Knowing More of What We Do Not Yet Know

 Two recent studies yet again point to the principle that in an evolving living universe we can never come to the end of knowledge about it. However, by plumbing what we don't yet know, we can outline where areas of advancement in knowledge most probably lie. 

In a remarkable survey of the protein communities, it has been estimated that we probably know less than half of what makes up cellular organization. This was made possible by combining two technologies via artificial intelligence as the article makes clear. (This use of AI as a method of categorizing biological functions does not mean that it replaces human creative thinking but merely aids it.) 

The second study used the very same database MuSIC 1.0 or multi-scale integrated cell to show how families of proteins are organized as subunits of interactions. Again, the tool of AI is used to measure the distance of protein functions.

In addition, yet another study from Baylor School of Medicine and the Czech Academy of Sciences shows remarkable evidence of the coordination of protein complexes regulating transcription in an astoundingly harmonic orchestral fashion. This discovery of such wonderfully precise and delicate fine tuning at the cellular level yet again harkens back to Leibniz' dictum of pre-established harmony.

In this blog, I have attempted to show how a method adopted from Riemannian geometry fits the protein "interactome." The machinery of protein aggregates operates across a multiply connected manifold of functions. Individual and groups of proteins also may play roles as singularities that operate in separate and distinct functions. In this way, the Riemann surface function adequately models the global connections of these individual and protein conglomerates. 

At the higher level of such global organization in virtually all realms of physics, biophysics and human psychology Riemann's principle of geometrical mapping of multidimensional interrelationships holds enduring value. And no doubt will be applied to successfully to organize such databases.  

Remarks on fMRI Research on Conceptual Brain Directionality

I came across a rather unique research paper yesterday and recorded my thoughts on Twitter in the following order. (I will copy the series of posts here because I believe taken together they are duly coherent as to my meaning.)

A "compass" in the brain to navigate thoughts

Thoughts as a physical substantial manifestation was first elucidated by Riemann. See Gauss unit normal mapping function.

The research paper is here.

From the paper:  "To conclude, here we report that a network of regions in the human brain represents the directions existing between elements of a conceptual space. Among them, the precuneus and the retrosplenial cortex seemed to play a crucial role in our experiment. Our results extend the current theoretical accounts that see the processing of the geometry of conceptual spaces as mainly dependent upon the activity of the hippocampal formation and medial-prefrontal cortex, and support the view that the parietal cortex might also play a crucial role in representing relational knowledge between concepts in memory using spatial codes."

 

There is still another dimensionality that will yet be required as more abstract concepts become untethered from physical sensation, but this is indeed a remarkable advancement. For instance the physical corelative of ironic "fugal" juxtaposition of seemingly incongruent ideas that leads to new knowledge must have a "space" in the brain. In other words newly minted creative ideation must also be substantial.

See my post.

The Best of All Possible Worlds

It may seem to any rational observer that the good ole USA is at a nadir of sorts these days. And perhaps that is perhaps an understatement... What with a pending hyperinflationary blowout, "elite" geopoliticians deliberately provoking the Russians and the Chinese at a time when they both have demonstrated hypersonic weapons. And China marches forward in space while the US flounders as usual. 

Oh, and did I mention the corona virus and possible civil war here at home? 

However, if the observant reader amongst you has taken notice of the banner on this little old site directly above, I am yet of the opinion (if I may be permitted to use that much abused term) that just as in Poe's Pit and the Pendulum  after we begin to come to grips with the shock and terror of our headlong careen toward oblivion,  a determined and grim sort of rationality response takes hold of us. And we begin the agonizing process of blood and sweat problem solving even in this most dire of circumstances. Recall to mind that back in Poe's days we were headed for a cataclysmic civil war too. And yet somehow the cavalry, in the form of Abraham Lincoln saved the Union at the very last moment...

So Voltaire, the misanthropic pessimist, satirized Leibniz in Candide as a befuddled and constantly falsely optimistic Dr. Pangloss glowingly opining upon the beset of all the possible plagues visited upon mankind his renowned adage that this is the best of all possible worlds.

And yet... Here we are with the advent of commercialized nuclear fusion. And this point is key  it is not just an alternative energy source. I personally spent some twenty odd years out flogging the premise to all and sundry that would take note on the contrary the technology is potentially transformative. And I implore you for God's sake do read this tremendous write up by my former colleague Marjorie Mazel Hecht on the advent of the Fusion Torch here. If you would like proof of why this is indeed what the title of this post claims. 

Enough said.

The preamplifiers of the National Ignition Facility are the first step in increasing the energy of laser beams as they make their way toward the target chamber. Credit: Damien Jemison/LLNL

Some Thoughts upon the Immortality of Human Science

Upon reading this write up about this remarkable research project that has created tags RNA and DNA within living cells, I was forced to formulate this question to my quondam philosophical adversaries. So, as reductionist materialists, do you still insist that the irrational acausality of purposeless chaotic and universal entropy somehow wound up creating this vast hyperorganization of cellular biology? Really???

Now, I am not in any way an advocate of simplistic biblically inspired creationism. However, I have not ever been able to refute certain classical principles that seek to prove that there exists a universal ordering power or force that is continually transforming the substance of this universe for the better. And that the human intellect is uniquely situated to uncover and indeed further the potential of this very power for the benefit of untold generations of our collective progeny. 

Let me restate this in another way. We as mortal and conscious beings can only know that that consciousness is ever present while we are alive, existing. (And I include our conscious experience of dream states or the periods that we must intuit of provably non conscious lapses in wakefulness.) What we can never know is non existence, in the pessimistic and cowering words of Shakespeare's Hamlet that "undiscovered country, from whose bourn," from which "no traveller returns, puzzles the will, and makes us rather bear those ills we have." 

Putting aside such maudlin reflections, isn't it the case then that we do know that life will go on for humanity in its universal struggle to discover beyond this our "mortal coil?" And thus in potential, if nothing else our very existing consciousness is capable of enhancing that purposive scientific mission inherent in our human existence? And may we not also agree that by necessity this entire process spanning the whole unfolding of human history is in fact good? Or indeed, the Good?

DNA and associated cellular machinery is gathered and organized by certain non-coding RNAs, each region shown in a different colored jellybean-shape in this model. Credit: Inna-Marie Strazhnik

(For educational purpose only.)