Thorin was looking for a lost temple in the Western Ghats forest with his team of archaeologists when he got separated from the group. He didn't have any maps or a compass with him at the time, so he was in deep trouble being lost in the middle of a forest. All he had were lots of vegetables and fruits like carrots, beets, corn, potatoes, pumpkins, bananas, apples, and melons. After seeing them, he realized that all of them were high-sugar vegetables and fruits. Suddenly, he had an idea. He also had a couple of balloons and some plastic containers. He put all his vegetables and fruits into the container and sealed it so that no air could pass inside, allowing methane gas to be produced. He knew that it would take at least two days for the required methane gas to be produced, so he kept some fruits for himself to eat during those two days. During this time, he made a bow and some arrows. Then he built a fire by filling a plastic cover with water and shaping it into a sphere; using it like a convex lens, he concentrated the sunlight on the tinder. Then he ripped a part of his shirt and bound it to the arrowhead end of the arrow. In the evening of the third day, he filled the three balloons with methane gas using tubes so that the gas wouldn't come into contact with the air. Since methane gas is lighter than air, the balloons started to rise, and right when the balloons were about to go out of sight, he dipped the arrowhead into the fire, and after it started burning, he released the arrow from his bow so that the burning arrow hit the balloon and the balloon burst because of the reaction between the fire, methane gas, and oxygen, producing light and sound. His friends, who were searching for him, saw the light and heard the sound and rushed in its direction, and Thorin was rescued.

Introduction: In the vast tapestry of African spirituality, a profound connection between ancient traditions and modern scientific principles emerges. Exploring the realms of quantum physics through the lens of African spirituality unveils a captivating landscape of interconnectedness, energy, and frequencies. Join us on a transformative journey as we delve into the profound correlations between African spiritual values and the intricate fabric of quantum physics. Unraveling the Essence of Energy: At the core of both African spirituality and quantum physics lies the fundamental concept of energy. In African traditions, energy is perceived as a dynamic force that permeates every aspect of existence, connecting all living beings and the natural world. This resonates deeply with the principles of quantum physics, where energy manifests in the form of photons, carrying the essence of vibrational frequencies. By bridging these concepts, we illuminate the interconnectedness of the spiritual and the scientific, fostering a deeper understanding of the universe's essence. The Dance of Frequencies: In African spiritual traditions, the significance of sound, rhythm, and frequencies transcends generations. The beat of the drum, the resonance of chants, and the melodies of traditional instruments form a symphony that echoes through time, enriching ceremonies and rituals. Similarly, quantum physics acknowledges the profound impact of frequencies, unveiling the intricate dance of particles and waves that shape the fabric of reality. By intertwining these concepts, we uncover a harmonious convergence, where the spiritual resonance of African traditions resonates with the transcendental symphony of quantum frequencies. Embracing Tradition in Quantum Unity: As we navigate the landscapes of African spirituality and quantum physics, we discover a profound harmony that transcends the boundaries of time and space. African spiritual values impart a profound sense of interconnectedness, unity, and respect for the natural world, aligning with the revelations of quantum unity at the subatomic level. By embracing tradition in the quantum realm, we illuminate an extraordinary pathway that bridges ancient wisdom with contemporary scientific understanding, inspiring awe and reverence for the universe's intrinsic unity. Conclusion: In our exploration of African spirituality through the prism of quantum physics, we embark on a journey that transcends the conventional boundaries of science and tradition. As the symphony of African spiritual values harmonizes with the intricacies of quantum physics, we kindle a spark of curiosity, wonder, and inspiration in the hearts of readers young and old. May this odyssey of enlightenment and unity ignite a profound sense of awe and reverence, enriching our collective understanding of spirituality, physics, and the boundless tapestry of creation.

