Why isn't serotonin able to cross the blood-brain barrier when molecules like psilocin and DMT can, even though they're almost exactly the same molecule?

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• Why isn't serotonin able to cross the blood-brain barrier when molecules like psilocin and DMT can, even though they're almost exactly the same molecule?
• Is constant light exposure beneficial to plants, or do they also require periods of low light?
• If experts can tell me I shouldn't leave my phone connected to the charger after it's charged, and my phone can detect and tell me when it's charged, why can't the phone just go ahead and turn off the charging when it's charged?
• How does a computer determine if a given number is larger than another number?
• Is something only warm to the touch, i.e I touch with my finger, if that object is warmer than my body temperature? Or at what temp does something become warm to touch, considering when run roughly 37 C/98.6F?
• How do Ampere's law and Faraday's law make sense conceptually? How does an electric field emerge from a changing magnetic field and how does a magnetic field emerge from a changing electric field?
• When two black holes merge, the new black hole has the angular momentum of both. Does this put a limit on the size of black holes? How fast can a black hole spin?
• In regards to ionic radius, how do you compare cations to anions of different elements that are not isoelectric?
• Ask Anything Wednesday - Economics, Political Science, Linguistics, Anthropology
• Is it possible to (easily) calculate the private key of any modern encription technique if I know the exact content of one encripted file? If so, how long must that file be?
• It's QWERTY measurably better for swipe typing than other layouts used for touch typing?
• Does gasoline become "stale" when stored for a long period? If so, what is happening, chemically? Are additives sold to prevent this from happening effective?
• Why is the Heliopause directional as if all the galactic cosmic rays come from one location?
• Hubble Ultra Deep Field galaxies: Are they named/studied?
• How does a strong acid/base harm living cells?
• What does the search for an alternative chemical look like?
• Is there a relation between wavelength of radiation absorbed by a surface and its surface roughness?
• Is it possible for a solar system to have two planets of the same size within the habitable (Goldilocks) zone?
• How does kinetic energy make sense from different inertial systems?
• Why does most (if not all) life use phosphoanhydride bonds (ATP) as energy storage/currency when Phosphorous is limited in the environment?

Why isn't serotonin able to cross the blood-brain barrier when molecules like psilocin and DMT can, even though they're almost exactly the same molecule? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 01:13 PM PST Even LSD which is quite a bit larger than all the molecules I mentioned, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier with no problem, and serotonin can't. submitted by /u/Deleizera [link] [comments]

Is constant light exposure beneficial to plants, or do they also require periods of low light? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 12:45 PM PST submitted by /u/Ixthos [link] [comments]

If experts can tell me I shouldn't leave my phone connected to the charger after it's charged, and my phone can detect and tell me when it's charged, why can't the phone just go ahead and turn off the charging when it's charged? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 10:34 AM PST I'm just not sure why it's down to me to unplug it. Can't it just flip a relay when it gets to 100 percent, or 80 percent, or what's considered healthy for the battery? submitted by /u/Subduction [link] [comments]

How does a computer determine if a given number is larger than another number? Posted: 06 Nov 2019 03:10 AM PST submitted by /u/Mr10_ [link] [comments]

Is something only warm to the touch, i.e I touch with my finger, if that object is warmer than my body temperature? Or at what temp does something become warm to touch, considering when run roughly 37 C/98.6F? Posted: 06 Nov 2019 06:59 AM PST submitted by /u/Kazukaphur [link] [comments]

How do Ampere's law and Faraday's law make sense conceptually? How does an electric field emerge from a changing magnetic field and how does a magnetic field emerge from a changing electric field? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 10:56 PM PST Ampere's law states that a changing electric field produces a magnetic field and Faraday's law states that a changing magnetic field produces an electric field. I can understand how they make sense mathematically (using the different vector theorems) but how do they make sense conceptually? How did Ampere come to the conclusion that a magnetic field is produced from a changing electric field and how did Faraday come up with the fact that an electric field is produced from a changing magnetic field? What made them realize and form these laws other than mathematics? submitted by /u/trippy-mac-unicorn [link] [comments]

