Johann Sebastian Bach, while not formally trained in mathematics, is celebrated as a 'mathematician' among classical composers due to the intricate patterns, structures, and recursions in his music. His vast body of work, including over 1,100 compositions, exhibits mathematical elements such as Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio. The article explores the relationship between mathematics and music, citing examples from Bach's compositions and noting similar analytical skills required in both fields. It also references current research in computer-generated music and the potential for artificial intelligence to create new works in the style of composers like Bach.

Scientists do not yet fully understand abiogenesis, the origin of life, but research in the field is ongoing and philosophically or methodologically similar to other scientific research. The Miller-Urey experiment and the RNA world hypothesis are significant developments in understanding abiogenesis. Despite challenges, recent discoveries have advanced the field, such as the synthesis of RNA nucleotides and the potential formation of self-replicating RNA. The timing of abiogenesis and the role of the 'last universal common ancestor' (LUCA) are also areas of study. While there are still gaps and unanswered questions, the process of evolution after abiogenesis is well attested, and the lack of a full explanation for abiogenesis does not invalidate evolutionary theory. Creationist and intelligent design claims that unknowns in abiogenesis are a fatal flaw in evolutionary theory are considered invalid.

The upcoming Bitcoin halving, a scheduled event that reduces the block reward for miners by half, is expected to have a significant impact on network transaction fees and could drive consumer adoption of Bitcoin. The halving is part of a system designed to limit the supply of Bitcoin to 21 million. As the supply becomes more limited and demand increases, the price of Bitcoin is expected to rise. The halving may also lead to a shift towards second-layer networks like the Lightning Network, which offers lower transaction fees and faster processing, potentially making Bitcoin more accessible for everyday transactions and financially disenfranchised individuals.

UK businesses, represented by industry body Make UK, have criticized the government for not having a clear industrial policy, especially in the context of green subsidies where the US and EU are taking significant steps. The US has introduced the Inflation Reduction Act and other initiatives totaling over $2 trillion to support domestic industries, while the EU has announced a €250 billion Green Deal Industrial Plan. The UK, however, has scrapped its industrial strategy and lacks a response to these international packages, with a significant investment shortfall in low carbon infrastructure. The Labour Party in the UK has proposed a £28 billion annual investment for a green transition, but there are concerns about its adequacy and potential conflict with WTO rules. The article suggests that the UK needs to establish its own Green New Deal to meet net zero commitments and compete globally.

A crisis of replicability in science has been highlighted by various studies across fields such as cancer research, economics, and psychology, with many unable to replicate the results of previous studies. In finance, the issue is exacerbated by backtest overfitting, where investment funds and strategies that perform well in backtests fail when applied in practice. A study by Kewei You, Chen Xue, and Lu Zhang analyzed 452 anomaly indicators in finance and found that most failed to replicate. The study suggests that capital markets are more efficient than previously recognized. The article also discusses the pressure to publish new results in academic finance, leading to a lack of rigorous verification of previous results. It calls for better education in modern statistics for finance researchers and practitioners to prevent statistical malpractices and improve replicability.

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development offers a significant opportunity to improve the way the ocean is used. The deep-sea research community is outlined as having a crucial role in achieving these ambitious goals.

The Mortgage Outlet offers low mortgage rates and a flat fee structure for home buyers and those refinancing in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. The company promises no additional fees, a fast automated mortgage process, and the potential for a 30-day closing. With over 30 years of experience, The Mortgage Outlet emphasizes its commitment to serving the borrower's best interests.

The Mortgage Outlet, a flat rate mortgage broker, is offering low mortgage rates in Bohemia, NY, with a flat fee structure that eliminates additional costs such as processing and application fees. This program aims to save borrowers thousands of dollars in closing costs and offers benefits like cheaper rates, lower closing costs, a fast automated mortgage process, and over 30 years of industry experience. The Mortgage Outlet emphasizes their commitment to the borrower's best interest and offers a 30-day closing option for those who qualify.

The article asserts that the scientific debate on climate change is conclusively settled, with overwhelming evidence of global warming and its anthropogenic causes. It references NASA data showing recent years as the warmest on record, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports on the dire consequences of a 1.5 C temperature rise. Common climate change myths are systematically debunked, and the article highlights a shift in opinion by former skeptic Richard Muller. Despite a strong scientific consensus, public skepticism persists, particularly in the United States. The article emphasizes the urgent need for action, as underscored by the impassioned speech of activist Greta Thunberg at the U.N. Climate Summit.

Marcos Lopez de Prado, named Quant of the Year for 2019 by the Journal of Portfolio Management, criticizes the current hype in machine learning within finance, noting the lack of track records among practitioners. He established True Positive Technologies to provide algorithms and expertise in this area. Lopez de Prado points out that many AI-based investment funds have underperformed and attributes this to fund managers not properly integrating theory with machine learning. He also differentiates machine learning from traditional regression and big data, emphasizing the need for sophisticated models to handle complex datasets. His vision is to make finance more scientific and less like a casino.

Global capitalism in 2019 is facing a crisis, with quantitative easing failing to resolve previous issues and creating conditions for a potentially greater future crisis. Negative interest rates and financial investors betting against long-term growth indicate systemic problems. The consequences of capitalism are felt through wage stagnation, insecure employment, and welfare state erosion in the Global North, and poverty, violence, and climate change in the Global South. The Critical Political Economy Research Network (CPERN) is meeting in Manchester to discuss these issues and explore alternatives to capitalism. The conference will feature discussions on digital capitalism, financialisation, austerity policies, and social movements resisting capitalist pressures.

