Astronomers find trio of 'super-Earths'

[Logan's Runt]

From what I've heard, cancer research gets a good amount of funding due to the many charities and such collecting money for cancer, so I wouldn't be complaining about that. We can't actually "cure" cancer being a virus and all, but we sure as hell can improve our methods of tracking and removing them before they become fatal. It's an important subject, but it's not like it's being shoved in the corner.

The point of research of that which lies beyond our planet is simple. It's the search for the unknown - that sense of exploration that's almost gone on our own planet (if you don't count the oceans, that is, but there are people working on that, too).

Cancer isn't a virus.

It can be triggered by viruses of certain kinds, as well as a thousand other factors, but it, itself, isn't a virus. Its an uncontrolled reproduction of cells that eventually interrupts vital body processes, causing death.

And the argument that scientists have better things to do is ridiculous. Astronomers can't do anything for cancer and AIDS. Should we do away with those programs at universities and only train scientists in the medical research field? Why not do away with all other programs in the universities. Nobody in the world should have anything better to do than that. There are enough scientists in the world to work on AIDS and learn about the universe at the same time. Astounding, I know.

 

[chaseter]

From what I've heard, cancer research gets a good amount of funding due to the many charities and such collecting money for cancer, so I wouldn't be complaining about that. We can't actually "cure" cancer being a virus and all, but we sure as hell can improve our methods of tracking and removing them before they become fatal. It's an important subject, but it's not like it's being shoved in the corner.

The point of research of that which lies beyond our planet is simple. It's the search for the unknown - that sense of exploration that's almost gone on our own planet (if you don't count the oceans, that is, but there are people working on that, too).

Cancer is not a virus and we can cure it

 

[chaseter]

And the argument that scientists have better things to do is ridiculous. Astronomers can't do anything for cancer and AIDS. Should we do away with those programs at universities and only train scientists in the medical research field? Why not do away with all other programs in the universities. Nobody in the world should have anything better to do than that. There are enough scientists in the world to work on AIDS and learn about the universe at the same time. Astounding, I know.

I just don't think we have our priorities straight...especially here in America. Thousands starve to death, people die of AIDs, cancer, and other uncontrollable diseases, our nation is in debt with looming economic crisis, housing market slumps, a super bacterium that cannot be dealt with has arisen, etc...etc...but we found 4 new planets

Yes we need those programs but I don't think we need to drop as much money into them as we are right now. We can send a satellite to the far reaches of our galaxy but we can't send a probe to the farthest reaches of our own oceans It seems science is about the 'coolest' things or buzz topics these days and I guess that is fine.

 

[Marx]

This is really interesting. Thanks for posting!

 

[Logan's Runt]

I just don't think we have our priorities straight...especially here in America. Thousands starve to death, people die of AIDs, cancer, and other uncontrollable diseases, our nation is in debt with looming economic crisis, housing market slumps, a super bacterium that cannot be dealt with has arisen, etc...etc...but we found 4 new planets

Yes we need those programs but I don't think we need to drop as much money into them as we are right now. We can send a satellite to the far reaches of our galaxy but we can't send a probe to the farthest reaches of our own oceans It seems science is about the 'coolest' things or buzz topics these days and I guess that is fine.

I can understand an argument as to the priorities of funding, those I think are ****ed up. The funding priorities in this country are bad in general. But as it was pointed out, cancer and AIDS are the 'big budget' diseases nowadays that do get all the extra funding. There are hundreds of equally fatal and equally horrible diseases out there that get NO funding or research. There are diseases that we know virtually nothing about (like that one where people grow weird fibers out of their skin that is structurally unlike anything seen before) which get no funding because there's barely any research to say they even exist.

Bottom line, there isn't enough money to do everything ever, and we can't fault people for the pursuit of knowledge in their field of choice. The universe is huge, (philosophically speaking- 'universe' representing the body of knowledge that theoretically exists for us to discover) and someone's always going to argue that we're neglecting something.

At least those astronomers are dedicating their lives to the pursuit of something bigger than themselves, and knowledge in any form is always beneficial to humanity. Its more than you're doing.

I wasn't trying to sound mean. I still love you. :heart:

 

[chaseter]

^I have huge respect for the dudes that sit in the towers and look in a telescope everyday of their life and I don't fault people...I just fault the government. Do what you love to do no matter what but when people are dying due to a curable condition, I would think we need to devote as much time and attention on that as we possibly can. Hell, just think of what we could have accomplished if we didn't drain billions of dollars into a useless war! Once we discover a way to quickly traverse our universe, I think then we should start dropping the big bucks but I only know of two or three programs where scientists are trying to harness a power source for us to utilize for interstellar travel.

You can't be mean...even if it involves whips and cuffs.

 

[Logan's Runt]

Haha.

Though, even if we were to start devoting the majority of available funds toward 'good' causes- starvation, diseases, victims of natural disasters, there would be arguments that we're devoting too much funding toward diseases and not enough toward starvation, or too much to hurricane victims while people are still starving on the streets of New York. Its a slippery slope- and its definitely not as easy as just throwing more money at it. There will always be suffering, and there will always be more that people can do and don't. I'm not advocating doing nothing because things will never be perfect- but I don't like blame being thrown around for people who are contributing in some way.

I read a Buddhist muse over this once. He was feeling conflicted because he wrote columns on a website for a living while people were out working with the poor and saving lives. He asked his teacher if he should be doing something like that with his life, and give up what he did. His teacher replied that if everyone gave up their lives to live with the poor, or to take aid to the starving, who would run the banks, tell the jokes, create the art, build homes, raise the food? He said it much more eloquently, but its a good point. The world goes round because of what we all do. Unless you're being counterproductive in some way, you're helping.

 

[Raiden]

^I have huge respect for the dudes that sit in the towers and look in a telescope everyday of their life and I don't fault people...I just fault the government. Do what you love to do no matter what but when people are dying due to a curable condition, I would think we need to devote as much time and attention on that as we possibly can. Hell, just think of what we could have accomplished if we didn't drain billions of dollars into a useless war! Once we discover a way to quickly traverse our universe, I think then we should start dropping the big bucks but I only know of two or three programs where scientists are trying to harness a power source for us to utilize for interstellar travel.

You can't be mean...even if it involves whips and cuffs.

Well, I can say the same thing about our government paying for the reconstruction in foreign countries like Iraq, while states like Louisiana who were hit hard by Karina still haven't recovered years after due to government negligance.

 

[rizzo51]

i wish they would find little animals on mars....