When two black holes merge, the new black hole has the angular momentum of both. Does this put a limit on the size of black holes? How fast can a black hole spin? Posted: 06 Nov 2019 04:37 AM PST Or am I misunderstanding how their angular momentum is combined? If so, does anything else limit the size of a black hole -- could one, in theory, eat everything in the universe? submitted by /u/curiousscribbler [link] [comments]

In regards to ionic radius, how do you compare cations to anions of different elements that are not isoelectric? Posted: 06 Nov 2019 07:33 AM PST So I know the basics A cation of a parent will be smaller and a anion of parent will be bigger If the charges are the same the period trend for atomic radius applies In an isoelectric series they can be arranged based on charge But what if they are two different elements of different charge say Br- and In+ submitted by /u/AtenderhistoryinrusT [link] [comments]

Ask Anything Wednesday - Economics, Political Science, Linguistics, Anthropology Posted: 06 Nov 2019 07:08 AM PST Welcome to our weekly feature, Ask Anything Wednesday - this week we are focusing on Economics, Political Science, Linguistics, Anthropology Do you have a question within these topics you weren't sure was worth submitting? Is something a bit too speculative for a typical /r/AskScience post? No question is too big or small for AAW. In this thread you can ask any science-related question! Things like: "What would happen if...", "How will the future...", "If all the rules for 'X' were different...", "Why does my...". Asking Questions: Please post your question as a top-level response to this, and our team of panellists will be here to answer and discuss your questions. The other topic areas will appear in future Ask Anything Wednesdays, so if you have other questions not covered by this weeks theme please either hold on to it until those topics come around, or go and post over in our sister subreddit /r/AskScienceDiscussion , where every day is Ask Anything Wednesday! Off-theme questions in this post will be removed to try and keep the thread a manageable size for both our readers and panellists. Answering Questions: Please only answer a posted question if you are an expert in the field. The full guidelines for posting responses in AskScience can be found here. In short, this is a moderated subreddit, and responses which do not meet our quality guidelines will be removed. Remember, peer reviewed sources are always appreciated, and anecdotes are absolutely not appropriate. In general if your answer begins with 'I think', or 'I've heard', then it's not suitable for /r/AskScience. If you would like to become a member of the AskScience panel, please refer to the information provided here. Past AskAnythingWednesday posts can be found here. Ask away! submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

Is it possible to (easily) calculate the private key of any modern encription technique if I know the exact content of one encripted file? If so, how long must that file be? Posted: 06 Nov 2019 06:06 AM PST Thanks. submitted by /u/Rantamplan [link] [comments]

It's QWERTY measurably better for swipe typing than other layouts used for touch typing? Posted: 06 Nov 2019 03:52 AM PST QWERTY was designed to have the most common letters far apart to prevent typewriters from jamming. Most other keyboard layouts used for touch typing (Dvorak, Colemak, …) were designed to have the most common letters on the home row, so they are under the fingers. If QWERTY has the most common letters apart, it may cause the paths of the finger to be spread more evenly over the keyboard and give more information so the prediction algorithm. submitted by /u/matj1 [link] [comments]

Does gasoline become "stale" when stored for a long period? If so, what is happening, chemically? Are additives sold to prevent this from happening effective? Posted: 06 Nov 2019 12:34 AM PST submitted by /u/bonkly68 [link] [comments]

Why is the Heliopause directional as if all the galactic cosmic rays come from one location? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 04:46 PM PST ​ Recently, reading articles about the Voyager spacecraft, illustrations all show the Heliosphere trailing off in one direction. I would expect cosmic rays to be coming from stars and galaxies all over the universe instead of from just from one location. submitted by /u/kabloooie [link] [comments]

Hubble Ultra Deep Field galaxies: Are they named/studied? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 03:20 PM PST I've been looking at this HUDF picture: If I had questions about some specific galaxy in that picture, are any of them named and how much information should I expect to get from a given galaxy? How much can we learn about them based on just a photograph? Also if anyone has any further information on the morphology of galaxies I'd appreciate the insight. submitted by /u/Delukse [link] [comments]

