When is a cave a cave? | AskScience Blog

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Saturday, October 6, 2018

When is a cave a cave?

When is a cave a cave?


When is a cave a cave?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 03:19 PM PDT

It's obvious most of the time, everybody knows what a cave is. You walk into a hole in the rock and wow, you're in a cave. But when is a hole in the ground not only a hole but considered a cave by science?

Bonus: Are there fast growing caves that form in a for humans observable timeframe or is it always some Million years of water carving through stone? What about caves formed by earthquakes?

submitted by /u/md63157
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The Gympie Gympie plant (link in comment) can cause pain that lasts years. How does it do this, wouldn't toxins be flushed from your system by then ?

Posted: 06 Oct 2018 03:17 AM PDT

Gympie Gympie stings last an awful long time, with reports saying even after years you can still experience pain. How does this work ?

I was tempted to put this in ELI5, but I'm good with the scientific explanation as it gives me something to deep-dive into Wikipedia to kill a few hours.

submitted by /u/Nandy-bear
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Why do elderly people smell different?

Posted: 06 Oct 2018 02:08 AM PDT

I have many times questioned myself why elderly people have an different odor than young people. Is there an biological explanation on this please?

submitted by /u/Scientia33
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Who owns the moon and other space-related things?

Posted: 06 Oct 2018 04:11 AM PDT

What stops a country to set up a moon base or mine on asteroid for precious metals? Will the colonizing of space be like a "free for all, grab what yours" or are there certain rules?

submitted by /u/AIec18
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In the context of nuclear reactions, what is the difference between prompt criticality and delayed criticality? Why does one result in a nuclear explosion while the other does not despite them both being supercritical reactions?

Posted: 06 Oct 2018 03:01 AM PDT

I already understand the process by which nuclear reactors work to a fundamental level with the ideas of moderators and control rods sorted, but what I cannot seem to understand is the difference between prompt and delayed criticality. Like, both are supercritical so both should in theory result in exponential growth of neutron emissions, right? Rephrasing the question, why is there a sudden difference between 1<k<1/(1-beta) and k>1/(1-beta) despite both resulting in exponential growth of neutrons? I looked up the Wikipedia article on this and it did not help. Thank you!

submitted by /u/aberki1234
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When you get a headache from say, constant loud noise, what exactly is hurting if your brain has no pain receptors?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 08:08 PM PDT

How long after death does all electrical activity in the brain cease?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 10:02 AM PDT

Do fever-reducing medicines deprive your immune system of the benefits of having a higher body temperature while fighting an infection?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 01:03 PM PDT

[Psychology] How does Compassion Fatigue apply to fields not typically associated with trauma, such as technical support?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 04:18 PM PDT

I'm a team lead in large enterprise support, we commonly deal with disaster scenarios every day where companies risk losing their businesses or livelihoods due to data loss. I've observed many symptoms of Compassion Fatigue in my agents and would like to know if there's any official studies or answers on this topic.

submitted by /u/snakejawz
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If one of the conditions for cancer is replenishing telomeres for unbounded growth, then what happens to cancer growths without this trait? Do they stop growing at a certain size, forming a stable sized tumor?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 12:52 PM PDT

Is Hawking still correct?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 01:12 PM PDT

In A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking wrote,

"Now at first sight all this evidence that the universe looks the same whichever direction we look in might seem to suggest there is something special about our place in the universe. In particular, it might seem that if we observe all other galaxies to be moving away from us, then we must be at the center of the universe. There is, however, an alternate explanation: the universe might look the same in every direction as seen from any other galaxy too. This, as we have seen,was Friedmann's second assumption. We have no scientific evidence for, or against, this assumption [the assumption that the universe has no center]. We believe it on the grounds of modesty. It would be most remarkable if the universe looked the same in every direction around us, but not around other points in the universe!" (A Brief History of Time 44-45).

My question is this. Have we discovered something since the time Hawking wrote this that would justify the belief that the universe has no center?

Let me clarify my request. I'm not asking for explanations of the data that are merely consistent with the idea that there is no center. I'm asking for evidence that has been discovered since the time of his statement that can be best explained (or only explained) by believing that the universe has no center. I already infer from Hawking's statement that

A) explanations of the data that are merely consistent with the idea that there is no center already existed when he wrote his book, and

B) no evidence existed at the time of his writing that could be best explained (or only explained) by believing that the universe has no center.

Thanks.

Edit: In an ideal world, I could have a source that directly addresses Hawking's statement and demonstrates how what he said is no longer the case, but I will be grateful for whatever assistance is on offer.

submitted by /u/nomenmeum
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During CPR, how does the heart fill back up with blood after a chest compression?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 01:00 PM PDT

Are smaller organism’s cells smaller than a larger organism’s cells?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 11:39 AM PDT

What is the full meaning of omega (density parameter) = 1 concerning our universe?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 03:11 PM PDT

I have been reading through Mapping the Heavens and the chapter over dark energy has left me with some questions I can't find exact answers to. Forgive my questions if they sound ignorant or are worded inaccurately.

  1. From my understanding, omega is the sum of all matter (dark and normal) plus lambda; the former contributes 0.3 to omega and the latter 0.7. However, these numbers aren't exact and omega may be just over or just under 1. However, it seems like the consensus is that it is exactly 1. Is this still the consensus or is there new data?
  2. Also, if omega is 1, then that means our universe's matter is exactly at the critical density to prevent collapse?
  3. Does the former (#2) mean that our universe will continue to expand but stop at some point or will expansion continue accelerating?
  4. What is the fundamental difference between the Big Chill model and the Big Rip model? If the universe continues to expand, would not the Big Chill happen first, followed later by the Big Rip? I don't understand how the latter wouldn't eventually also happen.
submitted by /u/yungskiddy
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What do you call the small broken up islands that surround northern land masses like Greenland?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 01:40 PM PDT

What do you call the frayed edges of northern land masses like Greenland? The small, broken up pieces of land that sometimes seperate off the main land mass into tiny islands(They are so small, I'm not sure if Island is the correct term.). If I could figure out a way to post a picture, I would circle what I mean in red...

submitted by /u/MFF_zews
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Why can't our brains/bodies restart after dying?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 07:03 AM PDT

I understand the brain and body need certain nutrients and elements to function and will die without those. Much like a computer needing power, the brain will die without oxygen (for example). But unlike a computer starting up again after being dead by powering it, why can't a brain or some cells that died because of lack or nutrients start up again if they're given those nutrients after death?

submitted by /u/But_IAmARobot
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If the sun is expanding, does that mean that the habitable zone is also changing ?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 07:37 AM PDT

At what distance does diving into water go from recreational to lethal?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 11:38 AM PDT

During a harmonic alignment of the planets is the barycenter of our solar system ever outside the sphere of the sun?

Posted: 05 Oct 2018 10:12 AM PDT

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