Frank Fabozzi, a prominent figure in mathematical finance, has criticized the detachment of current academic economics and finance from real-world behavior, highlighting the failure of rational models and calculus-based theories to account for market complexities and crises. He advocates for a shift towards empirical science and the integration of machine learning models. The critique extends to university curricula, which Fabozzi believes should include both sophisticated mathematics and rigorous data science to prepare students for modern quantitative roles.

Dave Bailey discusses a common issue among founders who have lost sight of the specific problem their business was created to solve. He notes that it's not uncommon for founders to temporarily forget the core purpose of their startup.

The article explores the commonalities between mathematics and music, noting that many mathematicians have an interest in music, with some being accomplished musicians. It discusses the mathematical relationships in music, the structural similarities between musical syntax and mathematical thinking, and the use of computers in music composition. While it acknowledges the difficulty in scientifically proving a link between mathematical and musical talent, it suggests a deep connection between the two disciplines.

Scientific frauds occasionally shake the scientific community, undermining public trust. High-profile cases have involved individuals like Derek Stapel, but these are exceptions. The article discusses the public's skepticism towards scientific consensus on evolution and climate change, despite overwhelming peer-reviewed evidence. It also addresses the improbability of large-scale scientific conspiracies, citing a study by David Robert Grimes that used probabilistic models to show such conspiracies would likely be exposed within a few years. The article concludes that major scientific facts are not part of a conspiracy and that scientific findings, though sometimes inconvenient, must be accepted as reliable facts to maintain a rational worldview.

Volkswagen's 'dieselgate' scandal may accelerate the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) as cities and governments consider restricting diesel use due to pollution. European manufacturers' focus on diesel may have hindered the transition to EVs, unlike Japanese and American firms that have invested in hybrids and electrics. Tesla and other companies are seen as potential beneficiaries, with Tesla's battery innovations and the development of autonomous cars by Google and others poised to transform urban mobility.

2014 was a challenging year for market forecasters and hedge funds, with many failing to outperform basic index-based strategies. Hedge funds on average returned only 3.9%, while major indexes like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw much higher gains. Warren Buffett's bet that an S&P 500 index fund would outperform a hedge fund over ten years seems likely to succeed. The article also discusses the inevitability of market crashes and the difficulty of making accurate market predictions due to the complex nature of financial markets.

The article discusses the potential of Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels, highlighting the urgency due to climate change impacts reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It reviews the history of LENR, including the discredited cold fusion claims by Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons, and the skepticism surrounding current claims by entities like Brillouin Energy Corp. and Andrea Rossi's E-Cat. The article also mentions interest from figures like Bill Gates and Steven Chu, and involvement from companies such as Mitsubishi and Toyota. It emphasizes the need for reproducibility and peer review in scientific research, especially for extraordinary claims like those made by LENR proponents.

The UN's IPCC report warns of severe climate impacts from greenhouse-gas emissions, advocating for green energy solutions. Conservation and solar power are discussed as partial solutions, but the need for a reliable, clean energy source remains. Nuclear fusion, particularly recent claims by Lockheed Martin and Andrea Rossi's E-Cat, is presented as a potential solution, though both are met with skepticism due to a lack of details and theoretical support. The article emphasizes the importance of peer review and independent verification before accepting such revolutionary claims.

Crystal Fighters released a new video for their song “You & I,” which is described as 'sadorable,' a blend of 'sad' and 'adorable.' The video features a bird and a tree, named Kevin and Jennifer for the article's purposes, who are best friends with a 'will-they-won't-they' dynamic. The narrative turns dramatic, likened to a 17th century Italian opera. The article also mentions Earth Day and the importance of thinking about the planet. Crystal Fighters' album 'Cave Rave' is set to release on May 28th, and the band will tour North America in June.

Halasan Bazar, a Copenhagen-based experimental psych-pop group, has released a new track titled "Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad," which is part of their upcoming album 'Space Junk.' The article humorously discusses the real issue of space debris, also known as space junk, highlighting its potential to form a 'Crap Shroud' that could have serious consequences for Earth. The piece suggests there is currently no solution to the problem of space junk, and ends with a whimsical suggestion to enjoy the music while contemplating the debris orbiting our planet.

Noisey, a section of Vice, humorously imagines a fictional video game called 'Estrodome' where female rock stars battle each other with special combo moves. The article describes various musicians, such as Krauss from Sleigh Bells, Mosshart from The Kills and The Dead Weather, and Clark, also known as St. Vincent, among others, in a satirical tone, attributing fictional moves to them and picking winners in hypothetical matchups.

A Private Investigative Journalist recounts a story involving a personal investigation into the song 'How Deep Is Your Love?' by The Rapture, drawing connections to Dru Hill's hit from 1998 and Sisqo's 'The Thong Song.' The article narrates an adventure involving illegal activities to uncover the truth, which is humorously suggested to be that The Rapture is Dru Hill in disguise. The evidence was lost in a fire at a mannequin factory, and the story is presented with a mix of facts and narrative storytelling.

The author recounts attending a Japandroids concert dressed as Data, an android from Star Trek, to learn about humanity and for humorous effect. Despite the odd looks and avoidance from subway passengers and concertgoers in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the author stays in character, observing the event stoically. Eventually, the author joins the mosh pit, embracing the human experience of live music and the emotions it elicits, particularly rage. The night ends with the author reflecting on the acceptance of artificial lifeforms in society and the normalcy of oddities on the Bedford L Train platform.

The author describes a journey through Spotify's 'Related Artists' feature, starting with indie rock band Civilian and ending with R&B artist Samson for President. Along the way, the author discovers various artists across different genres and countries, including Swedish rap and psychedelic hip-hop. The experience is likened to getting lost in Wikipedia, with each new artist leading to another through Spotify's algorithm. The author's personal anecdotes and reactions to the music are interwoven throughout the narrative.