How does a strong acid/base harm living cells? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 12:56 PM PST From humans to single-celled Archaea, how does very low pH harm cells? What is the chemical process? submitted by /u/bigtittybumslut [link] [comments]

What does the search for an alternative chemical look like? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 09:12 AM PST The crux of the recent story about the UK engineer and his aluminum air battery was that such batteries have been known for a long time, but required a toxic corrosive electrolyte, so his breakthrough (that he spent two decades searching for) is an alternative electrolyte that works for the battery and is harmless enough to drink. My question is, **when any chemist is searching for a replacement chemical like this, what guides the search?** Is it things like number of valence electrons, molecular mass, bond length simulations, or what? submitted by /u/ProfessorImprobable [link] [comments]

Is there a relation between wavelength of radiation absorbed by a surface and its surface roughness? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 09:40 AM PST Are all wavelengths equally absorbed by a surface, or is a specific wavelength more prominently absorbed depending on the surface roughness? submitted by /u/theunknownKiran [link] [comments]

Is it possible for a solar system to have two planets of the same size within the habitable (Goldilocks) zone? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 09:24 AM PST I'm reading some science fiction where two earth-like planets of the same size are only slightly outside of each other's orbit, and have similar orbital periods. So similar life forms move back and forth between each planet. I wasn't sure if this is possible. Would the two planets just collide? submitted by /u/blackjack_oak [link] [comments]

How does kinetic energy make sense from different inertial systems? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 01:53 PM PST A friend and I have trouble making sense of a very basic fact of Newtonian Physics. Kinetic energy grows quadratically with velocity. This made sense to me until my friend suggested the following thought experiment: 3 bodies A, B and C rest next to each other not affected by any forces. A stays still while B and C accelerate to, say, 10 m/s, gaining an amount of kinetic energy x. In respect to each other, B and C are not moving. Now C accelerates to 20 m/s relative to A and 10 m/s relative to B. This increases C's kinetic energy to 4x. From B's perspective, this looks like an acceleration from 0 to 10 m/s but required 3x energy. It seems like A's perspective is "more correct" than B's, but why? If velocity is always measured relative to an inertial system, why is kinetic energy not? Where are my friend and I messing things up? submitted by /u/LukkyLukke [link] [comments]

Why does most (if not all) life use phosphoanhydride bonds (ATP) as energy storage/currency when Phosphorous is limited in the environment? Posted: 05 Nov 2019 06:43 AM PST Is there any advantage to ATP and other phosphoanhydride bonds that seem to do most of the heavy lifting in the cells that other molecules just cannot do at all? It would seem that some other kind of energy currency would compete at all if there were comparable efficiencies and traits. submitted by /u/PhillipsAsunder [link] [comments]

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If the Earth was a giant eyeball, how far would it be able to see into space? Would it outperform modern telescopes?

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• If the Earth was a giant eyeball, how far would it be able to see into space? Would it outperform modern telescopes?
• How do Saturn's rings spin in relation to the planet's spin?
• Before they detonated the first atomic bomb, did they have a good idea of how big the explosion would be?
• How is the temperature of the interstellar gas measured?
• Where is Voyager 2 in relation to Voyager 1, and in relation to the Earth? Toward which constellations did hey each head?
• How do you convert a more million C degree plasma into electricity (ITER)?
• Are there any planets found that have rings that spin perpendicular to its axis of rotation?
• Why hasn’t a cooling equivalent of the microwave been invented for mass production?
• Why is our sun so rare being a solitary star and how did it form without a companion?
• How far will be the distance of nearest star if earth was just a pixel?
• According to an article from National Geographic, the interstellar medium is 54,000 Fahrenheit. Why haven't the two Voyager probes melted?
• Inside black holes our downwards motion towards the singularity is unstoppable; outside black holes our forward march in time is just as impossible - are these facts two sides of the same coin?
• Are there any ordinary, every day objects that could functions a mirror if we perceived a different range of light frequency?
• Does the Coriolis Effect gradually reach its maximum at the poles?
• How does our body define and measure time?
• Why/how does Venus have such a slow rotation?
• Does the subject experiencing a stimulus has a role to play(brings a change) in the strength of the corresponding spike generated by the neurons?
• How was the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge in China engineered to curve with the Earth?
• What's the primary reason that Wankel rotary engines are not nearly as efficient as typical 4-stroke piston engines?