With a pandemic raging, I hear a lot about testing. One problem is we don't have an adequate supply of test kits to screen for Covid-19. But another problem would arise even if we had enough kits to test everyone. To explain, I'll describe an example presented in Chance in Biology: Using Probability to Explore Nature, by Mark Denny and Steven Gaines. Their analysis was based on testing for HIV, but I'll recast the story in terms of the coronavirus. Suppose we have an accurate test for Covid-19. No test is perfect, so let's assume it's correct 99.5% of the time. In other words, its error rate is 0.5% (one error for every two hundred tests). Assume this error rate is the same for false positives and false negatives. Furthermore, assume Covid-19 is not prevalent, infecting only 0.1% of the population. I doubt this is a good assumption right now, when the virus seems to be infecting everyone, but I can imagine a time not too far in the future (a few weeks maybe, a few months probably) when the fraction of people having the virus is small. In a population of a million people, 1000 would have Covid-19 and 999,000 would not. First, consider what happens when you test the thousand that are infected. The test would come back positive for Covid-19 in 99.5% of the cases, so it would produce 995 true positives. The test would be in error and give a negative result 0.5% of the time, giving 5 false negatives (the test would say you don't have the disease when in fact you do). Next, consider the results from testing the 999,000 people who are not infected. Again, the test accuracy is 99.5%, so you would get a negative result (true negatives) for 994,005 people (0.995 times 999,000). You'd make a mistake 0.5% of the time, so you get false positives in 4995 cases (the test would say you have the disease when in fact you don't). Let's summarize: True Positives 995 False Positives 4,995 True Negatives 994,005 False Negatives 5 Now, suppose Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (I'm a big fan of the governor) decides that—to prevent the virus from flaring up again—everyone will be tested; anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 must be quarantined, and anyone who tests negative is free to go wherever they please (restaurants, sporting events, movies... oh how I miss them!). Out of a million people, 5990 will test positive (995 + 4995). Of those, 4995 are mistakes (false positives). In other words, 83% of the people who are forced into quarantine are false positives; they don't have the disease, but the blasted test said they do and they must suffer for it. Only 17% of the quarantined people are infected. Is this acceptable? Maybe. We might decide as a state that it's worth it; we insist on quarantines, even if five out of six people forced into isolation are actually healthy. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or, we might decide this is too high a price to pay; people are innocent until proven guilty, so to speak. This decision is not simple. Whitmer will have people mad at her regardless of what she does. But we must decide based on the facts. If the incidence of Covid-19 is 0.1%, and the accuracy of the test is 99.5%, then five out of six quarantined people will be false positives. That's how the math works. Denny and Gaines summarize it this way: “Although individual tests have a low chance of error, most individuals who are tested are not infected with [Covid-19]. Therefore, we are multiplying a small probability of false positives by a large number of uninfected individuals. Even a minute probability of false positives for individual tests can in this circumstance produce many more false positives than true positives. As long as the disease is rare, even a very accurate test of infection will not be able to accurately identify infected individuals in a random test.” I don't know the prevalence of Covid-19 or the accuracy of Covid-19 tests. The numbers for the coronavirus may be different than what I used in this example. My point is that even an accurate test can produce many false positives for a rare disease. That's an important insight, whether or not the numbers are accurate for our current plague. Chance in Biology is full of examples like this one. It's a good book (although I like Denny's Air and Water better). It's a useful supplement to Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology, providing all the probability you need to understand biological physics. Originally published on April 13, 2020 at https://hobbieroth.blogspot.com/2020/04/a-problem-with-testing.html

When I look at the sky, I do not see a universe being friendly to me because at that time, I stand out of the world of material prosperity surrounding me to imagine the world where the beacon light of humanity has turned into the twilight of devastating terror. At that time, I see my wings being cut by the ever-lasting knives of injustice, I hear the noises of crying mothers, voices of children fighting against poverty and hunger and see the faces of leaders who died for change. So, I have to gather my entire courage to see the sky as it always turns out to be a fearful situation. My dawn happened to be in a small country in South Asia where grades are important but creativity is not. However, I am not the reflection of my own community. I have a persistent aim to grow my creativity in Physics but I do not know where my strong current of desire will take me. So, when I see the sky, not only the beauty of twinkling stars hit my eyes, I also see an infinite collection of matter expanding every second. When I see the sky, I see the space-time making everything relative, the moon and satellites as my destiny, and the cosmic radiations transmitted by every stellar object but some questions confuse me like what makes so many stars attach as a single galaxy despite such low gravitational force? Then, when I get the answer to my own questions, I get mused and question myself what makes people afraid to choose fields like Physics where many things are still inexplicit? Does everyone fear with the fear itself? Don't they get support who dare? Also, I question myself, why is society making me believe that I cannot discover new? Then, I cannot answer my questions and feel down-hearted. So, my encounter with the sky isn't a mere vision but an encounter to despair and desolation. When the sun begins to set, the red color appears. When I see the sky at that time, the red color is agitated in my eyes and a new image is framed in my mind. I see the red river of blood originated through the crooked desert of politics and formidable faith over religion. I see people dying for their rights, being shattered for their freedom, paralyzed by the whirlwinds of disparity and their family crossing the doors of the judicial court to beg justice. I see some protestors who stake their life for others but are threatened in front of the law. Then, I start to mumble, the sky is not friendly to me. When I see the sky at night, I see eternal darkness which has even touched the mankind. I cannot differentiate that darkness with the inseparable problems of humanity like the problems of refugees, climate change, poverty, hunger, murder, rape, political dominance, water scarcity, etc. They revolve in my mind and I get staggered again. When I see the sky, I look at every star and realize that they change their brightness, position and habit every time. This makes me conscious about the fact that the world is changing all the time and we must embrace the change to withstand the inconsistent humanity. Yet many people do not have the heroism to try new and we are still bounded by the orthodox believers of society. So, when I see the sky, I have to compare a billion numbers of stars to the billion numbers of people and conclude that if there was a single star shining between the dark sky, the sky would not be as beautiful as now. So, every time I see the sky, I do not only see the little white dots on the black background; I see the whole world adjusted between my eyes. Unfortunately, that makes me sad, as I have to compare it to the darkness of mankind and adversity of this world. Then, the sun rises again with a hope that there will be a new beginning and the darkness will be banished by the power of light. Every day I get a new inspiration that the sun alone can defeat the eternal darkness but the fearful situation appears again. Again, I see the misery of humanity and the darkness that has touched our world but I cannot do anything except making my heart as heavy as the cloud. So, my relationship with the sky is a deep relationship that makes me realize that someday I will have to stand on the battlefield for change.