Peter Bromberg's UnBlog

The science of humor, a captivating blend of psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, delves into the intricate workings of what makes us laugh. While humor is a subjective experience, researchers have uncovered fascinating patterns and theories that shed light on its complex nature. One prominent theory is the superiority theory, which suggests that we find humor in situations where we feel superior to others or to a previous version of ourselves. This could explain why we often laugh at the misfortunes of others, as long as they are not genuinely harmful. However, this theory falls short in explaining why we also find humor in situations where we don't feel superior, such as puns or unexpected twists. Another theory, the relief theory, proposes that humor serves as a release valve for pent-up tension or anxiety. When we laugh, we experience a physiological response that helps to reduce stress and tension. This theory aligns with the observation that humor is often used as a copi...

  This subject comes up repeatedly, and because I have a number of liberal friends who challenge me on it from time to time, I thought it would be appropriate to summarize my views again. First and foremost, I do not base my pro-life stance on religion. I am about the most unreligious person you will ever meet. I'm not an atheist, but my beliefs in a Supreme Being certainly didn't come from attending church or synagogue. They came from science . Science - that is biomedical science - tells us that once the very first cell-division takes place in a fertilized ovum, it meets all the scientific qualifications for a developing human life. Period. You don't need to wait until it develops a heartbeat. In the very first hour, it's a developing human being completely distinct from the mother, with it's own DNA. Therefore, as caring human beings, we must provide it with the same protections and rights as any other human being. To me, this renders all these progressive li...

Have you ever seen a newspaper headline, "Psychic Wins Lottery"? Or, "Astrologer Wins Lottery"? In one poll, 31% of Americans expressed a belief in astrology and, according to another study, 39% considered it scientific. The core beliefs of astrology were prevalent in parts of the ancient world and are epitomized in the Hermetic maxim, "as above, so below". Tycho Brahe used a similar phrase to summarize his studies in astrology: suspiciendo despicio , "by looking up I see downward". Although the principle that events in the heavens are mirrored by those on Earth was once generally held in most traditions of astrology around the world, in the West there has historically been a debate among astrologers over the nature of the mechanism behind astrology. In other words, the so-called experts cannot even agree how to practice it! Predictive astrology, in the Western tradition, employs two main methods: astrological transits and astrological progres...