Futures of ELSA. Science & Society Series on Convergence Research

The Fourier series is a powerful mathematical tool for representing periodic signals as an infinite sum of complex exponentials. In practice, this infinite series is truncated to a finite number of terms, yielding a partial sum. This truncation makes the approximation of the signal feasible but introduces certain challenges, particularly near discontinuities, known as the Gibbs phenomenon.
The Gibbs phenomenon refers to the persistent oscillations and overshoots that occur near discontinuities...

A sequence is a function defined on the natural numbers that assigns a value to each index. It can be understood as an ordered list of terms generated one after another. In mathematical analysis, an important question is whether the terms of a sequence approach a single real number as the index becomes very large. When this happens, the sequence is said to converge, and the value approached is called the limit. From a graphical perspective, convergence means that the plotted terms approach a...

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.The structures that arise from convergent evolution are called analogous structures. They are similar in function even if they are dissimilar in structure. Further, structures can be analogous while also...

The z-transform is a powerful mathematical tool used in the analysis of discrete-time signals and systems. It is a crucial tool in the analysis of discrete-time systems, but its convergence is limited to specific values of the complex variable z. This range of values, known as the Region of Convergence (ROC), is fundamental in determining the behavior and stability of a system or signal. The ROC defines the region in the complex plane where the z-transform converges, which can take various...

A substance that reaches superconductivity, a state in which magnetic fields cannot penetrate, and there is no electrical resistance, is referred to as a superconductor. In 1911, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes of Leiden University, a Dutch physicist, observed a relation between the temperature and the resistance of the element mercury. The mercury sample was then cooled in liquid helium to study the linear dependence of resistance on temperature. It was observed that, as the temperature decreased, the...

Electrochemical systems provide a fascinating insight into the dynamic interplay of charged species within various phases. One notable example is the interaction between a membrane permeable to K⁺ ions but not to Cl⁻ ions, separating an aqueous KCl solution from pure water. As K⁺ ions diffuse through the membrane, they generate net charges on each phase, leading to a potential difference between them.Similarly, when a piece of Zn is immersed in an aqueous ZnSO₄ solution, the Zn metal, composed...