Search found 16 matches

by rriverstone
Fri Sep 24, 2010 12:41 am
Forum: The Communications Center: Breaking Science News
Topic: Observations Suggest Variation in Fine Structure Constant
Replies: 17
Views: 2168

Laws of Physics Vary Throughout Univese

How kewl is THIS?! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100909004112.htm "While a 'varying constant' would shake our understanding of the world around us extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. What we're finding is extraordinary, no doubt about that." "It's one o...
by rriverstone
Thu Sep 23, 2010 4:15 pm
Forum: The Asterisk Café: Discuss Anything Astronomy Related
Topic: solar fusion/hydrogen bombs
Replies: 4
Views: 328

Re: solar fusion/hydrogen bombs

Chris said, "I don't know how to productively harness that energy. Do you?" If you mean beyond running like hell in the other direction, not really. Thx. 4 yer reply. I mistook fusion POWER for fusion REACTION creation. Somebody skipped telling me that part, I guess.
by rriverstone
Thu Sep 23, 2010 4:13 pm
Forum: The Asterisk Café: Discuss Anything Astronomy Related
Topic: solar fusion/hydrogen bombs
Replies: 4
Views: 328

Re: solar fusion/hydrogen bombs

Now, they're talking about solar photons. They are saying, once a photon enters the convection layer of the sun, it is pushed up by gasses, traveling at hundreds of miles per hour. um. Don't photons travel at the speed of light?? And isn't it true that not even a photon could travel the speed of lig...
by rriverstone
Thu Sep 23, 2010 3:53 pm
Forum: Open Space: Discuss Anything
Topic: online media, vids., please?
Replies: 1
Views: 211

online media, vids., please?

I have a brain injury. Reading, retaining, vision are problems. Need science vids. I'm on NetFlix. I just tried looking through their "science" documentaries. After 3 pages, I lost hope. Most of the stuff I saw was Ben Stein equating Darwin with social "darwinism," 2012, "al...
by rriverstone
Thu Sep 23, 2010 3:50 pm
Forum: The Asterisk Café: Discuss Anything Astronomy Related
Topic: solar fusion/hydrogen bombs
Replies: 4
Views: 328

solar fusion/hydrogen bombs

I'm watching this very hyperactive and sensationalistic "documentary" program called "The Universe." I think it's by Discovery Channel? I'm 4 minutes in to the 1st episode and they said something that made me stop. I know the sun is powered by fusion reaction, fine. But then, the...
by rriverstone
Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:14 am
Forum: The Library: Information Desk and Educational Resources
Topic: NE body seen a super nova?
Replies: 3
Views: 1255

NE body seen a super nova?

Hi, So, I'm on something like Episode 8 of "Cosmos." Sagan just said, "There's been no super nova explosion in our province of the galaxy since the invention of the telescope." Well, that was 30 yrs. ago. i can't trust my memory, so I can't swear what's true. Has there been one s...
by rriverstone
Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:53 am
Forum: The Library: Information Desk and Educational Resources
Topic: When It Comes To The Edge
Replies: 21
Views: 4158

Re: When It Comes To The Edge

That was very helpful, NennIng, thanks.
by rriverstone
Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:00 pm
Forum: The Library: Information Desk and Educational Resources
Topic: is this truth about moon?(did the moon split)
Replies: 8
Views: 1900

Re: is this truth about moon?(did the moon split)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3xfdKLRkYQ apx. 2 minutes in.

Sorry, The problem was that I have NoScript installed, and didn't have all the necessary scripts functioning for this forum. should post fine now? :facepalm:
by rriverstone
Sun Sep 19, 2010 7:29 pm
Forum: The Library: Information Desk and Educational Resources
Topic: is this truth about moon?(did the moon split)
Replies: 8
Views: 1900

Re: is this truth about moon?(did the moon split)

Ann, Sagan describes the entire Canterbury incident in "Cosmos," Episode 4. It even animates the dust cloud from the impact, that gave the appearance that the Moon "split." He says there is a crater. He says there is verification that the moon still vibrates from the impact. Is t...
by rriverstone
Sun Sep 19, 2010 7:01 pm
Forum: The Library: Information Desk and Educational Resources
Topic: oribts as discs
Replies: 14
Views: 1359

oribts as discs

I was just looking at an animation of Saturn; it reminded me of an old question I've had since I was a little girl, 45 yrs ago. Why are so many orbits flat discs? Why isn't Saturn within a bubble of snowballs, rather than rings? Why do planets orbit Sol in a relatively disc shaped order? Why is this...
by rriverstone
Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:40 pm
Forum: The Library: Information Desk and Educational Resources
Topic: When It Comes To The Edge
Replies: 21
Views: 4158

Re: When It Comes To The Edge

I do not have a mind trained in mathematics, physics or geometry, so conceptualizing this is difficult for me. I heard, don't know where, that the universe is something like a Mobeus strip, turning back on itself, and that we are on the surface. Now, as I remember it, this is not a 3 dimensional con...
by rriverstone
Sun Sep 19, 2010 1:59 am
Forum: The Library: Information Desk and Educational Resources
Topic: ellipse focus question
Replies: 2
Views: 965

Re: ellipse focus question

I thought so. The real focus is the sun. The secondary position in the ellipse, while it may be CALLED a "focus," does not require a body with mass, gravity, etc. for the elliptical orbit to function. Having rolled pennies in those giant funnel thingies in malls, I didn't think a 2nd objec...
by rriverstone
Sat Sep 18, 2010 11:04 pm
Forum: The Library: Information Desk and Educational Resources
Topic: ellipse focus question
Replies: 2
Views: 965

ellipse focus question

So, I'm too ignorant to know if this person's idea is misguided, so I'm asking, to find out. The person said that, if the sun is a focus of a planetary ellipse, something else has to be a focus on the other side of the ellipse. Intuitively, this feels wrong to me, probably because I play with yo yos...