1281

Chemistry / Which chemical dissolves the color on magazine pages?

« on: 16/12/2009 19:09:49 »

Do  a colour photocopy with a laser printer and transfer the image by using a hot dry iron to melt the toner onto the receptor surface. Use a overhead transparency film for better results, or for the best use a t shirt transfer sheet that you soak in water to release, it has a soluble film on one side that releases the toner.

If you use inkjet printers then a misting with water or methanol/ethanol will transfer well, albeit with some image bleed. Try the steam iron in this case.

The big issue with current magazine inks is that they are now almost all rubber/water based, and are heat/UV cured during the print process to stop the ink from transferring to your hands during handling. This makes then pretty much insensitive to solvents, as they have changed chemically due to the heat or UV curing.

1282

Question of the Week / QotW - 09.12.13 - What would happen if you Tasered an elephant?

« on: 11/12/2009 19:06:56 »

I know of a Rhino that accidentally walked though an electric fence ( not the common cattle kind, but one designed to kill you, not just warn) and was none the worse for it, aside from a very much worsened mood from the shock. He was herded out and made another similar sized hole on the way out.

The elephants learned how to handle the fencing, they dropped two trees across a section to flatten it and walked across the flat wire. When the trees were cleared from near the fence they simply brought them in from the scrubland to flatten it. They were attracted by the green vegetation and lush grass inside.

Elephants have thick skin, but it is very sensitive, especially the feet and trunk. Tasering an elephant is likely the second last thing that you will ever do, as the very annoyed elephant will almost invariably catch you and trample you into a bloody smear on the ground in short order.

1283

Technology / What objects should you not put in the microwave?

« on: 11/12/2009 18:21:13 »

There is one light source intended for use in a microwave - the sulfur lamp. It is powered by a slightly modified microwave oven ( mostly extra cooling as it will run essentially 24 hours a day in most cases) and is one light source where the lamp will almost invariably outlast the power source ( along with induction lamps). It heats the small amount of solid sulfur sealed inside a glass sphere until it ionises and emits a brilliant white light. Used in the Smithsonian museum to light the main hall via a light pipe to distribute the light evenly.

Generally microwave only food if you intend to use the oven again to ever heat edibles, as it is near impossible to ensure that any harmful vapour or particles emitted by doing other experiments are removed from the interior and the cooling path.

1284

Chemistry / What happens if you chew explosive material?

« on: 11/12/2009 18:20:29 »

Explosives range in sensitivity, from stuff that literally will explode if exposed to light, to explosives that will not detonate even if hit with a hammer. Most commercial explosives fall in the latter category, and many are very safe to handle until they are fused. The fuses are generally a much more sensitive item, using rather noxious chemicals that are sensitive to shock, temperature, moisture, chemicals and pressure. This is needed to get them to initiate the main explosive they are inserted into.

From the little I read, this chemist made some relatively sensitive explosive, and the combination of this, and probably the silver mercury amalgam in his fillings combined with the jaw pressure, caused it to detonate. Not a good day for him at all.

In the world there are still daily discoveries of old war era ordinance, most giving concern due to the age of the triggers making them very sensitive to disturbance, the main charge still being dangerously effective after all this time, especially as you do not know why it initially failed to detonate.

1285

Physiology & Medicine / I am curious as to recovery times for the following surgeries...?

« on: 09/12/2009 18:44:25 »

Don't know about the plastic and possibly pig heart parts, but a friend of mine had a hip replacement 5 years ago, and is a lot more mobile now ( we have to nail him down to keep him from roofing and climbing ladders too often), although he still has occasional pain. He was able to walk after around 6 weeks with limited mobility, a big change after months of pain, and an allergy to codiene and paracetemol ( ulcer meant no other painkillers either) that made life a misery for him.

Big limiter will be the lifelong drug regime you will now have, to handle the possibility of rejection of the heart valves, although this will be a lot less burden than the misery of continued dull pain and other problems. The mobility and the freedom of needing help for anything will more than compensate, think of little things the new you will be self sufficient for, like fetching the paper, or walking to the gate without issues.

1286

Just Chat! / Why is it that plastic clothes pegs bust after 3 months?

« on: 28/11/2009 13:46:57 »

I have some that are years old, they are kept in a bag indoors when not in use. Cheap plastics do degrade when exposed to UV in sunlight, as do the wooden pegs. The older wooden pegs have thicker bodies and stiffer springs, they last the best, some are probably 20 plus years old.

1287

Technology / What's the best way to connect a car audio system to mains power?

