Large Hardon Collider

[Khamsin]

Most of Earths water was here when it formed.

Besides, if, shortly after earth first coalesced and cooled into a firm planet with it's own atmosphere, a meteor came big enough to supply all of earth's water, wouldn't that leave a really big crater, if not break off a chunk of the planet itself?

I mean, the damage might have smoothed itself out over time, but you'd think the evidence would still be there.

[Eliseos]

One of the more probable theories for the origin of the moon is a giant impact, isn't it?

[Woozie]

From what I understand about moon formation theories, none of them we have so far really work, but the impact theory seems most probable. The truth is probably something we just haven't even thought of yet.

I heard one scientist remark "None of our theories can explain the moon's origin. So it must not really be there." lol

[Mizango]

It is definitely a leading theory that's out there but I don't know about it personally. I'd say it starting out as an accretion disk made up of left over bits of rock, gas and other elements seems and then forming and being trapped in orbit is more feasible judging by other star forming factories we see in space.

[Mizango]

Let me ask you guys this, because there are 2 forms of the impact theory.

1) Everyone is pretty much unanimous that we are talking about a meteor or comet type object impacting the Earth and the resulting debris swirling into a Accretion disk and eventually forming what we now know as the moon.

or

2) This is the one I hate, but the theory of where basically a primitive moon "rubbed" against a forming earth and took a huge chuck with it and thus became the moon. Ill find illustrations of this one but this one sucks and I hate it.

The first example I agree with because it pretty much covers all of the bases. My first one wasn't very clear so I wanted to clear that up since Ill be leaving work here in the next 30 mins or so.

[Max™]

DERIVING FUNCTIONS!

HAH!

[Mizango]

They are talking about SMB's on The History Channel right now as we speak, they have been doing a Naked Science marathon all day since the new season starts on Tuesday.

We were talking about it a few pages ago so thought I'd share since I promised to point it out the next time it was on TV.


Edit: SMB = Super massive Black holes.

[Pirian]

They are talking about SMB's on The History Channel right now as we speak, they have been doing a Naked Science marathon all day since the new season starts on Tuesday.

We were talking about it a few pages ago so thought I'd share since I promised to point it out the next time it was on TV.


Edit: SMB = Super massive Black holes.

What history channel? On mine they're just talking about gangs I don't care about gangs

[Nuker]

What history channel? On mine they're just talking about gangs I don't care about gangs

^^^^ dog fights exactly.

[Woozie]

They are talking about SMB's on The History Channel right now as we speak, they have been doing a Naked Science marathon all day since the new season starts on Tuesday.

We were talking about it a few pages ago so thought I'd share since I promised to point it out the next time it was on TV.


Edit: SMB = Super massive Black holes.

Holy crap, why did I waste my day spending time with my goddaughter when I could have neglected her and watched science? D:

What history channel? On mine they're just talking about gangs I don't care about gangs

Gangland was on all morning (I love gangland but I've seen most of them a bajillion times). I thought it would be on all day, but I didn't bother checking the listings.

[Eliseos]

Speaking of, the science channel has nearly a day's worth of awesome lineup today (Sunday). From 6AM to 1PM it's "The Planets", 2 to 5 it's a bunch of different programs about space exploration, 7 is a show about killer asteroids, 8 is a show about Stephen Hawking's theory on Black Holes, 9 is about nuclear fusion, 10 is about parallel universes. My DVR might actually break.

[Woozie]

Thanks Eliseos. I'm watching the planets right now but I think I've seen all of these before. I want to see something about Mercury or Jupiter, not the moon and mars stuff I've seen a kajillion times before.

Oh, and Pluto is a planet, btw, and I'm willing to assasinate anyone who says otherwise D:

A female friend of mine wants to have a "talk" and she wont be free till 8, meaning I'm going to miss the best stuff tonight..........

[Woozie]

This is frustrating. If I tell her not to call because of a tv show(s), it's going to make things worse. If I make some excuse, she might come over and see that I'm just watching TV.

