Science Megathread
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 29, 2024, 06:48:57 AM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  Forum Community
  Off-topic Board (Moderators: The Dowager Mod, The Mikado, YE)
  Science Megathread
« previous next »
Pages: 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 ... 21
Author Topic: Science Megathread  (Read 88994 times)
Storebought
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,326
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #100 on: August 29, 2015, 07:13:43 PM »

I have a small interest in astronomy, or at least stargazing, so I took advantage of the new moon a few weeks ago to see the Perseid meteor event. Of course, I made only about 20 counts in two days of observations, but it was pretty inspiring nonetheless.

Since then, I've been learning about constellations. This week has been pretty poisonous to stargazing on account of the full moon and the general smogginess of TX in the summer, but I glad I made the effort. TX lies far enough southward that a number of constellations of the southern hemisphere are fully visible here, like Sagittarius and Scorpius (a stunning one). But I regret not starting earlier this year: at the end of spring, even most of Centaurus  (but not alpha-Centauri -- that star cluster is not visible north of Mexico) and some of Crux the Southern Cross are just visible on the deep southern horizon. I will have to wait until December (at 2 AM) before I can see either.
Logged
Storebought
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,326
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #101 on: September 16, 2015, 04:45:36 PM »

After a month of trial and error in finding the best site, I've finally found the Old Man Star, Canopus.

The article was written in February; at this time of year, Canopus rises about 45 min before sunrise.
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #102 on: October 01, 2015, 10:38:06 PM »

Scientists suggest a new, earth-shaking twist on the demise of the dinosaurs

By Joel Achenbach
October 1 at 2:00 PM


Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #103 on: December 19, 2015, 01:39:41 PM »

NASA (among other federal agencies) fared well from the recently signed omnibus spending bill:

NASA RECEIVES SIGNIFICANT BUDGET BOOST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016

18 Dec , 2015   by Ken Kremer

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
politicallefty
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 8,200
Ukraine


Political Matrix
E: -3.87, S: -9.22

P P
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #104 on: December 19, 2015, 05:41:29 PM »

An increase in funding for NASA is a good thing, but that budget is nowhere near what it should be. At this point, I don't think it would be a bad idea to partially put NASA under the jurisdiction of the DOD and create a United States Space Force. I can only imagine what NASA would be with 10x current funding. To me, the prospects are only exciting.
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #105 on: December 19, 2015, 06:34:32 PM »

An increase in funding for NASA is a good thing, but that budget is nowhere near what it should be. At this point, I don't think it would be a bad idea to partially put NASA under the jurisdiction of the DOD and create a United States Space Force. I can only imagine what NASA would be with 10x current funding. To me, the prospects are only exciting.

Isn't there a treaty forbidding weapons in space? 
Logged
politicallefty
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 8,200
Ukraine


Political Matrix
E: -3.87, S: -9.22

P P
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #106 on: December 19, 2015, 07:07:13 PM »

Isn't there a treaty forbidding weapons in space?

There is the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. I am unaware of its limitations. However, to the extent its limitations prevent technological advancement, I would support withdrawal and full acceleration of the militarization of space (though perhaps that's a debate for another board).
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #107 on: December 19, 2015, 07:48:45 PM »

Isn't there a treaty forbidding weapons in space?

There is the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. I am unaware of its limitations. However, to the extent its limitations prevent technological advancement, I would support withdrawal and full acceleration of the militarization of space (though perhaps that's a debate for another board).

Just did some preliminary readings on it, and it appears to only forbid weapons of mass destruction being used in outer space -which effectively takes the option of blasting incoming killer asteroids with nuclear weapons out of contention. 

Conventional weapons though, are good.  I'm assuming laser weapons (if we ever get around to developing weapons as futuristic as anything seen in Star Wars) fall under that broad category. 
Logged
True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)
Ernest
Moderators
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 42,157
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #108 on: December 20, 2015, 10:31:03 PM »

The DoD already does its needed space activities outside of NASA and its budget and other than perhaps some joint research into improved launch systems, no real synergies to be gained from mixing the two at this point.
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #109 on: January 03, 2016, 03:43:25 AM »

Any of you remember from history class about those knotted strings of records the Inca kept?  It seems archaeologists have found a way decode them:

Untangling an Accounting Tool and an Ancient Incan Mystery



By WILLIAM NEUMAN
JAN. 2, 2016


Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #110 on: January 08, 2016, 07:07:26 PM »

Scientists move one step closer to turning water into hydrogen fuel, affordably:
Researchers reveal a new mechanism to create hydrogen fuel that could power environmentally clean cars.

