We encounter static electricity all the time and it's not shocking (sorry) because we know what's going on, but what on earth did people think was happening before we understood electricity?

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• We encounter static electricity all the time and it's not shocking (sorry) because we know what's going on, but what on earth did people think was happening before we understood electricity?
• Is there an economic mechanism that prevents a few entities from acquiring all of the housing and renting it out?
• Why don't we sneeze in our sleep?
• Is reinforced concrete able to function as a faraday cage? And if so does it make a building save of EMPs?
• In the event of a nuclear war (with humanity's current arsenal being used) How long would it take for the bioshpere to regenerate? (if it would at all)
• Far away galaxies recede from us at a speed proportional to their distance... but what are their speeds relative to the cosmic microwave background?
• What does it mean to say that waves in the electric field move perpendicular to waves in the magnetic field?
• Is bonding angle between atoms in a crystal changed significantly under mechanical strain?
• Unlocking my door made my headphones stop working?
• Is wearing Bluetooth headphones all day dangerous to our health?
• Is the sun's hydrogen (both deuterium and tritium) metallic and how would fission of metallic hydrogen differ from gaseous hydrogen?
• How would you measure the speed of light using typical household appliances and materials?
• When someone calls my cell phone, how does the telecom infrastructure "find" my phone?
• Artificial gravity is possible?
• Time dilation while accelerating?
• How is the risk of earthquakes determined?
• Where exactly are the nodes of a free vibrating rod?
• Why is a grossly over expanded nozzle more efficient than a slight over expansion?
• What did the invention of computing do for Mathematics?
• You can use the inverse of addition, multiplication, and exponentiation to expand the set of numbers you work with: natural numbers -> integers -> rationals -> reals -> complex numbers. Why does this pattern suddenly stop with exponentiation?
• Why does a liquid run down the side of a glass when pouring it?
• Why is it cold in space but temperatures differ on planets?
• There is an absolute zero, but why isn't there an "absolute hot"? If nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, wouldn't "absolute hot" be the heat of a thing assuming the molecules in the thing are traveling at the speed of light?

We encounter static electricity all the time and it's not shocking (sorry) because we know what's going on, but what on earth did people think was happening before we understood electricity? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 05:41 PM PDT submitted by /u/BecauseDan [link] [comments]

Is there an economic mechanism that prevents a few entities from acquiring all of the housing and renting it out? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 08:50 AM PDT It seems like it would be possible for extremely wealthy individuals and companies like Blackstone to just continually acquire housing and then leverage rent-backed securities and inelastic demand to rent that housing out indefinitely, which would create scarcity in housing that can be purchased, which would further drive up the cost of ownership and force more people to be stuck renting. Is there some economic principle that will prevent this or has prevented it before? Are we heading towards a future where nobody owns their home? submitted by /u/codyish [link] [comments]

Why don't we sneeze in our sleep? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 08:47 PM PDT submitted by /u/Green_armour [link] [comments]

Is reinforced concrete able to function as a faraday cage? And if so does it make a building save of EMPs? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 01:47 PM PDT Does the steel inside reinforced concrete form a faraday cage if you build a building? If so, does it prevent electronics from being damaged from an EMP if it is inside such a building? submitted by /u/Freakwave91 [link] [comments]

In the event of a nuclear war (with humanity's current arsenal being used) How long would it take for the bioshpere to regenerate? (if it would at all) Posted: 13 Jun 2017 07:10 AM PDT I guess I should define regenerate. Let's say, pre-war levels of habitability for humans, and animals. Though knowing chernobyl, animals couldn't give a bother about radition. submitted by /u/Doveen [link] [comments]

Far away galaxies recede from us at a speed proportional to their distance... but what are their speeds relative to the cosmic microwave background? Posted: 13 Jun 2017 04:25 AM PDT So when it comes to cosmology we (non astronomers) are always told that expansion of the universe is like a cake leavening in an oven: pieces of chocolate get their distance to each other increased even though they don't move through the dough. Or like fish swimming in a fast flowing river, so that even if they swim slowly through the water the current carries them at a higher speed. Please take it easy because in Engineering school we're only taught SR, not GR. My current understanding is that the Big Bang happened everywhere. Anyone on any galaxy would see him/herself as the center of the observable universe because all galaxy clusters recede from each other. Does this all imply that their speeds relative to the CMB are low or nearly at rest? (Ours is just 630 km/s which is almost nothing at a cosmological scale) Cosmology always blows my mind. submitted by /u/katinla [link] [comments]

