Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread (Read 204873 times)

Senator · « **Reply #1480 on:** October 24, 2009, 10:12:45 AM »

Well, people seem to be going fishing every June:

http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=fishing&cmpt=q

*inhales something*

IT'S LIKE THE EEG OF GAIA!

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #1481 on:** October 27, 2009, 02:20:42 AM »

the liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma...

Senator · « **Reply #1482 on:** October 27, 2009, 10:10:26 AM »

NASA's Ares I-X, prototype is on the launchpad, and will be testing, err, today.

Incidentially, this is a test for the lower bit, but as you can see, it includes the top bit.

That top bit (upper stage), is actually completely fake. It's just a banged together metal cylinder, with weights in it in order to simulate the fuel weight an actual upper stage would have.

Nebula · « **Reply #1483 on:** October 27, 2009, 10:58:36 AM »

I'm watching the launch progress on NASA TV right now

Kirk · « **Reply #1484 on:** October 27, 2009, 02:54:42 PM »

Did I miss the launch? Shame if I did, it was built only a few miles from me.

captain_obvious · « **Reply #1485 on:** October 27, 2009, 06:16:46 PM »

The Aeries 1-X was nicknamed "the stick" due to it being so slim compared to it's predecessors.
And that it uses an upgraded version of the old J-2 rocket engines used in the Apollo missions!

Nebula · « **Reply #1486 on:** October 27, 2009, 06:31:15 PM »

Quote from: Kirk on October 27, 2009, 02:54:42 PM

Did I miss the launch? Shame if I did, it was built only a few miles from me.

No the mission was scrubbed... It will launch tomorrow at 8am EDT

Senator · « **Reply #1487 on:** October 27, 2009, 06:35:07 PM »

Ah. I didn't see anything in the news, so I assumed it was a success.

Kirk · « **Reply #1488 on:** October 27, 2009, 06:43:49 PM »

Dang, I hate to say it, but I hope they push it back to Saturday so I can watch it live. I really want to see my state's handiwork go up.

captain_obvious · « **Reply #1489 on:** October 27, 2009, 08:47:31 PM »

This is graphene. But they've zoomed in so closely that you can actually see the chemical bonds! Cool or what??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_Electron_Aberration-corrected_Microscope

Senator · « **Reply #1490 on:** October 27, 2009, 09:34:52 PM »

In November the Large Hadrom Collider will reactivate.

However, because SCIENCE never stops, there is already talk about CERN's replacement. The Super Large Hadron Collider.
That's like an LHC, but turbocharged.

captain_obvious · « **Reply #1491 on:** October 28, 2009, 09:09:03 AM »

Quote from: Senator on October 27, 2009, 09:34:52 PM

In November the Large Hadrom Collider will reactivate.

However, because SCIENCE never stops, there is already talk about CERN's replacement. The Super Large Hadron Collider.
That's like an LHC, but turbocharged.

you mean supercharged right? :lol:

Lionus · « **Reply #1492 on:** October 28, 2009, 11:06:21 AM »

Superchargers don't like high running speeds, whereas turbos don't mind. and those things they shoot around the machine go pretty darn fast, lad

Armondikov · « **Reply #1493 on:** October 28, 2009, 11:47:27 AM »

Quote from: Senator on October 27, 2009, 10:10:26 AM

NASA's Ares I-X, prototype is on the launchpad, and will be testing, err, today.

Incidentially, this is a test for the lower bit, but as you can see, it includes the top bit.

That top bit (upper stage), is actually completely fake. It's just a banged together metal cylinder, with weights in it in order to simulate the fuel weight an actual upper stage would have.

I was lucky enough to go to the BBC's website just a few minutes before launch so managed to watch it live. I fucking love this stuff.

Nebula · « **Reply #1494 on:** October 28, 2009, 11:51:23 AM »

yeah I watched it live on the NASA channel OMG was it awesome.

(waits for vid to be uploaded to youtube tonight)

captain_obvious · « **Reply #1495 on:** October 28, 2009, 01:23:38 PM »

Did she go *kaboom*?

A turbo charger will be damaged if used immediately after starting an engine from cold. This is due to a lack of oil in there. The oil drains out when the engine is stopped and left for a few hours but the oil will soon circulate again when the engine is run at low revs for about 5-10 minutes.

This means DON'T THRASH YOUR F**KING TURBOCHARGED CARS FOR THE FIRST 10 MINUTES AFTER STARTING CRAZY FOO'S!!

Armondikov · « **Reply #1496 on:** October 28, 2009, 01:31:31 PM »

Quote from: captain_obvious on October 28, 2009, 01:23:38 PM

Did she go *kaboom*?

Fortunately not. All went as planned as far as I can tell. A few break ups with the camera link ups but all-in-all, pretty promising start. Of course, they're going to can it all in favour of developing weapons that they can drop on dirty foreigners instead.

Ooops, did I say that out loud?

Armondikov · « **Reply #1497 on:** October 28, 2009, 01:35:29 PM »

US Military Budget
$515.4 billion

US Black Budget
$32 billion

NASA Budget
$17.2 billion

CDC Budget
$8.8 billion

You can tell who needs more cash right now, can't you... :roll

captain_obvious · « **Reply #1498 on:** October 28, 2009, 02:42:46 PM »

Quote from: Armondikov on October 28, 2009, 01:35:29 PM

US Military Budget
$515.4 billion

US Black Budget
$32 billion

NASA Budget
$17.2 billion

CDC Budget
$8.8 billion

You can tell who needs more cash right now, can't you... :roll

yes.
NACA.

Senator · « **Reply #1499 on:** October 28, 2009, 03:00:24 PM »

And for the record. Wars are charged extra, on top of that military budget.

Iraq War
3 Trillion

Bailouts
1 Trillion
_________________

Estimated cost of Space Elevator
10 Billion

Estimated cost of Transatlantic Tunnel
200 Billion. (Or 100 Billion since, presumably, the EU would pay 50% of that one)

Estimated cost of Bering Strait Bridge
110 Billion. (Or 55 Billion since, presumably, Asia would pay 50% of that one)

ITER cost (the project to create fusion reactors, that could possibly be fast tracked if it had more money thrown at it)
10 Billion

HiPER cost (Another project to create fusion reactors, that could possibly be fast tracked if it had more money thrown at it)
1 Billion

:roll

News:

Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread (Read 204873 times)