Bioweapon

Throughout history, COVID-19 caused by SARS-COV-2 is the most famous disease, not because it is the worst nor its epidemic status, but it appears when the internet is a thing. The spreading of news is so overwhelmed, that conspirators use this chance to prove their theory. There is much news relating to viruses and bioweapons. Before I go further, I want to say that I believe in bioweapon but I can't accept speculations. Some people perceive information and believe what they want to believe (there was an entry that I posted about why people believe conspiracy theory). When talking about bioweapon, this is not new. Conspiracy theory rekindles when there is an opportunity, just like what is happening at the moment.

SARS-COV-2 is not a bioweapon because there is no reason to use bioweapon when there is no war on a global scale. Even if it is, what is the reason that people around the world get infected? In fact, bioweapon generally, using an established organism and culture it on a large scale. This mass production is later used to infect specific places, but not spreading it around the globe. Even if they want to kill the global population, they will achieve nothing. Let's do some math to prove. Let take the Spanish flu, the worst epidemic that infects 500 million people, that took the lives of 50 million people. The global population in the 1900s is around 2 billion. The death percentage is around 2.5%. Killing 2.5% population is not a success. Thanos, however, did 20 times better, he killed 50% of the universe's population. Therefore, using bioweapon and make it pandemic is not an acceptable reason. Since SARS-COV-2 is a novel species of virus and as a biologist, I really know that creating cells from nucleic acid and make them functional is not easy. Ever since a successful human genome project in early 2000, J. Craig Venter and his team have made a synthetic genome and plant it inside empty bacterial cells. They are not even building their own cells, or RNA, which viral genetic materials have yet to be manipulated. Yes, potential 'reconstruction' of genetic materials of virus can be developed but it requires a lot of effort, time, money, and to make the viral genetic functional is a challenge and nobody in the world has achieved it to my knowledge. It "may" be convincing too for those who believe in conspiracy. If so, then expose those who synthesized the genetic materials for SARS-COV-2 and why it is created as a bioweapon? I tell you this is impossible. 

After all, saying this SARS-COV-2 is a bioweapon is not helping society. It is not even benefiting people who believe it and it is pointless at every level. This entry is very general, I don't mind if people still believe this whole thing is a bioweapon and conspiracy. I know these guys wanted to gain this "I know better than you" kind of thing, but maybe if you channel it to something useful, it can benefit you and society.

Frontliners are struggling to help us, so please don't make it worst by spreading nonsense theory. 

New Generation Scientist

Science has evolved so fast for last two decades ever since the introduction of technologies (e.g. high throughput sequencing, superpower computer, mobile technologies, etc.). Everything in silico produces so much information and develops new ideas. Such great leaps we are not able to catch up. Even we grew up surrounded by technologies, or watch them developed, we still can't understand the knowledge behind it. Simply, we still lag behind especially the philosophy in all related matters. But I think I have found some important notes to take. I probably am trying to take it, but somehow, when you grew up, there is so little time to master what you should 10 years ago. Therefore I leave it here for our future scientists as a guidance.

First and foremost, plan a strategy as earliest as possible. Everyone has their own passion towards certain subject in life. Generally, either you love science or arts, focus on the matter of basic principle of the subject. As you grow up, focus on one specific topic you want to master because if you mixed up, you can't reach the top notch of that particular field. However, you can't also forget the other knowledge. Master on one field, increase the others. Secondly, be a man of principle. Gather the facts, and be free to hold onto it. Young people have so many ideas that somehow loss in the air. Then, if you have something brilliant to throw, use proper platform to tell people. In the end of day, you will be brave enough to gain confidence and integrity. Science is not an old game, it is now a realm, which so many brilliant minds put together to govern the world. From now on, don't just let yourself investigate science, but to master it.

Let's do this.

We lost our minds

In this expanding world of science and technologies, humankind has thrived to be at the top of each other. That's our nature. But in general, technological advances have already made us human, weak.