If the Earth was a giant eyeball, how far would it be able to see into space? Would it outperform modern telescopes? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 08:59 PM PST submitted by /u/StrikeLines [link] [comments]

How do Saturn's rings spin in relation to the planet's spin? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 01:23 PM PST submitted by /u/coconut7272 [link] [comments]

Before they detonated the first atomic bomb, did they have a good idea of how big the explosion would be? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 11:50 PM PST submitted by /u/StanleyShovels [link] [comments]

How is the temperature of the interstellar gas measured? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 09:18 PM PST Isn't temperature related to the average kinetic energy of the particles in the gas? I'm imagining that in a near vacuum like in interstellar space it is pretty rare for two gas molecules to even collide with each other. Would that mean that the average velocity of a hydrogen atom would be dependent more on the relative velocity between our solar system and where ever that particle was coming from rather than getting its velocity from bouncing into other molecules in the cloud. submitted by /u/canon_margin_stress [link] [comments]

Where is Voyager 2 in relation to Voyager 1, and in relation to the Earth? Toward which constellations did hey each head? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 11:31 PM PST I'm trying to visualize their trajectories in relationship to each other, and the Earth. Is there a diagram available that would show their positions/trajectories in relationship to the solar system? Are they headed in opposite directions, or in relatively the same direction? Would it be correct to presume that no other man-made objects are farther apart than Voyager 1 and 2 are from each other? Thank you for any insight. submitted by /u/remove_pants [link] [comments]

How do you convert a more million C degree plasma into electricity (ITER)? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 09:58 PM PST After managing to stabilize and sustain the plasma at ITER, how will they convert the heat of stg that's more million Celsius into electricity? submitted by /u/KmettyBalint [link] [comments]

Are there any planets found that have rings that spin perpendicular to its axis of rotation? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 10:57 PM PST submitted by /u/peepeehelicoptors [link] [comments]

Why hasn’t a cooling equivalent of the microwave been invented for mass production? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 10:30 PM PST I shouldn't have to wait a whole hour when my beer isn't cold enough goddamit submitted by /u/rocketman1706 [link] [comments]

Why is our sun so rare being a solitary star and how did it form without a companion? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 06:32 PM PST I am currently taking an astronomy class at my college and my professor keeps saying that our sun is very rare why is that and did it have a companion billions of years ago? submitted by /u/poop-partrol [link] [comments]

How far will be the distance of nearest star if earth was just a pixel? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 04:06 PM PST Hello everyone, I was wondering if there was an easier way to visualize the large distances in space. If we imagine that the earth is the size of the pixel, how far will then be Pluto? What about other planets in the Kuiper belt? How far will be the nearest star and these huge ice asteroids(Oort Cloud)? Thank you a lot for your support. submitted by /u/ZiyodaM [link] [comments]

According to an article from National Geographic, the interstellar medium is 54,000 Fahrenheit. Why haven't the two Voyager probes melted? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 01:43 PM PST submitted by /u/impossiblecomplexity [link] [comments]

Inside black holes our downwards motion towards the singularity is unstoppable; outside black holes our forward march in time is just as impossible - are these facts two sides of the same coin? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 02:42 PM PST Edit, correction: "outside black holes our forward march in time is just as unstoppable" Follow up questions: If yes, then is the unstoppable downward motion inside of black holes also explained by the statement 'universal entropy must always increase'? If yes again, then how does thermodynamic entropy (which gives us the 'arrow of forward time') translate to giving us the 'arrow of downward motion' towards the singularity in a black hole? submitted by /u/StanzinTheScribe [link] [comments]

Are there any ordinary, every day objects that could functions a mirror if we perceived a different range of light frequency? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 11:05 AM PST I was looking at a mirror just now, thinking about how it's transparent to some light frequencies, but those are irrelevant for human purposes. Is there anything we regularly use which isn't reflective in the visible range but is in others? (physics flair bc I don't know what else it might be) submitted by /u/zug_42 [link] [comments]