What does it mean to say that waves in the electric field move perpendicular to waves in the magnetic field? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 05:50 PM PDT The pictures in my textbook show them as two transverse waves, but that doesn't quite make sense to me. Which way is 'up' to the electric field? submitted by /u/Ass_Dragon [link] [comments]

Is bonding angle between atoms in a crystal changed significantly under mechanical strain? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 11:37 AM PDT For example, does slightly bending a metal bar significantly change the crystal structure? submitted by /u/dredged_chicken [link] [comments]

Unlocking my door made my headphones stop working? Posted: 13 Jun 2017 07:25 AM PDT The door to my flat has a magnetic locking system that uses a keycard to open, much like most modern hotels use. Today, I arrived at my door whilst listening to music on my phone through pretty standard in-ear headphones. At the exact moment I unlocked the door (simultaneous with the green light on the lock indicating this), my music went completely silent. The volume on my phone was still up, but no sound was coming out. Was this a well-timed coincidence or did some sort of reaction take place? The headphones worked absolutely fine after re-plugging. submitted by /u/HyderintheHouse [link] [comments]

Is wearing Bluetooth headphones all day dangerous to our health? Posted: 13 Jun 2017 07:02 AM PDT My dad will not let me use wireless bluetooth headphones because he is CONVINCED they are cancer causing. Can I have help accumulating proof that he is wrong. There are a lot of websites that look very questionable and few that are known for credibility; please help. Thank you submitted by /u/ComputerWiz77 [link] [comments]

Is the sun's hydrogen (both deuterium and tritium) metallic and how would fission of metallic hydrogen differ from gaseous hydrogen? Posted: 13 Jun 2017 05:20 AM PDT submitted by /u/jesrivera95 [link] [comments]

How would you measure the speed of light using typical household appliances and materials? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 02:13 PM PDT submitted by /u/Tank_Cheetah [link] [comments]

When someone calls my cell phone, how does the telecom infrastructure "find" my phone? Posted: 13 Jun 2017 12:56 AM PDT I can be anywhere in the country and a lot of places around the world and I will still receive calls in a matter of seconds. The cell towers can't possibly scan every single phone in the world looking for mine. I have an area code but the number works just as well if I'm not in my hometown. So how do the computers and companies that run these things figure out where I am and where to send the phone call so quickly? submitted by /u/Scarlette_Lee [link] [comments]

Artificial gravity is possible? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 07:58 PM PDT Is it possible, and if so how can you create artificial gravity in space like they have in the movies, if so why haven't they? submitted by /u/adamfez [link] [comments]

Time dilation while accelerating? Posted: 13 Jun 2017 02:13 AM PDT I'm not sure if this is the right subreddit, but here goes; When an object is accelerating at a significant speed, can I compute the time dilation effect by using the average velocity of the object while it's accelerating? (My understanding of physics is basic, please don't crucify me if I make glaring mistakes) Lets say I have an object accelerating at a rate of 2000 g's to .8c (takes around 204 minutes relative to the object), and I wanted to figure out the dilation of time while it's accelerating. My intuition (and my 2 in AP Physics) tells me that I can simply divide the final velocity by 2 (.4c), and use that in the equation in the time dilation equation 1/(Square root of (1-( v2 )/( c2 ))). So substituting v for .4c and solving like that gives me 1/.774, which when figuring the total time dilation gives me 263 minutes total for an outside observer timing the total length of time it took to accelerate to .8c. I cannot see any flaws in my math, and yet I feel like this answer just isn't right because it seems too simple. Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right track with this? submitted by /u/RobbieXD [link] [comments]

How is the risk of earthquakes determined? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 07:57 PM PDT I was reading about various natural disasters which got me thinking about how we go about understanding which faults are under particularly sever stress or are points or areas at high risk for earthquake. I assume the question has been asked before but a quick search didn't show what I was asking so if you have a link to a previous thread where this is discussed that would be sufficient. submitted by /u/dovetc [link] [comments]