[Kryssan]

This is frustrating. If I tell her not to call because of a tv show(s), it's going to make things worse. If I make some excuse, she might come over and see that I'm just watching TV.

Blackout curtains are for more than keeping the sun out. Trust me.





All I have to say is that while I won't be watching the article on fusion, if I hear about Pons and Fleischmann being mentioned in a positive light, I'll probably go postal. I can't believe their silliness is still permeating even now. Those two make me shiver in rage every time I hear the term cold fusion. And who knows, perhaps it will become a reality someday... but that crock those two pulled is going to leave a bad taste in the mouths of most of us for a while to come.



Hopefully the show covers NIF and ITER, not nearly enough media about either of them, at least not in the states. Which I find really sad, especially in NIF's case, since we're the ones bloody building the damn thing.

[Woozie]

Wait, the cold fusion guys are still around? I thought the idea of cold fusion got laughed into oblivion years ago? Everyone hates them, so I'd be surprised if they are mentioned at all, and definitely not in a positive way.

[Kryssan]

Wait, the cold fusion guys are still around? I thought the idea of cold fusion got laughed into oblivion years ago? Everyone hates them, so I'd be surprised if they are mentioned at all, and definitely not in a positive way.

You'd think that. One might also think that after all the informational releases and articles DoE and several independent research organizations have put out regarding nuclear waste, that society wouldn't instantly go for the glowing barrels of green goo either. But yeah, while the scientific/engineering community would laugh at either idea, the public at large does not.


It would be rather amusing if it wasn't so sad. Ask someone if they mind using a microwave, and they'll probably ask what you're talking about - or that they can't survive without one. Ask someone if they mind their food being irradiated for sterilisation, and they'll flip a lid on you. Granted, the first is non-ionizing while the second is ionizing, but both methods are harmless to the end-consumer, its just the perception people have. If you really want to have fun, casually mention to people while eating a meal that they're using metallic eating utensils could be from reprocessed radioactive material. Facial expressions are usually worthy of a camera, so be prepared. Its just like the idea of controlled pure water - the water that's reprocessed from nuclear power plants. There is nothing wrong with that water. Yet it's still treated as radioactive. The amount of waste we generate, in both money and product, due to the perceptions of the public regarding nuclear power is both sad and astounding.

[Woozie]

When it comes to public perception with regards to nuclear technology, what I hate most is how much everyone seems to be against nuclear power plants. My grandmother thinks that they can explode, like a nuclear bomb. She also thinks it will make everything anywhere near it suddenly radioactive. And for some reason, she thinks it isn't clean at all, and that it's just as bad as burning fuels.

Now, my grandmother is a nutjob, but you'd be surprised how many other people think the same things.

Also, Kryssan, we need to get you and Eliseos on YIM or MSN with Miz and I. The four of us in one conversation should be interesting. You can help us with our plans for world domination, or we can just have a normal science conversation if you prefer.

But if we do take over the world I call dibs on Africa for the diamonds. You three can be kings of the rest of the entire world for all I care. I just want the cash.

[Kryssan]

When it comes to public perception with regards to nuclear technology, what I hate most is how much everyone seems to be against nuclear power plants. My grandmother thinks that they can explode, like a nuclear bomb. She also thinks it will make everything anywhere near it suddenly radioactive. And for some reason, she thinks it isn't clean at all, and that it's just as bad as burning fuels.

Its a perception shared by most people who ask me about it. And the first defense they fall back on is Chernobyl. And I try to explain to them that Chernobyl was a steam explosion followed by a hydrogen explosion and not a nuclear explosion, but most either don't want to listen or can't understand it.


Of course, if that explanation is difficult for people to swallow, when you point out to them that the first reactors were not made by humans, they really go off kilter. The Oklo reactors of Gabon, West Africa of course being my example of this. Nature can run a nuclear reactor for billions of years without a meltdown. Its only when you add humans do you start winding up with screwups.

[Woozie]

I've never heard of the Oklo reactors, or any reactors in nature for that matter (well other than stars, but that's more of a nuclear bomb than a nuclear reactor). What exactly are the Oklo Reactors?

[Kryssan]

Have a gander.