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Sunday, July 30, 2017

Why does colored plastic turn white when bent?

Why does colored plastic turn white when bent?


Why does colored plastic turn white when bent?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 03:39 PM PDT

Do spiders scout out multiple places before deciding to spin their web and if so, are environmental conditions taken into account (wind speed, temperature, humidity, etc.)?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 05:07 PM PDT

Can you melt wood?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 05:20 PM PDT

Do stars fuse elements larger than uranium that are unable to escape?

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 06:12 AM PDT

If a car is a faraday cage why do I still get signal?

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 05:45 AM PDT

Many times the car is described similarly to a faraday cage during thunderstrikes. Why is it that I can get electromagnetic signal outside my car if it is a faraday cage. Are the holes of the windows enough to have signal pass through?

submitted by /u/ladald
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How does RFID work?

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 02:35 AM PDT

I've tried Googling this but I can't seem to find an answer that explains RFID in terms of electromagnetism and the physics behind it in detail

submitted by /u/6inchesofsnow
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Blue light affects our sleep, but do colourblind people experience sleep problems from blue light?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 04:08 PM PDT

Blue light will keep us awake, but will the same light affect a colourblind person?

submitted by /u/ManEatingGnomes
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If/when the Big Rip happens, would hadrons multiply via color confinement? If so, how would this affect inflation?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 06:38 PM PDT

If two nuclear physicists agree to study a particular electron simultaneously; one measures its position, and the other measures its speed; what would happen to the electron as it would now be in contravention of the Heisenberg Principle?

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 05:48 AM PDT

Why does ice crack when added to warmer liquids?

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 04:03 AM PDT

What causes the heavy feeling in your chest/stomach area when you're nervous?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 05:04 PM PDT

Why is it so hard to remember our dreams but not our memories?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 04:19 PM PDT

Why isn't it possible to create a monopolar magnet by just creating a ball of stick magnets with all the same pole pointing inwards/outwards?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 05:40 PM PDT

Wouldn't that create a magnet which has the same pole on all sides?

For illustration i tried to make a paint sketch:

http://puu.sh/wWC1E/28df902291.png

Why would the magnetic field created by those two be different? Wouldn't both magnetic fields just radiate straight outwards?

submitted by /u/Truckermouse
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Does the definition of "orbit" in astronomy require the barycenter to be within the boundaries of the object that's being orbited?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 11:41 PM PDT

So does Jupiter technically not orbit the sun?

submitted by /u/monkeyhead_man
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How can we know that a quark is in a superposition before measuring it?

Posted: 30 Jul 2017 01:06 AM PDT

How can we know that a quark is in a superposition before measuring it (Becouse to me it sounds like before I look at something there is everything and when I look there it decides to be a table)?

submitted by /u/sciencesearcher
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Why does the tip of your finger hurt after you cut the nail too short?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 08:55 AM PDT

How much thrust is produced by the average stream of urine?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 11:31 PM PDT

Why are the majority of human beings right-handed? Why aren't we all just ambidextrous?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 10:43 AM PDT

I recently read that ~90% of humans are right-handed and that a similar ratio of right-handedness has been observed in apes. But why? Is/was there some evolutionary benefit or is it just a cultural practice? Why aren't we all 100% ambidextrous?

submitted by /u/Stormaen
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What is it in cigarettes that causes heart attacks, strokes, and aneurysms?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 12:49 PM PDT

I stopped smoking a few years ago through the use of electronic cigarettes but have been unable to fully ween myself off of nicotine patches, lozenges, and electronic cigarettes.

I was curious if nicotine itself has been tested as being what causes these things in any study, or if it is other chemicals and the tar in cigarettes that cause these problems. I've always been told nicotine just raises your blood pressure and that's about it but that was never from experts/scientists.

submitted by /u/kylepierce11
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Why is a real string pitch depending on the wave amplitude?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 03:35 PM PDT

When you pick a string on, say, a guitar, with exaggerated force, you may notice a higher pitch, then rapidly decreasing to the expected one when the wave amplitude decreases. This pitch shift is especially noticeable on the lower strings (where larger amplitudes are possible). What is the physical phenomenon leading to this? How can one express this dependence between pitch and amplitude mathematically?