At some point, people are attached to their gadgets more than to real humans. Approximately, humans spend 11 hours being on their gadgets, be it on a computer or phone. Roughly people slept 8 hours a day. That's a 19 hours disconnection period with the real world. Four hours are not enough for a person to do other things. Therefore the human need to calm and rethink their lives. Immersing in the beauty of the technologies are not a failure. Depending on what we are doing. Some people need to use their gadgets for their life and it is okay.

Free time has been filled with screen on time, the feelings are now obliged to share with people through social media, looking for support and fame, but hatred and disparaged are also allowed. Somehow, the life structure of humankind had changed. We tried to be better every day, whilst support is not real. We compare and succumb to these technologies to a certain extent. Then, we think we have found a miracle.

Pointing out this topic, sometimes, we lost our minds. Which means, we distract ourselves from being left alone. We have a lack of sensible, sensing our surroundings is the least we can do. Whenever we talk, we refuse the eye-contact, showing our uninterested-ness. We prefer to look down on our phone with no aims. nursing our desire to pursue life without aims. Henceforth, we forget why we are in this world. This is why we lost our minds and losing the mind is the weakest attribute in the world.

These days, we can't refuse to use technologies, and morally speaking, we can use it on purpose. If there is nothing we need to do, go outside, plant a tree and nurture them and watch them grow. Go to bookstore and buy some books to read, have some coffee break with friends and do the talking. Immerse ourselves with nature, go out and be adventurous.

Jadikan ia hamba, bukan menjadi hamba.

Angin

Setelah hampir setahun gua menghilang, akhirnya angin gua untuk menulis telah kembali. Mungkin agak terlalu lama tidak menjengah diari yang semakin di tua ini, namun selepas ini gua pasti akan kerap membaca dan menulis lagi.

Sebagai diari.

Story of The Gene

Gene has been known to encode protein in all living forms as if a script that we share in common, maintained, and passed from our parents to us and to our children and so on. Sometimes some of the words are missing at random places, making each of us a little different from others but we still understand the story. We are made from that script, however we refuse to follow the script at some point because we all have choices. Maybe from chances that our scripts are altered, we are all abnormal, incomplete and damaged. Is that a test from nature or some kind of vengeance from our predecessor? If we are abnormal and damaged, should we fight against it or should we keep blaming the shortcomings?

Gene formed chapter of story which shaped us, then we read and rebel. Simply because we are confused. We don't believe in fate or we may call it, a random alterations that we have no power over it. Yet, we are brag and boast as if we know how the world works. For some people who are wise, they think that maybe the ink that stick on the script or the script itself has been through a very tough journey to reach us as individual. Hence, they appreciate their flaws, respect others and learn to be like what from original and normal scripts would say - and how would they knew the "normal" one?

Scientist can't find evidence of what make up soul, intelligence and human sense. Even in a gene, the result is in subtle proportion or chance. In other words, we failed to prove. So, we are just what we are and the truth is, we all have different disorders, because we are incomplete scripts. We are all damaged. That is where intelligence plays its role, to get to know about them, and make them "normal". That is what make us different from animals. Today let me leave you an assignment to find out what is "normal".

Be a good human based on "normalcy" and be a good soul based on religion.

Adakah kita tertipu?

Keparahan manusia yang sering menolak fakta menyebabkan aku terpanggil untuk menambah satu entri kepada entri yang sebelumnya yang bertajuk "Kenapa percaya teori konspirasi?". Kali ni aku nak sentuh sedikit tentang apa yang menyebabkan manusia masih degil untuk menerima fakta yang sudah terang lagi bersuluh tentang kebenarannya. Malah, mereka membenarkan penipuan. Aneh, bukan?

Semasa aku menulis entri ni, aku rasa seram sebab perkara ini berkaitan dengan penggunaan bahagian otak manusia untuk membezakan kebenaran sesuatu perkara berdasarkan fakta atau auta. Berbeza dengan teori. Teori ialah sesuatu maklumat yang belum mampu dibuktikan oleh fakta, tetapi belum jugak dapat disangkal dengan fakta. Manakala fakta itu sendiri merupakan sesuatu yang telah dibuktikan, sama ada nilai significant fakta tersebut rendah atau tinggi, ia masih telah dibuktikan.