Does the Coriolis Effect gradually reach its maximum at the poles? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 02:57 PM PST I know it is 0 at the equator and maximum at the poles, but if you walk from the equator to the north pole, does it increase the most somewhere in the middle of your journey, then level off the closer you get to the pole? If yes, how far north is the increase maximum? submitted by /u/dogfish83 [link] [comments]

How does our body define and measure time? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 10:12 AM PST I'm not talking about our biological clock or sleep rythms, I rather mean on a cellular or even molecular level. How do cells know when to change or reproduce? How does our hair know when to turn grey? How does our body know when to do things faster or slower? I think I heard computers use the clockspeed of the processor to know when one second has passed, does our body (or even cells in general) have some kind of time-keeping-device? submitted by /u/H1ghs3nb3rg [link] [comments]

Why/how does Venus have such a slow rotation? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 08:43 AM PST Follow-up: there almost seems to be a positive correlation between a planet in our solar systems's distance from the sun and the speed of its axial rotation. Is this legitimate or imagined? submitted by /u/Mr_Bankey [link] [comments]

Does the subject experiencing a stimulus has a role to play(brings a change) in the strength of the corresponding spike generated by the neurons? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 01:59 PM PST In "Spike arrival times: A highly efficient coding scheme for neural networks" , THORPE points out that "It is a well known neurophysiological fact that the time taken for a neuron to reach its threshold for generating a spike depends on the strength of the stimulus - the stronger the stimulus, the faster the neuron depolarizes and the sooner it generates a spike." From this statement, which assertion would be correct? A : regardless of the subject, it is only the strength measurement of the signal causing the stimulus that impacts how quickly the threshold is reached. B : depending on the subject, the recognition of the signal "by" the subject (or lack thereof) causes an increase(or relative decrease) in the speed at which the threshold is reach and so for a signal of exactly the same strength the corresponding threshold to generate a spike varies depending on the subject. C : It depends on the type of signal and the mechanism behind the neurophysiological encoding that is taking place that transduces the signal into a spike. (aka some thresholds are "hard-wired" into the encoding process and remain "as is" while others are modified by overlapping cognitive processes, for example the "urgency" of the response regarding a certain signal could change the threshold at which the spike is continued into a spike train) submitted by /u/JimmyR42 [link] [comments]

How was the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge in China engineered to curve with the Earth? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 12:35 PM PST submitted by /u/ArthurSnt [link] [comments]

What's the primary reason that Wankel rotary engines are not nearly as efficient as typical 4-stroke piston engines? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 03:52 PM PST submitted by /u/El_Pinguino [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
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How did the British keep the fact that they broke the Enigma code secret?

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• How did the British keep the fact that they broke the Enigma code secret?
• How do engineers prevent the thrust chamber on a large rocket from melting?
• Why do cosmologists hypothesize the existence of unobservable matter or force(s) to fit standard model predictions instead of assuming that the standard model is, like classical mechanics, incomplete?
• Big Bang: What evidence do we have for what happened "behind the wall", before what we can observe?
• Why do flames coming out of a rocket engine get narrower?
• What is the difference in the lifespan of nuclear waste from Uranium vs Thorium?
• Does the refractive index of water change as its acidity changes?
• If energy can't be created or destroyed, then why do electrons continue spinning around the nucleus for billions of years?
• Is calculating for computers as easy with large numbers as it is for small numbers?
• How does the curved shape of a chopper's blade cause an increase in the speed of air passing above the blade than below it?
• How does one interpret phonon dispersion relations?
• Would it be a good idea to diversify a newborn child's microbiome as much as possible?
• How do fish know where home is? Do they have a set place in the ocean they always come back to?
• Was the Boston Tea Party bad for the environment?
• What exactly happens at the triple point of water?
• How do we know a certain sample size of humans is large enough?
• What causes the atmospheric phenomenon known as glory?
• When scientists studying a certain species of migrating birds, how do they count or estimate the number of the birds?
• How do astronauts stay grounded in space?
• When an animal has died, they start to bloat due to bacteria in it producing gases. What prevents this from happening in a living animal?
• Does a water/ethanol mixture in a pressure cooker release relatively more ethanol with steam release? Is the maximum pressure reduced?
• How long after eating something do our bodies gain weight?
• Are Nuclides and Isotopes the same thing?
• What's the difference between a neutrino and anti neutrino?

