1

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

« on: 01/10/2012 00:26:25 »

Could it be that these three flavors actually are one particle with fluctuating interaction in the Higgs field? That is to say, the Higgs can't "decide" what wieght to give the neutrino?

2

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?

3

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Could graphene oxide act as a liquid water filter?

« on: 21/07/2012 19:38:37 »

I may be completely wrong in this, but I think that graphene absorbs H2O
http://www.springerimages.com/Images/RSS/1-10.1186_1556-276X-6-214-0

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

« on: 21/07/2012 19:34:08 »

Wolfekeeper, thank you for that answer. I understood very well your anthropomorphous explanation. In a related question, is "mutation" not the same as a "transcription error?"

Please forgive my long absence from these forums.

5

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

« on: 21/07/2012 19:29:05 »

Sorry to revive this after so long, I've been away for a while.

So, in Mercury's case, we aren't certain if there is a clear division between silicates and ferrous material, right? I mean, it could be somewhat graduated. This leaves me with a new concept of "core."

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

« on: 21/07/2012 19:26:02 »

Sadly, I live in the States -- take that as you will -- and cannot chain myself to this particular equipment. As I only discovered this archaeological emergency on the 18th I didn't think there was a lot I could do from over here. The information provided has been helpful. Hopefully, news of this will be disseminated throughout the UK.

It was scheduled to end on the 20th, but they have allowed 4 archaeologists to continue working through the weekend. I believe destruction begins on Monday.

Two more brief links:
http://fermanaghherald.com/2012/07/19/concern-for-cherrymount-site/
http://fermanaghherald.com/2012/07/20/two-day-extension-for-cherrymount-site/

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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.

8

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?

11

Marine Science / What is the census of marine life?

« on: 29/06/2011 12:26:46 »

@yor_on

Sorry for my previous lack of clarity. What I was implying is that survey gave me the hopeful realization that even after all of the destruction and harm we cause to the world life will once again tenaciously fill any holes we have left. Sure the species will be different, but life is more resilient than we often believe and the web of life will continue.

We might not.

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

« on: 29/06/2011 12:13:44 »

I see, I wasn't aware of that last bit. I thought that a tendency towards certain cancers was inheritable.

Thanks!

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Question of the Week / QotW - 11.06.26 - Why have one heart but two kidneys?

« on: 29/06/2011 11:57:17 »

Hey all.
Great answers on the show! It was nice to hear the answer from two different viewpoits. But, I was surprised that no one mentioned vestigial body parts.

For example, whales, being mammals, have vestigial legs within their body. It seems that it is much easier to evolve something new, or to evolve a new use dor something old, than it is to remove something through natural selection.

Another great example is the human brain. When our primate ancestors moved from relying on their noses to relying  on their eyes their brains grew in size to afford greater optical processing rather than just losing the parts of the brain that were specialized for olfactory processing. In fact, the entire history of big leaps in our brains has been one lump growing atop another. Perhaps this is why we supposedly only "use 10% of our brain."

14

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 / Life is such a weird idea, is bacteria even weirder ?

« on: 25/05/2011 13:48:43 »

It's easier just to think of eukariotic organisms as a groups of bacteria. Many of our functions ad a "whole" are comparable to bacterial societies.

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Radio Show & Podcast Feedback / What about

« on: 17/01/2011 01:51:13 »

How about "Information Gang Bang?" Or, if that's too questionable, what about "The Blow by Blow?"

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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?

19

Just Chat! / Pick a number

« on: 18/10/2010 06:55:58 »

I've heard that too, but about 1 - 50. It's because it's a not-too-small, prime number. Who knows why, but people often associate prime with random.

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Just Chat! / Pick a number

« on: 18/10/2010 06:49:18 »

9.3