Edit: This is not about higher harmonics. There is a small but perceptible shift of the fundamental towards higher frequencies. My guess is that the deformation applied to the string increases the tension, which in turn increases the wave frequency. Is this a possible explanation?

submitted by /u/marcodr13
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Does sound travel through spiraled tubing at the same speed as through straight tubing?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 02:21 PM PDT

A co-worker and I are having a disagreement on this issue.

At our job we use headsets connected to a handheld radio for communication. We wear those CIA looking headsets in our ears. The wire runs to a speaker which is clipped to the back of our collar and then the sound travels through a small tubing, which is straight, spirals in the middle, and then loops over the ear and into the earpiece.

I cut my tubing down from the speaker to the spiral, so it stays somewhat tight in my ear.

While assisting a new employee i cut her tubing down even closer to the spiral in the tubing. Almost to the point where the speaker produced sound straight into the spiral before getting to the earpiece.

Halfway through the shift, he speaker blew out and the sound is crackling.

My co worker said the speaker blew because the sound gets too backed up going through the spiral, compressing it and blowing our the speaker.

My argument is that the tubing is all the same diameter, and the sound is traveling at the same rate whether it is straight or spiraled. Also, why wouldn't the spiral compress it even if it did have a few inches of tubing before the spiral.

I have searched for an answer with no luck which is why I am here. My co worker will need me to have some scientific information or sources in order to concede.

Thank you all.

submitted by /u/Steveofcourse123
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Is the light from a color-changing led bulb the same caliber/quality as a dedicated led bulb?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 10:28 PM PDT

Say for instance the color-changing led is set to the same color temp as a dedicated led bulb (4000k or something). Is the light from the color-changing bulb technically identical to the dedicated led?

submitted by /u/breauxbreaux
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Saturday, July 29, 2017

Why is the human nose the shape it is? Why isn't it just two holes in our face?

Why is the human nose the shape it is? Why isn't it just two holes in our face?


Why is the human nose the shape it is? Why isn't it just two holes in our face?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 03:59 AM PDT

How high could mountains on Earth grow? Is there evidence of higher mountains in the past?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 04:55 AM PDT

Given what we know about plate tectonics, erosion and so on, is there a maximum height mountains could grow to?

Could a range like the Himalayas reach 5-10km higher in time and do we have any evidence of this in the past?

submitted by /u/trendyhipsterboi
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I saw a picture claiming that manhole covers are round because a circle is the only shape that can't be made pass through itself. Is it true?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 03:11 AM PDT

I saw a picture on cracked.com claiming what I described in the title.

I wonder, is it really true?

submitted by /u/DaBeechees
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If I donate blood, then later need a blood transfusion, what are the odds that I'm receiving my own blood?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 04:20 AM PDT

Why doesn't aluminum seem to glow orange when hot like other metals?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 04:07 AM PDT

What produces the whistling sound you hear when a large bomb is being dropped or a firework is going off, etc?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 05:54 PM PDT

Could someone please explain to me why quantum entanglement occurs?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 11:16 PM PDT

From my understanding of quantum entanglement (it might be wrong) an electron in a pair will tell you information about the other electron in the pair regardless of the distance between them. Also manipulating one electron will affect the other paired electron. If all electron are exactly the same shouldn't one not affect another specific electron. Also when you manipulate electron does the the other electron get affected instantaneously or does it somehow have to communicate with the other electron. If so how fast do they communicate with each other and how do they do it.

submitted by /u/mapzv
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How does nucleation of crystals happen microscopically?

Posted: 29 Jul 2017 02:58 AM PDT

I am trying to purify a rather large batch of Rochelle salt by recrystallization.

I have observed some weird things concerning the nucleation of crystals, and as I want to grow one big single crystal, I want to minimize nucleations.

So my question is as the title says, what happens microscopically during nucleation of crystals?
And how exactly does it explain the following four points:

1) I used an clean old glass oven dish with a lot of scratches with my first batch. Even though there were a lot of scratches only 6 big crystals formed. Why didn't all the scratches form crystals (see also (3))

2) I got one crystal out with a toothpick. The next day, everywhere my toothpick touched the glass small crystals were growing. (I have seen a similar effect with escaping airbubbles in nearly boiling water after stirring with a spoon) How does a wooden toothpick alter the glass surface in such a way that crystals are nucleated wherever it contacted the surface?

