Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker

Dressurversuche zum Formensehen der Bienen, insbesondere unter wechselnden Helligkeitsbedingungen

Summary1.Honey bees are able to distinguish among star-shaped figures which differ in their proportions (Fig. 5, see also Schnetter, 1968). The discriminatory ability, between 40 and 400 Lux, is independent of the illumination and the sign of contrast (Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8).2.From a series of star-figures with equal point-angles the bees could distinguish better among those with different areas and overall-contourlength than among those with equal leglength (Fig. 9).3.Disks of different diameters are well discriminated (Figs. 10, 11).4.When black figures on a light background were displayed after a sudden reduction of illumination the bees chose figures which were smaller in area than the target figure (Fig. 10). However, when light coloured figures on a black background were displayed, the chosen figures were larger in area than the target figure (Fig. 11).5.A discrimination of pure compactness by a system of lateral inhibition (Reichardt and MacGinitie, 1962) is improbable for bees.Zusammenfassungl.Die Unterscheidungsfähigkeit der Biene für Sternfiguren blieb unbeeinflußt durch Veränderung der Untergrundhelligkeit um den Faktor 10 (Abb. 5 und 6) sowie durch den Wechsel des Kontrastvorzeichens (Abb. 7 und 8).2.Aus einer Serie von Sternen gleicher Spitzenwinkel verwechselten die Bienen am stärksten nicht diejenigen mit gleicher Flächengröße oder Konturenlänge, sondern diejenigen mit gleicher Schenkellänge (Abb. 9).3.Die Biene kann Kreisscheiben verschiedener absoluter Größe unterscheiden (Abb. 10 und 11).4.Nach sprunghafter Verminderung der Helligkeit flogen die Bienen anstelle der schwarzen Dressurfignren zunächst bevorzugt kleinere Kreisscheiben an (Abb. 10). Wurden helle Figuren auf schwarzem Grund geboten, so flogen die Bienen nach einer Helligkeitsverminderung zunächst bevorzugt auf größere Kreisscheiben (Abb. 11).5.Eine reine Kompaktheitsauswertung durch ein System lateraler Inhibition (Reichardt und McGinitie, 1962) ist für die visuelle Formenuntersoheidung der Biene unwahrscheinlich.

Limits to Privatization

Note: report to the Club of Rome Reference MIR-BOOK-2005-002 Record created on 2005-10-12, modified on 2017-09-01

Information, Evolution, and ‘Error-Friendliness’

Abstract. Information can be conceived as being composed of two complementary components: novelty and confirmation. Whenever either of the two is zero, information is zero. Genetic information too requires both novelty and confirmation. Evolution can be seen as the history of diversification. Selection alone reduces diversity. Recessivity appears to serve as a mechanism to protect diversity against selection. So does the geographical and behavioural “separation” of species. Both recessivity and separation can be seen as “error-friendly”, a broader concept that is supportive of diversity, learning and further evolution. The principle should also be obeyed in technological systems.Information can be conceived as being composed of two complementary components: novelty and confirmation. Whenever either of the two is zero, information is zero. Genetic information too requires both novelty and confirmation. Evolution can be seen as the history of diversification. Selection alone reduces diversity. Recessivity appears to serve as a mechanism to protect diversity against selection. So does the geographical and behavioural “separation” of species. Both recessivity and separation can be seen as “error-friendly”, a broader concept that is supportive of diversity, learning and further evolution. The principle should also be obeyed in technological systems.

New frontiers in technology application : integration of emerging and traditional technologies

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Contagious Knowledge: Contagion as a Quality Criterion for Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Science

One of the most intriguing statements about quality in the sciences is attributed to Max Delbruck: “When you are fifty and you still understand your pupils—then you don’t have good pupils.” Let us assume that this was not a melancholic gerontological statement—since Delbuck remained highly successful in his later years, even after he had won the Nobel Prize! Then his statement either confirms the ubiquitous complaint about overspecialization in the sciences, or it does indeed convey a message about the nature of scientific quality.