Strange 4273 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 On 2/2/2019 at 5:40 PM, MigL said: You would think they would standardize on one side or the other. If only to avoid the confusing messes at the gas pumps. But as some people insist on using the pump on the same side as the gas tank (I have often seen long queues at a half-empty filling station) having a "random" distribution makes more efficient use of space! Link to post Share on other sites
Itoero 48 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 Today I learned where the World’s Only Grass-Eating Monkeys Thrive...in the central Ethiopian Highlands. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/04/gelada-monkeys-grass-eating-guassa-ethiopia-bleeding-heart/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelada Link to post Share on other sites
Strange 4273 Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Today I learned that the European E-road network was started in 1947 and includes some amazing international routes. The E45 goes from Alta in the north of Norway to Gela in Sicily. And the E80, together with Asian Highway 1, crosses all of Europe and Asia, linking Lisbon with Tokyo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_E-road_network Link to post Share on other sites
koti 484 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 (edited) All 14 short episodes take about 1 hour to watch, the first one is really short, takes only 2 minutes. I'm learning a lot from these: Edit: These series deal with PHD level math knowledge which correlates directly in this case to modern physics, I find this series digestable having no background in math or physics and having no academic background. I recommend this to anyone who's a math semi-moron like me who wants to learn. Edited February 13, 2019 by koti 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Itoero 48 Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 (edited) Today I learned Kilimanjaro ice could be gone in 10 years.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/nov/03/kilimanjaro-melting-ice-climate-change http://www.bbc.com/storyworks/travel/fit-for-purpose/climate-change-kilimanjaro Edited February 22, 2019 by Itoero Link to post Share on other sites
Blondy314 0 Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 Hey, There is a new Trivia app which is based on voice recognition. The questions are read out loud and the answer is recognized so you don't event need to touch the phone. Perfect for car rides, kids or the visually impaired or blind. Available in the Play Storecommercial link removed by moderator Link to post Share on other sites
CharonY 2415 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 On 2/2/2019 at 10:40 AM, MigL said: You would think they would standardize on one side or the other. If only to avoid the confusing messes at the gas pumps. I wonder about the lack of normalization. In some cases (e.g. sliding doors, perhaps tank design?) there may be simple mechanical reasons. Or perhaps different sides optimize the use of filling stations, which can be easier be used from the opposite sides? I wonder whether there are statistics on which cars have the tank on either side, or perhaps trucks vs sedans and so on...? Link to post Share on other sites
Strange 4273 Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Today I learned what happens if you glue two Mobius strips together and then cut them down the middle. You may be surprised... There is an interview Tokieda here: https://www.quantamagazine.org/tadashi-tokieda-collects-math-and-physics-surprises-20181127/ He is an interesting guy. He taught himself maths from a book he found in the library. Only the book was in Russian, so first he had to learn Russian.... 2 Link to post Share on other sites
koti 484 Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 37 minutes ago, Strange said: Today I learned what happens if you glue two Mobius strips together and then cut them down the middle. You may be surprised... There is an interview Tokieda here: https://www.quantamagazine.org/tadashi-tokieda-collects-math-and-physics-surprises-20181127/ He is an interesting guy. He taught himself maths from a book he found in the library. Only the book was in Russian, so first he had to learn Russian.... Wow, that is surprising and amusing. It shows how much were (I'm) unprepared to process even simple geometry inside my head without the use of tools like Math. Not to mention raw processing of more complex geometries of GR or higher dimensions. Link to post Share on other sites
nevim 49 Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Today I learned a new verb, ‘antfucking’. It has pretty much the same meaning as ‘nitpicking’ - giving too much attention to minor, unimportant details. Link to post Share on other sites
Strange 4273 Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Today I learned why there are so many disparate words for "bear" in Indo-European languages. Apparently, bears were so terrifying that the word for them was taboo (in case naming them caused them to appear) and so a variety of euphemisms were sued: "bruin" (the brown one) and related forms in Germanic languages (which is where we get bear" from); "medved" (honey eater) and similar names in Slavic languages; and so on. https://www.charlierussellbears.com/LinguisticArchaeology.html 1 Link to post Share on other sites
koti 484 Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 Today I learned that electrons can pass through a dielectric medium at a speed greater than the phase velocity of light in that medium which results in Cherenkov radiation. Link to post Share on other sites
Curious layman 130 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 Today I learned 2 things dont mess with sfn women, they bite. It's not just science you learn here (English, Music, History, Literature, Jokes) you name it.... Link to post Share on other sites
nevim 49 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 (edited) Ok, I’ll add this one as Curious layman didn’t. The other day I learned the word psithurism which means the sound of leaves or wind rustling through the trees. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/psithurism The p is not pronounced. Edited June 24, 2019 by nevim 1 Link to post Share on other sites
dimreepr 1095 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 2 hours ago, nevim said: The p is not pronounced. It's not even in susurration. Link to post Share on other sites
John Cuthber 3845 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 5 hours ago, nevim said: Ok, I’ll add this one as Curious layman didn’t. The other day I learned the word psithurism which means the sound of leaves or wind rustling through the trees. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/psithurism The p is not pronounced. Is it onomatopoeic? Link to post Share on other sites
nevim 49 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 2 hours ago, John Cuthber said: Is it onomatopoeic? I don’t believe it is... Link to post Share on other sites
michel123456 547 Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 18 hours ago, John Cuthber said: Is it onomatopoeic? It is Greek. ψίθυρος (pseetheeros) whisper Link to post Share on other sites
John Cuthber 3845 Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 5 hours ago, michel123456 said: It is Greek. ψίθυρος (pseetheeros) whisper So is ονοματοποιημένος 21 hours ago, nevim said: I don’t believe it is... Any particular reason? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
nevim 49 Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 1 hour ago, John Cuthber said: So is ονοματοποιημένος Any particular reason? Because it doesn’t seem that way to me. Might to other people though, I suppose. Link to post Share on other sites
Curious layman 130 Posted June 26, 2019 Share Posted June 26, 2019 (edited) Today I learned that the Molecular motor is a truly wonderful beautiful thing. Amazing. And loads about DNA. Edited June 26, 2019 by Curious layman Link to post Share on other sites
CharonY 2415 Posted June 26, 2019 Share Posted June 26, 2019 11 hours ago, Curious layman said: the Molecular motor is a truly wonderful beautiful thing. Note that there are a lot of complexes that qualify as molecular motors. Link to post Share on other sites
Curious layman 130 Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 There's a film called Grave of the Fireflies I really need to watch https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_of_the_Fireflies. Link to post Share on other sites
Moontanman 2244 Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 Is the US space program being stabbed in the Back? Howard Bloom thinks so and the Chinese are taking advantage it! Link to post Share on other sites
Strange 4273 Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 Today I learned that Buzz Aldrin's mother's maiden name was ... Moon ! Evidence for the epigenetic effect of nominative determinism? Link to post Share on other sites
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