The Lounge

Hi, My name is Dawson S and I'm a student from Australia. I'm currently completing a research project into the modern-day feasibility of a nuclear-powered aeroplane (as first suggested in the Cold War). I am to deliver this project in December at the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminars where I will attend the Nobel Prize ceremonies. I am interested in poll results from different community groups and as such I have approached this forum. Please vote above and comment below should you have any strong opinions. I only require opinions; I already have all of the scientific data I require for my project (this is one of the last sections I am to complete). …

Hello. I co-edit a fan site for Fringe. The site is currently receiving a few thousand visitors daily. We'd like to add a real science column to the mix. The column will serve as a peer review for the science presented in the show, be it fringe, quasi, bad, etc., i.e. The column will be a great way to promote your personal science themed blog/writing (read: that's what's in it for you). To apply, submit a critique of the science of a current or past episode of Fringe complete with a closing signature (who you are, what you do, where you blog, etc.).

I'd like to propose a new scale of new age stupidity. The units of this scale will be referred to as "chakras", and the scale will range between 1 and 7, with 7 being the worst: 1 chakra: new age techniques which scientific studies actually confirm have a positive benefit (e.g. accupuncture), even if the new age reasoning for that benefit is completely without merit 2 chakras: attempting to study new age claims in a scientific context, or otherwise apply scientific methodology to them, even if the studies show them to be without merit 3 chakras: vague mentions of scientific terminology in the wrong context used to promote new age techniques 4 chakras: cla…

The Space Shuttle Minute is NASA's wrap-up of activities surrounding Space Shuttle processing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. :-)Enjoy

I am making a survey about the religious development in current society. This survey will be made through a interpretation of a simple questionnaire which will deal with how religion is related to the social relations, the supernatural, the personal opinions and what are the consequences of the religious variety. The questions are in English Language and can be answered in the link below: Questionnaire - Data Survey - How is religious development in current society? I am opened to your suggestions, questions or any doubt that may come to mind. Mail: a.ladeira@ymail.com Thanks!

We've finally gotten an offer accepted in SD. So now that we're in the process of getting the home, when we settle, we're going to want to make it our own. We are completely new to San Diego. Does anyone have any suggestions on where we can find out about good painters and other residential remodel contractors?

Hi there! I'm the local Lions Club projects director and have been tasked with replacing/updating/etc. the high school baseball stadium's PA system. This system is 20 years old, and really stinks! I'd like to chat with anyone that has experience or knowledge in this area. Most audio/amplifier/speaker forums don't wish to deal with this mundane subject. Any takers? Thnx!

I just read this story in the newspaper. Marie-Charlotte Renaud and Benjamin Pizem were married in France and had a daughter, Rose Pizem. Benjamin Pizem was an orphan (I think) with an estranged father living in Tel Aviv, Israel. The couple and their daughter went to go find this father and, somehow or another, The Mother, Marie-Charlotte, wound up becoming lovers with Pizem's father, Ronny Ron. Ben Pizem originally took Rose back with him to France, but he subsequently lost a custody battle to his wife (yes, the wife who left him for his own father, who originally abandonned him). I guess its not enough to get stabbed in the back by the person…

Ok, let me tell you about myself. I live in NY and go to college in NY. I intend on attending medical school 3 years from now. I am technically a Junior, credit-wise, however this is my second year as a college student. I brought to college 36 credits from College-High School programs ran by two popular universities in the state. In English I took 12 credits in (more than enough to satisfy what was needed), but I averaged I believe a B+ (however, i was awarded with a small scholarship in English in senior year, I was the only one, how ironic b/c I didn't do the best). For the most part my other credits were A's (maybe one or two A-). Now my first year of college (l…

Hi everybody, perhaps I've chosen a slightly controversial title for this thread, but this is a thought that's been bubbling in my head for a little while. I remember watching a documentary a while back on Pykrete ice, as a a material of about 14% sawdust and 86% water ice as being much stronger and melting much more slowly than ice. Indeed I almost chose it as the subject of a materials presentation I did back in my physics class at high school. I chose not to however as I couldn't find much information on it however... I still can't, which is why I'm making this thread as I hoped others would perhaps have some more information on it. One thing I'd like to ask: …

