1

Chemistry / Re: How could I create a small steam explosion?

« on: 30/06/2013 09:10:24 »

One could create a small steam explosion by simply superheating very pure water in an open container inside a microwave and dropping in an object such as a sugar cube.  The sugar cube causes the liquid water that is at a much higher temperature than the boiling point to flash vaporize.  Few strings attached, though:
1. Sure you will be able to hold it in your hand, but you will, also, be able to acquire (at least) second degree burns on your hand fairly quickly from that scalding hot container.  []
2. This would give new meaning to steam bath.
3. The medical bills to repair you scalded body after taking a "steam bath" and having superheated water splashed on you may just enable your doctor to put his children through college.  []

Here's a video of the Mythbusters actually performing the experiment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_OXM4mr_i0

2

Chemistry / Re: Can a substance absorb sweat from one place and release it elsewhere?

« on: 30/06/2013 08:35:25 »

I have devised a device in response to your question that could perform your requested task:

A device consisting of a rubber hose filled with sodium polyacrylate should work-simply "seal" both ends of the hose with a material such that from a microparticle air filter or a respirator mask to prevent the sodium polyacrylate from spilling.  To use it, simply make one end come in contact with where you are trying to draw sweat from and place the other end where you are trying to deliver it. 

It would work because as one sweats, the sweat would diffuse from you, across the permeable seal, and into the absorbent sodium polyacrylate (s.p. from here on).  As the s.p. began to absorb the sweat, the sweat would, in turn, begin to diffuse across all the s.p. in the not-so-permeable rubber hose.  Once the sweat had begun to reach the other end, it would evaporate, or diffuse to an area of lower concentration.  Another method of transfer, provided the s.p. was fairly saturated with sweat at the end, would be that it simply dripped or ran out.

3

Chemistry / Re: what can i do with a few small solar panels?

« on: 30/06/2013 08:02:28 »

On a side note, I think that it would be easier to answer the question, "What can't I do with a few small solar panels?" []

4

Chemistry / Re: what can i do with a few small solar panels?

« on: 30/06/2013 08:00:27 »

Make a remote controlled vehicle that doesn't need to be recharged much?

5

Just Chat! / Re: Irony

« on: 15/03/2013 16:56:42 »

I'm sorry to hear that, Damocles.

6

Just Chat! / Re: Where can I go to get a good impression of what people want?

« on: 15/03/2013 12:13:03 »

I agree with Don_1-I would think you have found the perfect forum website for you.

7

General Science / Re: Could nitrogen be used to fight fires?

« on: 14/03/2013 20:15:59 »

Ah, but there is an even greater danger in computer rooms than open vats of death...cords!!! (cue scary music)  Sure to wrap around your ankles like an anaconda and send you hurtling to the ground face first, no matter what you are carrying or how careful you are.  That, I would have to say is the real danger! []

8

Complementary Medicine / Re: COLD SORES? happen in 30 mIN?

« on: 14/03/2013 20:01:07 »

That's an ulcer, not a cold sore.

More specifically, it is commonly called a canker sore. It is caused when bacteria in your mouth gets in a cut that has formed-quite painful actually.

9

Geek Speak / Re: why does unread appear?

« on: 14/03/2013 19:50:08 »

Actually, and I know this because it does it to me, it happens for some reason if you press the back arrow to look at another topic.

10

Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / Re: What accounts for the colour of this Martian soil sample?

« on: 14/03/2013 19:35:10 »

It could be that the colors are different because many minerals are different colors depending on whether they are solid or in powder form-just like a streak test.

11

General Science / Re: Could nitrogen be used to fight fires?

« on: 14/03/2013 19:19:56 »

There would be one main problem with replacing sprinklers with nitrogen jets-even if the oxygen level in the room is above 15%, if you are standing under that jet, you will probably lose consciousness.  It happens even at normal oxygen levels.  There was a case where a guy was leaning over a vat of liquid nitrogen at factory.  For some reason, a cloud of nitrogen gas shot up out of the vat, he breathed it in, passed out, and fell into the vat. There should be no need for further elaboration.

12

General Science / Re: What can you mix with vinegar to create a home made cleaning paste?

« on: 14/03/2013 19:00:16 »

I, myself, was wondering whether or not you could do that.  I just wasn't sure if the flour would neutralize the acid. 

13

General Science / Re: Why do watches stop when some people wear them?

« on: 14/03/2013 16:57:52 »

Just sort of wanted to bring one back from the archives-it has not been posted in for almost 10 years!  It is a topic I have a little bit of information about, however.

My grandma supposedly used to do the same thing.  She could not wear a watch that used batteries.  The only type of watches she could wear were the types that wind up.  I think that it may have something to do with the electrical pulses in some people's bodies, but I'm not sure.

14

General Science / Re: What can you mix with vinegar to create a home made cleaning paste?

« on: 14/03/2013 16:28:10 »

I am just kind of throwing out ideas as I am writing this, but:
-I was curious so I checked about mixing vinegar with gelatin powder.  It said that it would not set because of the acid, but I think that if you used a lot of powder in proportion to the vinegar, you could make a paste-like substance.  (They actually make "balsamic vinegar jellies" for salads, etc. by doing that and adding substances such as sweet cooking wine to make it set.)  However, now you could run into problems such stains, etc.
-Maybe mix the vinegar with polyacrylic acid in powder form to create a paste or gel.  Someone please tell me if you think that this will work or not.

15

Chemistry / Re: Why do only my clean, dry bath towels get hot when I dry off with them?

« on: 13/03/2013 19:49:19 »

It could be that the fabric softener affects the pile on the towel, making it stand up more.  This would hold more heat in the towel.  Also, you could buy an infrared thermometer to test the temperature-just point it at the towel to get a reading.

16

General Science / Re: cool the earth by pumping air from the sky

« on: 13/03/2013 17:25:34 »

If you pumped air from a desert to a colder place, I'm assuming by some type of pipeline, the air would cool down as it got nearer to its destination.  This is due to the fact that hot air in cooler surroundings would try to reach equilibrium, and, in the time it would take the air to travel, it would probably cool down.

17

General Science / Re: Do two flu shots increase the immunity?

« on: 13/03/2013 17:14:33 »

With a weakened strain vaccination, people often slightly feel the effects of the flu while their body fights off the weakened virus.  By that same logic, I think that if you received multiple weakened vaccines, you could feel the effects longer, or they would be slightly worse. 

18

General Science / Re: Is there an antonym for the term geodesic?

« on: 12/03/2013 18:37:13 »

Anti-geodesic?  I know, way to be uncreative.  []

19

Marine Science / Re: Can we talk to Dolphins?

« on: 12/03/2013 18:16:57 »

Well, we did teach a gorilla (some) sign language.

20

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Re: Does plants grow where there's Nitrogen?

« on: 05/03/2013 14:24:04 »

Plants rely quite a bit on bacteria and other organisms that will break things down in the soil around their roots into a form of nitrogen they can absorb and use.