Jadi berbalik kepada fungsi otak tadi, keupayaan untuk membezakan kebenaran berdasarkan fakta atau auta terletak pada cognitive skills kita. Aku bukannya ahli psikologi, jadi aku tanak sentuh banyak sangat tentang cognitive skills ni. Cuma apa yang aku nak sampaikan ialah kepentingan menerima fakta dan membenarkan kebenaran. Jadi kenapa masih ramai yang mempercayai penipuan? Menurut kajian yang dijalankan oleh Hasher et al. (1977) frekuensi sesuatu kenyataan menjadi kriteria utama untuk menjadikan kenyataan itu benar. Maksudnya, semakin banyak kita dengar sesuatu, semakin tinggi kepercayaan kita terhadap sesuatu kenyataan tersebut, walaupun kenyataan itu tipu!

Tahu tak tentang illusory truth effect? Fenomena ini berkaitan 'perasaan' senang (comforting) apabila menerima maklumat yang pernah kita dengar atau baca. Malah kita akan secara separa sedar (subconscious) berkata "oh betul la, aku pernah baca ni." kemudian kita terus percaya bulat bulat. Kenyataan atau maklumat seperti ini ini sangat banyak digunakan terutamanya dalam bidang perniagaan (pengiklanan), propaganda politik dan gosip lah apa lagi (tapi gosip yang tujuannya menipulah hehe). Sasarannya ialah bahagian kognitif pada otak. Perkara yang penting dalam illusory truth effect ialah sesuatu itu mestilah dilihat seperti 'fakta' yang sebenarnya auta atau diselewengkan sebelum disebarkan ke khalayak. Semakin 'fakta' ini diulang ulang, semakin ramai akan mempercayai perkara tersebut. Cuba kita semak balik berapa banyak 'fakta' yang kita selalu dengar seperti "Vitamin C boleh mengubati selesema.", "Kita menggunnakan hanya 10% otak.", "Lembu tak suka warna merah." ataupun "Hutang negara berjumlah 1 trilion."? Adakah ia fakta atau 'fakta' yang diselewengkan? Pergi buat research cepat. Hehe.

Kita semua pernah tertipu, termasuk aku yang jahil ni. Tetapi bagaimana kita nak elakkan daripada terus menerus terjebak dalam semua ni? Apa yang boleh kita buat ialah pertama kita perlu sentiasa mempersoalkan fakta, walaupun kita dah tahu perkara tersebut. Kedua, kita semak fakta tersebut daripada segenap sumber. Barulah adil! Kemudian yang terakhir ialah kita berdoa kepada Allah, supaya diri kita sentiasa berada di jalan kebenaran, inshaAllah. Sebelum aku undur diri, jom hayati video di bawah. Cheers.

Persoalkan fakta sebelum percaya.

Akhlak dan politik

Pilihan raya kali ni sangat mendebarkan. Ia bukan seperti pilihan raya yang sebelumnya. Getir, sengit dan apa jualah yang menggambarkan peristiwa tersebut. Aku mempunyai berbeza pandangan tentang politik dan aku juga tidak memihak kepada sesiapa. Jika aku dipaksa memihak juga, pastilah aku meletakkan agama dan bangsa di hadapan, bukannya nafsu.

Sayang seribu kali sayang. Setiap kali pilihan raya ataupun berlakunya isu berkaitan politik, pasti keadaan yang sama akan berlaku. I repeat, the exactly same situation will happen. Melayu yang terkenal dengan budi bahasanya, telah hilang (they don't feel good). Lalu muncul Melayu yang menjadikan nafsu sebagai pemandu. Biarpun berserban, biarpun bertutup litup, yang penting dapat meluahkan segalanya sekalipun yang menjadi benteng ialah syariat agama. Ia bukan mudah bagi aku tetapi ia hakikat yang acapkali berlaku. Politik di Malaysia ialah pintu fitnah yang paling besar. Pintu yang bertahun dikunci oleh ulamak kita, melalui nilai agama, nilai Melayu kita, tetapi lihatlah siapa yang menolaknya?

Akhirnya kunci pun dibuka.