| AskScience AMA Series: We are the Ask an Astronomer Team at Cornell University. Ask Us Anything! Posted: 14 Aug 2017 05:00 AM PDT Hi Reddit! We are the Ask an Astronomer Team at Cornell University. We are a group of graduate students within the Department of Astronomy that volunteer to answer questions from the public, both online and in various events hosted throughout the city of Ithaca, NY. Our website (http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/) describes more of what we do and how to contact us. Its been a few years since our last AMA, but we're back to answer your questions about astronomy and the Universe! Answering questions tonight are 11 graduate students: - Cristobal Armaza- My main interests orbit around theoretical astrophysics. Currently, I work on the implementation of a new code to solve the equations of hydrodynamics in astrophysical contexts.
- Paul Corlies- I study planetary atmospheres (clouds, hazes, etc), ground based observing, and solar system satellite development/instrumentation
- Dylan Cromer- I am interested in cosmology, specifically relating cosmological tests of dark matter and modified gravity theories by examining data from surveys of the cosmic microwave background.
- Andrew Foster - Planetary and Exoplanetary science, with a focus on atmospheres. Specifically, using radiative transfer to probe atmospheric structure and the composition of atmospheres and clouds. Also interested in chemistry and astrobiology.
- Avani Gowardhan- I study how supermassive black holes impact the growth and star formation in their host galaxies in the local universe
- Matt Hankins- I study massive stars and star formation in the Galactic center using infrared observations from NASA's SOFIA mission (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/SOFIA/index.html).
- Thea Kozakis- I study the environments of Earth-like planets orbiting newly born and dying stars and their atmospheres. I mainly work on computer models to determine potential habitibility of planets
- Cody Lamarche- I study the interstellar medium in high-redshift galaxies to learn about star formation and supermassive black hole growth at a time when the universe was less than half its current age.
- Jack Madden- I study the climate and habitability of exoplanets using computer models.
- Ishan Mishra- I am interested in studying planetary science, exoplanets and habitability.
- Christopher Rooney- I study the movement of galaxies through the universe, though I'm interested in many different topics in astronomy
- Akshay Suresh- I am interested in studying stellar and planetary magnetic fields.
We'll be on from 7-9 PM EDT (23-1 UT). Ask Us Anything! submitted by /u/AskScienceModerator [link] [comments] |
| Did dinosaurs urinate like mammals or poo uric acid like birds? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 10:34 AM PDT |
| Power generator; rpm = output? Posted: 14 Aug 2017 03:08 AM PDT My father worked at the power plant in my home town. We were talking about steam pressures and turbine rotations per minute. He said once the rotor is synced to the grid at say 3,600rpm, that you can't just add more steam to get more electricity output. He started telling me about amps on the rotor and the phases of the stator, Excitors and brushes... Then he lost me. It seems to me that the more steam pressure you put on the turbine and the faster you make the rotor turn, then the more electricity you could produce. If this is not the case, then why not? submitted by /u/Tanc22 [link] [comments] |
| How are memories stored at a cellular level? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 06:04 PM PDT Moreover, are short term memories stored by a different physiological mechanism than long term memories? Or is all memory and learning achieved by the same fundamental cellular changes to neurons? submitted by /u/jdlc700 [link] [comments] |
| Descriptions of fusion ramscoops (Bussard ramjets) in literature often postulate a frontal funnel-like magnetic field to scoop up interstellar hydrogen. Would the interaction of this field with hydrogen generate friction, or a friction-like effect? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 09:12 PM PDT |
| Exactly what property of a quark is being described by its "color?" Posted: 13 Aug 2017 12:54 PM PDT Quarks are labeled as red, green, and blue. But quarks are smaller than the wavelength of visible light, so they are not actually colored. I understand "color" is an easy way for scientists to distinguish and label different quarks, but what property is actually being described? submitted by /u/rooren-sama [link] [comments] |
| Why can other mammals safely eat raw chicken? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 04:39 PM PDT |
| Would it be possible to tell what *planet* an alloy was created on? Posted: 14 Aug 2017 06:58 AM PDT To me, it seems an atom is an atom is an atom. An atom of silicon on earth would be indistinguishable from an atom of silicon on mars or another part of the galaxy. I'm working on a "hard science" type science fiction novel. In the story, there are a few habitable planets with various cultures on them. I'd like for Planet A to create technology that is an attempted forgery of technology from Planet B. I'd like a scientist in the story to be able to figure out that this doohickey was actually created on Planet A, due to maybe trace amounts of this or that? I'd love some help with the science part of this if someone is interested! Thanks! submitted by /u/piratebroadcast [link] [comments] |
