English
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Exponential Growth
Do you remember the beginning of the pandemic, when exponential growth was all the talk? Let’s revisit this topic for a moment and learn a cute little trick, how to quickly estimate the exponential growth of a quantity without having to use a calculator. You have all heard of compound interest, right? You invest a…
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We Saved the Ozone Layer for Tech Bros to Destroy it
Ready for some Dystopia? Satellite internet will probably severely damage the ozone layer. The worst about it? The damage is not now, but it will take decades before it starts. But: First things first! What is the ozone layer? The ozone layer is located in the lower stratosphere (15-35km above ground), where the concentration of…
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Sexy Reads
I am a book worm. I love to read, from Greek tragedies to contemporary novels. Those of you, who know me a little, are aware of my sweet spot for genre literature, namely Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Unfortunately, most genre literature is of abysmal quality, and you have to search hard for the good…
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The Future of the Past
We often read that Science Fiction Literature and Film predicts the future. The reality is: This is more often false than true. Mostly, Science Fiction is, probably, the genre that is the best at describing hopes, fears and the zeitgeist of the time when it was conceived. There are exceptions, of course: “The Space Merchants”…
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The Bauhaus Legacy: Waldsiedlung Berlin-Zehlendorf
Modern, soulless architecture is often blamed on the Bauhaus movement, founded in 1919 at Weimar by Walter Gropius. There is some truth to that, but it should not be forgotten that the original idea of the Bauhaus was a very humanistic one: To provide the working class with affordable and healthy housing. This was(?) an…
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From the Wild West to the Deep South of America
Many People know the lovely film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid from 1969 with Robert Redford, Paul Newman and Katherine Ross. Not so many people know that the duo and their “friend” and possible mastermind of the gang Etta Place were real persons. After becoming too notorious in the Far West for robbing trains…
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The Anachronism of Libraries
Today, I read an article about the progressive disappearance of public libraries in the rural areas of Germany, and it got me thinking: Bibliothekssterben in MeckPomm (German) If libraries hadn’t existed for centuries now, there’s no way the concept could have been invented in our time. Think of it: Libraries provide free and unlimited access…
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Butternut Squash Pie
Attention! First comes the description of the meat version, for the vegan variety, read to the end. Take 2 butternut squashs, cut them in pieces and cook them until they’re tender. You can also steam them, if you prefer. When ready, add 2-4 spoons of butter (80g or so), some salt and a teaspoon of…