Where exactly are the nodes of a free vibrating rod? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 07:45 PM PDT According to one source the nodes of a vibrating rod are about 22% from either end. Why "about 22%"? Unfortunately they don't give any explanation and I could only find calculations for rods that are fixed at one or both ends. I wonder: What is the exact number for a free vibrating rod and how can it be calculated? If the middle of the rod and both ends are antinodes (i.e. points with maximum displacement), shouldn't the nodes be exactly 25% from either end of the rod? Why is this not the case? What am I missing? I am asking because I want to build wind chimes and need to find the right spot to suspend the tubes. submitted by /u/Sidiabdulassar [link] [comments]

Why is a grossly over expanded nozzle more efficient than a slight over expansion? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 07:38 AM PDT So I came across this when I was doing some gas dynamics research, and I am trying to remember back to my high speed aerodynamics class. A grossly overexpanded nozzle moves the oblique shocks at the exit into a normal shock that slowly moves into the nozzle, while a slight overexpansion has oblique shocks outside the nozzle. Is a grossly overexpanded more efficient because once that normal shock is within the nozzle, all flow pressure increases within the nozzle itself despite it separating from the nozzle wall? With a lot of shock patterns it seems like there is a normal shock some distance from the exterior of the nozzle, followed by a shock diamond pattern of obliques and expansion waves, but I would have thought that getting as close to ideal full expansion would reduce change in entropy and provide maximum thrust. I came across this claim that grossly over expanded was more efficient than slight over expansion (while not as efficient as ideal expansion) so I would just like some clarification on this. submitted by /u/Funkit [link] [comments]

What did the invention of computing do for Mathematics? Posted: 13 Jun 2017 12:52 AM PDT I was recently watching a numberphile video about Fermats last theorom and Ken Ribbet mentions about writing on the first Mac he got. That prompted me to wonder what did the invention of computing do for mathematicians when they became more readily available? Did it really only help in the speed of the calculations therefore increasing the speed at which you could solve a particular problem or did it revolutionise it or simply didn't change alot? I know now that computing can be used to compute simulations and such. Thanks a lot for any answers. I'm not a mathematician in anyway shape or form. submitted by /u/Jbstargate1 [link] [comments]

You can use the inverse of addition, multiplication, and exponentiation to expand the set of numbers you work with: natural numbers -> integers -> rationals -> reals -> complex numbers. Why does this pattern suddenly stop with exponentiation? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 10:03 AM PDT If you allow subtraction on the natural numbers, then you have gaps that are filled by the rest of the integers. If you allow division on the integers, you have gaps that are filled by the rest of the rationals. If you allow roots, you have gaps that are filled with the rest of the reals and then the complex numbers. Yet from what I understand, there's no such gaps in the complex numbers. Why wouldn't the inverse of tetration continue this pattern? submitted by /u/heyheyhey27 [link] [comments]

Why does a liquid run down the side of a glass when pouring it? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 09:51 AM PDT When I pour a liquid from a mug into another container, it runs down the side of the mug. Why does this happen? submitted by /u/GranttH [link] [comments]

Why is it cold in space but temperatures differ on planets? Posted: 13 Jun 2017 04:02 AM PDT submitted by /u/Aqpommi [link] [comments]

There is an absolute zero, but why isn't there an "absolute hot"? If nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, wouldn't "absolute hot" be the heat of a thing assuming the molecules in the thing are traveling at the speed of light? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 11:10 PM PDT Because heat is caused by things moving fast. Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. Therefore, the hottest a thing can get is if the molecules are traveling at the speed of light, right? submitted by /u/Pandemic21 [link] [comments]

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Why can't I remember a smell or taste the same way I can an image or a sound?

