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Saturday, August 24, 2019

How does masturbating "reduce the risk of prostate cancer"? Is it just a statistical correlation or is there a causal link?

How does masturbating "reduce the risk of prostate cancer"? Is it just a statistical correlation or is there a causal link?


How does masturbating "reduce the risk of prostate cancer"? Is it just a statistical correlation or is there a causal link?

Posted: 24 Aug 2019 05:00 AM PDT

My assumption has always been that there is some small correlation, rather than any medical link. It seems like it would be extraordinarily difficult to demonstrate any notable link.

Or is it just a meme?

submitted by /u/TheScrawl
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I added cold water to Everclear (95% Ethanol) and the bottle felt warm, why?

Posted: 24 Aug 2019 01:22 AM PDT

About a 50:50 mix or 100ml:100ml.

submitted by /u/wh3n
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[physics] what happens to atoms when they are extremely crammed together like in black holes or in neutron stars? Are the orbits of the atoms overlapping each other?

Posted: 24 Aug 2019 04:55 AM PDT

How can the recently made C₁₈ ring have alternating single and triple bonds? Wouldn't the π orbitals allow every bond to be a double bond as well due to electron delocalization?

Posted: 24 Aug 2019 07:12 AM PDT

After watching Mindhunters- how scientifically rigorous is the method of profiling?

Posted: 24 Aug 2019 07:05 AM PDT

While I love the show, I am wondering about the scientific rigor of profiling. Some thoughts:

The nature of interviews with convicted killers often mean that the interviews aren't structured- questions that are asked of one perpetrator may not be the same set of questions asked of another (who have committed similar crimes).

The perpetrators may not be entirely truthful.

The selection process is also limited in that the agents can only interview killers who are caught and are willing to be conversational.

submitted by /u/decantre
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Why do substances mix better by first mixing the smaller amount then diluting it, rather than just mixing all of it at once?

Posted: 24 Aug 2019 06:56 AM PDT

And also are there situations where this mixing method is not the best one?

submitted by /u/trixter21992251
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Do ants have any way of telling when they're climbing a tree that they're traveling against gravity and expending more energy?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 05:48 PM PDT

Why do microwaves cause sparks in metals but not regular light?

Posted: 24 Aug 2019 06:04 AM PDT

Are the microwaves in a microwave oven simply much more powerful than regular visible light? Would a bright enough light bulb or LED also cause sparking in metals?

submitted by /u/man-vs-spider
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Why do surgeons often amputate an appendage in the case of an open fracture (break where the skin breaks through) but rarely in the case of a close fracture?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 03:56 PM PDT

How do viruses actually cause disease?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 06:38 PM PDT

I understand that viruses infect host cells, and stimulate the production of more virus particles, but how does the presence of these small microbes actually cause sickness?

submitted by /u/erjhgbnerbg
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When you tag someone with a laser in a lasertag games, how does the gear knows who tag who ?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 01:23 PM PDT

I don't understand quite well how you can manipulate a laser to transmit informations such as a username by shooting another player, knowing that there's not a lot of parameters you can manipulate in a laser (amplitude, wavelength, etc) and that the lasergun is pretty cheap

submitted by /u/rouzalie
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How exactly do stains/ semi permanent dyes, etc, work?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 06:29 PM PDT

Please correct me if this is the wrong sub or it's been asked before. I've been using semi permanent dyes for years and recently got into henna. Both products say the longer you leave it on, the longer it stays/ the better the color, etc. But I've never been able to find anything saying when you've left it on past it's point of actually doing anything. Permanent hair dye stops doing anything after about 60 minutes, as far as my googling has told me. Is there a similar cut off for stains/ stain like dyes?

submitted by /u/JamesBuchananBarnes
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How does your body regulate bloodflow, for example if your body wants to get a lot of blood to your legs how does it make sure it gets there?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 02:35 PM PDT

What indicates a species is going to speciate?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 01:45 PM PDT

How does an oasis form in a desert?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 12:37 PM PDT

What makes a recyclable plastic eventually unable to be recycled?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 01:05 PM PDT

I heard there's a limit to how many times a recyclable plastic can be recycled before it simply can't be done anymore. What is the state of the plastic right before the end of its lifecycle? What's the plastic like when it's no longer able to be recycled?

submitted by /u/BlueSky1877
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Would’ve Neanderthals been able to build and use boats?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 04:47 PM PDT

How effective is topical application of a systemic medication like Androgel, as a drug delivery method? How much of the drug actually gets absorbed into the body, and circulated to where it is needed, before it is washed or worn off?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 10:33 AM PDT

Dimethyl sulfoxide is known for dissolving right into the skin, and can even carry other compounds in with it. But it is a small solvent molecule, so it is easy to see that it would be mobile. But Testosterone is a 21 heavy atom crystalline solid. So it's hard to imagine it getting any deeper than the top layer of dry, dead skin, let alone reaching the circulatory system, unless something like a patch is used to maintain contact over an extended period of time.

