Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli
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Free thinker, traveler and humanist <3
Stories (110)
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Balancing Infinite Growth and Planetary Limit
Imagine discovering a magical gold coin that doubles in value every 25 years. In 75 years, you'd only have eight coins. However, fast forward 1,000 years, and you'd possess over a trillion coins. Astonishingly, in a mere 4,600 years, the weight of these gold coins would surpass that of the observable universe. This phenomenon exemplifies exponential growth. While a real-life golden goose-coin remains elusive, something nearly as significant has been steadily growing over the past two centuries—the global economy.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Trader
Phillis Wheatley
In late 1775, General George Washington, recently appointed, received a poem that hailed the burgeoning revolution in colonial America. What made this tribute remarkable was that it was penned not by an aloof, aristocratic admirer but by a young Black woman who had endured over a decade of enslavement. This gifted poet, known as Phillis Wheatley, had arrived on a slave ship in 1761 and was purchased by Susanna and John Wheatley of Boston. However, in a remarkable twist, they not only enslaved her but also taught her to read and write.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Poets
The Enigma of Boltzmann Brains
Have I truly lived my life, or am I merely a newly formed brain with artificial memories, momentarily conjuring a non-existent reality? The notion may appear absurd, but it has troubled generations of cosmologists, leading to what is known as the Boltzmann brain paradox. Ludwig Boltzmann, a renowned physicist of the 19th century, contributed significantly to the field of thermodynamics, which studies energy. In contemplating the concept of entropy, a measure of system disorder, Boltzmann revolutionized the understanding of how closed systems tend towards disorder.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Geeks
Agatha Christie's Ingenious Secrets
In the realm of literature, Agatha Christie reigns supreme as the best-selling novelist of all time. However, in 1916, she was not the most promising writer in her own family. Her older sister, Madge, had already penned several short stories while Agatha had yet to publish any of her own. When Agatha expressed her desire to write a mystery novel, Madge scoffed and wagered that Agatha wouldn't be able to create a compelling mystery—one that she herself couldn't solve. Today, the novel born from that bet stands tall among nearly 100 other mysteries crafted by Christie, each one a brilliantly constructed puzzle box of clues, misdirection, and human drama. Let us delve into the methods she employed to fashion these perfect crimes.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Art
The Conehead Termites
In the Panamanian air, swarms of tens of thousands of conehead termites embark on a courageous mission. Among them, four young termites stand out, determined to participate in the only flight of their lifetime. But as nature would have it, only three of them manage to take flight, leaving the other hopeful behind. Undeterred, the lone termite faces countless threats as she braves the predators, lands safely, sheds her wings, secretes pheromones, and attracts a mate. Together, they seek refuge in a rotting tree stump, the perfect first home. However, they are not alone.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Earth
The Lost Wallet Test
Picture this: you're working a slow shift in a hotel lobby when someone hurriedly approaches the front desk. They found a lost wallet around the corner but are in a rush and don't have time to follow up. They ask if you can handle it and then run off. As you inspect the wallet, you find a key, a grocery list, about $13, and three business cards with a name and email that likely belong to the owner. Now, what would you do in this situation?
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Humans
Four Key Factors
In the vast landscape of the internet, you've likely encountered two distinct types of businesses marketing their services with fervor. On one side, there are the notorious "make ten thousand dollars a month in 30 days" scams promising unrealistic wealth in record time. On the other side, reputable institutions like Harvard offer education, promising growth and success without extravagant claims. Despite both sides selling education, they are worlds apart in legitimacy, and the key differentiators boil down to four crucial factors.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Geeks
The Ring of Gyges
In the realm of this tale, there are no hobbits, dwarves, or Valkyries to be found. Long before these characters graced the pages of literature, the legend of the Ring of Gyges emerged over 2,000 years ago in Plato's "Republic." The story unfolds as the philosopher Socrates and his student Glaucon engage in a discourse about the nature of justice.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in History
The Science of Daydreaming
On a daily basis, we spend a significant portion of our waking hours lost in daydreams. While it may appear as idle distraction, scientists believe that there must be a purpose behind this phenomenon, or else it wouldn't have persisted throughout human evolution. To delve deeper into the workings of daydreaming, let's focus on its chief protagonist: the bored teenager.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Humans
The Power of Cooperation
In the bustling borough of Brooklyn, New York, a remarkable grocery store thrives, standing out among its competitors. Aptly named the Park Slope Food Co-op, this unique establishment boasts sales per square foot that are four times higher than any other grocery store in the area. What's even more intriguing is that this co-op, which employs a staggering 10,000 people, operates without the presence of a traditional CEO. Park Slope Food Co-op is just one of three million cooperatives, or co-ops, spread across the globe, making a significant impact on the global economy.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Humans
Navigating Fad Diets
Within the elite echelons of Victorian England, peculiar trends proliferated, but none perhaps as peculiar as the tapeworm diet. This unfathomable practice involved individuals ingesting unhatched tapeworms, allowing them to grow inside by consuming undigested meals. Needless to say, this extreme and perilous method of weight management posed severe health risks. Although modern fad diets rarely reach such extremes, they often promise similar rapid weight loss results.
By Henrik Leandro Laukholm Solli3 years ago in Lifehack