---

• Why can't I remember a smell or taste the same way I can an image or a sound?
• If dry ice is made of CO2, and CO2 is transparent, why does it produce a white fog?
• Is there a scientific explanation for the eerie silence people describe before large storms?
• [Biology] Do birds of a flock obey some sort of hirearchy? Is there an "alpha" bird or birds?
• Are there error correcting codes in thermodynamics?
• Why are hybrid animals like Ligers and Mules born sterile?
• How many dimensions are out there? 10 or 24 or more?
• Why was Kalium renamed to Potassium?
• How does a violent thunderstorm or tornado cause the sky to appear green?
• Do communication waves interfere with each other?
• How can animals detect water when we are taught that water doesn't have a scent?
• What was the size of the very early universe?
• Can computers read a book and answer our questions beyond basic keyword searches?
• Why don't our teeth heal?
• For what situations would the 3rd derivative (and beyond) of displacement, eg jerk, be applied or used?
• How do atoms join together?
• Can someone please explain holography to me? Just the last step; I can't find the explanation anywhere on the internet.
• Where do neutrons come from?
• How can a non radioactive material have radiation?
• Are there any reptiles that prefer really dark places?
• Does light travel faster through hot air than it does cold air?
• If you keep flying a plane upwards what happens?
• How do atoms convert to energy?

Why can't I remember a smell or taste the same way I can an image or a sound? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 09:05 PM PDT For sounds and images, I'm able to replicate those sense data in my head. But for tastes, smells, and touches, I can only remember descriptions of that sensation. For example, my favorite food is ramen and I'm unable to simply produce the taste of ramen in my head - I can only remember that it is savory and salty. Though it seems that I am able to compare tastes and smells (I know one ramen tastes differently from the next, even if they may both be salty and savory). Does this mean I can subconsciously replicate those sense data? Thanks. submitted by /u/TheRoyalty [link] [comments]

If dry ice is made of CO2, and CO2 is transparent, why does it produce a white fog? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 01:18 PM PDT submitted by /u/Mussolinguine [link] [comments]

Is there a scientific explanation for the eerie silence people describe before large storms? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 01:18 PM PDT submitted by /u/Edenio1 [link] [comments]

[Biology] Do birds of a flock obey some sort of hirearchy? Is there an "alpha" bird or birds? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 06:27 PM PDT Woke up today to the sound of some Kookaburras (not that they're necessarily a bird that flocks) outside my window (Australian here) and I was wondering how birds of a flock might interact with each other as far as some pecking order (no pun intended, seriously) is concerned? submitted by /u/docvitch [link] [comments]

Are there error correcting codes in thermodynamics? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 04:55 AM PDT In information theory there are methods for detecting and correcting errors in the transmission of information, and since thermodynamics has proven equivalence with information does the same thing exist in thermo? If so, what is the physical meaning? submitted by /u/Bahatur [link] [comments]

Why are hybrid animals like Ligers and Mules born sterile? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 02:35 PM PDT I've heard it is an imbalance of chromosomes from the different species that isn't so different that they can breed in the first place but different enough that their offspring can't produce eggs or sperm, but why is this? submitted by /u/TheMysticGed [link] [comments]

How many dimensions are out there? 10 or 24 or more? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 04:45 AM PDT I have read about 10 but is 24 just a theoretical number? submitted by /u/vaibhavk1 [link] [comments]

Why was Kalium renamed to Potassium? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 04:36 AM PDT submitted by /u/Scriabin_ [link] [comments]

How does a violent thunderstorm or tornado cause the sky to appear green? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 01:53 PM PDT submitted by /u/sizzlingfajita [link] [comments]

Do communication waves interfere with each other? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 12:46 AM PDT I saw almost everyone in a conference hall with their cellphones out, watching videos and such. Do cellphone signals and similar signals interfere with eachother? How is it that large amounts of data can be so accurately directed to different devices? submitted by /u/MakitBunDem [link] [comments]

How can animals detect water when we are taught that water doesn't have a scent? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 12:40 AM PDT My hypothesis is that some animals don't detect water, but actually detect the effects water has on the environment in which it is found, for example minerals in water due to the effect of erosion or the increased vegetation surrounding water sources. submitted by /u/JohnathanTeatime [link] [comments]

