Meanwhile, on the Second Closest Planet
One of the Brickmuppet's Crack Team of Science Babes was supposed to be reporting on NASA's news conference today, but instead seems to be focused on organizing an excursion to the beach...
"We're going to need sunblock, some really big mirrors, high yield, low fission fraction H-bombs, a few tons of CFCs, some ham biscuits, lichen, iced tea, blue green algae and a towel."
"Our quest on Mars has been to ‘follow the water,’ in our search for life in the universe, and now we have convincing science that validates what we’ve long suspected,†said John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "This is a significant development, as it appears to confirm that water -- albeit briny -- is flowing today on the surface of Mars.â€
Zounds!
Percival Lowell, he died 99 years too soon.
("Science Babe" is actually Sakura War's Diana Caprice as drawn by Ao Ume)
This is Worrisome
It's not just that these incredibly simple, basic questions were answered correctly by only 6% of the nation...but that one question is not even about science (indeed its opposite).
1
I got 12 too, but in some cases by luck. For example:
1) I don't know what part of Earth is hottest. I figure the energy loss is only by radiation, so the core would be the hottest. However, this simplistic thinking is not necessarily valid at planetary scale where heat can be generated by tidal friction in the crust. 2) I don't know who invented the Polio vaccine. The other choices probably did not invent a vaccine, hence success. 3) Both radio and sound waves are used in the functioning of a cellphone. So the respondent must guess what Pew meant.
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Thu Sep 24 17:55:39 2015 (RqRa5)
2
So... can you name the 13th sign of the Zodiac? (There are actually 13 constellations in the zodiacal belt, not 12.)
Like Pete, I wasn't certain about the hottest part of the Earth. I have this vague memory of reading that some parts of the mantle can be hotter than the core.
4
I was expecting to do poorly, as I was never a good science student. I got 11; couldn't remember anything about water boiling temperatures, and finally convinced myself it was an urban legend that everyone thinks is true.
Posted by: Ben at Thu Sep 24 22:00:16 2015 (S4UJw)
7
Changes in the temperatures and pressures of phase transitions make for an interesting topic. Remember that in most cases a tripple point has to exist, therefore some lines at P/T diagrams must be slanted and/or bent more than others.
In case of water though, this whole thing has a noticeable practical effect: the pressure cooker. After pressure cookers became widely established as a technology, some of the people living in the mountains quickly figured out that a pressure cooker may be used not only raise the boiling point above normal, but also to raise it from Denver to Los Angeles point if you live in Denver. This lets one cook food normally and save a measurable amount of fuel.
IIRC at one point the government of Nepal or Bhutan tried to ban pressure cookers because of bomb hazard and almost caused an mass unrest. Nobody wants to go back to paying 2 times more for propane.
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Thu Sep 24 23:55:58 2015 (RqRa5)
8
I got 11 of the questions correctly. On the plus side, I'll be pleasantly surprised the next time I prepare pasta in Denver.
Posted by: Wonderduck at Fri Sep 25 20:43:42 2015 (a12rG)
9
I object to the optics question. Depending on the index of refraction, relative to the index of the medium, either convergence *or* divergence is possible for a plano-convex lens. Also, there are reflected rays. :-P
Posted by: ams at Mon Sep 28 20:33:07 2015 (GtPd7)
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Tue Sep 22 17:46:32 2015 (RqRa5)
3
It seems a bit retro for .45 ACP to get used in a revolver, you know that? But it's a good cartridge and I guess a lot of guns have been designed for it (i.e. the Thompson submachine gun).
4
I don't know if I'd put a pistol down between those two. They don't much like each other...
Posted by: Avatar_exADV at Wed Sep 23 21:15:41 2015 (/lg1c)
5
There's no ammo though. I made sure there was no ammo within reach because I knew I'd dry-fire it during on camera.
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Wed Sep 23 21:57:22 2015 (RqRa5)
6
That it headspaces .45 ACP is a neat trick. You mention that it cant use moon clips, does it chamber .45 Auto Rim? (I'd expect not but I was wondering). Have you looked at getting the sights adjusted to compensate for the off target shooting or is it something you can compensate for?
