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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Is this a case of gravitational lensing?

« on: 01/10/2012 00:07:19 »

Hello all!

I was fiddling around in Stellarium today and found this image near the constillation Orion. In case you can't read the coordinates, its center is near 5h 52m 45s, -6° 15'.

So, what explains this ring of stars? Is this a case of gravitational lensing?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Could dark energy account for baryon asymmetry?

« on: 21/07/2012 19:08:29 »

If baryons are attracted to one another, then wouldn't antibaryons be repelled from each other. Assuming that these particles are in clumps, the baryon-antibaryon interface could be the source of all this new space, i.e. dark energy, right?

Forgive my weak understanding of the subject matter. I'm willing to listen to the arguments, as long as there isn't too much math involved.

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / What is Higgs role in neutrino oscillation?

« on: 21/07/2012 18:57:08 »

I recently read an article from last year stating that Fermilab had experimental confirmation that muon neutrinos freely convert into tau and electron neutrinos. What is the mechanism that allows this? What is the cause of said conversion? And what is the role of Higgs boson/field in this activity?

Perhaps I've misunderstood the whole thing. Either way, let me know.

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Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / What are the UK/EU rules for the preservation of sites?

« on: 19/07/2012 23:41:44 »

SMR site FER 211:061 is about to be demolished for the construction of a new road. This site has already surrendered "a gold pin, a human skeleton, medieval leather objects, medieval woven cloth, a wooden plate, and barbed and tanged arrowheads, amongst other finds. Most importantly, it has produced the remains of a double-walled wattle house. This type of house has only previously been found on excavations Wood Quay, Co. Dublin, and Deer Park Farms, Co. Antrim."

Excavation is set to end on July 22. The worker responsible for getting this news and photos out to the press has been fired for trying to lengthen the excavation process.

More information here: http://rmchapple.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/urgent-important-early-christian.html
and at 52 minutes into the July 19th episode of Good Morning Ulster, here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01kwxgh

In the US, I believe that the discovery of human remains will immediately halt any construction plans.

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How does one differentiate the core of a solid planet(oid)?

« on: 11/10/2011 09:56:03 »

So, I was just listening to the lastest podcast and someone mentioned that Mercury's core is roughly 1/3 of the planet. But, if there is no tectonic activity, how can this claim be made. Also, currently what reason is there to bother differentiating between a solid planet's core and the rest of it?

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Physiology & Medicine / Parasites or symbiotes?

« on: 25/05/2011 14:09:29 »

If we benefit from those parasites, shouldn't they be called symbiotes? This podcast reminded me of the guy who ate worm eggs to cure his irritable bowel syndrome.

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Physiology & Medicine / allergies and life space

« on: 25/05/2011 14:00:31 »

I grew up in the midwest of the States and then lived 4 years of my adult life in the pacific northwest. In all that time I've been in rural and big city environments and have never experienced allergies of any kind. When I moved to rural Japan I suddenly had seasonal allergies.

My wife was the opposite. She has lived all over the US, always had them there, and hasn't had any allergies in Japan.

Last year we moved to a metropolitan area of Japan, and we are both fine.

My heritage is English, German, Swedish, and Native American. Hers is Western European, perhaps with some Eastern European.

What explains our situation?

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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Could cancer be an evolutionary benefit?

« on: 11/11/2010 13:33:55 »

Evolution includes mutation. This is usually disadvantageous, but occasionally it allows some adaptation.

In a recent podcast it was said that some cancers act like an organ and set up "nests" for themselves. Certainly they are showing the same stubborn tenacity to survive that other forms of life show.

So, in trying to eradicate this parasitic lifeform couldn't we forever lose an evolutionary benefit? Or is the argument that evolution is no longer worth the sacrifice?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / What is spin?

« on: 12/10/2010 07:51:53 »

In layman's terms, can you describe spin? I know that particles with integer spin are bosons and those with half integer spin are fermions, but why? And why only integer and half integer?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Rather than space-time, is the Universe made of light?

« on: 08/10/2010 11:54:16 »

We -- well I, rather, -- think of the Universe as being made up of space and time and matter and energy exist within that. I suppose it conveys the following sort of image: space-time is the tablecloth and matter & energy are the hot bowl of soup upon it.

Now, because of relativity (which one of the two theories of relativity I haven't the slightest) we tend to see space-time bending in order for light to continue ahead, full speed. Wouldn't a better way of looking at it be: the Universe is made of light and matter & energy experience light via space-time?

Feel free to hurl insults, as long as they are at least illuminating.  []

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Is spacial expansion really accelerating?

« on: 07/10/2010 14:55:42 »

Please correct the error in my thinking. If there is more redshift as we look through space, and we are looking farther into the past at the same time, doesn't that mean that the past space was moving more quickly than the current?

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Marine Science / What is the census of marine life?

« on: 05/10/2010 14:32:08 »

I just thought everyone should know about the recently finished first census of marine life.

Personally I think the abundant life in the seas will fill any niches left open by man's careless disregard for the planet. We humans, on the other-hand, should be so fortunate.

[MOD EDIT - PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR THREAD TITLES ARE FORMATTED AS QUESTIONS, IN LINE WITH THE FORUM POLICY. THANKS.]

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Does anti-matter produce anti-gravity?

« on: 05/10/2010 06:21:57 »

I have two questions about anti-matter:

1) When matter (or particles) comes into contact with antimatter (or antiparticles), both are destroyed. Where does that energy go?

2) Why isn't it accepted that antimatter produces anti-gravity?

I came across these questions when pondering dark energy and the (apparent) matter-antimatter disparity. I think you can follow my reasoning.

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Could life exist around a brown dwarf?

« on: 05/10/2010 04:36:53 »

Can brown dwarfs support life?
Why aren't we looking harder for them?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / What is(n't) life?

« on: 05/10/2010 04:35:21 »

Can anyone define life in such a way that excludes crystals?

If not, why aren't crystals considered living things?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / New Habitable Planet Found?

« on: 05/10/2010 04:31:46 »

Have you read about Gliese 581 g? Apparently it is within the habitable zone of a red dwarf. Despite intense temperatures caused by probable tidal locking, there are circumstances in which life could come about on this planet. This is especially true if water is present, and given the seeming ubiquity of water it's not unlikely.

My question is, given tidal locking, wouldn't the lack of a magnetic field (or even the existence of a too-weak magnetic field) combined with red dwarfs' propensity for intense flaring quickly destroy any life that gained footing?

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Can you slow down light?

« on: 14/09/2010 15:14:04 »

Or to rephrase, do we know if light can be slowed down (without interacting with matter)? And if so, is it still visible? Does it become matter? How about dark matter?

Obviously my understanding is limited to the "Huh?" [] side of math.