The Daily Populous

Thursday December 6th, 2018 morning edition

image for Albert Einstein's 'God letter' in which physicist rejected religion auctioned for $3m

A handwritten letter by Albert Einstein rejecting religion has been auctioned for almost $3m (£2.3m).

The “God letter” was written in 1954 in Einstein’s native German in response to the work of the philosopher Eric Gutkind.

In the letter, the theoretical physicist outlines his thoughts on religion and his own Jewish identity.

The letter was sold for almost twice the auction house’s expected value of between $1m and $1.5m.

In his letter, Einstein states: “The word God is for me nothing but the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of venerable but still rather primitive legends.

He also gives his thoughts on his own Jewish identity, stating the religion is “like all other religions, an incarnation of primitive superstition”.

In the private writings, he describes the Chinese as an “industrious, filthy, obtuse people” and writes of “bandit-like filthy Levantines”. »

Bringing balance to the universe: New theory could explain missing 95 percent of the cosmos

Authored by phys.org

This astonishing new theory may also prove right a prediction that Einstein made 100 years ago.

Our current, widely recognised model of the Universe, called LambdaCDM, tells us nothing about what dark matter and dark energy are like physically.

A unifying theory of dark energy and dark matter: Negative masses and matter creation within a modified LambdaCDM framework, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2018). »

Festive Satanic statue added to Illinois statehouse

Authored by bbc.com

A satanic group has added its own statue to a series of displays in the government building of the US state of Illinois to mark the festive season.

It says its uses satanic imagery to promote the separation of church and state and to campaign for "practical common sense and justice".

Earlier this year, members of a Satanic Temple placed a statue of Baphomet - a goat-like deity associated with Satanism - outside Arkansas' statehouse during a First Amendment rally. »

master with injuries : likeus

Authored by reddit.com

Mammals have a really good memory Some orangutans learn how to fish This dog knows he's at the vet.

For instance, these cows are happy for returning to pasture after a long winter.

This Humpback Whale, for instance, realizes she's been saved from a fishing net and lets her rescuers know she is thankful. »

One Top Taxpayer Moved, and New Jersey Shuddered

Authored by nytimes.com
image for

Our top-heavy economy has come to this: One man can move out of New Jersey and put the entire state budget at risk.

Last month, during a routine review of New Jersey’s finances, one could sense the alarm.

In December, Mr. Tepper declared himself a resident of Florida after living for over 20 years in New Jersey. »