Fighting forest fires to save the wildlife… with ICBMs.
NOMICS@%^&*(^*>ALGEBR isn’t taught in school anymore.
Mom is always ready… for something.
From Closer Than We Think, Arthur Radebaugh, 1950s.
[Images found here, via here.]
Tag: science
You Are Here. Or Not.
Uranium Atom’s Tightly Clustered Core Is the Main Source of Atomic Energy
Shown in Boston’s Museum of Science, this model depicts radioactive uranium 235, whose nucleus contains 92 protons and 143 neutrons. Nonfissionable uranium 238 carries three additional neutrons. Both are isotopes, or variants, of Nature’s heaviest element. Balls bunched in the center represent the protons and neutrons, which are mysteriously bound together by atomic energy’s terrific force. Splitting of the nucleus releases energy far greater than that of any chemical reaction. Wire-strung balls swinging like planets around a sun represent uranium’s 92 electrons. Hydrogen, in contrast, has one. True scale would place the outermost electrons 3,000 from the center.
Great Big Blobs
NASA scientists are studying planet magnetic fields and revisited raw data collected by Voyager 2 over three decades ago. They found that
Voyager 2 spotted a massive magnetic bubble pulling gas out of Uranus’ atmosphere.
https://www.space.com/uranus-gas-blob-voyager-2-discovery.html
Such loop-like plasmoids are typically formed as a spinning planet flings bits of its atmosphere to space. “Centrifugal forces take over, and the plasmoid pinches off.”
https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/news/details.php?article_id=119
Uranus pinches off big blobs and flings them.
Wright Brothers’ Early Spacewalk Test (ca. 1915)
Using a pressurized helium-vapor suit, Orville and Wilbur Wright sought to solve future problems of space exploration, and their younger step brother “Nottle” volunteered to be the test pilot. Once afloat, the tethers snapped, and he sailed over the horizon. He landed in France and enlisted with the 43rd Balloon Company, serving as a practice target in WWI. Out of eleven volunteers, he was never shot down by the Boche once, and he survived the friendly fire, too.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t a spacewalk test, and maybe it had nothing at all to do with WWI, but maybe it did, depending on how you look at it.
[Original image found here.]
Go Make Me A Sammich.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Australia Blackout Dexember 2012
(West Poondongwalla, Australia) – Strutts News Services
Only the wealthiest of the wealthy were able to keep their lights on when the entire power grid of Australia failed just days ago, and no one knows why the continent now glows blue. Some locals blame global warming, while others point accusatory fingers at The Mayans for their probably prophetic Calendar of Doom that caused the utility companies of Oz to hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete simultaneously and just for the hell of it.
In any case, the well-to-do panicked wisely and moved inland to avoid the rising seas that subsequently swamped the coastal regions.
[There’s more info here that can’t possibly be true. Related post here.]
The .Gif Friday Post No.255 – Quasicrystals as sums of waves in the plane
Oh Hi Space Shuttle! Nice To See You!
Saturday Matinee – Vince Taylor, Shakin’ All Over, The Specials & Rufus Thomas
Guess Who? It’s not Who you think it is. Vince Taylor & The Playboys.
Science declares 4 seconds of shaking removes 70% of the water off a wet dog, and 20% lands on you. Do aquatic mammals, like whales, orcas, dolphins & porpoises, shake off air? NEW STUDY! [Your tax dollars at work. Found here.]
The Specials revived ska in the 70s, and did the dog.
Rufus Thomas knew how to walk the dog decades ago, until his demise in 2001.
Due to some unfortunate happenings in the private sector, we’re going to cut this episode short. Have a great weekend, folks. Be back here tomorrow for more slices of the stupid pie. =)
Tacky Raccoons 