CaptainPanic

A pendulum alone will just show you have an acceleration... in a flight simulator (the expensive ones that pilots train on), they just tilt the whole cabin to imitate this same effect. However, on a plane, you have normal gravity, and the acceleration. The resulting acceleration you experience is - as an absolute quantity - larger than gravity. On a flight simulator, where they merely tilt the cabin, the resulting total acceleration is still just exactly that of gravity. Add a force meter to the pendulum, and see the direction as well as how much the force by acceleration and gravity increases, and you can tell the difference. Heh, Yeah, sorry about that. That wasn't in the script.

I'm afraid he's on to us. Send the black helicopters.

I think that to keep someone really clueless that he's living a lie in a dome, with current technology, would be ether really costly, or just impossible. Why not just convince someone that home is nice, and the outside world is a big bad place? Then you can do the same trick, without building that dome. But I think it is very possible to fake the plane ride itself. I'd be more worried about the rest of the trip... But looking at myself, I love traveling way too much, and I doubt a director could come up with all the stuff I experienced during my travels. And my trip was a bit too random at times to have the camera's in place in time

First a disclaimer: I am no expert at all... and I know nothing of the codeacademy. I get the feeling that your script needs more and more time to calculate the next answer as it receives more input. And after 2-4 lines, the calculation time gets so long that the website (codeacademy) just pulls the plug, and gives an error message. Still, let me congratulate you with getting that code online, and working! (What I am saying is: view this as a first success, and nothing less than that).

Huh? Current science: we see wobbles and dimming, so we assume that there may be planets there. You: disagree with all kinds of strong words. So, I want to know what is your explanation for the observed wobbles and dimming? ! Moderator Note Moderator edit: Because fertilizerspike created at least 2 posts full of swear words, we have had to (temporarily?) suspend him to keep our forum clean. Please don't bother to address him personally for a while.

I actually think nothing of the current science... but I would be interested in what you would think is a better explanation.

fertilizerspike, We are happy if you challenge the popular scientific results - it means we get a lively discussion. (It would be so boring it we all just agree). However, to make this discussion proceed a little smoother, could you please explain us the following? You say that a large part of the exoplanets are not observed directly. Instead, the astronomers say that an exoplanet is the best explanation for the observations: stars periodically wobble and/or periodically dim. If you disagree with this, it would be helpful if you either explain us what is wrong with that. Are the measurements themselves faulty? Or just the explanation? I agree that the explanation that this wobble or dimming is caused by planets is based on some assumptions... but it just seems the most logical explanation. Any other explanation (aliens have huge screens and mirrors to deflect and dim the light) would be based on even more outrageous assumptions. This is science: we observe and measure stuff and then we come up with an explanation that seems the most likely. You're fine to disagree, but please offer a new explanation, so we can shoot at that too.

Well, the 5 sides that are perfectly insulated will actually (try to) radiate, but the (theoretical) perfect insulation will reflect 100% of the radiation straight back to where it came from. The effect is that there is no (net) radiation. This is just how we define "perfect insulation". Also, when two solids are in contact, heat is normally "conducted". At an atomic scale, photons may still be emitted, but they don't get very far, and just crash into the next atom. So, you could argue that what we call "conduction" is actually the sum of both the actual conduction of heat (caused by atoms bumping into each other) and some radiation. We cannot really measure it... so we just call it conduction. Convection can be ruled out easily... after all, what would move? In your thought-experiment, all you have are 2 solid blocks of paraffin. Solids don't move, or we don't call them solids. If you have a thought-experiment where you have only solids, then the only method of heat transfer is conduction, for the simple reason that "conduction" is what we call heat transfer in a solid. If the two cubes are surrounded by air, then you would have to take into account radiation and convection for sure. The transfer between the blocks wouldn't change much initially, as conduction is typically much larger than convection or radiation... but on a longer time scale, they would have to be included.

