Feedback is New Scientist Your go-to source for the latest in science and technology news. For story suggestions or feedback, please email feedback@newscientist.com.
Exploring Celebrity Clones
If the Internet is to be believed (which it often isn’t), numerous celebrities may have been replaced by clones.
The latest body snatcher claims involved actor Jim Carrey, known for his role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Carrey made a surprising appearance at the 51st Cesar Awards on February 26, leading to speculation about changes in his appearance. While aging and cosmetic surgery might explain this, conspiracy theories suggest he could be a clone.
This isn’t the first time rumors have circulated about celebrity replacements; Paul McCartney and Avril Lavigne are among those purportedly replaced as well. One might wonder how those behind these alleged abductions remain undetected.
Upon reviewing the logistics of cloning a star like Carrey, we must note that, as of now, no one has been successful in cloning a human. Yet, for argument’s sake, let’s envision an illicit cloning lab hidden within Hollywood.
To clone Carrey, we’d likely gather his cells from a film set such as the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4. However, if we were to succeed, it would take over six decades for the clone to reach his current appearance—assuming he reaches the advanced age of 128!
And what if we take a page from science fiction like Star Trek: Nemesis, where villains try to clone Captain Picard? They discovered that even when genetically engineered to expedite aging, cloning doesn’t yield perfect results.
All these scenarios raise concerns about the practical feasibility of celebrity cloning.
Innovative Lunch Experiences
Feedback isn’t your traditional food critic; instead, we thrive on uncovering the absurdities and intricacies in the culinary world. Fine dining may serve beautifully plated dishes, but where’s the enjoyment in that?
A fascinating new trend is “acoustic seasoning,” applying carefully chosen sounds to elevate the dining experience based on sensory science. This concept explores the interplay among different senses, revealing how sounds can enhance or diminish our taste perception.
Chris Sims highlights a study from researchers at the University of Oxford, aiming to identify undiscovered sound-taste pairings. It’s intriguing that the sound evoking a “metallic taste” was identified as that of a theremin, the touchless electronic instrument common in vintage sci-fi.
We initially thought this explained why the iconic Star Trek theme evokes a metallic flavor for us, but our investigation revealed no theremin usage in that recording—merely a quirk of our perception.
With newfound curiosity, Feedback wanders off in search of the perfect sounds to accompany leftover pizza.
Nominative Determinism in Science
Reader Richard Black sent us an intriguing connection regarding nominative determinism. While reading Chanda Prescod Weinstein’s column on galaxies, he discovered an article by astronomer Simon Smith about a newly identified star cluster named Ursa Major III, located in the Ursa Major constellation.
Richard noted the amusing link to Alan Price’s “Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear,” pondering if this is an example of nominative determinism or merely a rich web of connections.
We also received a highlight from reader Richard Bartlett, who pointed out that the Leicester City women’s football coach is named Rick Passmoor.
Do you have a story for Feedback?
Email your contributions to Feedback at feedback@newscientist.com, and don’t forget to include your home address. You can find the latest and past articles on our website.
Source: www.newscientist.com