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki, Staff writer
JANUARY 5, 2016


Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
Ban my account ffs!
snowguy716
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 22,632
Austria


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #111 on: January 08, 2016, 07:41:33 PM »

Scientists move one step closer to turning water into hydrogen fuel, affordably:
Researchers reveal a new mechanism to create hydrogen fuel that could power environmentally clean cars.

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki, Staff writer
JANUARY 5, 2016


Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
That's great news.  It will already be nearly impossible to power our homes and businesses with renewables without adding electric cars to the mix.  If we can reasonably convert water to hydrogen for fuel cells.. it would potentially take a big burden off the grid.. at least for airplanes, trains, ships, and maybe trucks to start.
Logged
TJ in Oregon
TJ in Cleve
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 8,952
United States


Political Matrix
E: 0.13, S: 6.96

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #112 on: January 08, 2016, 09:46:19 PM »

Scientists move one step closer to turning water into hydrogen fuel, affordably:
Researchers reveal a new mechanism to create hydrogen fuel that could power environmentally clean cars.

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki, Staff writer
JANUARY 5, 2016


Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
That's great news.  It will already be nearly impossible to power our homes and businesses with renewables without adding electric cars to the mix.  If we can reasonably convert water to hydrogen for fuel cells.. it would potentially take a big burden off the grid.. at least for airplanes, trains, ships, and maybe trucks to start.

Color me skeptical this will actually go anywhere. They're making genetically modified e-coli to make an enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis. That sounds cool and all, but I really doubt that will end up being close to competitive as a way to make hydrogen with the good old water gas shift. In order to use genetically modified bacteria to make something viable, the stuff it makes has to be pretty expensive.

Neat science though still.
Logged
RI
realisticidealist
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 14,717


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #113 on: January 20, 2016, 12:16:17 PM »

NY Times: Ninth Planet May Exist in Solar System Beyond Pluto, Scientists Report

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)
Ernest
Moderators
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 42,157
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #114 on: January 20, 2016, 03:10:20 PM »

If confirmed, it probably would get the name of a Roman god or goddess that hasn't already been used for a minor planet.  How about Libertas? Wink
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #115 on: January 28, 2016, 09:58:08 PM »

Signs of Modern Astronomy Seen in Ancient Babylon

By KENNETH CHANG
JAN. 28, 2016




Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
World politics is up Schmitt creek
Nathan
Moderators
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 34,251


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #116 on: January 28, 2016, 11:56:55 PM »

If confirmed, it probably would get the name of a Roman god or goddess that hasn't already been used for a minor planet.  How about Libertas? Wink

Proserpina!
Logged
muon2
Moderators
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 16,788


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #117 on: January 30, 2016, 02:46:49 PM »

If confirmed, it probably would get the name of a Roman god or goddess that hasn't already been used for a minor planet.  How about Libertas? Wink

Proserpina!

And it has the advantage of starting wit a P. All the old mnemonics for the planets would be back unchanged.
Logged
RI
realisticidealist
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 14,717


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #118 on: January 30, 2016, 03:27:03 PM »

I like the name "Telisto" personally.
Logged
RI
realisticidealist
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 14,717


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #119 on: February 11, 2016, 01:29:02 PM »

Physicists detect gravitational waves from violent black-hole merger

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
°Leprechaun
tmcusa2
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 8,117
Uruguay


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #120 on: February 11, 2016, 06:54:51 PM »

This sounds revolutionary. It could be a top story for 2016. Gravitational waves were first predicted by Einstein in 1916.
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #121 on: February 20, 2016, 06:43:07 PM »

Virgin Galactic unveils new spaceship

 



By Rachel Crane and Amanda Barnett, CNN
Video by Claudia Morales, CNN
Updated 9:58 PM ET, Fri February 19, 2016


(CNN)
Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #122 on: March 19, 2016, 12:22:35 AM »
« Edited: March 19, 2016, 12:24:51 AM by Frodo »

Two related articles I want to share:

Neanderthals, humans may have longer history of mating

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Denisovan DNA Found in Modern-Day Melanesians

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
Frodo
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 24,511
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #123 on: April 06, 2016, 07:05:47 PM »

Hybrid system could cut coal-plant emissions in half:
Combining gasification with fuel-cell technology could boost efficiency of coal-powered plants.

David L. Chandler | MIT News Office
April 4, 2016


Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
DINGO Joe
dingojoe
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 11,700
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #124 on: April 17, 2016, 10:00:36 AM »


Things haven't gone very well

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/business/energy-environment/technology-to-make-clean-energy-from-coal-is-stumbling-in-practice.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Super Expensive.  Breaks down constantly.  Requires almost 1/3rd of the energy produced to run the plant and compress the carbon.  Be interesting to see how Kemper compares--if it ever runs on coal.
Logged
Pages: 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 ... 21  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.061 seconds with 12 queries.