StringJunky

Interesting. Still not digital yet then. Does ambient temperature affect the accuracy of flow meters in terms of the amount of gas actually delivered through changes in pressure caused by it or does the pumping station compensate for this?

Thanks

It seems to me the dial is for showing a more sensitive real-time indication of gas usage - one revolution equals 1 cu.ft Here's a Parkinson: Here's British Gas one: Seems to be a standard indication

It is when one introduces metaphysics and mysticism as apparent components of it. I think, to have a sound footing in philosophy, one must know the mechanics of human consciousness and that means being fluent in cognitive neuroscience or biopsychology. By understanding this subject one can get a grip on the limits of perception of the world around us. If we don't know how our brain pieces the world together how can we hope to extrapolate the external reality in a scientific way? Without this prior knowledge of objectively-observed cognitive functioning philosophy will forever remain founded on sand. Dennet is at least, in my opinion, on the right track in his field of studies by including cognitive science as part of them.

There are a couple of guys that think the core is off-centred to explain the east-west difference... but not due to gravitational effects. I can't find the relevant part now about it not being caused by gravity. Abstract: In a first approximation, the Earth's interior has an isotropic structure with a spherical symmetry. Over the last decades the geophysical observations have revealed, at different spatial scales, the existence of several perturbations from this basic structure. In this paper we discuss the hemispheric perturbations induced to this basic structure if the inner core is displaced from the center of mass of the Earth. Using numerical simulations of the observed hemispheric asymmetry of the seismic waves traveling through the upper inner core, with faster arrival times and higher attenuation in the Eastern Hemisphere, we estimate that the present position of the inner core is shifted by tens of kilometers from the Earth's center eastward in the equatorial plane. If the only forces acting on the inner core were the gravitational forces, then its equilibrium position would be at the Earth's center and the estimated displacement would not be possible. We conjecture that, due to interactions with the flow and the magnetic field inside the outer core, the inner core is in a permanent chaotic motion. To support this hypothesis we analyze more than ten different geophysical phenomena consistent with an inner core motion dominated by time scales from hundreds to thousands of years. Geophysical implications of a decentered inner core - arxiv Abstract In a first approximation the Earth's interior has an isotropic structure with a spherical symmetry. Over the last decades the geophysical observations have revealed, at different spatial scales, the existence of several perturbations from this basic structure. Some of them are situated in the neighborhood of the inner core boundary (ICB). One of the best documented perturbations is the asymmetry at the top of the inner core (ATIC) characterized by faster seismic wave velocity in the eastern hemisphere than in the western hemisphere. All existing explanations are based on a hemispheric variation of the material properties near ICB inside the inner core. Using numerical simulations of the seismic ray propagation, we show that the ATIC can be explained as well by the displacement of the inner core towards east in the equatorial plane tens of kilometers from the Earth's center, without modifying the spherical symmetry in the upper inner core. The hypothesis of a displaced inner core is also sustained by other observed hemispheric asymmetries at the top of the inner core and at the bottom of the outer core. A displaced inner core would have major implications for many mechanical, thermal, and magnetic phenomena in the Earth's interior. Seismic hemispheric asymmetry induced by Earth's inner core decentering - arxiv Edit: See bolded in first abstract that gravitational effects are not suggested to cause decentering.

I just happened to look at some of his posts last night and thought to myself he is one of the clearest explainers I've ever seen anywhere. I've been coming here virtually everyday since 2009 and developed a real liking for physics because of the enthusiasm, patience and generosity shown here by the qualified members and dedicated enthusiasts. I also find the eclectic demographic of the membership constantly refreshing.

Einstein was apparently about two years advanced, relative to his peers, in his education as a teenager. The idea that he was not so bright came because the education administrators reversed the grading system after he had done his thus making him look not so bright.

From iNow's link: Just do it.

Put some water in an open jug and cover it with something porous to let the chlorine gases out and keep flies off. leave it a few hours.

Dark Energy is the phenomenon hypothesised to be driving the accelerated expansion. http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-is-dark-energy/

I don't think scientists like infinities, it's just what the models tell them and those models have probably gone beyond the limit of their application.

The thing is in science certain words mean certain things. This is so that when certain words are used they are understood in a certain way. It ensures everyone is visualising the same things otherwise it's like a band with all the members playing different tunes at the same time.

Yes, that makes sense.

FYI it's Dr Tom Swanson. He puts his first name initial (t) on the end of his username.

No, that reference was in relation to your question about the necessity for external forces changing the Earth's rate of rotation ...which it isn't. The changes can be caused internally.

It's worth reading all this statement made in 1999..

Table salt has anti-caking agents in it so it could be a by-product of one or more of those..

Vaccination may be becoming a victim of it's own success because as time goes on there will be increasingly few of us who remember these diseases, their prevalence in our younger lives and the harm they caused. Because the benefits are effectively invisible to younger generations - who have no memory or connections with past epidemics - all they will increasingly see and hear about is the adverse effects of vaccination and this lack of personal experience is causing people like simple-minded to have doubts. A consequence we may see of this overwhelming success towards increasing overall herd immunity is a degree of reversal in the prevalence of these diseases such that they might make the news again.

There's degrees of dream-state and the scenario you mention has some conscious-awareness in it ...lucid dreaming being the highest level to the point you can manipulate them.

Perhaps because they think more and more the answers actually lies in the mathematical formalism and look for the data less and less to put meat on it ...they lose sight that it's just a tool.

The problem with this sort of subject is finding sources that have no horse in the race either way and just want to know - in a dispassionate way - for the pure purpose of historical record. It must be rife with confirmation bias on the sides that have an agenda or interest in a particular outcome. I wouldn't trust a declared fervent atheist or their theistic counterpart because they are already prejudiced from the start. I am inclined think there actually was a somewhat rebellious person that came to symbolise the hopes and dreams of those around at that time. Pretty much like Mandela represents racial unity ...his memory will turn into an exaggerated heroic mythical character in the decades and possibly centuries to come. Look at Einstein, he is "the avatar of human intellectual achievement" as Timo put it ...he has achieved near mythical status amongst the general populace. It's what happens as time mists the details and imagination takes over to fill the gaps.

I like this. What a great way to put it..

Quality of information sources. Choose them well.