Monday , March 25 2024

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Indian Foundations of Modern Science

Indian origin of Modern Science

Scholars see India and Greece as the two principal birthplaces of science. School textbooks tell us about Pythagoras, Aristotle, Euclid, Archimedes, and Ptolemy, geometry of the Vedic altars, the invention of zero in India, Yoga psychology, and Indian technology of steel-making that went into the manufacture of the best swords. But if you take the trouble of reading scholarly books, articles and …

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Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness and the Self

Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness and the self

There are many scientists and engineers who believe that computers will eventually become conscious. Computer scientists Bernard Baars and Stan Franklin wrote in 2009: “consciousness may be produced by algorithms running on the machine.” MIT Technology Review in October 2017 opined that this may happen in the not-too-distant future. Given the fact that biological evolution is slower than technological evolution, there is fear that …

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The woman who made the Sentinelese put their arrows down

Tribes of Andaman

On 4 January, 1991, more than 1,200 kms from the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal, a young Indian woman, Madhumala Chattopadhyay anthropologist waded waist-deep into the coral reefs to hand over a coconut to a man from the Sentinelese tribe. This was the first-ever friendly contact with this hostile tribe of the Andamans. Perhaps no people on earth remain more genuinely …

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Social media: Is it to blame for young people being lonelier than others?

Social Media

Young people are lonelier than all other age groups, according to recent findings from the BBC Loneliness Experiment. In a survey of more than 55,000 people, 40% of 16- to 24-year-olds reported feeling lonely often or very often. This trend for high youth loneliness has also been captured in other national surveys by the Office for National Statistics in 2017 …

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Talking about sex is awkward, so how can teenagers ‘just ask’ for consent?

Sexual consent

The topic of sexual consent seems to be in the news on a daily basis, especially since #MeToo went viral one year ago. From posters to podcasts, there are endless resources promoting the importance of getting and giving explicit consent. Many suggest that a “yes” must always be enthusiastic, and that partners should “ask first and ask often”. In principle, …

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What happened at Torkham, Pakistan again exposed

Free Pashtunistan

On November 15 when we took the cadaver of Tahir Dawar with public and official protocol from Jalalabad to Torkham, the convoy was stopped in about one km from the crossing point on Durand line, and I with three other colleagues walked to the crossing point where we met Mohsin Dawar, an MP and PTM’s senior member, accompanied by a Pakistani delegation. After a …

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What does Jamal Kashoggi’s killing have to do with CPEC?

Journalists in Saudi Arabia

Geo-political dynamics are complicated. Take the recent accommodation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. According to the highly prestigious Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan struck gold with the Saudis in October. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmon (MBS) agreed that the Saudi kingdom would send Pakistan’s central bank $3 billion USD in outright aid, and would give Pakistan an extra …

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Could A.I be considered a person under the law?

A.I Sophia

Humans aren’t the only people in society – at least according to the law. In the U.S., corporations have been given rights of free speech and religion. Some natural features also have person-like rights. But both of those required changes to the legal system. A new argument has laid a path for A.I (Artificial Intelligence) systems to be recognized as people too – …

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5 lifestyle changes to enhance mood and mental health

Mental Health

When someone is diagnosed with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety, first line treatments usually include psychological therapies and medication. What’s not always discussed are the changeable lifestyle factors that influence our mental health. Even those who don’t have a mental health condition may still be looking for ways to further improve their mood, reduce stress, and manage their …

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The Arithmetic of India-U.S. Relations and the Russian Factor

India-U.S 2+2

The 2+2 dialogue is a relatively new phenomenon which provides states with an opportunity to combine the discussion on security matters with general issues of international and bilateral affairs. Such a format helps widen the agenda and yield more fruitful results. The ‘recent 2+2 talks involving James Mattis, Mike Pompeo, Nirmala Sitharaman and Sushma Swaraj is the most high profile …

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