How did the British keep the fact that they broke the Enigma code secret? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 05:42 PM PST What statistical formula's did the British and Allied forces use, if any, to decide to take action based on the German deciphered information? This might get into game theory or statistics, but how could they be sure that the Germans would not 'get wise' and switch their code? How often could they change their behavior before it became suspicious? ​ P.S. I'm a new redditor and got on the site for askscience, so thanks and keep up the good work! submitted by /u/Kindspiriter [link] [comments]

How do engineers prevent the thrust chamber on a large rocket from melting? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 06:49 AM PST Rocket exhaust is hot enough to melt steel and many other materials. How is the thrust chamber of a rocket able to sustain this temperature for such long durations? submitted by /u/DonoAE [link] [comments]

Why do cosmologists hypothesize the existence of unobservable matter or force(s) to fit standard model predictions instead of assuming that the standard model is, like classical mechanics, incomplete? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 03:41 AM PST It seems as though popular explanations of concepts like dark matter and dark energy come in the form of "the best mathematical model we currently have to fit a set of observations, such as the cosmic background radiation and the apparent acceleration of inflation, imply that there must be far more matter and more energy than the matter and energy that we can observe, so we hypothesize the existence of various forms of dark matter and dark energy." This kind of explanation seems baffling. I would think that if a model doesn't account for all of the observations, such as both CBR and acceleration and the observed amount of matter and energy in the universe, then the most obvious hypothesis would not be that there must be matter and energy we can't observe, but that the mathematical model must be inaccurate. In other fields, if a model doesn't account for observations using methods that were themselves used to construct the model, it is far more natural to think that this would tend to suggest that the model is wrong or incomplete rather than that the observations are wrong or incomplete. There seems to be an implied rejoinder: the Standard Model of the universe is really accurate at mathematically formulating many observations and predicting many observations that were subsequently confirmed, and there is so far no better model, so we have reason to think that unobservable things implied by it actually exist unless someone can propose an even better mathematical model. This also seems baffling: why would the assumption be that reality conforms to a single consistent mathematical formulation discoverable by us or any mathematical formulation at all? Ordinarily we would think that math can represent idealized versions of the physical world but would not insist that the physical world conform itself to a mathematical model. For example, if we imagine handling a cylindrical container full of water, which we empty into vessel on the scale, if the weight of the of the water is less than that which would be predicted according to the interior measurements of the container and the cylinder volume equation, no one would think to look for 'light liquid,' they would just assume that the vessel wasn't a perfect cylinder, wasn't completely full of water, or for some other reason the equation they were using did not match the reality of the objects they were measuring. So this is puzzling to me. It is also sufficiently obvious a question that I assume physicists have a coherent answer to it which I just haven't heard (I also haven't this question posed, but I'm not a physicist so it wouldn't necessarily come up). Could someone provide that answer or set of answers? Thank you. submitted by /u/critropolitan [link] [comments]

Big Bang: What evidence do we have for what happened "behind the wall", before what we can observe? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 06:00 AM PST I understand that observing increased density further back in time, together with redshift of light, make up a valid foundation for the theory of expansion of the (visible) universe. However, we cannot see all the way back. As I understand it, it isn't even theoretically possible to obeserve anything from when our universe was to dense for light to propagate (exist?). We do in effect have a "wall" at the edge of the universe we cannot see through, and thus cannot observe all the way back, even with better technology. So why do we interpolate the observed expansion of the observable universe all the way back to a point? Could it not be that it existed in some other larger states? ​ Bonus question. Not mandatory:): Do the main theories of big bang translate in any way over to the rest of the universe, outside the observable one? Could it be that other parts had size to them while our neighboorhood was infinitesimal? submitted by /u/tittymilkcereal [link] [comments]