« on: 27/11/2009 19:11:09 »

The charger ripple will not be audible at all, the electrical system in a car is very noisy, with a ripple from the alternator ( or generator on older vehicles) that varies in amplitude and frequency with engine speed, voltage pulses caused by the coil/s in the ignition system, noise from motors like windows, fan and such. A battery in good condition filters out most of this, and all in car audio is designed to survive this noise. A 5A charger will probably not be able to keep the battery going flat if you turn up the volume on a biggish audio system, a 10 to 20A one will be a better bet.

A better idea is to use a second battery to power the audio system only, and have a split charger connected to the alternator to charge both systems when the engine runs. This enables you to still start the car if the battery for the audio is flat. The split charg conversion is often done for the owners of caravans and for off roaders with big power winches. You can get it ( in the UK at least) from Maplin, and supply your own second 12V car battery of appropriate capacity.

1288

Radio Show & Podcast Feedback / Bug reports now your server is fixed

« on: 27/11/2009 18:58:27 »

Thanks Dave, working well.

Sean

1289

Technology / How big an EMP blast would i need to take out a speeding camera?

« on: 24/11/2009 19:59:25 »

I have seen plenty that have been modified by the application of the infamous "Soweto Chequebook" method of feature enhancement.

Steel boxes make a pretty good EMP proof enclosure, though there was a idea footed a few years ago about using a very high power slave flashgun to overexpose the film in the camera, though this seems to be no longer in use as the cameras became digital.

Most speeders I see ( those that do low level flying as opposed to driving) seem to have lost number plates due to friction or something like that, and Metro seems to be oblivious to them as far as I see, as they just drive past them always.

1290

Question of the Week / QotW - 09.11.22 - Why are wines served at different temperatures?

« on: 22/11/2009 15:13:05 »

Most of the time I serve wine very hot, as I cook with it occasionally, and do not drink!

1291

Cells, Microbes & Viruses / H1N1 got evolved to resist tami flu ?

« on: 22/11/2009 15:10:44 »

Tamiflu is AFAIK a rather old product, and it is very likely that many flu variants have developed immunity to it, mostly from over prescription and poor patient compliance.

Here in SA we have TB as a major health problem, and a rising number of cases are resistant to the initial drug regime, and only respond poorly to higher cost drugs. Some cases are almost totally resistant to all drugs. This was bred because people will not continue the course of treatment for the full 6 months, and either stop taking the drugs when they feel well, can't afford the taxi fare to get the drugs ( and the 2 day wait at our infamous public health care facilities for such), get the wrong meds ( paracetemol instead of anything, because that is all there is in the hospital) or the hospital has no stocks.

From what I see, this flu kills very few people, and is very easily confused with seasonal flu. Those that die from it are also those most likely to die from "normal" flu - the very sick, the elderly or infirm and those with other disease that the flu overwhelms. The only others are those who did not do adequate rest with the flu, which is also dangerous. Your results may be different, but this flu here is seen as merely a risk, not a deadly danger as portrayed by the scare media. There are a lot of things more dangerous.

1292

Radio Show & Podcast Feedback / Bug reports now your server is fixed

« on: 22/11/2009 14:54:07 »

Any time I click on the link for the latest podcasts all I get is the following error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '<' in /home/vhost/typo.nakeddiscovery.com/html/HTML/podcasts/latest/index.phtml on line 26

Kindo of annoying to have to click and spawn all the other links to see what is actually new downloadable podcasts. I know you like us listening live, but sometimes it is a little difficult, although the live programs are very interesting in how they develop with listener feedback.

1293

Technology / Re: NEED HELP WITH PRINTER PROBLEMS-RESULT OF VIRUS? PLEASE HELP

« on: 16/11/2009 19:29:32 »

Try the printer self tests - generally holding a defined set of keys and turning printer power on. This prints out a test page direct from the printer, without the PC being involved. This will exonerate the printer. If this works, then you need to download the latest version of the printer drivers from the manufacturers website. As to the malware, best is to back up all data and format drive and reinstall XP from a disk, either the Microsoft disk or the restore disk that came with the PC. Nothing else works, just a pain and time waste. First thing after installing is to run Windows update and install all updates ( may take a few hours and a few reboots, install Firefox and Windows live essentials as well, comes with a free AV from MS, that is not too annoying) before doing anything else. Then restore your data and install latest printer drivers. Get a USB hub to connect both printers at same time if you don't have spare USB ports.

This will take time, and is a pain, but no malware scanner running on the PC can be trusted to tell the truth at all about infection, too easy to give a false OK, as the malware authors write code to hide itself well.