If you start moving the match, the flame will get more blue, indicating that the combustion is more complete. Right before it goes out (because you're moving it too fast, thus cooling it down), the flame will be quite blue, which shows that there is plenty of oxygen available. It's actually easier to observe this by blowing onto the match right in front of you instead of waving that match around. Make sure not to set your eyebrows on fire.

A good troll provokes the establishment. A good troll does not swear. A good troll knows how to be subtle. But most importantly, a good troll does not get banned. Pity most trolls are a bunch of amateurs. I like good trolls.

! Moderator Note There have been numerous complaints that certain people do not wish to fully engage in the discussion and refuse to adhere to the scientific method. This thread is (temporarily?) closed for review. While it is being reviewed by moderators, please do not open another thread on the same topic.

It would make sense for the aliens to radiate their waste heat away from the sun (even if they are really far away, on a rock in the Oort cloud). It's just more efficient to have a radiator in the shadow. So, we should not be looking for a large waste heat signature. I would also think that they may send some radio-type of signal? Alternatively, if their space-base is large enough, it may emit sufficient radiation of whatever wavelength the aliens use to see (our equivalent of visible light). If you're sitting on a space rock in the Oort cloud, it is not very difficult to hide from us here on Earth.

Do not pay. Use the computer you are on right now to Google - someone else will have the same virus, and they will be able to tell you how to get rid of it. If you copy exactly (part of) the message you get that tells you to pay the fine, then you'll find some information. Put the message between "" to make Google search for exactly that phrase. Worst case: bring it to a computer doctor (i.e. some company in your local area that takes care of computers... may be just the local electronics hardware store).

The weird thing about school (and even university) is that they fill your head with facts... and you only find out later what you needed all that information for.

Is there a link?

It's probably "Isopropyl alcohol". The other is spelled "(denaturated) Ethanol". Chemically, isopropyl is quite different from ethanol... but what it has in common is that you will burn your fingers on it if you aren't careful. Both do not burn "cool". The heating values of the two differ by about 10%, and can be found here. (Note: isopropyl alcohol is listed as "isopropanol"). To give you an idea: the heating values of both alcohols lie somewhere in between that of gasoline and wood. I have no idea why the two continents have different habits, but I would guess that it has to do with regulations about what you can and cannot sell, or possibly just historic reasons.

Strong high pressure areas are forming over regions in the Arctic which disturbs the normal temperature distribution on the Northern hemisphere, or at least the northern regions. Western Europe experiences a very cold spring (it's still freezing in the Netherlands, we had an all-time record low for March just a week ago), but in certain regions in the Arctic, these same strong weather systems blow hot air and increase temperatures to well above the normal. Links I found on the topic suggest that this is not your every-day weather event. This link predicts that Arctic melting might be quite severe this summer. But the patterns are also similar to the ones that caused droughts in the western USA last 2 years. I'm just posting this because I thought that it is an interesting read. The weather is often reported as a local phenomenon, so it is interesting to see it on a much larger scale. Note to my fellow mods: I deliberately did not place this in "Climate science", because we are discussing the weather, not climate. The two are related, but not the same. I am not interested in another thread where believers and skeptics are fighting a bitter Yes/No fight. Note to everybody, let's discuss the weather here, and leave climate change out of it, even though this may or may not be caused by it.

Brainstorm: 1. Your colleagues sneaked under the desk, and untied them. 2. As derek said: silk shoelaces, or shoelaces of such special material that it will untie itself 3. Maybe you did move? 4. Sticky shoelace ends. The shoelace's ends stick to the other shoe. As soon as you move your feet apart mere centimeters, they get loose. Solution: The better quality shoelaces will really not get untied to easily. Just spend 1-2 euro to get some new ones.

