Longest continuous running lab experiment

In summary: The next largest prime number?I heard on the radio that there was a town, I think in Western Europe, where a symphony is played out 1 note per year, i.e. 1 note drone for 365 days. I forget how long it's been going.
  • #1
wolram
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What is the longest continuous running experiment , By continuous i mean some equipment is set up and left to run, not some thing like CERN where there has been periods of down time.
 
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  • #2
Life.

They're watching :eek:
 
  • #3
Voyager space probes?
 
  • #4
Possibly this one.

http://www.smp.uq.edu.au/pitch/ [Broken]

http://www.smp.uq.edu.au/pitch/ [Broken]

Started 1927.
 
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  • #5
signerror said:
Possibly this one.

http://www.smp.uq.edu.au/pitch/ [Broken]

http://www.smp.uq.edu.au/pitch/ [Broken]

Started 1927.

Gads that is amazing i would not have given a thought to such an experiment, i guessed it would be some thing to do with time.
 
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  • #6
How about the light bulb that's been burning for the past 108 years: a quasi-experiment?
http://www.centennialbulb.org/" [Broken]
 
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  • #7
Loren Booda said:
How about the light bulb that's been burning for the past 108 years: a quasi-experiment?
http://www.centennialbulb.org/" [Broken]

Wow, that was my first thought, too :approve:! But I was way too busy this afternoon to post it.
 
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  • #8
wolram said:
Gads that is amazing i would not have given a thought to such an experiment, i guessed it would be some thing to do with time.

This guy should do the Heinz ketchup commercials.
 
  • #9
Loren Booda said:
How about the light bulb that's been burning for the past 108 years: a quasi-experiment?
http://www.centennialbulb.org/" [Broken]

That bulb is running wa-a-a-ay underpowered.
 
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  • #10
signerror said:
Possibly this one. Started 1927.

That is tenacity above and beyond the call of duty. At least he had time to go and get in a couple of rounds of golf between taking readings.
 
  • #11
Brings new meaning to "watching molasses."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster" [Broken]
 
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  • #12
Then there is the Beverly clock, in the city with the most beautiful http://zamaitt.com/wagamama/nz/popular%20tours/img/dunedin%20railway%20station.jpg [Broken] in the world, running since 1864, driven by temperature and pressure variation.

Also worth mentioning the Oxford Electric Bell.
 
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  • #13
If I recall, some of the longest experiments are agricultural ones. There have been fields set up in the UK for decades to test the effects of nutrient depletion etc. This article states that one was started in 1843, and if it's the one I'm thinking of then it's still going.
 
  • #14
The next largest prime number?
 
  • #15
I heard on the radio that there was a town, I think in Western Europe, where a symphony is played out 1 note per year, i.e. 1 note drone for 365 days. I forget how long it's been going.

I've forgotten the crucial elements really.
 
  • #16
Andre said:
Then there is the Beverly clock, in the city with the most beautiful http://zamaitt.com/wagamama/nz/popular%20tours/img/dunedin%20railway%20station.jpg [Broken] in the world, running since 1864, driven by temperature and pressure variation.

Also worth mentioning the Oxford Electric Bell.

Nice one Andre.
 
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1. What is the longest continuous running lab experiment?

The longest continuous running lab experiment is the Pitch Drop Experiment, which has been ongoing since 1927 at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

2. What is the purpose of the Pitch Drop Experiment?

The purpose of the Pitch Drop Experiment is to study the properties of pitch, a highly viscous material, and to determine whether it is a solid or a liquid.

3. How long has the Pitch Drop Experiment been running?

The Pitch Drop Experiment has been running for over 93 years, making it the longest continuously running laboratory experiment in the world.

4. Has anyone ever witnessed a pitch drop in the experiment?

Yes, there have been 9 recorded pitch drops in the experiment, with the most recent one occurring in 2014. However, the drops are very rare and can happen at any time, making it difficult to witness.

5. How is the Pitch Drop Experiment maintained for such a long period of time?

The experiment is kept in a controlled environment with constant temperature and minimal vibrations to prevent any disturbances. The glass flask containing the pitch is also encased in a wooden frame to protect it and to allow for easier observation.

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