Why do flames coming out of a rocket engine get narrower? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 07:52 AM PST Reference: https://i.redd.it/irpgqmm41hw31.png The flames coming out of the rocket engine are clearly getting narrower as they move farther out. It's this effect due to fluid mechanics (Bernoulli's law?) or is it due to plasma dynamics (something counterintuitive happening because of moving free charges in the plasma)? A combination? Or something different? submitted by /u/OmnipotentEntity [link] [comments]

What is the difference in the lifespan of nuclear waste from Uranium vs Thorium? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 05:46 PM PST I often see that nuclear waste has long lifespans, and this is a major drawback from nuclear energy. Is this true for both Uranium and Thorium? submitted by /u/alexnf8 [link] [comments]

Does the refractive index of water change as its acidity changes? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 04:31 AM PST submitted by /u/MutatedAlgorithm [link] [comments]

If energy can't be created or destroyed, then why do electrons continue spinning around the nucleus for billions of years? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 01:43 AM PST I've been taught in school that energy can't be created or destroyed, only transformed. That brought up a question. How is it possible that electrons continue to spin for really long periods of time? Where is that energy coming from? submitted by /u/sunsisxd [link] [comments]

Is calculating for computers as easy with large numbers as it is for small numbers? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 03:59 AM PST submitted by /u/SlimeWaWe [link] [comments]

How does the curved shape of a chopper's blade cause an increase in the speed of air passing above the blade than below it? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 08:15 PM PST About airfoils, it's said that a wing's top is curved and its bottom is flat. Since its top is curved, air on top of a wing moves faster than air on bottom. This relates to Bernoulli's Principle. I have never been able to understand this fact about airfoils, or to be more precise, I could never...errr... visualize it? How does an increase in surface area (i.e. curved rotor blades) cause an increase in speed of air passing over it? I understand that this speed increase causes a pressure decrease due to Bernoulli's principle, but why exactly does the speed increase? submitted by /u/roadbat [link] [comments]

How does one interpret phonon dispersion relations? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 03:14 PM PST I am having trouble understanding this concept. The frequency ω is plotted against the wave vector k, but how do I actually read it? Do I search for a frequency and look which modes are "(co)existing" at that frequency? Or do I pick a wave vector (a direction) and look which frequencies are allowed for these values of k? I can probably read it both ways, but where is cause and effect exactly? Here's what I know: Let's assume a 2D case with a simple Brillouin Zone Γ-X-Y-Γ. The sections of the dispersion relation correspond to values of k, where Γ denotes the point where k is very small and the wavelength λ is very large. Traveling along the x-axis is basically like traversing the edges of the Brillouin Zone, covering all possible directions of the wave vector. Suppose, a dispersion branch for Γ-X has two possible frequencies. What is the "real world meaning" of that? Do both these modes exist at a certain excitation frequency? Now assume there are two different branches that occur at the same frequency inside Γ-X. Does that make it any different than case 1 where the same branch has one frequency twice? So for example, does Γ-X tell me the size of the wavelength propagating in that direction? submitted by /u/ilikeplanesandcows [link] [comments]

Would it be a good idea to diversify a newborn child's microbiome as much as possible? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 07:42 PM PST When a new child is born, im to understand that both parents should hold the child with their bare chest or at least get good skin to skin contact as to populate their microbiome with the parents bacteria and such. Would it be a wise idea to have another two or three people who exhibit good health get in there just for the diversity it would offer? In particular, people who are not related to the parents, seeing as a parent or sibling of the parents would have a very similar biome. Thanks for your help! submitted by /u/codyfsw [link] [comments]

How do fish know where home is? Do they have a set place in the ocean they always come back to? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 07:12 AM PST How do fish navigate the oceans, and how do they not get lost along their way? Do they have a place in the ocean they would call home and always come back to? submitted by /u/Gregapher_ [link] [comments]

