I'm trying to remember the name of a sci-fi book. I read it like 10 years ago, so my memory of it's a bit fuzzy. One of the major topics was something about the religion of science. I remember a guy who was able to trick people, a traveling salesman of sorts, who sold someone a machine that turned lead into gold. The machine actually worked, but would stop working after he got away with his money. I don't *think* I'm imagining this book, but who knows...
posted by Political Funny Man on Nov 11, 2009 - 5 answers

Scientists out there, what are the best physical constants or material properties to have memorized for back-of-the-envelope calculations? [more inside]
posted by SBMike on Jul 17, 2007 - 25 answers

Is there a mathematical formula relating time and memory? [more inside]
posted by bru on Jan 31, 2006 - 16 answers

memory-filter: Why or how does the body seem to remember learned physical action sequences before you can mentally recall what they are? [more inside]
posted by p3t3 on Jul 30, 2005 - 16 answers

I am looking for a quote from an article. The quote discussed how the current state of the art in technology usually became the metaphor for how we understand and describe the universe. The article is probably 5-6 years old, but was posted on the web (I probably accessed it through Arts and Letters Daily). [more inside]
posted by Hildago on Mar 1, 2005 - 7 answers

fff asked a really good question about how children think. Many responders wrote that they have no memories from their childhoods. This freaks me out. I remember my childhood more vividly than my college years. I have a childhood friend who also has no memories from when she was a kid, which is really odd, because I remember all sorts of things we did together. Have there been any studies that shed light over why some people can recall their childhoods and others can't?
posted by grumblebee on Dec 1, 2004 - 16 answers