| Why is the half life of Tungsten-180 1.8 quintillion years? How is this verified? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 02:17 PM PDT |
| Why is "drifting" faster in some types of auto racing, but in other types, the traditional braking/apex/accelerating method is faster? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 05:23 PM PDT In some types of auto racing, such as rally and dirt oval track, oversteering through a curve is much faster. In most other types, such as F1 and asphalt oval track, it's all about preserving speed and grip through perfectly timed transitions and taking the perfect line. The same is true on motocross vs. Moto GP bike racing. What is the scientific reasoning for this? I assume it relates to the amount of traction the surface allows the tires to have, but why? How can having wheelspin and oversteer be faster than only driving as fast as the tire traction allows? submitted by /u/UndercoverFBIAgent9 [link] [comments] |
| Can you construct a constant Gravitational Field? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 08:46 PM PDT It is possible with both Electric and Magnetic field to construct an object that produces a field has the same value everywhere in a given space (capacitor for E field and Solenoid with B field). Would it be possible to construct an object that produces a constant Gravitational field? My intuition says no since both E and B fields have dipoles and gravity is effectively a monopole field (ie particles with mass only attract). Beyond that I'm not sure how the rest of the argument would follow. Am I on the right track? submitted by /u/SuicidalEclair [link] [comments] |
| When I dream, is my visual cortex being activated or is it merely a thoughtform? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 12:45 PM PDT Okay, so if I am dreaming, I am obviously experiencing the dream, but what I wonder is, does my brain experience this dream and the things that I "see" the same way that I experience and see things in real life? Or, is it all merely vivid imagination and you aren't really "seeing" the dream? submitted by /u/godinthismachine [link] [comments] |
| What determines the colour of a flame? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 06:26 PM PDT I've been told before that the blue/red-orange colour of a flame is due to the blackbody radiation from hot bits of soot etc. in the flame, rather than emission from heated air. If that's the case, why is the colour different when the flame has other elements, such as sodium or lithium. Is it a matter of soot being a relatively large object? submitted by /u/KerbalFactorioLeague [link] [comments] |
| What happens to Unruh radiation when I stop accelerating? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 09:53 PM PDT So, suppose I'm on a rocket, and I fire the engines. I'm now in an accelerating reference frame, and Unruh radiation is generated at some horizon, presumably very far away. However, if I wait long enough, I'll observe it. There's a cloud of particles zillions of light-years away, but heading my way. However, before they reach me, I stop the engines. Now, I'm in an inertial reference frame. If I wait long enough, will that cloud of radiation still reach me? Or does it "disappear" somehow because I'm in an inertial frame once again? submitted by /u/SurprisedPotato [link] [comments] |
| What are shark teeth actually made of? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 07:53 PM PDT I majored in Evolution and Ecology and currently teach high school biology, but I had a thought today that stumped me. Sharks are cartilaginous fish so they lack actual bone skeletons found in other types of fish. I know that cartilage can vary in strength and calcium levels, but what are a sharks teeth actually made of? Are they super calcified cartilage or some type of primitive/transitional bone? Also do they have the internal structures (root/nerve etc) that regular, bony teeth have? As someone who focused in marine bio I was a little ashamed that I don't know this, so thanks in advance!! submitted by /u/GlotzbachsToast [link] [comments] |
| How do ants pheremone trails work? And how do two colonies decide to peacefully merge? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 04:00 PM PDT |
| How tall is the Milky Way? Is it completely flat, as in there are no stars above or below us? Or is it like a cylinder? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 11:23 AM PDT |
| Why does the universe keep expanding? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 02:05 PM PDT |
| How it works the communication between Nasa and the curiosity rover? Posted: 13 Aug 2017 08:24 PM PDT I read somewhere that communication occur using radio signal, but the signal takes 13 minutes to reach curiosity rover, Nasa sends one command (take picture, send photos to earth, walk one meter) every 13 minutes? [grammar nazy correctors are welcome] submitted by /u/ggmoreira [link] [comments] |
