The World's Largest Computer in 1951

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around historical and technical aspects of significant machines and vehicles, including the ENIAC computer and the Russian Ekranoplan. Participants engage in a quiz-like format, posing questions and providing hints about various inventions, their specifications, and historical context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the ENIAC, detailing its size, weight, components, and power consumption, while noting its limited processing power compared to modern devices.
  • Another participant identifies the ENIAC as the machine described in the previous post.
  • Participants discuss a large vehicle that weighs 540 tons, can travel over land and water, and is hinted to be built in Russia, leading to speculation about its identity.
  • Some participants propose that the vehicle in question is the Russian Ekranoplan, explaining its design and operational principles related to ground effect.
  • There is a discussion about a vehicle that achieved over 188 miles per gallon, with participants speculating on its type and historical significance, including a mention of a Harley Davidson motorcycle from 1908.
  • One participant describes a crude device involving a wooden stand, a funnel, acid, and copper wire, prompting further questions about its purpose.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the identity of some machines, particularly the vehicle that achieved high fuel efficiency, as various guesses and clarifications are made. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of some inventions and their historical context.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the specifications and classifications of the vehicles discussed, particularly regarding the Ekranoplan's operational capabilities and the fuel efficiency claims of the motorcycle.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the history of computing, engineering innovations, and the evolution of vehicle technology may find this discussion engaging.

  • #1,771
wolram said:
Bikini atoll just a guess.
No. You were warmer with just reef. What other kinds of reefs are there? Atolls, fringing, ...
 
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  • #1,772
Barrier reef, is that how you spell barrier?
 
  • #1,773
wolram said:
Barrier reef, is that how you spell barrier?
Yes and yes.
Any barrier reefs spring to mind? The first one should do...
 
  • #1,774
honestrosewater said:
Yes and yes.
Any barrier reefs spring to mind?

No not much ever springs in my mind, all my guesses have come from watching
the discovery channel.
 
  • #1,775
Hang on, the great barrier reef just sprang ouch.
 
  • #1,776
wolram said:
No not much ever springs in my mind, all my guesses have come from watching
the discovery channel.
You've probably heard of this barrier reef- it's a great one. And when I say great, I mean great.
 
  • #1,777
Okay, great. So where is the Great Barrier Reef?
 
  • #1,778
honestrosewater said:
Okay, great. So where is the Great Barrier Reef?
Australia i think.
 
  • #1,779
wolram said:
Australia i think.
Right. The place is Australia. All of these things are venomous. Stonefish is one. You just need:

A crownless king that is black but not by name.
A wingless wasp that is also a box with no lid.

If you don't already know them- and if you know about venomous things in Australia, you should know about these two things- google should turn them up.
 
  • #1,780
Snakes? king cobra wasp snake. or crate snake.
 
  • #1,781
wolram said:
Snakes? king cobra wasp snake. or crate snake.
No but king cobra is the right idea. ...the other clue about the king?

I think all the cobras are in Africa? Nope, I was wrong.
 
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  • #1,782
Did you ever google the wasp and box?
 
  • #1,783
Spiders, i am really guessing now.
 
  • #1,784
Or jelly fish, i was stung by one but not in australia.
 
  • #1,785
honestrosewater said:
Did they fall?
Actually, nevermind.
:-p ..
 
  • #1,786
wolram said:
Or jelly fish, i was stung by one but not in australia.
Yes, the box jellyfish a.k.a. sea wasp.

The last one is a snake. Part of its name is 'king'. Part of its name is a color other than black. It also goes by another name rhyming with... nothing much.
 
  • #1,787
honestrosewater said:
Yes, the box jellyfish a.k.a. sea wasp.

The last one is a snake. Part of its name is 'king'. Part of its name is a color other than black. It also goes by another name rhyming with... nothing much.
That was a guess so i don't deserve a win, anyone have a clue? if not i
will have to research one.
 
  • #1,788
wolram said:
That was a guess so i don't deserve a win, anyone have a clue? if not i
will have to research one.
Hold on speedracer. You still need the name of the snake. :-p
 
  • #1,789
Where is everyone? never a brain about when you need one :redface:
 
  • #1,790
Are you not googling anymore? Okay, you can guess it. The name is two words: king [color other than black]. If you watched US football and were from Cleveland you could guess the color...
 
  • #1,791
Ive been through the rainbow and the only one that fits is kingbrown but I am not sure if it is venemous.
 
  • #1,792
honestrosewater said:
Yes, the box jellyfish a.k.a. sea wasp.

The last one is a snake. Part of its name is 'king'. Part of its name is a color other than black. It also goes by another name rhyming with... nothing much.

King Brown, Pseudechis australis, also known as a Mulga, actually one of the Black snake family.

At first I was going for Scarlet Kingsnake, until I found the poisonous clue. It's close though, it does have black on it and it "pretends" to be poisonous.
 
  • #1,793
honestrosewater said:
Are you not googling anymore? Okay, you can guess it. The name is two words: king [color other than black]. If you watched US football and were from Cleveland you could guess the color...
Cleveland brown socks?
 
  • #1,794
wolram said:
Cleveland brown socks?
:smile: Cleveland Browns. The sock teams are in baseball.
 
  • #1,795
DocToxyn said:
King Brown, Pseudechis australis, also known as a Mulga, actually one of the Black snake family.

At first I was going for Scarlet Kingsnake, until I found the poisonous clue. It's close though, it does have black on it and it "pretends" to be poisonous.
Oh, this is correct, BTW.

I wonder how many other poser snakes there are. There are snakes that pose as rattlers. That's all I can think of.

Well, I guess wolram was right first and got the other clues... you want it wolram?
 
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  • #1,796
The major find was in the gap between the putty layers. A cement vault was discovered. The vault itself was 7 feet high with 7 inch thick walls. Inside the vault the drill first struck wood, then a void several inches high and an unknown substance. Next a layer of soft metal was reached, then almost 3 feet of metal pieces, and then more soft metal.
 
  • #1,797
honestrosewater said:
:smile: Cleveland Browns. The sock teams are in baseball.
Well I am not very sporty :redface: but what blooper :biggrin:
 
  • #1,798
wolram said:
The major find was in the gap between the putty layers. A cement vault was discovered. The vault itself was 7 feet high with 7 inch thick walls. Inside the vault the drill first struck wood, then a void several inches high and an unknown substance. Next a layer of soft metal was reached, then almost 3 feet of metal pieces, and then more soft metal.
What do you want to know?
 
  • #1,799
wolram said:
The major find was in the gap between the putty layers. A cement vault was discovered. The vault itself was 7 feet high with 7 inch thick walls. Inside the vault the drill first struck wood, then a void several inches high and an unknown substance. Next a layer of soft metal was reached, then almost 3 feet of metal pieces, and then more soft metal.

This is the money pit on Oak Island. they'd given up digging, and started boring by this point.
 
  • #1,800
Actually, they seem not to have given up at digging through. This was in 1897, after the flooding of the pit.
 

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