science debate megathread

[TristanLuigi]

Yeah, it is really neat stuff. Especially how in biology, organisms tend to favor specific chiralities for different types of substances.

Yeah, the effect is definitely there, just not quite as severe as being the difference between sugar and horrible birth defects.

[Ad Bot]

[Doomonkey]

Oh, by the way. I hope you got that I am joking.

I am a Chemistry major in college who has straight A's and was recently awarded an outstanding Chemistry student award for academic prowess and leadership.

[SeventhSandwich]

Yeah, it is really neat stuff. Especially how in biology, organisms tend to favor specific chiralities for different types of substances. Also how some substances will spontaneously change chirality in the human body.

Some of the isomers have some really drastically different effects too. Like, there was this one mentioned in my book that has a left-hand version that behaves as a hypnotic, and a right-hand version that behaves as an anti-inflammatory drug. It's very fascinating, but unfortunately the book mainly goes over methods of synthesizing optically-active compounds on an industrial level, which is far too dense for an amateur like me.

Also, I am studying for the SAT II chemistry test, do you have any tips for preparing? I'm about halfway through my book and I'm getting mid 600s scores which isn't too bad considering that I haven't covered acid/base chemistry yet.

[Doomonkey]

Some of the isomers have some really drastically different effects too. Like, there was this one mentioned in my book that has a left-hand version that behaves as a hypnotic, and a right-hand version that behaves as an anti-inflammatory drug. It's very fascinating, but unfortunately the book mainly goes over methods of synthesizing optically-active compounds on an industrial level, which is far too dense for an amateur like me.

Yeah, I hope I don't have to ever deal with figuring out how to do mass production. That's an engineering problem.

[TristanLuigi]

Oh, by the way. I hope you got that I am joking.

I am a Chemistry major in college who has straight A's and was recently awarded an outstanding Chemistry student award for academic prowess and leadership.

At first, I didn't think you were, but after your second post I got it. I continued posting just to see what I could find on the subject.

Yeah, I hope I don't have to ever deal with figuring out how to do mass production. That's an engineering problem.

A scientist's job is to discover cool stuff. An engineer's job is to make cool stuff work.

[SeventhSandwich]

Yeah, I hope I don't have to ever deal with figuring out how to do mass production. That's an engineering problem.

I'm planning on pursuing biomedical engineering, which hopefully won't land me a job where I have to figure out the most efficient way to make random chemical precursors.

[TristanLuigi]

I'm planning on pursuing biomedical engineering, which hopefully won't land me a job where I have to figure out the most efficient way to make random chemical precursors.

Personally, I'm going for physics, particularly particle physics, but I suppose astrophysics would be fun too.

[SeventhSandwich]

Personally, I'm going for physics, particularly particle physics, but I suppose astrophysics would be fun too.

Physics is extremely fascinating to me and I'm hoping that whatever college classes I take as part of my degree will cover it thoroughly enough.

[TristanLuigi]

Physics is extremely fascinating to me and I'm hoping that whatever college classes I take as part of my degree will cover it thoroughly enough.

It is, but it also comes with a free bonus giant stack of calculus, and if you call now, you get an extra pile for absolutely nothing!

[Harm94]

That seems like a pointless compromise, and you won't 'get what you want' anyway because the 'natural' products will die off via insect infestation more often than the GMO plants and the genes inserted into the GMOs will be naturally selected to be more predominant in the population because GMO plants are better at being plants.

You strike me as one of those people that would tell the Amish to forget off and modernize. You seem to have this belief that everything should be the way that see fit. Rather than have more choices, you chose for people simply because you believe that is the best. Not that is I an Ad hominen, but something you should think about. From one narcissist to another.

At first, I didn't think you were, but after your second post I got it. I continued posting just to see what I could find on the subject.
A scientist's job is to discover cool stuff. An engineer's job is to make cool stuff work.

In my opinion through obersvation people seem to be into science because of mythbusters(aka pyrotechnicsbusters) and vsauce.

[TristanLuigi]

In my opinion through obersvation people seem to be into science because of mythbusters(aka pyrotechnicsbusters) and vsauce.

While I agree, I'm fairly sure I'm not one of those people. I've been into science long before I watched that pop science stuff. I took an active interest in memorizing the periodic table when I was younger (didn't really get that far.)

The scientist/engineer thing was mostly a joke, but you must admit there's a grain of truth in it.

[IkeTheGeneric]

In my opinion through obersvation people seem to be into science because of mythbusters(aka pyrotechnicsbusters) and vsauce.

It's better they show some interest than none at all. What harm could come from making the field of science more digestible for the general crowd through the means of entertainment?

[Harm94]

At least you are learning because of a long held curiosity, to better yourself, and for good intentions. Not because pop culture.

[IkeTheGeneric]

At least you are learning because of a long held curiosity, to better yourself, and for good intentions. Not because pop culture.

Pop culture can help introduce new ideas and concepts to a broader audience, sparking that curiosity, if done correctly. It's not a perfect alternative, but it certainly isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination.

[TristanLuigi]

There would be a big inspirational speech about the love of learning here, but I'm on my phone, and frankly I'm just too damn lazy. Imagine it, k?