Is there some mechanism for transporting material down through the skin layers? Or does almost all of a topical application like Androgel just get wasted, because it is worn off or washed off before it can be absorbed?

submitted by /u/ECatPlay
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Friday, August 23, 2019

For species with very long life spans (everything from Johnathan, the 187-year-old tortoise, or Pando, the 80,000-year-old clonal tree system), are there observable evolutionary differences between old, still-living individuals and "newborn" individuals?

For species with very long life spans (everything from Johnathan, the 187-year-old tortoise, or Pando, the 80,000-year-old clonal tree system), are there observable evolutionary differences between old, still-living individuals and "newborn" individuals?


For species with very long life spans (everything from Johnathan, the 187-year-old tortoise, or Pando, the 80,000-year-old clonal tree system), are there observable evolutionary differences between old, still-living individuals and "newborn" individuals?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 06:06 AM PDT

In the movie Gravity when Sandra Bullock is spinning out of control, would simply closing her eyes stop the spinning sensation?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 12:24 AM PDT

Is there a significant difference between the current Amazon forest fire and previous seasons?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 08:49 AM PDT

How are molecular structures determined with such precision? How were they determined in the past?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 10:31 PM PDT

My question was inspired by learning that lutein and zeaxanthin are nearly identical molecules (C40H56O2), with the only difference between the two being that a single double bond is found in neighboring positions along a hexagon at one end of the molecule. These molecules are rather large. How are molecular structures determined so exactly? When did chemists acquire this capability? And what were the major milestones in our ability to determine molecular structure?

I don't just mean how many of each kind of element and where they are, but also things as subtle as the position of a single double bond. A lot of molecules are smaller than a wavelength of visible light, so it's not as if we could just look at them under a microscope, yet we know their structures exactly. So how do chemists figure these things out?

submitted by /u/Berkamin
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What is the difference between plasma and ionized gas?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 11:52 PM PDT

Do ducks have the ability to count?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 02:34 PM PDT

Some species of duck can have many ducklings at once. If a mother duck has 12 babies and one has gone missing and is out of earshot, does the mother know it? Will the mother duck "count" her ducklings and be able to tell one is missing? Can the mom recognize the ducklings as individuals and notice that "Susie" has wondered off again? Or are mother ducks blissfully unaware as long as their herd of ducklings is about the right size and that's why baby ducks have such a strong instinct to stick with mom?

submitted by /u/itsnotamountainlion
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How an Aerospike engine really works ?

Posted: 23 Aug 2019 01:47 AM PDT

Hi all,

I'm interested in all things rocket, and I found the Aerospike engine very interesting (and super cool looking)
However, I can't understand what makes it work correctly compared to a normal bell engine :

-The bell shape is here to redirect the flow (that have a random distribution) so that its coming out on the right direction -> OK
-when the air is not dense enough relative to what the bell have been designed, the flow coming outside of the bell expands more to reach pressure equilibrium, thus loose thrust at higher altitudes

->OK

-On an aerospike engine, I quote Wikipedia :
"The spike forms one side of a "virtual" bell, with the other side being formed by the outside air—thus the "aerospike".

-> this, I don't understand, why, in that case, the thrust isn't expending on the side like a normal random flow firing in all direction ? the exhaust pressure is still much higher than air….. one side of the exhaust is on the spike make a "half" bell, right, the other, exposed to air, should just go in all directions, like it happens on bell engines ?

If somebody could help me understand the difference, I will appreciate 😊 (i'm not sure if its more Physics or Engineering....)

submitted by /u/Kypsys
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Could it be posible to capture the rotation of another galaxy on video?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 09:46 PM PDT

It is said that everything spins in the Universe – from galaxies to stars to planets. ... This spinning of galaxies continues even after their formation. Our Milky Way galaxy is one of these spinning structures and its entire disc of stars, gas and dust is rotating at around 168 miles per second.

submitted by /u/turbojethellion
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How does rotation speed affect a planet's gravity?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 10:06 PM PDT

Could a planet the size of pluto or Jupiter have the same gravitational pull as earth if it spans fast or slow enough?

submitted by /u/JoeMourningSun
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If you were standing on the moon, would the sun rise in the east and set in the west?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 05:45 PM PDT

