntropy) and because these conditions trigger their evolutionary psychological predisposition for cooperation and sharing. Tendencies towards Syntropic systems and results. Females are less dominant within environmental scarcity. 6. Historical Sociocultural Weight and Entropic Bias (right section with 1 step and 2 options) Scarcity to Abundance If a culture has been competitive and tribal (Entropic) for a long time due to resource scarcity, and then resource abundance manifests (Syntropy), it will take a long time for abundance to potentially wear down the current Entropic societal organization. Although, that might also never happen because of reality’s bias towards Entropic systems, ideals, and results. If the shift eventually does happen, then it will most likely only happen with extreme violence and devastation (Entropic movement) or, less likely, through a massive organized and peaceful social movement (Syntropic movement). Abundance to Scarcity If a culture has been cooperative and egalitarian for a long time (Syntropic) due to resource abundance, and then resources scarcity manifests (Entropy), it will take a while for scarcity to tear down that current Syntropic societal organization, but eventually it will (sooner than later) because of reality’s bias towards Entropic systems, ideals, and results. It is not a matter of IF it happens, but when it happens. Copyright © 2023 James O’Neill, www.freexenon.com/?p=13656

Entropy, Scarcity, and Patriarchy within Human Social Systems: the Rough Cut

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version – 1.01published – Feb 2024edited – 7/14/2026 – added the following section “A. Entropic Bias Towards Social and Technological Progress” Introduction I have shared text like this a few times over the past year and have had to retype it a few times after not being able to find where I last wrote it […]

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The Tao of Entropy (expanding) and Syntropy (contracting)

The Tao of Entropy and Syntropy within Human Social Systems

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In this post we will discuss the Conservation of Energy as well as looking at Entropy and Syntropy and how they apply to human social systems and human civilization in our effort to maintain our societies, economies, and the environment. This is really getting into interdisciplinary thinking, specifically the intersection of the laws of physics as they apply to human social systems.

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UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland in Nov 2021, in partnership with Italy

The Glasgow Climate Pact from COP26

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Introduction A. Document Overview Working towards saving Humanity and all life on this planet from extinction being the most important global work that needs to be done. However, as my words here will show, this 8 page “agreement” is utterly devoid of providing anything relevant that needs to be done by being exemplary of the […]

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Carl Sagan from his Keynote Speech at the Emerging Issues Forum in Cornell University in Feb of 1990

Carl Sagan’s Keynote Speech at the 5th Emerging Issues Forum (1990)

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Introduction If you have not watched this amazing video of Carl Sagan from his Keynote Speech at the 5th Emerging Issues Forum in Feb of 1990 (1 hour 5 min) where he talks about climate change, then do it NOW! Sadly, his powerful and amazingly prophetic words are still very, very relevant today. I also […]

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A Timeline of Earth's Average Temperature Since the Last Ice Age Glaciation (XKCD)

A Timeline of Earth’s Average Temperature Since the Last Ice Age Glaciation (XKCD)

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Here is an Amazing infographic showing the timeline of Earth’s average temperature from XKCD. I have seen this before, but now, since I am posting much more ravenously I thought I would introduce you all to it. Enjoy! Earth Temperature Timeline (XKCD) Climate Change, Explained in One Simple Comic (Climate Central News)

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Picture of Earth as seen from Voyager I as it was leaving our solar system

Carl Sagan and His Famous ‘Pale Blue Dot’ Speech (1994)

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Introduction A. Background While watching a video or two from Neil deGrasse Tyson (one of which I recently posted: Video: Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Keynote Speech for the 28th National Space Symposium (2012)) I saw a lecture from Carl Sagan in the sidebar, so I decided to give the original Cosmos narrator’s wisdom a spin. I […]

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Neil deGrasse Tyson giving keynote speech @ 28th National Space Symposium in 2012

Video: Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Keynote Speech for the 28th National Space Symposium (2012)

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Introduction I have just found this great video of an understandably irate Neil deGrasse Tyson (NdT) speaking the truth in this amazing video from 2012! The power of the innovation and inspiration gained from the NASA and our space program and its accomplishments is worth far more than the paltry 1 cent for each tax […]

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The Inner Level: How More Equal Societies Reduce Stress, Restore Sanity and Improve Everyone's Well-Being

Read: The Inner Level: How More Equal Societies Reduce Stress, Restore Sanity and Improve Everyone’s Well-Being

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Introduction The Inner Level: How More Equal Societies Reduce Stress, Restore Sanity and Improve Everyone’s Well-Being(Pickett and Wilkinson, 2019) is an amazing book and is written as a follow up to their previous work Read: The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger (Pickett and Wilkinson, 2009) which was also an amazing read. I […]

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Types of Advanced Civilizations (Futurism)

The Kardashev Scale of Civilizations

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I am going to introduce you to an interesting idea proposed by Kardashev called the Kardashev Scale. Here is a quote from science fiction and fantasy writer Veronica Sicoe which has a great introduction to this concept:

In 1964, Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev figured that civilizations can be categorized by the total amount of energy available to them. He defined three levels of civilizations based on their capacity to harness and use power. These have since been expanded by another four (in light of the increasingly wild speculations spawned by marrying mathematics and theoretical physics).

The Kardashev Scale, as it is called, now lists 7 levels of civilizations based on their power consumption, and implicitly on their technological advancement and extension.

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Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur

Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur!

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My next post The Kardashev Scale of Civilizations is coming out on Friday (2019 Mar 22) and, as a part of that research, I have be gifted with discovering an awesomely educational YouTube channel titled Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur (SFIA) where he discusses so very many different technical topics dealing with primarily with the science of space and other related technologies. In my above mentioned Kardashev Scale post I reference quite a few of his videos to help people understand not only the Scale itself, but also to be introduced to other interesting related topics

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Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (8 levels)

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (MHoN) and the Biopsychosocial model in Psychology (BPS)

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In several of my more technical posts that talk about politics, religion, economics, etc I talk about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (MHoN) and about Biopsychosocial (BPS) issues so I would like to take a moment to create a post on this to collect throughts, images, and links on these important topics so I can refer people to it and so they can learn about this which can greatly increase people’s understanding of many parts of our human experience as well as how our world works. And, honestly, I though I already had a post on this, soooo…

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