1294

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / How can I make myself repulsive to mosquitos

« on: 25/08/2009 19:42:08 »

As one who is also a mozzie magnet, I find a citronella candle is good in a closed room, but the best is a vapouriser with a pyrethroid. Sorry about the ashtma, but I sleep better without mozzies ( and as there is a definite probability of malaria here) so I would prefer the breath problems to the living infestation.

1295

Radio Show & Podcast Feedback / Re: Discuss: Peeing on an electric fence

« on: 06/08/2009 18:53:58 »

An electric fence supplies pulses separated in time, unless it is a "lethal force" military fence. This just will shock you severely. If you happen to make contact with a source of continuous potential ( either DC or AC), you are unable to stop urinating until the bladder is totally empty, provided that there is a continuous stream connecting you to the source, without the stream breaking up into droplets.

Either way is not recommended due to the muscular spasm associated with the shock, and you will definitely never do it again, as the learning will be burned in to your brain pathways very strongly.

1296

General Science / Why Does The Microwave Heat Up My Dry T-Shirt ?

« on: 18/07/2009 16:18:01 »

Microwaves heat up anything that has molecules that are polar, ie, where the charge distribution is uneven on the molecule. Water is the most common, but many things are able to be heated in a microwave. Easiest that comes to mind in the winter is the overpriced bags of reject Chinese wheat that are sold as warmers, to be used instead of a hot water bottle. They are microwaved for a few minutes until they are hot. These contain no water, especially after being warmed up. You also find ceramic ware that heats up, while others are unaffected. Heating depends on the molecules getting energy added, either from contact with a hotter object, or via being moved by a high power RF energy field. Thus remember that microwaves heat not only water, but almost any thing that is placed inside them, it is just that most of the time the water is a major component of the goods added.

Just remember that they can cause things to catch on fire if heated too long. My sister needed a new microwave after she did this one day, as she would dry dishcloths in the microwave and one day the time was around a minute too much...............

As to the label saying do not microwave, I would point out that a "Reasonable Person" would have read the instruction manual for the microwave, where it says that it is to be used for food only.........

1297

Technology / How to treat computer li-ion batteries

« on: 12/07/2009 18:07:26 »

Most modern laptop battery chargers keep the battery conditioned very well, but the battery is constantly exposed to high temperatures inside the laptop. This shortens the battery life, as the design life is measured and tested on the pre production samples and QC samples whilst they are maintained at 25 degrees C in the test area. Lithium batteries are best when not deeply discharged, and kept cool and near full charge with short discharge cycles.

The high temperature inside the laptop is what leads to accelerated wear on the cells, and can lead to the extreme of the flaming battery death, although this is often caused by improper charging, either via a pirate or faulty charger, or by using an improperly designed battery pack or a poorly manufactured battery.

Many laptops can operate without the battery pack, although some will throttle back to a low power mode ( Macbooks especially) when the battery is not present. You do lose the important advantage of having a built in UPS doing so, but it can be sone.

1298

Complementary Medicine / Hoodia diet pills do they work?

« on: 12/07/2009 17:50:49 »

Most of the Hoodia pills are more filler and such than the actual fruit. As such they are not terribly effective. If you can get the freeze dried Hoodia fruit that is hard to fake, as it is an actual slice of fruit that is freeze dried and packed. It is a somewhat spiky slice with a green rind and a pulp inside containing seeds.

I do know a guy who makes this, but am not advertising him ( sorry) as the forum requests this. He also grinds the cosmetic reject dried Hoodia and packs it into a capsule, and he gave me some free samples to try. Tried them on and off, but cannot say about efficacy. I do know this is available in the USA, probably best to look online for it.

1299

Physiology & Medicine / My 3 year old Just swallowed this..should I panic ?

« on: 10/07/2009 19:34:27 »

If he only swallowed one there is no problem. If he swallowed a magnet as well then they could stick together inside his intestines and become stuck. Only swallowing one will not be a problem ,as the ball is mostly a very good grade of steel, with a chrome coating, and the small amount that will dissolve inside the stomach will be harmless. If the ball does not "drop out" after 24 hours the best would be to Xray and see where it is, and if there is something else there as well.

If he swallowed the magnet, there is a light inside, most probably a small incandescent lamp inside the plastic. The magnet is made from Samarium Cobalt alloy, which is somewhat soluble in stomach acid, but which is also likely not to be harmful unless your son makes a habit of swallowing them.

Best would be the old standby of a teaspoon of Castor Oil, which will serve 2 functions. It will purge out his bowels rapidly, and, more importantly, the bad taste will reinforce the warning not to swallow toys in the future.

Just don't panic, and remember that small toys and children often do not go together.