What path does the sun take across the sky from the perspective of the moon's surface? How about the Earth?

submitted by /u/loughton220
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What do thing like Acetaminophen and NSAID's actually do?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 04:49 PM PDT

My question is fairly simple: I am curious if they just relieve the pain and get rid of it, or do they simply mask the pain? What makes them different from painkillers in their effect? Do they simply block some receptors?

submitted by /u/Vercetor
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What happens when you send too much light to an avalanche photodiode (APD)?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 01:48 PM PDT

I can't seem to find anything online about how an APD's behavior will change if you continuously send it too much light. Does this cause a breakdown on the electronic structure and increase the dark counts over time? Or does it return to normal operation once you remove the light source and let it settle?

submitted by /u/MyAltSPDCAcc
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Why does eye dilation occur in regards to excitement, feeling good, and psychedelic substances?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 08:47 AM PDT

I understand eye dilation in regards to lighting and how the act of dilation occurs to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye, but what function does eye dilation serve in regards to moments when you get excited, or when you are with someone you love? I've noticed that almost all kids have huge pupils. How and why do you think this occurs?

submitted by /u/deadpetdaddy
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Can hybridity be determined before crossing plants?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 03:25 PM PDT

If I take two varieties of plant, say pumpkins, and bred them together, how and at what point can I be sure if it is a hybrid or just a stable cross?

submitted by /u/Sgt_Spatula
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What conditions on Earth have helped in harboring Oxygen compared to other planets?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 01:22 PM PDT

This may very well be a stupid question but how comes that when you put an ice cube in a glass of water, the level of water doesn't raise when it melts, yet the level of the oceans raises because of the melting of the icebergs?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 06:42 AM PDT

How does sub-lingual medication get into the bloodstream?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 12:57 PM PDT

How does sub-lingual medication get into the bloodstream?

submitted by /u/sandy154_4
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Thursday, August 22, 2019

How are drugs made to be active transdermally?

How are drugs made to be active transdermally?


How are drugs made to be active transdermally?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 09:05 PM PDT

Do drugs have to be treated to be able to be absorbed through the skin? I am a nurse and got a few drops of fentanyl solution directly on my skin while spiking a bag for a fentanyl drip. I know based on the concentration that a few drops is not enough to have any effect, but it got me thinking, does it have to be treated to make it capable of being absorbed transdermally or is it just the fact that the fentanyl patch keeps it in close contact with skin for a prolonged amount of time. Another nurse once spilled testosterone on her shoes and it soaked through. The physician said she would be fine and wouldn't be growing chest hair bc it's not active transdermally. There is a transdermal version of testosterone (androgen), so I'm just curious how drugs are made to work like this.

submitted by /u/GrassAndKitties
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Are there "deep-lake" creatures at the bottom of lake Baikal ?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 07:14 PM PDT

I know that deep-sea fish and arthropods adapted to the extreme conditions of these depths and are really weird looking, bioluminescent or transparent. Are there creatures like that in the depths of lake Baikal ?

submitted by /u/MichaelD-21
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Is it possible to have a planet and a moon in close enough proximity that their atmospheres mix?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 06:46 AM PDT

I'm thinking of planets something like Pluto and Charon (yes, I know, Pluto's not a planet) where you have 2 large objects spinning around each other in fairly close proximity. Assuming that these 2 objects both have an atmosphere, would it be possible for these atmospheres to mingle? Or would an orbit that close together be unstable (due to atmospheric drag perhaps?).

I'm writing a science fiction story where it may be possible to travel from the planet to the moon while remaining in atmosphere (albeit, a very thin atmosphere).

submitted by /u/KnowanUKnow
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Is the Amazon fire as beneficial to the growth of the forest in the same way as other forest fires?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 06:11 AM PDT

I've been seeing a lot about the Amazon burning. One thing I haven't heard about is "is this good?"

I've always read that forest fires are good for the ecology of a forest. It gets rid of dead growth, lets new growth go, etc. Is this the case for the Amazon as well? While short term yes, it's burning, in a hundred years or more won't it be getting back to the way it was, but refreshed?