Was the Boston Tea Party bad for the environment? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 08:24 PM PST Based on a brief conversation held tonight. I know that tea was shipped as solid blocks in wooden boxes, at least for long distance travel. It's also my understanding that it was a HUGE shipment, like potentially years worth of tea. Finally, I know that tea is also slightly acidic, so altogether, I think there must have been some effect on the local marine flora and fauna. I know this has a lot of moving parts, so any bits of help would be greatly appreciated. submitted by /u/Ursus99 [link] [comments]

What exactly happens at the triple point of water? Posted: 04 Nov 2019 12:04 AM PST Whenever I try to learn more about the triple point of water, I often read that its a combination of pressure and temperature where a substance coexists as all 3 phases. But, I never understood what exactly happens at this triple point and why water changes between solid liquid and gas. I've only found this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP6MVLWuNZQ) which sort of explains the coexistence of all 3 phases. Not that there is anything wrong with the video, but where can I find other explanations like this which may be more detailed and elaborate? submitted by /u/ConcealedImages [link] [comments]

How do we know a certain sample size of humans is large enough? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 04:09 PM PST How do scientists or researchers determine the sample size needed for a reliable study? I've seen posts with n=49 and can't see how that small sample size could be considered large enough to produce an accurate cross section of society. submitted by /u/LeftRightShoot [link] [comments]

What causes the atmospheric phenomenon known as glory? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 12:05 PM PST submitted by /u/FabBee123 [link] [comments]

When scientists studying a certain species of migrating birds, how do they count or estimate the number of the birds? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 06:00 PM PST What is the method that they usually use, thank you submitted by /u/TriticumAestivum [link] [comments]

How do astronauts stay grounded in space? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 09:48 AM PST Since low earth orbit is charged with plasma, what's keeping astronauts protected from a charge differential in their environment to keep them from getting electrocuted? submitted by /u/Twitchy4life [link] [comments]

When an animal has died, they start to bloat due to bacteria in it producing gases. What prevents this from happening in a living animal? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 10:19 AM PST How does the body make sure that the bacteria can't start digesting the intestine from the inside out when we're still alive? submitted by /u/Bastiproton [link] [comments]

Does a water/ethanol mixture in a pressure cooker release relatively more ethanol with steam release? Is the maximum pressure reduced? Posted: 02 Nov 2019 10:33 PM PDT This discussion gave rise to the question how a reasonable mixture of ethanol and water (say 1:9) would behave if cooked in a pressure cooker. While ethanol boils at a lower temperature than water, a pressure cooker usually reaches a much higher temperature than both liquids' boiling point. On the other hand, ethanol has a higher vapour pressure, so it should reduce the maximum temperature that can be achieved before the valve opens. How would the mixture behave? Would it release mostly ethanol? Is there maybe an easy formula/rule of thumb with which the composition and release temperature of an (initial) ethanol/water mixture can be predicted (given a certain maximum pressure)? edit: Sigh, I misspoke in the title, it should read "Is the maximum temperature reduced?" submitted by /u/meshugga [link] [comments]

How long after eating something do our bodies gain weight? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 02:16 PM PST If I had a stable diet which never changed and a stable work and exercise plan which help me maintain my body size, the I go on a 3 day binge, eating fatty fried food, drinking loads of sugary drinks and alcohol, I refuse to leave my couch and spend the rest of my time sleeping and snacking(day around Christmas), then I go right back to my normal routine. When would I expect to see the fat start to appear on my body? I recently indulged for a few days then went back to work and felt completely bloated and uncomfortable, and a more polite coworker said I looked fatter. So just 48 hours later my body had noticeably changed. Is there a finite way of knowing how fast our bodies turn excess fat and calories into fat on our bodies, or is it a bit too vague to tell without testing a person. submitted by /u/PuffTheMightyDragons [link] [comments]

Are Nuclides and Isotopes the same thing? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 06:51 PM PST submitted by /u/McQuillus23 [link] [comments]

What's the difference between a neutrino and anti neutrino? Posted: 03 Nov 2019 12:45 PM PST I know quarks and antiquarks, electrons and positrons have opposite charges. What makes neutrinos antimatter self distinguishable? submitted by /u/SkillSaga [link] [comments]

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