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Wed Sep 23 23:45:48 2015 (ohzj1)
7
The rim of 45 Auto Rim is too thick. It's the same story on the new Ruger Redhawk .45 ACP / .45 LC, which does use a moon clip, but not a thick enough one to accomodate 45 Auto Rim. I think Auto Rim only goes into 1917s and maybe Smith&Wesson Model 22.
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Thu Sep 24 00:30:05 2015 (RqRa5)
More Pluto!
One of the Brickmuppet's Crack Team of Science Babes brings us news from the edge of the solar system.
Actually, she's not at the edge of the solar system.
Come to think of it, Pluto isn't either, because there is still the Oort Cloud and Kupier Belt which extend for hundreds of AU before one gets to the Heliopause.
Anyway, our science corespondent reports that the experts are cataloging and naming the features on Pluto and Charon....
In any event, NASA has downloaded several high rez pictures from this summer's flyby of the object formerly known as the 9th planet and here are a couple...
Hobby Space News of the commercial space industry A Babe In The Universe Rather Eclectic Cosmology Encyclopedia Astronautica Superb spacecraft resource The Unwanted Blog Scott Lowther blogs about forgotten aerospace projects and sells amazingly informative articles on the same. Also, there are cats. Transterrestrial Musings Commentary on Infinity...and beyond! Colony WorldsSpace colonization news! The Alternate Energy Blog It's a blog about alternate energy (DUH!) Next Big Future Brian Wang: Tracking our progress to the FUTURE. Nuclear Green Charles Barton, who seems to be either a cool curmudgeon, or a rational hippy, talks about energy policy and the terrible environmental consequences of not going nuclear Energy From Thorium Focuses on the merits of thorium cycle nuclear reactors WizBang Current events commentary...with a wiz and a bang The Gates of Vienna Tenaciously studying a very old war The Anchoress insightful blogging, presumably from the catacombs Murdoc Online"Howling Mad Murdoc" has a millblog...golly! EaglespeakMaritime security matters Commander Salamander Fullbore blackshoe blogging! Belmont Club Richard Fernandez blogs on current events BaldilocksUnderstated and interesting blog on current events The Dissident Frogman French bi-lingual current events blog The "Moderate" VoiceI don't think that word means what they think it does....but this lefty blog is a worthy read nonetheless. Meryl Yourish News, Jews and Meryls' Views Classical Values Eric Scheie blogs about the culture war and its incompatibility with our republic. Jerry Pournell: Chaos ManorOne of Science fictions greats blogs on futurism, current events, technology and wisdom A Distant Soil The website of Colleen Dorans' superb fantasy comic, includes a blog focused on the comic industry, creator issues and human rights. John C. Wright The Sci-Fi/ Fantasy writer muses on a wide range of topics. Now Read This! The founder of the UK Comics Creators Guild blogs on comics past and present. The Rambling Rebuilder Charity, relief work, roleplaying games Rats NestThe Art and rantings of Vince Riley Gorilla Daze Allan Harvey, UK based cartoonist and comics historian has a comicophillic blog! Pulpjunkie Tim Driscoll reviews old movies, silents and talkies, classics and clunkers. Suburban Banshee Just like a suburban Leprechaun....but taller, more dangerous and a certified genius. Satharn's Musings Through TimeThe Crazy Catlady of The Barony of Tir Ysgithr アニ・ノート(Ani-Nouto) Thoughtful, curmudgeonly, otakuism that pulls no punches and suffers no fools. Chizumatic Stephen Den Beste analyzes anime...with a microscope, a slide rule and a tricorder. Wonderduck Anime, Formula One Racing, Sad Girls in Snow...Duck Triumphalism Beta Waffle What will likely be the most thoroughly tested waffle evah! Zoopraxiscope Too In this thrilling sequel to Zoopraxiscope, Don, Middle American Man of Mystery, keeps tabs on anime, orchids, and absurdities. Mahou Meido MeganekkoUbu blogs on Anime, computer games and other non-vital interests Twentysided More geekery than you can shake a stick at Shoplifting in the Marketplace of Ideas Sounds like Plaigarism...but isn't Ambient IronyAll Meenuvians Praise the lathe of the maker! Hail Pixy!!
