Cheng Li
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A note in abacus
There are several types of abacuses (or abaci) used throughout history and across different cultures. The most popular ones are from China, but there are other abacus that were developed independently. This article gives glimpse of some of the popular abacus. Types of abacus 1. Chinese Abacus (Suanpan) The Suanpan typically has 2 beads on…
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The unification of calculus
The rivalry between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz over the invention of calculus is one of the most famous intellectual feuds in scientific history. Though both men made pioneering contributions to the field, their personal clash and the priority dispute that followed have become nearly as significant as their actual mathematical achievements. This article…
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AI as a mediator in political deliberation
While there is an ongling discussion on the danger of AI controlling humans, there has been other researches that wants to use AI to reduce human conflicts and bring peace by compromise. In recent years, the concept of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in political and social discussions has become more prominent. A group of researchers…
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Brain map of female fruit fly
The human brain consists of billions of neurons. These neurons are connected by synapses, where information is passed from one neuron to another. Understanding how neurons connect and communicate can reveal how the brain controls behaviour. However, reconstructing these connections for an entire brain has been challenging due to technological limitations. Recently, a team of…
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Scientific history of rice
Rice is one of the most significant staple foods in the world, nourishing more than half of the global population. Its origins, cultivation, and consumption are deeply intertwined with human civilization, shaping cultures, economies, and societies. Archaeological history of rice Archaeological evidence suggests rice cultivation began around 9,000 to 11,000 years ago. The earliest known…
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Experiments with the bees
Honeybees have long fascinated researchers due to their complex social structures and remarkable navigational abilities. These tiny creatures, vital to ecosystems and agriculture, utilize a sophisticated array of behaviours to locate food sources and return to their hives. Over the past century, numerous studies have contributed to our understanding of honeybee navigation, revealing that it…
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Flood forecasting with XAI
XAI stands for Explainable Artificial Intelligence. The goal of XAI is to make AI more transparent, trustworthy, and interpretable, especially in complex models like deep learning and neural networks, which are often considered “black boxes.” Use in flood forecasting The paper “Spatial flood susceptibility mapping using an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) model” by Biswajeet Pradhan,…
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Shaping the future of medicine, agriculture, and sustainability with synthetic biology
Synthetic biology is revolutionizing life sciences by applying engineering principles to redesign biological systems for medicine, energy, and environmental solutions, while raising ethical and safety concerns.
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The dilemma of butter and margarine
Butter and margarine, both solidified emulsions of fats in water, may seem similar at first glance, but their production processes and historical trajectories are significantly more complex. Butter is derived from milk, while margarine is produced from vegetable oil. The science underlying these two spreads, however, extends beyond simple production methods. The chemistry of butter…