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Today's Global Warming URL
Apr. 7th, 2012 07:31 amFrom Universe Today comes this article, which predicted global warming in 1981. This was the first printed warning, 31 years ago. We have indeed been warmed…er…warned.
Today's Culinary URL
Jul. 31st, 2011 12:18 pmOne often hears the phrase "as useful as a chocolate teapot." Well, scientists being scientists, a group of same decided to test whether you could actually brew tea in a chocolate teapot, and the results may surprise you.
The Myth of Exponential Growth
Jan. 3rd, 2011 02:25 pmThose religious people who say that birth control is immoral and that predictions of the Earth's future can contain indefinite growth should watch this series of YouTube videos of a lecture that Emeritus Prof. of Physics Albert Bartlett of the University of Colorado gave around 10 years ago, called Arithmetic, Population, and Energy. It might just be the most important video you ever see.
In the years since the video, nothing has happened to invalidate his major theorem, which is that there is no such thing as sustainable growth. Overpopulation makes sustainable growth an oxymoron. And, some of his conclusions may surprise you, such as that overpopulation is a problem not in developing countries, but in the United States.
Watch the videos.
In the years since the video, nothing has happened to invalidate his major theorem, which is that there is no such thing as sustainable growth. Overpopulation makes sustainable growth an oxymoron. And, some of his conclusions may surprise you, such as that overpopulation is a problem not in developing countries, but in the United States.
Watch the videos.
Flight, if you're in good shape
Sep. 24th, 2010 09:24 amLeonardo daVinci sketched out plans for an ornithopter—a flying machine which "flapped its wings". Such a machine was thought to be impractical.
Until now.
Scientists at the University of Toronto (hi,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
trawnapanda) have constructed and flown such a machine 145 meters (around 476 feet). The video is embedded in this Register article. I must say, that the video of the actual flight is one of the most beautiful sights one can see—an airplane gently flapping its wings like a seagull. Go and see it. And remember: when a scientist says that something is impossible, it may be impossible today, but it rarely stays impossible forever.
Until now.
Scientists at the University of Toronto (hi,
trawnapanda) have constructed and flown such a machine 145 meters (around 476 feet). The video is embedded in this Register article. I must say, that the video of the actual flight is one of the most beautiful sights one can see—an airplane gently flapping its wings like a seagull. Go and see it. And remember: when a scientist says that something is impossible, it may be impossible today, but it rarely stays impossible forever.Today's "Chemistry is Great!" URL
Apr. 27th, 2007 11:23 amI am a regular receiver of emails from the Annals of Improbable Research (AIR), and have now discovered their blog. A recent entry seems to imply that I missed a trick in high school when I declined to take any science after I struggled (and nearly failed) physics.
Today's Religious and Scientific URL
Aug. 19th, 2005 07:45 amNewton is now going to come in for as much flak as Darwin, according to The Onion.
A sideline for the Anglicans amongst ye: there is a certain visual similarity between the "Rev'd Gabriel Burdett" and the Most Rev'd and Right Honourable Rowan Douglas Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England. I think that the current tendency for male Anglican bishops to sport beards means they will soon all look alike.
A sideline for the Anglicans amongst ye: there is a certain visual similarity between the "Rev'd Gabriel Burdett" and the Most Rev'd and Right Honourable Rowan Douglas Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England. I think that the current tendency for male Anglican bishops to sport beards means they will soon all look alike.
The History of the Universe.....
Apr. 1st, 2005 06:46 amin 60 Seconds or Less??? That's the title of a video produced by the US National Science Foundation, from an original conception of the Annals of Improbable Research. It's comprehensive, hilarious, and thought provoking.
The video is here. Be warned, it doesn't work in Opera (you have to use IE, I fear) and you need RealPlayer.
The Annals of Improbable Research website has a bit of history on the History. All you need for this is a browser!
The video is here. Be warned, it doesn't work in Opera (you have to use IE, I fear) and you need RealPlayer.
The Annals of Improbable Research website has a bit of history on the History. All you need for this is a browser!
