'allo, found you via wispfox linking to you often. I don't usually announce myself thusly, but I figured you'd like my post (http://www.livejournal.com/users/ladytabitha/1576913.html) of links. :)
There's actually a whole lot of complexity to the placebo effect. One study tested the effectiveness of different placebos, and there were differences. There are nocebo effects - harmful effects from placebos because you expect it to be harmful. And what effects you think a drug will have affects how your brain processes data, which means if you think a drug will make you irritable, you will be more patient because you will chalk up irritability to the drug, rather than the people around you being annoying, and thus a placebo can be quite effective. It goes beyond that too - there's just masses of fascinating things about placebos, and it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But it's nifty. I always try to use drugs that give me strong placebo action, because hey, I'll take whatever I can get. And I'm not too proud to enjoy a good placebo effect.
Although I don't understand the horizon problem. As you look further away, you're looking back in time. If you look at the very edge, it'd have to be uniform, because it's all the exact same place/time. The universe was very small then and has been expanding. The beginning of the universe should be consistent - it'd be a problem if it varied, because then you'd have different things happening at the same place/time.
If astronomers really see this as a problem, then maybe it is. But it's not well enough explained in that little section.
'allo, found you via wispfox linking to you often. I don't usually announce myself thusly, but I figured you'd like my post (http://www.livejournal.com/users/ladytabitha/1576913.html) of links. :)
There's actually a whole lot of complexity to the placebo effect. One study tested the effectiveness of different placebos, and there were differences. There are nocebo effects - harmful effects from placebos because you expect it to be harmful. And what effects you think a drug will have affects how your brain processes data, which means if you think a drug will make you irritable, you will be more patient because you will chalk up irritability to the drug, rather than the people around you being annoying, and thus a placebo can be quite effective. It goes beyond that too - there's just masses of fascinating things about placebos, and it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But it's nifty. I always try to use drugs that give me strong placebo action, because hey, I'll take whatever I can get. And I'm not too proud to enjoy a good placebo effect.
Although I don't understand the horizon problem. As you look further away, you're looking back in time. If you look at the very edge, it'd have to be uniform, because it's all the exact same place/time. The universe was very small then and has been expanding. The beginning of the universe should be consistent - it'd be a problem if it varied, because then you'd have different things happening at the same place/time.
If astronomers really see this as a problem, then maybe it is. But it's not well enough explained in that little section.
no subject
Date: 2005-03-18 12:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-18 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-18 01:09 pm (UTC)If astronomers really see this as a problem, then maybe it is. But it's not well enough explained in that little section.
no subject
Date: 2005-03-18 01:10 pm (UTC)Incidentally, since you are link-friendly, you should check out
no subject
Date: 2005-03-18 12:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-18 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-18 01:09 pm (UTC)If astronomers really see this as a problem, then maybe it is. But it's not well enough explained in that little section.
no subject
Date: 2005-03-18 01:10 pm (UTC)Incidentally, since you are link-friendly, you should check out