1

General Science / What is zero point energy?

« on: 05/11/2009 23:10:30 »

It's a bit useless practically though as the plates have to be very close as the force falls off as the 4th power of the separation distance.

Is it known why it falls off so sharply?

2

General Science / Can you really go over a rainbow?

« on: 05/11/2009 23:03:45 »

Allegedly you can never find the end of a rainbow, but can you fly over 1 & see it below you?

3

Physiology & Medicine / Why does having the squits hurt so much?

« on: 31/10/2009 21:40:40 »

glovesforfoxes - it could be; but it's such a sharp, intense pain. It's the same with trapped wind. The pain I had the other day was worse than the pain I get from my cancer & my painkillers didn't work on it at all.

4

General Science / What is zero point energy?

« on: 28/10/2009 14:01:16 »

Although featured in science fiction as a potential source of energy, it is not known how that such energy could ever be made use of. To make use of an energy source there needs to be a lower energy state than the source. By definition, there is not thought to be one in this case.

I assume that is because no matter how much of a vacuum you have there will always be the same amount of particle pair creation thereby evening out the energy states.

5

General Science / How are time zones calculated?

« on: 28/10/2009 13:44:33 »

No matter how long it takes to get there, the difference is 14 hours. Think about it - if you have 2 places in the same time zone & it takes 2 hours to drive from 1 to the other, there isn't suddenly a 2-hour time difference between them.

But here's a little something for you to think about. If 2 people set off on the same journey, 1 on foot, the other on a very fast motorcycle and they both follow exactly the same route, by the time they arrive 1 will have travelled further than the other due to relativistic effects. At mundane, Earthly speeds the difference is negligible but it's real. That means the Earth is a different size depending how fast you travel.

There's the adage about the world shrinking. Well, with transport getting faster & faster, it really is. I'm sure 1 of our resident physics whizzos can tell you all about this this but, in the meantime, have a look at http://www.fourmilab.ch/cship/lorentz.html where this phenomenon is explained in greater detail with some animations.

6

Physiology & Medicine / Why does having the squits hurt so much?

« on: 28/10/2009 12:48:55 »

Oooh how I hate having the squits. Interminable time sat on the bog hoping something will happen and then, when it eventually does, oh the relief.

But every time I get the squits I get a really vicious tummy ache, a very intense, sharp pain that doubles me up at times.

What is it about the squits that causes such a nasty tummy ache?

7

Physiology & Medicine / How do allergies arise?

« on: 19/10/2009 16:26:55 »

Thank you, Madidus. I was wondering mainly because of the difference in severity of some reactions.

8

Just Chat! / What caused this track mark across the cloud?

« on: 11/10/2009 20:34:14 »

Here is a link to a page on which is a clip of the recent Iranian missile test. It seems that something shoots across the sky and causes a rip in the cloud.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2670396.ece

I've seen it suggested that it's the shadow of the rocket, but I don't see how that can be the case. It certainly looks like a shadow but the cloud is above the rocket so any light source causing such a shadow would need to be on or near the ground.

I'd be interested to hear other's views on this.

9

Just Chat! / Dictionary of conjoined words

« on: 06/10/2009 23:25:01 »

Watching a Sylvester Stallone film at Christmas - Chrimbo.

10

Just Chat! / happy birthday

« on: 06/10/2009 23:24:01 »

Happy birthday, dear boy.

11

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / What happens to the wall of the ovum in embryogenesis?

« on: 06/10/2009 23:21:34 »

Thanks, Nizzle. I'd guessed it must be something like that.

12

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Are all mammal eyes basically the same?

« on: 06/10/2009 23:20:24 »

I also seem to remember reading that some creatures' eyes had evolved independently along totally different principles.

13

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Are all mammal eyes basically the same?

« on: 06/10/2009 01:22:58 »

Thank you, Jim, and, of course, everyone else who has answered.

14

General Science / Could we skydive safely without a parachute?

« on: 06/10/2009 01:09:55 »

Works for me now, too. The guy is mental!

RD - that clip is amazing. What a feeling that must be.

15

General Science / Why does my BT Hub phone ring when someone calls my home line?

« on: 06/10/2009 00:59:21 »

I've got 2 fixed phone lines. 1 is a bog standard BT landline and the other came with my BT Hub broadband router. They have different numbers and are plugged into separate phone sockets on opposite sides of the room. Whenever I get a call on the standard landline the hub phone also rings. Why does that happen?

16

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How large would a rotating spaceship need to be to create artificial gravity equal to that on Earth?

« on: 05/10/2009 02:19:06 »

If there were no way to view outside then there would be no indication of motion no matter what speed the craft revolved at. Remember, any person on the craft would be in the same frame of reference as the craft itself & therefore would be travelling with the same rotational velocity.

17

Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Are all mammal eyes basically the same?

« on: 04/10/2009 23:55:44 »

That doesn't answer the question at all. I looked at that thread before I posted this.

18

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / How does my oxygen-producing machine work?

« on: 04/10/2009 23:54:50 »

Right, now I'm lost  []

19

Guest Book / Intro

« on: 04/10/2009 17:30:36 »

And a big hello from the resident rodent. I sleep in the wardrobe in the corner of the forum so if the door is closed please try not to make too much noise. A roused beaver is a terrifying beastie.

So you're a fiddler, are you? Very commendable. I must admit to a modicum of competence on the aforementioned instrument although I am primarily a guitarist & keyboard player.

I am also an internet legend and arguably the brightest rodent on the net.

20

That CAN'T be true! / TeaPots

« on: 04/10/2009 17:24:42 »

I thought it was a monkey head to begin with then I nearly got smacked in the face by a teapot that loomed out of the monitor at me.