Hello. Between march 2007 and march 2008 I was involved in testing a physics engine with a Japanese company called Polyphony Digital who make a driving simulator called Gran Turismo. During this process a brilliant Japanese cryptographer/physicist who was hired by Polyphony Digital developed a new type of code, which was used to control how the grip of the car would behave. This new code was then developed even further after I did a lot of testing with it. This code worked like a chain so it could also run at a speed. I was able to make the speed of this chain run very quickly, quite easily. After about 1 week I managed to bring this code all the way to the speed o…

I need to find some articles on biology/medicine and I am wondering if you know any magazines/websites I could find some off. They have to be current. The reason I ask is I don't want an unreliable website.

I've often seen pictures of nuclear power plants used as analogies for both how much humans are polluting and how much carbon we put into the air. I believe this is because cooling towers look like giant chimneys and the water vapor coming out of them looks like billowing smoke. I think this helps bring about a negative image of nuclear power in general. What other analogies do you see people draw which are completely incorrect?

If anyone is interested in looking to see what is going on with the LHC, here is a link to a nice resource which displays the webcams which are online right now: http://www.cyriak.co.uk/lhc/lhc-webcams.html Edit: I should have said - these are CMS only

I am 30+ now and have not got a musical bone in my body. I know what I like to listen to and have always wanted to play something. Am I too old? Anyone else here manage to learn an instrument "later in life"? I am thinking about giving the heavy metal axe a bash (and not the Vulcan gong or lytherette). Cheers

I wasn't sure where to put this, it's kind of a "current events" story, but it wasn't political and it wasn't computer science, so this seemed like the logical place. Check out this Forbes story: http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/09/08/ual-tribune-bankruptcy-biz-media-cz_ja_0908ualstory2.html To break it down, apparently this morning at 10:53am some financial analyst happened across a 6-year-old story about UAL declaring bankruptcy, and thought it was a NEW news story, so he published it to his financial subscribers. Within ten minutes 24 million shares of UAL stock had changed hands, with the stock crashing from $12.45 to $3! NASDAQ halted its trading at 11:06…

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/08/breaking-2011-chevy-volt-revealed/ This is a very interesting car. I don't think I'd purchase a hybrid from Chevy but the concept is quite interesting. The Chevy Volt in a plug-in hybrid, so when you get home you can just plug it into the wall. If you use the car for a short daily commute, this means you don't have to pay for gas and can run it off electricity. I really like this concept and hope to see better manufacturers releasing plug-in hybrids soon.

Hi I am searching for a free electromagnetic simulator or some library that I could use to compute the electromagnetic force on charged particles. It should be able to compute particle-particle electromagnetic interactions in a fixed electromagnetic field. If there are no free one, can you give me some commercial one that you know of. Thanks

does anybody know if grand theft auto san andreas is coming out on xbox because it looks like a brilliant game and if so when will it come out

As we all know, YT2095 and his wife are having another spawn of satan kid. And I think its once again time we folks here at SFN test our powers of prediction and have a bet on whether its going to be a boy or a girl. GO!

At my school, they don't allow Wiki as a viable source. Do you think it's trustworthy?

http://www.stormpulse.com/ Very cool Javascripts on that page. Really handy for people living in hurricane-prone areas. The clickable information tools are just excellent.

I'm well aware of the ridiculous cost of textbooks nowadays. But when I saw the cost of this particular text I hadda cringe. This one is really pathetic. See Electromagnetic Fields - 2nd Ed., by Ronald K. Wangsness http://www.scribblygumbooks.com.au/9780471811862.html This particular book costs $253.95!!! Is that horrible or what? I saw this at the universities book store new for $123.10. Talk about your markup! I'm having trouble locating this book for a decent price. Does anybody have any suggestions on where I can get a copy for a decent price? Pete

any intersiting way to die?

Dear all! Its time for me to congratulate everyone Muslims and non-muslim alike a happy Ramadhan (month of fasting)!. May during this month you wipe away as much as sins as possible and bring about a good EID!