1

Just Chat! / Re: A question for our paragon of aeronautical erudition, Alancalverd

« on: 23/05/2023 21:10:41 »

I hope he has not fallen into a black hole, it would be a dreadful loss to the forum and also to the "boss". Seriously I hope all is ok with him.

2

Physiology & Medicine / Re: Why Are Satisfying Videos Satisfying ?

« on: 20/05/2023 12:31:58 »

Ewe might enjoy videos, I don't particularly do so, I (r)am more interested in a readable text on any given subject.

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Famous Scientists, Doctors and Inventors / Re: Are some scientists unique and only they could have made the discovery?

« on: 16/05/2023 10:12:59 »

I believe that luck plays an important part in major discoveries. One could apply a top notch researcher to a particular area of science( where no breakthrough is possible ) and waste their career down a cul de sac. A less accomplished researcher might pick an alternate topic and strike a goldmine.

4

Chemistry / Re: Does The pH of Milk Change When Heating?

« on: 15/05/2023 21:18:32 »

Milk is basically water, protein, lactose, minerals and lipids( colloidal ). I don't envisage any great ph change unless exposed to fierce heat but small changes could be expected mainly from protein degradation. PS Alancalverd, I know you were referring to BC and not me.

5

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Can Light Experience 'Time'

« on: 15/05/2023 21:04:00 »

I must say I was really impressed with ES and the "lateral" view of the question ie the red shift. Appealing to an engineering brain. Oh dear, I just crashed ES's latest post.

6

Physiology & Medicine / Re: What usually causes chemo to fail?

« on: 09/05/2023 20:19:45 »

Chemotherapy refers to the use of chemical substances to treat disease- under this definition taking an aspirin is a form of chemotherapy. I presume you are enquiring about cancer chemotherapy. The substances normally called "chemo"  such as nitrogen mustard, vinca alkaloids and anthracyclines are blunt weapons which cause widespread damage to most cells but most importantly have the greatest effect on rapidly dividing cells. Since most cancer cells divide very rapidly they suffer disproportionately. Because of the collateral damage these agents induce dosage limits may result in a failed elimination of the neoplasm. There are now numerous targeted therapies that reduce this collateral damage. 

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New Theories / Re: Photo of the subtle body, photo of the soul, astral body

« on: 07/05/2023 07:07:01 »

Zero, a soul may or may not exist. However the consensus among those who advocate it's existence is that it is a non material entity. Hence you will not detect it with visible, uv. gamma, or cosmic rays, a stream of neutrons, muons or anything one can think of. This is similar to these "ghostbusters" who use emf meters and such like to detect that which cannot be detected,-pathetic. Another bone of contention with me is the so called "Kirlian" photography which just detects the corona pattern around an object at high potential, more bogus pseudoscience.

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Talking about Physics

« on: 06/05/2023 11:42:59 »

WAG= wild ass guess, a term introduced on another thread by Kryptid, as far as I remember. I must apologise, yet again, for using acronyms that may not be understood.

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Question of the Week / Re: QotW - 23.05.05 - How fast does evolution happen?

« on: 06/05/2023 09:32:52 »

I believe pathogens have played a critical role in our evolution. Suppose, for example, aids had arrived on the scene 150years ago before the understanding of the cause such diseases and methods of control. Given man's sexual proclivities it would have spread throughout the population, eventually leading to massive casualties. The only survivors would be that small cohort that we know now are immune to hiv.

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Talking about Physics

« on: 05/05/2023 09:54:30 »

Hi ES. I worked for a short time in the video industry and all the lens assemblies we used had continually variable irises. Just for the record I read all your posts and those of Alancalverd, BC, Origin, Kryptid, Evan_au, Halc in the hope of improving my grasp of physics( i'm sure I left some contributors out!, didn't mean to ). Quick question concerning the nature of energy: work can definitely be described as a boundary phenomenon, can energy also be categorised as such? ( WAG question ).

11

New Theories / Re: A hypothesis: Time interval between a force and its reaction

« on: 01/05/2023 20:54:38 »

Hi ES, I read through that Feynman lecture and found it fascinating but hard going for my ageing brain. Many thanks.

12

Just Chat! / Re: Quantum puzzle

« on: 20/04/2023 11:54:31 »

Hi ES, this discussion is WAY over my head as merely being a nuts'n'bolts, matter of fact retired engineer. However as this is just "chat", I thought I would stick my head above the parapet  I feel there is a degree of incongruity in the question in that you are asking does a quantum phenomenon produce a macroscopic classical effect( pressure ). You yourself have alluded to a multiplicity of quantum "events" being necessary to produce a macro effect.  I now await a hail of spoiled fruit and rotten eggs etc, coming my direction!!

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New Theories / Re: Global worming theory

« on: 29/03/2023 09:26:20 »

Sorry Zero, I was being facetious, I actually have no interest in nematodes, cestodes, trematodes or any other 'odes. My warped sense of humour.

14

Technology / Re: Can you explain this demonstration of a capacitor?

« on: 24/03/2023 20:09:16 »

Thank you, ES. In question ( b ) the ammeter is registering a redistribution of charge between the variable cap and a fixed cap( the electroscpe ). Nothing new here, just my explanation of how i see it. In your final query the insertion of the dielectric leads to a lower stored energy so i imagine there is an attractive force when inserting the sheet and removing the sheet would require work, and hence reestablishment of the original 1/2CV².

15

Technology / Re: Can you explain this demonstration of a capacitor?

« on: 24/03/2023 12:35:19 »

Been out of the country for 8 days and missed this one-would have liked to reply but there is little point now as comprehensive answers have been supplied. If touching equipment or even hand proximity causes any change, one's experiment is ill-conceived.

16

Physiology & Medicine / Re: Why do some people not get hangovers?

« on: 07/03/2023 20:11:29 »

Two strategies to diminish hangover severity markedly, neither of which I recommend: ( 1 ) if one drinks to excess on a regular basis hangovers become very much reduced. How long this can be maintained I do not know and I suspect the ongoing biochemical insult will result in a reversal of said effect. ( 2 ) if taking an old style tricyclic antidepressant for about a month hangovers become almost non existent. Don't ask me why as I have no idea concerning these effects. I can testify that both strategies work, all as a consequence of a miss-spent youth. I have heard that drinking two pints of water prior to hitting the sack can help but I have never tried it. These days I hardly ever drink.

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That CAN'T be true! / Re: How can academia tolerate such error?

« on: 04/03/2023 10:59:12 »

ZerO, check out dr Dolores Cahill, one of our own academics who fell down the rabbit hole and has not been able to extricate herself yet. 

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That CAN'T be true! / Re: How can academia tolerate such error?

« on: 28/02/2023 12:37:57 »

Internal combustion engine=ice. I am sorry for any confusion, I should not be using abbreviations that may be misunderstood. PS, as explained to ZerO I haven't fully emerged from my annual hibernation phase.

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That CAN'T be true! / Re: How can academia tolerate such error?

« on: 27/02/2023 11:40:18 »

ZerO, apologies, I missed your reply( I have been in my hibernation phase ). As far as I know he is still active, ie not an emeritus prof.

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General Science / Re: Why Does Making A Sandwich Enable Ewe To Cut Anything?

« on: 02/02/2023 20:05:56 »

I assume that the meat content of that sandwich is thinly sliced mutton?