Prank

Is this prank clever or sick? 

And how would you react if you were in the elevator and this happened to you? 

Click on the image to view the video. 

Aggressive Teacher

Click on the image to watch the video.
Did he deserve what he got? Say why

Humanzee

"The human genome and the chimpanzee genome are now known in full. Intermediate genomes of varying proportions can be interpolated on paper. Moving from paper to flesh and blood would require embryological technologies that will probably come on stream during our lifetime. I think it will be done, and an approximate reconstruction of the common ancestor of ourselves and chimpanzees will be brought to life. The intermediate genome between this reconstituted 'ancestor' and modern humans would, if implanted in an embryo, grow into something like a reborn Australopithecus." - Richard Dawkins (Biologist, Oxford University)

We've all heard of  hybrids such as Tions and Ligers and Mules. But a few months ago, a rare Donkra was born in Haicang Zoo in China. Humans and chimps are just as genetically related to each other as a Zebra and Donkey - probably closer.

So, the question is: If (when) we have a human-chimp hybrid how should we treat it? Would it be ok to use it as a slave? Would it be immoral to eat it? Would it be murder if someone killed it? Should it have rights?

Most pointless work of Art?

What is the most detestable, the most repellent, and the most pointless work of art you have ever seen?

In 1995, Jake and Dinos Chapman created Ubermensch, a lifelike 12ft-tall fibreglass image of Hawking in his wheelchair perched on top of a rocky pinnacle. It was clearly not a homage to Hawking's intellect or courage. Its title – meaning "Overman" or "superman", a term used in Nietzsche's philosophical writings – is plainly intended sarcastically. The work seems to suggest that Hawking, the modern superman, is a prisoner of his sick body. It stresses his carnal weakness and mocks the idea that his mind has somehow conquered matter.

It is less a work of art than a sneer. The Chapmans went on to make more interesting art. But the clumsiness of this caricature betrays their limitations.

They got it bizarrely, horribly wrong. Hawking's story really is an epic triumph of the human mind. His defiance of illness is profoundly moving, his ability to mentally explore the universe in spite of it an inspiration for our time and times to come. How many lives are so poetic? - Guardian.

So, the question is: What is the purpose of art?

Experiments

There are various psychological experiments out there that have been conducted by scientists to give us an insight into human behaviour. There's the Asch Experiment, the Standford Prison Experiment, The Milgram Experiment...

Is the Little Albert Experiment ethical? (It's based on the Pavlov's Response)

Say why or why not.

Superstitions and Occultations of the Moon

On December 10, the Winchester Astronomy Club met to view the lunar eclipse through the Celestron CPC 1100 telescope. It was a memorable experience - especially as we slewed the telescope to view Venus and then Jupiter and its four moons. We also caught sight of an exceptionally bright shooting star!

It is exasperating to hear of various superstitions associated with an eclipse. Has anyone come across any superstitions concerning eclipses?

(The lunar eclipse isn’t really an eclipse. Technically speaking, it is an occultation of the moon—caused by the earth coming between the sun and the moon and casting its shadow on the moon. It should really be called a lunar eclipse if the phenomenon is being observed from the sun. Only when viewed from the sun will the moon would be *eclipsed* by the earth.)

Click here to read further: Occultation of the Moon

Knowledge

Is there any knowledge that humans should not seek to discover (because it's undesirable, immoral, too dangerous or for any other reason)?

Mission to Mars

If there was a call tomorrow by NASA to join a band of pioneers on the first manned-mission to Mars, would you drop everything you were doing and sign up? In other words, would you give up your present lifestyle and hopes and expectations to be one of the first humans to travel past the asteroid belt and step on another planet?

7 Billionth Baby

Should we celebrate, mourn, or dread the symbollic birth of the world's 7 billionth baby that took place today?

Points to Ponder

If you knew a grown person who believed that Santa Claus was real and lived in the North Pole with his elves and went around in a flying sleigh drawn by reindeer, what would you tell the person?

Would your response be the same if it was a teenager? Or a child?

Utopia on the Map?

Oscar Wilde once wrote, "A map of the world that didn't include Utopia wouldn't be worth glancing at."

[Utopia: A morally, socially, politically perfect and just state. A ficitonal island in the Atlantic Ocean."]

Do you agree or disagree with Wilde's statement?

Which is Reality?

This spectacular image above of the Aurora Australis was captured by the International Space Station on 17 September.

In Greek mythology, Aurora was the Goddess of Dawn and sister of Helios, God of the Sun. She was depicted as a having rosy cheeks and opening the gates of heaven for the chariot of the sun to traverse the sky.

The Innuit people of the Northern regions believe that the aurora is the light of the torch flames that light the stairway to paradise for the spirits of their ancestors.

In Medieval Europe, people believed that an aurora was a sign of war.

Modern science tells us auroras are caused when charged particles from the sun are pushed to the north and south poles by the earth's magnetic field where they interact with oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon in the upper atmosphere and consequently glow with spectacular colours.

Which interpretation of the Aurora is "true" - which story represents "reality?"

Points to Ponder

Is Mathematics discovered or invented?

To elaborate: is mathematics like the DNA molecule that was discovered by a scientist, or is it like an ipod that's invented by a technician? Were the concepts of arithmetics, calculus, trignometry, and algebra invented by some mathematician or the other, or did these concepts always exist - just waiting for someone to discover them? Did someone invent the equation that proved that the area of a circle is the number Pi times the radius squared, or did this equation always exist since the dawn of time and was just waiting for someone to discover it?

End of the World

Here's another date for your calendar: the world's going to end (again) on May 21st

Click here to read

Why are people obsessed with the end of the world?

Space Exploration

From 1958 to 2008, NASA's budget amounts to $471.23 billion dollars—an average of $9.06 billion per year.

Should we or should we not be spending money on space exploration?

Is Everything Open to Debate?

If someone believed the earth was flat, would you engage with them in a debate or discussion?

See the flat earth society.

What are some ideas that are not open to debate? (If any.)

Body Modification

Since time immemorial, people have been modifying their bodies, whether through make up, or piercings, or tattoos, or branding, or scarring or using neck rings, implants, lip plates, coloured lenses and so on. A few years ago, a man got his sclera (the white of the eye) tattooed. Here's a new fad: corset piercing.

 What are your views on body modification? Should there be a limit or not?

Moral Dilemma 8

Is it right to keep animals in zoos and cages?

Language

Should English be made the official language of the world? (Is it already?)

What would it be like if everyone in the world could speak the same language - say, English or Chinese or Spanish?

Points to Ponder

The Importance of Words

If there was no word such as 'freedom' would we know what it meant? Alternatively, if we didn't have a word for 'Green' would it exist in our consciousness? Or, if the sound 'L' didn't appear in any language would we know to say it?