Edit: I should also say yes, I am aware that overall this probably isn't a good thing.

submitted by /u/DelianSK13
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Are there black holes that feed on galaxies?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 10:47 PM PDT

We know theres a black hole at the center of every(?) galaxy but is it possible for a black hole to exist that feeds on entire galaxies? Probably a stupid question, sorry.

submitted by /u/juicycurlbro69
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Would the birth control pill work for boys/men with acne in the same way as it helps some women with their acne problems?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 05:59 AM PDT

Always feeling super tired in the morning, which led me to be curious: is there a genetic basis behind being a morning / night person, or is it just a myth?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 05:30 AM PDT

I've never really been a "morning person". I'd always sleep during school and stay up until 3AM. But, due to work, I have to wake up at 6AM in the morning. The thing is, I get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep every night, but I'm still feeling super tired in the morning. But, the interesting thing is, if I were to get the same amount of sleep, but, instead of it being from 10PM-6AM, if I were to sleep from 2AM-10AM, I'd wake up feeling more refreshed. I'm just curious if this is all just in my head or if there is an actual biological basis behind being a morning/night person.

In other words... are people really genetically wired to be morning / night people, or is it just personal preference in the end?

submitted by /u/yoon-ho
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Did crabs and turtles/tortoise ever share a common ancestor?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 10:06 PM PDT

Why does paper lose structural integrity when wet with water, but not so much with oil?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 06:36 PM PDT

Do all benign tumors continue to grow?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 03:14 AM PDT

Hey All, found out someone i know has a benign brain tumor and was curious if all tumors continue to grow to the point where they need to be removed? Is it possible for a tumor to stay the same size and not be harmful?

submitted by /u/xpliset
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What could be consequences from the Amazon fires?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 02:35 PM PDT

Apparently some people have been burning the Amazon forest for weeks now. What will or could happen if they keep burning it?

submitted by /u/3ikooc
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Can mother’s diet create gas in breastfed baby?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 02:58 AM PDT

Can there be a connection between what the mother eats and baby gas issues? How does this work?

submitted by /u/lostlight
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How do they make mobile phones water proof?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 02:33 AM PDT

How they prevent electronics from being damaged by water?

submitted by /u/singh_1699
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If you die while you're laying out in the sun, will your body get a sunburn?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 08:14 AM PDT

Is a sunburn a biological process that wouldn't happen if you weren't alive, or is it the skin actually "burning"?

submitted by /u/eddieeddiebakerbaker
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As modern humans, we spend a significant percentage of our lives wearing shoes and other related footwear. How does this affect the development of our feet and legs, if at all?

Posted: 22 Aug 2019 12:39 AM PDT

Why are antimatter islands considered unlikely?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 02:44 PM PDT

An initial search turned up this article, with the tl;dr being that we should expect to see gamma radiation generated by the interface between any matter and antimatter regions in space. This answer doesn't feel complete, and I wanted to dig a bit deeper.

1) Does the expectation of an energetic boundary imply that we expect intergalactic gas clouds to be diffusing at a very high velocity? The velocity of convergence at the boundary would have to outpace the rate at which the universe is expanding, so what kinds of speeds and spatial scales are we talking about here?

2) Hypothetically, if such boundaries existed in the past, could the resulting radiation pressure have acted as a counter-balancing force? I would expect any net separating force, applied over a long enough time period, to ultimately confine the diffusing gas into orbits within each cloud's respective gravity well. Is that pressure so weak that we wouldn't expect such containment to have happened yet, or are there internal pressures that would be expected to overwhelm any such separating force?

submitted by /u/AntiTwister
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Is Pluto covered in ice or stuff that looks like ice?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 04:20 PM PDT

Is pluto covered in frozen water or other solids that look like frozen water from far away and we just call it ice to make it simple to learn about?

submitted by /u/FactoryBuilder
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Could we create a "telescope" like the one used to take the first picture of a blackhole, but instead of using different points on earth, use the planets and moons of the solar system or by sending out satelites? Would we be able to detect light futher in the universe?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 12:28 PM PDT

How might the Amazon forest fires affect the weather?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 09:32 AM PDT

If it weren’t for climate change, would most of the glaciers we see today still be retreating?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 09:54 PM PDT

When looking at information on the history of glaciers in the U.S. today, it appears that most of these glaciers started retreating at least as early as 1910s (that I have read at least). Given that climate change was not as big of a favor back then (or was it?), it made me wonder if glaciers today would still be retreating if there were no climate change?

Disclaimer: I'm certainly not a "climate change denier". The science is clear there. But would like to understand this better.

submitted by /u/millamb4
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Is the Earth getting more or less round over time? Why?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 01:25 PM PDT

How is Titan able to retain an atmosphere?

Posted: 21 Aug 2019 09:26 AM PDT

From what I've heard, Titan has a nitrogen atmosphere much taller than our own due to its lower gravity. It sounds like it has a pretty tenuous hold. Is this a permanent feature? How is it not stripped away by solar winds?

submitted by /u/JankstonSpongDong
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