What was the size of the very early universe? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 02:01 PM PDT Howdy, I'm reading Neil de Grasse Tyson's "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry," and he writes something that is driving me nuts regarding the size of the very early universe. For those not familiar with the book, the opening chapter starts with the Big Bang, and takes you through all of the things that are happening with quarks, leptons, hadrons, etc. He describes all these things and says stuff like, "A billioninth of a second has passed." It's a very compelling literary tool. But then he writes this: "By now, one second of time has passed. The universe has grown to a few light-years across..." Here's what is bothering me: if only a second of time has passed, how could the universe have expanded to a few light years across? How could any of those early particles have traveled further than a light second? Presumably at this point the particles were all limited to traveling at the speed of light. So after one second of time, wouldn't the diameter of the universe (assuming it was basically a sphere) be 2 light seconds? submitted by /u/Avoid-The-Clap [link] [comments]

Can computers read a book and answer our questions beyond basic keyword searches? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 11:46 PM PDT Questions like: list the members of the Fellowship (LOTR) plot explanation complex religious problem by reading Bible or Quran submitted by /u/iBzOtaku [link] [comments]

Why don't our teeth heal? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 07:38 PM PDT Why do we need fillings for our cavities, after all shouldn't evolution have caused that our teeth can regenerate like our bones and skin? Idk if this is the same but; We see this by some rodents who's ameloblasts don't die after their teeth grow. Though they need to constantly gnaw at things, to keep their teeth at the proper size and shape, this seems to be a much more practical solution ("evolution-wise") than not healing at all. submitted by /u/webs1357 [link] [comments]

For what situations would the 3rd derivative (and beyond) of displacement, eg jerk, be applied or used? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 12:24 AM PDT submitted by /u/coneballs15 [link] [comments]

How do atoms join together? Posted: 12 Jun 2017 02:16 AM PDT Eg. Hydrogen + carbon dioxide - water. How does the hydrogen and carbon dioxide join together? submitted by /u/willy_wonka_8391 [link] [comments]

Can someone please explain holography to me? Just the last step; I can't find the explanation anywhere on the internet. Posted: 11 Jun 2017 12:01 PM PDT OK, so I understand interference, coherence and all that kinds of things. I want to learn about holography, so I open its article on Wikipedia and read. It's all OK until in the "How it works" section, in the "Process" paragraph, I find this: This missing key is provided later by shining a laser, identical to the one used to record the hologram, onto the developed film. When this beam illuminates the hologram, it is diffracted by the hologram's surface pattern. This produces a light field identical to the one originally produced by the scene and scattered onto the hologram. How? So I have an interference pattern, I have somehow frozen it. Then I shine a light on it. Why does the light shining on the interference pattern produce the other beam which created the pattern? Thanks. submitted by /u/elmiraguth [link] [comments]

Where do neutrons come from? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 12:56 PM PDT If the universe was proton soup after the Big Bang and these protons began gathering in large clouds of hydrogen which due to gravity started to compress and heat and fuse into other elements like helium, where did the neutrons come from? submitted by /u/lli32 [link] [comments]

How can a non radioactive material have radiation? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 01:38 PM PDT Assume I'm exposed to radiation, how do I become radioactive? From my understanding radiation are gamma beta and alpha Rays. For cases like visiting Chernobyl I should be safe after leaving and cleaning any contaminated clothes, but people can measure radioactivity on someone's body, that doesn't make sense submitted by /u/hdjsiwwnwn [link] [comments]

Are there any reptiles that prefer really dark places? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 11:44 PM PDT I'm worldbuilding something and I have a species of REPTILIAN HUMANOIDS who evolved as a species on the night side of a tidal locked planet, and as such anything beyond the most minimal amount of light actually damages their skin along the lines of xeroderma pigmentosum As far as I know there's no reptile or animal that's actually physically harmed by light, though please let me know if there is. What I'm looking for is any reptile or other animal with an extreme dislike for light, but isn't nocturnal. submitted by /u/DerpyDaymare [link] [comments]

Does light travel faster through hot air than it does cold air? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 10:32 AM PDT submitted by /u/MemeCretin [link] [comments]

If you keep flying a plane upwards what happens? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 11:42 AM PDT submitted by /u/flowerfoldest [link] [comments]

How do atoms convert to energy? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 11:23 AM PDT If matter and energy and interchangeable, how do atoms convert to photons? submitted by /u/FattyMigs [link] [comments]

You are subscribed to email updates from AskScience: Got Questions? Get Answers.. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States

How do we still have radioactive particles on earth despite the short length of their half lives and the relatively long time they have been on earth?