3) After the first batch, while resupersaturating a new batch, I cleaned the oven dish with tap water, I dried it with a towel, and rinced it three times with distilled water. (first time I didn't dry it with a towel, I just rinced the dish) The next day the entire bottom of the dish was covered with a layer of small crystals strongly adhered to the bottom of the plate. How did the towel change the glass surface? Probably similar to (1)

4) Since that crystal layer was difficult to remove from the glass, my third batch was in big flexible tupperware(clone) pot. Also with plenty of scratches. Similarly to (1) there were a few big crystals growing.

5) Is there a procedure that minimizes nucleation in general? I want to grow a single, flat crystal with a specific crystal plane pointing upwards on a plane of glass. How can i be sure that I have replicated situation (1) so that I don't have to worry too much about random nuclations spoiling my big crystal?

Thanks!

submitted by /u/Soldersponge
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Do all animal species have reproductive cells with flagella?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 09:16 AM PDT

How much energy does it take to make an average LED indicator blink?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 03:25 PM PDT

What sends the original signal in logic gates?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 04:46 PM PDT

So I was learning about logic gates and how when electrons can flow through it is true (or 1) and when they can't it is 0. now my question is what is the stimulus that makes this logic gates do it and where does it come from? e.g I want true so how does my computer know to send something to the logic gate to allow electrons to flow through and make it true? EDIT: in other words I know transistors are the ones that send true or false, but what sends the signal to them?

submitted by /u/johnlavolpe
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When you double the speed of a sound recording, the pitch doubles. When you double the speed of a video recording, why doesn't the light frequency double?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 08:06 AM PDT

I got asked this by a student and I'm struggling to put forward a sensible explanation - it feels like it should be obvious, but for the life of me I can't put it into words.

If you play back a 48k audio sample at 96k, then the frequencies double, the length of the sample halves, and the perceived pitch is double. Easy.

If you play back a 30fps video clip at 60fps, then..., well the length of the video clip halves, but it looks the same. Reds are reds, blues are blues. The perceived light "pitch" hasn't changed. Why not? Where's the blueshift?

I'm getting annoyed with myself for not being able to give a sensible explanation. Help! I'm ready to facepalm, please point out the obvious to me :-)

submitted by /u/betamat
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In an X-ray tube, what exactly causes X-rays to be generated from the target? I understand a lot of the energy ends up being heat but what exactly causes the X-rays to be produced?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 04:01 PM PDT

How does changing the position and/or angle of a laser source affect how the beam travels through a converging lens?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 04:00 PM PDT

If I point a laser beam anywhere at a converging lens, will the beam always be redirected and reach (a line running through) the center of the lens after it has travelled the focal length of the lens?

For example, this question entails both deviation from the center of the lens, pointing the laser at an angle not perpendicular to the lens, and a combination of both.

Thanks!

submitted by /u/markmcckkenzie
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Why is there a reflective ripple on the pavement of the road when looking at it from a distance(noticeable when driving a car)?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 07:04 PM PDT

Whenever I'm driving I can see the tires of the car reflected in the road as like almost silvery and wavering. It happens during the day time from what I've seen and only when looking from a considerable distance.

submitted by /u/krowzkore
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Can plasma electrocute you?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 08:24 AM PDT

Friday, July 28, 2017

Why do some people have good sense of direction while other don't? Do we know how the brain differs in such people?

Why do some people have good sense of direction while other don't? Do we know how the brain differs in such people?


Why do some people have good sense of direction while other don't? Do we know how the brain differs in such people?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 03:54 AM PDT

Do all electrons, protons and neutrons have the exact same mass and volume or are there slight variations?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 05:49 AM PDT

If the mass of an electron is said to be 9.10938356 × 10-31 kilograms, are there electrons that weight 9.10938356001 × 10-31 kilograms or 9.10938355999 × 10-31 kilograms?

