Take in Mind - Page 12 of 13 - Science for the curious. Popular science for people who love riddles, mysteries, culture and non-standard thinking

The Infinite Painting

January 8, 2020 By Samyon Ristov

Mathematics is about logic and imagination. In a way, it’s an answer to questions like “if we imagine some rules, whatever they are, how farRead More

Can a roast of a lion make us strong and brave?

January 4, 2020 By Administrator

Good afternoon, dear visitors! It’s about meat food today. Just yesterday I found the great research work of James George Frazer – “The Golden Bough:Read More

Cost of Living – Robert Sheckley

January 3, 2020 By Administrator

If easy payment plans were to be really efficient, patrons’ lifetimes had to be extended! By ROBERT SHECKLEY Carrin decided that he could trace his presentRead More

The Mysteries of Lightning

December 30, 2019 By Administrator

I don’t believe in astrology; I’m a Sagittarius and we’re skeptical. Arthur C. Clarke Good day to all! Today I want to talk about a fairlyRead More

Epic of Gilgamesh – Part II

December 23, 2019 By Administrator

Tablet II So Gilgamesh saw a walking giant approaching. The giant’s body was covered with hair; and the hair was on his head, like NisabaRead More

Is healing with the power of thought possible?

December 20, 2019 By Administrator

Is it possible to influence the human body with the help of thought from a distance? On the one hand, remote treatment is one ofRead More

To drink or not to drink, the question is how much?

December 17, 2019 By Administrator

Good day to everyone! So, the weekend is arriving! It means that many of our readers will meet with their friends, go to restaurants, pubs,Read More

Men and women – the end of love story?

December 14, 2019 By Administrator

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! As I promised in “Should We Ban Gauguin?” article, together with our experts I want to discuss the issue ofRead More

Live Earth – A Scientific Theory or a Fairy Tale?

December 5, 2019 By Inna Freikman

The hypothesis of Gaia (Earth) that states that the evolution of rocks and the evolution of life can be closely related and not separate processesRead More

Fables of Leonardo Da Vinci – Part II

November 30, 2019 By Administrator

The Oyster & the Crab An oyster was in love with the moon. When the full moon shone in the sky, he spent hours watchingRead More

Scientific Humor

About man’s fidelity!

…and there is another story. Once Thomas Edison’s wife told him: “Darling, you are so tired! Go somewhere, relax, have a rest, enjoy your time…” Edison listened to his wife’s wise advice, instantly packed up, and disappeared somewhere… The next day she found the inventor… in his own laboratory, where he actually spent the previous day and night, working with enthusiasm. To her surprised question, happy Edison replied: “Oh my, I’ve rested so well!”

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) was a famous American inventor and businessman

Take a look

Once upon a time, a Brahmin (sage) invented the game of chess to teach the cruel Raja (the ruler) to treat his subjects well. In that game, the “Raja” (the name of one of the chess pieces) is the head of the state. If the “Raja” is captured, then his state ceases to exist. In case of danger, the “Raja” cannot survive without his faithful defenders and assistants – other figures.

The Raja was amazed by the game, understood its meaning, and promised not to oppress his subjects in the future. He then asked the Brahmin to choose the greatest reward he may wish for. The Brahmin replied that he wants to be rewarded with… wheat, but based on the following calculation: put one grain on the first cell of the chessboard, two on the second, four on the third, eight on the fourth, etc., doubling the number of grains on each subsequent cell.

The Raja, seeing that there are only 64 cells on the board, was surprised at the insignificance of the request. He decided that it’ll take about one or two sacks of wheat to fulfill it and gave the order to issue the reward immediately. Soon, the court mathematicians reported that the Raja would have to give so many grains, for which it would be necessary to sow the entire Earth, and the grown wheat would be enough to feed the whole population of Earth for 100 years.

Of course, the Raja could not fulfill his hasty promise and received another wise lesson from the inventor of the game of chess.

— A folk tale. Retold in the book “A complete course of chess: 64 lessons for beginners and not very experienced player”s, by S.B. Gubnitsky, M.G. Khanukov, S.A. Shedey.

The photo (own work) illustrates the second part of the fable, about exponential growth. In some variations, rice is requested instead of wheat, but in the photo, Wild Rice is used. The chess pieces’ positions are not random but positioned as in one of the first known chess riddles. In fact, it’s not even a chess riddle, but a Mansuba, a Shatranj problem, composed by Abu Na’im al Khadim (9th century). Shatranj is an old form of chess, with very similar rules. The differences in the rules don’t affect the riddle. White to move, and mate in three.

An easier view of the riddle is available in the first comment. Can you solve one of the oldest chess riddles?

Image source: Own work.

Think about

A few words about imagination

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ― Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist.

The great German mathematician David Hilbert (1862–1943) noticed that one of his students had started missing his lectures. When he asked for the reason, he was told that the student had left mathematics in favor of poetry. “Ah, yes,” said Hilbert, “I always thought he didn’t have enough imagination for mathematics…”

It is strange that only extraordinary men make the discoveries, which later appear so easy and simple. Georg Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799) was a German experimental physicist.

“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him discover it in himself.” Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian astronomer, mathematician, physicist, and philosopher.

“To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” — Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931) was an American inventor and businessman.