---

• How do we still have radioactive particles on earth despite the short length of their half lives and the relatively long time they have been on earth?
• How long would we see a Super Nova in the visible spectrum ?
• Why, how and what does it mean that light waves and other waves are sinusoidal?
• What is between neutrons/protons and electrons?
• Why are rain clouds grey and normal clouds white if they're both made up of water?
• How do we really know what's beneath the Earth's surface?
• How are the sine and cosine functions derived?
• Do you need more force to launch a rocket from the ground or to land it on said ground?
• How is ethanol produced industrially?
• How do submarines communicate with surface ships and satellite? Does (salt) water affect RF transmission?
• Why is lithium-ion technology preferred for grid energy storage?
• Why do marshmallows blow up when you microwave them?
• If the density of polystyrene is 1.04 g/cm^3, why doesn't Styrofoam sink in water?
• Are there particle annihilations that result in other Bosons besides photons?
• I have read that ball bearings should be packed in grease, to reduce friction between the balls & the races. In some cases, couldn't the grease INCREASE the friction, by touching parts of the ball that would otherwise be in contact with air?
• Why aren't areas that are below sea level covered in water?
• How does the CPU know what an operation an opcode bits represent?
• Do insect colonies experience plagues?
• So what would happen if you took off your helmet on mars? It has a form of an atmosphere so I wouldn't imagine it'd be the same effect as space. How long would you have to live and what's the most likely cause of death?

How do we still have radioactive particles on earth despite the short length of their half lives and the relatively long time they have been on earth? Posted: 11 Jun 2017 03:20 AM PDT For example carbon 14 has a half life of 5,730 years, that means that since the earth was created, there have been about 69,800 half lives. Surely that is enough to ensure pretty much negligable amounts of carbon on earth. According to wikipedia, 1-1.5 per 1012 cabon atoms are carbon 13 or 14. So if this is the case for something with a half life as long as carbon 14, then how the hell are their still radioactive elements/isotopes on earth with lower half lives? How do we still pick up trace, but still appreciable, amounts of radioactive elements/isotopes on earth? Is it correct to assume that no new radioactive particles are being produced on/in earth? and that they have all been produced in space/stars? Or are these trace amount replenished naturally on earth somehow? I recognize that the math checks out, and that we should still be picking up at least some traces of them. But if you were to look at it from the perspective of a individual Cesium or Phosphorus-32 atoms it seems so unlikely that they just happen to survive so many potential opportunities to just decay and get entirely wiped out on earth. I get that radioactive decay is asymptotic, and that theoretically there should always be SOME of these molecules left, but in the real world this seems improbable. Are there other factors I'm missing? submitted by /u/TheBlackLagooner [link] [comments]

How long would we see a Super Nova in the visible spectrum ? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 06:59 PM PDT Would we see something before hand and after in other spectrums and why? I understand the distance would be a huge factor. submitted by /u/flyingfrig [link] [comments]

Why, how and what does it mean that light waves and other waves are sinusoidal? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 11:56 PM PDT submitted by /u/Deliciousbutter101 [link] [comments]

What is between neutrons/protons and electrons? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 06:29 PM PDT submitted by /u/iEnjinere [link] [comments]

Why are rain clouds grey and normal clouds white if they're both made up of water? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 05:08 AM PDT submitted by /u/kapuskapse [link] [comments]

How do we really know what's beneath the Earth's surface? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 02:34 PM PDT The deepest hole we've ever dug is the SG-3 branch of the Kola Superdeep Borehole, which penetrates 7.5 miles into the Earth's crust. As deep as this hole is, it only goes 0.002% of the way to the center of the Earth. How then can we know what is beyond the Earth's crust? How do we know what the Mantle consists of? How do we know what the outer and inner cores consist of? And how do we know the thickness/density of each? submitted by /u/Yimter [link] [comments]

