A Modern Day Jurassic Park Story

Last week, in a National Geographic- sponsored TEDx conference, a group of scientists met in Washington D.C. to discuss which animals we should bring back from extinction calling it: de-extinction. Unfortunately dinosaur's DNA has degraded a while ago and is not usable for this endeavor so your dream of petting a triceratops or flying with the pterodactyls is probably not going to come true sometime soon however you may be able to see a real life woolly mammoth or saber toothed cat one day. 

The list is surprisingly long at a whopping 24 animals. Check it out below.

http://www.businessinsider.com/24-animals-for-de-extinction-2013-3?op=1

Stay curious,

Team ASC

When English Isn't Enough

About 375 million people in the world speak English as their first language and countless others speak it as a second language, which together make English the most widely spoken language around the world. However, there are many words that exist in other languages that do not have direct translations into English and let me tell you that once you see some them you really begin to feel that English may not be enough to describe every feeling or circumstance we encounter in our lives.

For example, have you ever thought of a witty remark long after you have left a discussion that would have been perfect at the time? It is unfortunate that in English this act has no word or even a phrase that adequately describes it, but never fear because the French do. They call it l'esprit de l'escalier which literally when translated into English means "staircase wit," but more accurately translates to "the act of thinking of a clever comeback when it is too late to deliver it." There are countless other words and phrases just like this one that describe feelings that are universal, yet sadly do not exist in English. So what do we do when English is not enough to describe a situation, circumstance, or feeling? We search for the words in other languages and allow ourselves to have those sentiments fully expressed by a language that understands and expresses it far better than our own can. Case in point "deja vu" a French phrase commonly used in English to describe that a particular moment has happened before and you are reliving it. 

Here is a link to some other words that don't exist in English, I hope you enjoy them and use them when English just doesn't cut it.
http://www.mamamia.com.au/entertainment/words-that-dont-exist-in-english-but-should/

Stay curious,

Team ASC

Life of Pi

The number pi, also known but its Greek letter designation π, has become renowned for being a mathematical constant with infinite digits. Best known as for its approximate value of 3.14, pi is invaluable in understanding the structure of DNA, creating electrical appliances, studying the structure of the eye, and more. Pi has become so prominent that it has its own internationally celebrated day - the United States House of Representatives actually passed a resolution in 2009 desiginating March 14 as Pi Day!

Read more to find out learn some interesting facts about how pi is used and references in pop culture:

http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/07/03_pi.html

Stay curious,

Team ASC