Or are they all absolutly, 100%, without a doubt exactly the same mass and volume? Is there a way to tell them apart? can we know if the electron/proton/neutron that we are observing is the same one that we observed before?

submitted by /u/Vovabs
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Which is better for thermal protection/control, light colors or dark colors?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 05:56 AM PDT

Videos online have said that commercial aircraft are white in order to provide thermal protection from the Sun, but the SR-71 flew much higher, thus exposed to far more radiation from the Sun than any other aircraft, and it was painted black, according to Ben Rich, for better thermal protection. So which is the true better option?

submitted by /u/ripplecutbuddha2
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Marine biologists use submarines with bright lights to film deep sea creatures, many of which have very large, sensitive eyes. Are the retinas of these animals damaged by these lights, and do they try to avoid the subs?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 12:30 PM PDT

Why are security features in government documents and currency made to fluoresce in ultraviolet light as opposed to infrared light?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 01:36 AM PDT

A group of my friends who were Canadian were travelling abroad and I remembered seeing an image of the national passport on the site, imgur and how the pages 'glowed' in comparison to other passports so I decided to buy an UV flashlight online and sure enough we were amazed.

But it brought me thinking about how more expensive ultraviolet lighting is and why would the government not cut costs by using features that fluoresced in infrared instead. Is it because of a practical issue involving science or a security issue?

submitted by /u/femmejean
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Why is it when people are completely paralysed, the only things they can move is their eyes? What makes the eye muscles different to any other muscles?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 05:40 PM PDT

Why is the sky above me darker than at the horizon?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 07:02 PM PDT

When exercising, why do they recommend to breath in through your nose, and exhale through your mouth?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 03:04 PM PDT

Why do our breath stink when we are hungry?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 06:31 PM PDT

How do marine invertebrates, like octopuses, show up in the fossil record if they don't have bones? Wouldn't they simply decompose and leave no evolutionary record?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 02:04 AM PDT

What makes birds reptiles?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 07:52 AM PDT

I am a biology major in college and it has been drilled into my brain that birds are reptiles, however many people don't agree. Surprisingly, many of these people have a scientific background. Their main argument is that birds are a completely different class from reptiles.

submitted by /u/AshleyNunez
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Does picking 4-leaf clovers have a selective breeding effect?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 06:06 PM PDT

How do plants know when to start blooming?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 07:32 PM PDT

Do plant hormones have something to do with it? Is it triggered by temperature?

submitted by /u/reallyageek
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How far does an average atom travel in one day?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 11:10 PM PDT

A laser diode allows current to flow in the opposite way?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 06:02 AM PDT

I know it works totally different from L.E.D.,but why it's called diode?

submitted by /u/Doctor-Jackall
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Can you get a sun tan/burn through glass?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 04:30 AM PDT

For example if you sit inside and the sun shines on you through a window.

submitted by /u/pclpcl
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What happens as we approach absolute zero and how close can we get?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 10:32 PM PDT

When you are in a dark room for some time, and get out into a bright room, your eyes/head hurts. What is the mechanism the causes this pain? Is it some muscle contracting next to your eyes? Is it some special pain sensor cell that has this only function (cause pain if too bright)? What is it?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 06:25 PM PDT

If there is a little bit of time unaccounted for in a single day and single year on earth, why didn't we just create a unit of time that would have made everything accounted for?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 07:15 PM PDT

For example, make the second just slightly longer to fill the gap.

submitted by /u/dw_junkie
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Are stages of past rockets (pre-Space Shuttle Columbia) still in Low Earth Orbit as flying debris?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 12:12 AM PDT

I know that for many months, if not years, that separated rocket stages and so on will linger in LEO as flying debris, although there are exceptions to that. Is it possible that certain parts of the Saturn V that carried out the Apollo 11 mission is still in the Earth's orbit for example?

Not only that, but how dangerous will space debris be in the next 50 odd-years? I've recently been watching "Planetes", which inspired this question.

submitted by /u/SpartanOfThePast
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Why is the green background used for special effects?

Posted: 28 Jul 2017 12:06 AM PDT

And why not red, blue or any other colour?

submitted by /u/LUCASE07
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How do we get advanced notice on earth of astronomical events like solar storms or the recent gamma ray burst?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 02:17 PM PDT

As far as I know, these two events travel at the speed of light, and we obviously don't have any way to transmit data faster than that. Are there precursors to these events that reliable tell us they are coming?

submitted by /u/elcapitanpdx
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What are those squiggly heat waves that sometimes radiate off hot stuff?

Posted: 27 Jul 2017 06:28 PM PDT

What is happening when those squiggly "waves?" appear? For example, when grilling and you shut the lid, you can see these things radiate off the top.

submitted by /u/pete_pirahna
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