How are the sine and cosine functions derived? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 05:28 PM PDT I understand that for certain angles, using the relationships between the sides of 30-60-90 and 45-45-90 triangles can be used to find the value of sine and cosine. But what I don't understand is how those functions are found for different angles, like 11 degrees. In practice you use a calculator, but the calculator's answer has to come from somewhere. submitted by /u/PM_ME_USERNAME_MEMES [link] [comments]

Do you need more force to launch a rocket from the ground or to land it on said ground? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 06:21 PM PDT submitted by /u/twoanimals [link] [comments]

How is ethanol produced industrially? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 03:53 PM PDT How do companys produce ethanol without yeast? I would think that for industrial amounts relying on yeast would be very unreliable and time consuming, so there must be a way to produce relatively pure ethanol for labs and such purely through non-biological sources. But if this is the case, how come you don't see it being sold as a very strong drink, like everclear? submitted by /u/billybobthongton [link] [comments]

How do submarines communicate with surface ships and satellite? Does (salt) water affect RF transmission? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 09:28 AM PDT submitted by /u/slayer_f-150 [link] [comments]

Why is lithium-ion technology preferred for grid energy storage? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 04:43 PM PDT It seems that many new electricity storage plans are based on lithium-ion-type chemistry. As far as I know, Li-Ion batteries are preferred for many applications because they have a high energy density, a low self-discharge rate and no memory effects. These benefits seem useless if you're just placing the battery somewhere and charging & de-charging it every day. On the other hand Li-Ion batteries age faster and are supposed to be more expensive than other types. A back of the envelope calculation (6$/kg lithium carbonate, $2/kg Mn ~ 5$/kg LiMnO3 ~ 20$/kWh spent on raw materials (assuming 250 Wh/kg) battery) tells me that quite a bit of the 125$/kWh of the Chevy Bolt is spent on raw materials. Specifically NaS chemistry seems like it has the potential to be much cheaper. Are there no benefits to large-scale professionally maintained lead-acid systems? Can't we build something based on a couple of cheaper elements? Especially when batteries with 1/10th the energy density would work just fine? submitted by /u/vonBeche [link] [comments]

Why do marshmallows blow up when you microwave them? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 04:22 PM PDT And then quickly harden? submitted by /u/merequeen [link] [comments]

If the density of polystyrene is 1.04 g/cm^3, why doesn't Styrofoam sink in water? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 09:12 AM PDT submitted by /u/sbundlab [link] [comments]

Are there particle annihilations that result in other Bosons besides photons? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 01:34 PM PDT When reading about particle collisions and annihilations, the most common example given is a collision with an electron and a positron, resulting in two high-energy photons. Are there other collisions which result in annihilations with different force-carrying particles? If so, does this imply that there is more to duality besides particle charge? submitted by /u/jhill515 [link] [comments]

I have read that ball bearings should be packed in grease, to reduce friction between the balls & the races. In some cases, couldn't the grease INCREASE the friction, by touching parts of the ball that would otherwise be in contact with air? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 04:45 PM PDT submitted by /u/thefourthchipmunk [link] [comments]

Why aren't areas that are below sea level covered in water? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 06:26 PM PDT Wouldn't water flow downhill into these areas and create bodies of water? submitted by /u/cquigley666 [link] [comments]

How does the CPU know what an operation an opcode bits represent? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 02:00 PM PDT We've always been told a computer knows how to perform an operation on code based on what it's expected to find. But how does it come to expect something such as ADD (memory location operand) to the ACC. How do a bunch of logic gates and 1s and 0s know that the operand means ADD? excuse the title grammar error submitted by /u/Wabacus [link] [comments]

Do insect colonies experience plagues? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 10:35 AM PDT Ants, bees, termites, seem to live in the kind of conditions that would make humans very susceptible to plagues. (By a plague, I mean a very high-mortality contagious disease). Do entire colonies of such insects occasionally die to contagious disease? submitted by /u/chopsaver [link] [comments]

So what would happen if you took off your helmet on mars? It has a form of an atmosphere so I wouldn't imagine it'd be the same effect as space. How long would you have to live and what's the most likely cause of death? Posted: 10 Jun 2017 02:12 PM PDT submitted by /u/AccordionMaestro [link] [comments]

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