Why? Centralized power does not mean that it will tackle the climate issues. The USA and China are the two largest players at the moment, and they are not exactly shining examples of how to tackle the climate problems. The USA usually opposes any regulations. Why would a world-government be any different? And terrorism is not a threat at all. It is just an excuse of governments to pull more power towards themselves, and to reduce liberty. The impact of terrorism on the lives of people is purely emotional: they spread fear - but in reality it is negligible. You might as well believe in ghosts and be afraid of that. If you want to make this planet a bit better, I would attack our healthcare. Sadly, once again, America shows that a powerful federal government does not mean you will get healthcare. But if you want to make the world a bit safer for people, then you should fight a War on Cancer, not on terrorism. But speaking of India: what benefit do you have from your national government? Why would your state governments not be able to carry out all those tasks?

! Moderator Note Popcorn, please be so kind to check where you are posting. A thread has a certain topic. We do not want you to start a new discussion in an existing thread. I believe this is a part of a totally different thread, or maybe a new one altogether. I am not 100% sure which one, but it sure as hell is not this one. I'll treat this as a mistake, but some of my moderator colleagues might see this as either a complete failure to engage in a dialogue, or as a thread hijack. Both are against our rules. To everybody: this thread has been hopelessly off topic all the time. Thread closed.

I agree with the main picture you sketch, but I would suggest that humans just naturally want to be part of a group, and that therefore the creation of a unique identity is not so much a conscious decision of anyone in particular, or even of the group as a whole. Instead, the creation of that unique identity is just a part of being human. Living in groups has been the common practice literally since history began, and probably long before that... So, we could therefore perhaps agree that, to the best of our knowledge, it is a part of being human to be part of a group? I see this question in this thread not so much as a question as "why do we need differences", but more a question "why should we all become part of the same group"? What single benefit would there be to have a world-government? I don't think I cannot see any. A world government may be able to keep the peace, but I don't see why the UN wouldn't be able to play such a role. They wouldn't need much more power to be effective. It seems however to me that the main thing that has kept the peace lately in Europe is just one general thing: Shared mutual interests. Whether these are military (against the commies) or economic (European union) does not matter. You don't actually need a powerful united government for that. I think it is more interesting to learn to accept our differences peacefully, and actually enjoy the differences. Cooperate where it is necessary, practical or profitable, and just leave it at that.

Sorry to have to ask this question, but have you actually ever lived (or even traveled) abroad? There are large cultural differences. The fact that we all know some mainstream music and Hollywood movies, and that we can all use the same Youbook and Facetube does not mean we have the same culture. You want cultural differences? Let's start with work. What is the average number of holidays that Americans get? I get 9 weeks per year, and that's not weird. I expect to be fully insured when working. I expect my country to tax me heavily, so they can provide me with an excellent infrastructure, public transportation, free schools and heavily subsidized healthcare. If we are going for one government, I demand that we use our system. I wonder how many Americans would object, and think that the communists had won after all. You say it seems that the political systems are incompatible... yet you wonder how it would work. I'm confused...

I have one major problem with your theory. Subduction and (seafloor) spreading are both happening at the same time, right now. According to your theory, one should happen first, then the other. Observation does not seem to match your theory. Care to discuss this?

We do not have a global culture. We merely have global trade, and even among the different countries there is a disagreement on how to run such an economy. So, just like in the old days, we are only trading with each other. The phrase "global economy" merely means that trade has become global, instead of regional. Look at the massive differences between China and the USA, the two largest economies: one is still officially communist, the other capitalist. The Chinese have a plan economy, the Americans sometimes seem to attempt to have no rules at all. Also, English is only the 3rd language by number of native speakers. Even when you count the people speaking it as native or second language, Chinese is still the #1. But just out of curiosity, how would you organize this? Democratically? Whose political system? The American? Or one of the many West-European democratic systems? Directly or indirectly chosen president? What to do with our queen? In the Netherlands we have a queen, you know... Soon, a king, btw.

! Moderator Note The best possible answer was given by CharonY, regardless whether we are talking about your penis or your testis. Go see a doctor. An online forum is no place for medical advice. Thread closed.