Today I Learned

[Astronuc]

TIL, or rather, it was reconfirmed that Space Travel Has 'Permanent Effects'

Astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent 340 days aboard the International Space Station, said that being in space appears to have "permanent" effects that aren't fully understood.

“The environment astronauts are exposed to while in space is unlike anything we experience here on earth. Specifically, astronauts are exposed to high levels of radiation and carbon monoxide, and a micro-gravity environment which causes loss of bone and muscle, vision impairment and effects on our immune system to name a just a few,” he wrote in his prepared remarks to the House Science, Space and Technology committee. “These are very real issues that need to be solved before the human race is able to reach destinations beyond the Earth and the Moon.”

"Exposure to the space environment has permanent effects we simply do not fully understand," he added.

Due to the absence of gravity, Kelly’s skin “did not touch anything for nearly a year,” and because of this it was “extremely sensitive and became inflamed.”

Sounds like he has some kind of neuropathy/neuritis.

 

[Pepper Mint]

I learned today that Montana is the state that is least paid attention to in daily news. There are probably a lot of mountain lions over there.

 

[Hoophy]

Today I learned that the stain on my blue T-shirt is actually soil from Bikini Atoll.

 

[Hornbein]

Today I learned never to watch "flash flood on i-15 30 miles north of las vegas." Once I did, Youtube decided I would like to watch filthy porn in foreign languges.

 

[Buzz Bloom]

TIL:
The Earth passed another unfortunate milestone May 23 when carbon dioxide (CO2) surpassed 400 parts per million (ppm) at the South Pole for the first time in 4 million years.

http://phys.org/news/2016-06-south-pole-earth-global-milestone.html​

 

[Buzz Bloom]

TIL:
Nearly all of microbiology, Epstein eventually learned, was built on the study of a tiny fraction of microbial life, perhaps less than one per cent, because most bacteria could not be grown in a laboratory culture, the primary means of analyzing them. By the time he matured as a scientist, many researchers had given up trying to cultivate new species, writing off the majority as “dark matter”—a term used in astronomy for an inscrutable substance that may make up most of the universe but cannot be seen.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...id=gnep&intcid=gnep&google_editors_picks=true​

 

[jim hardy]

TIL
the Russians really did build a "Doomsday Machine"

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/08/world/russia-has-doomsday-machine-us-expert-says.html

Russia Has 'Doomsday' Machine, U.S. Expert Says
By WILLIAM J. BROAD
Published: October 8, 1993

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Russia has a computerized system that can automatically fire its nuclear arsenal in wartime if military commanders are dead or unable to direct the battle, a leading American expert on the Russian military says.

http://archive.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/17-10/mf_deadhand?currentPage=all

The point of the system, he explains, was to guarantee an automatic Soviet response to an American nuclear strike. Even if the US crippled the USSR with a surprise attack, the Soviets could still hit back. It wouldn't matter if the US blew up the Kremlin, took out the defense ministry, severed the communications network, and killed everyone with stars on their shoulders. Ground-based sensors would detect that a devastating blow had been struck and a counterattack would be launched.

The technical name was Perimeter, but some called it Mertvaya Ruka, or Dead Hand. It was built 25 years ago and remained a closely guarded secret.

 

[fresh_42]

Fortunately there have always been men who acted by far more responsible than their leaders:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Petrov

On September 26, 1983, just three weeks after the Soviet military had shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, Petrov was the duty officer at the command center for the Oko nuclear early-warning system when the system reported that a missile, followed by another one and then up to five more, were being launched from the United States. Petrov judged the report to be a false alarm, and his decision is credited with having prevented an erroneous retaliatory nuclear attack on the United States and its NATO allies that could have resulted in large-scale nuclear war. Investigation later confirmed that the satellite warning system had indeed malfunctioned.

 

[Borg]

TIL
the Russians really did build a "Doomsday Machine"

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/08/world/russia-has-doomsday-machine-us-expert-says.htmlhttp://archive.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/17-10/mf_deadhand?currentPage=all

Of course the obvious question is why did they keep it a secret?

 

[Jonathan Scott]

Today I learned that any remaining faith I had in the wisdom of the average citizen of my country (the not-so-United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) was misplaced, although I'm inclined to blame politicians in general for the result, encouraging self-interest not in a "win-win" way but at the expense of everyone else, and wildly distorting facts as if there were no possible consequences.

"Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."

 

[fresh_42]

"Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."

Sir Charles Popper?

 

[Jonathan Scott]

Sir Charles Popper?

It's usually attributed to Churchill, but he himself wrote "it is said that ..." before that quote.

 

[fresh_42]

It's usually attributed to Churchill, but he himself wrote "it is said that ..." before that quote.

I just thought to have read once a similar one "Democracy is awful but it's the best we've got" and I think they referred to Popper. But I might be wrong.

 

[jim hardy]

TIL who is Nigel Farage

although I'm inclined to blame politicians in general for the result, encouraging self-interest not in a "win-win" way but at the expense of everyone else, and wildly distorting facts as if there were no possible consequences.

Didn't your C Northcote Parkinson predict that's what bureaucracy will do ? And that by around 2030 100% of Britons would be working for their civil service?
We're certainly headed that way here in US as politicians try to base the economy on paying one anothers medical bills and welfare benefits.

Good Luck to you guys
FWLIW i think you did the right thing.

 

[Borg]

TIL that for about 300 years, the Immovable Ladder has sat in the same place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre "due to an understanding that no cleric of the six ecumenical Christian orders may move, rearrange, or alter any property without the consent of the other five orders".

 

[Lisa!]

My mother knows physics rules better than me!

 

[Pepper Mint]

My mother knows physics rules better than me!

Oh no this is the one ?

 

[Lisa!]

Oh no this is the one ?

 

[Jonathan Scott]

My mother knows physics rules better than me!

Nitpick warning...
Do you really mean she knows physics rules better than she knows you? If not, ending with "than I do" would probably convey your meaning more successfully.

 

[jim hardy]

My mother knows physics rules better than me!

noun
as in 'rules of physics'

or verb , transitive
as in "Physics Rules !" ?

 

[mfb]

Physics does indeed rule better than humans.

 

[fresh_42]

Physics does indeed rule better than humans.

Da... ! And this shortly after I've seen Hawking on TV stating there is no perfection in this world (explaining the fluctuations in CMB).

 

[russ_watters]

I'd heard the name Fermilab before, but just seconds ago learned it is the University of Chicago/DOE's particle accelerator. I'm just pleased with myself that I was able to recognize a particle accelerator from 28,000 feet!

 

[OmCheeto]

TIL that the "Oregon Chub" is the first and only fish on the endangered fish species list, to be delisted.

Scientific Name: Oregonichthys crameri

Status: Delisted due to recovery

Recent Activity: On February 18, 2015, the USFWS announced the removal of the Oregon chub, and its critical habitat, from the list of Endangered and Threatened Species, and the Oregon chub became the first fish ever to be delisted due to recovery.
[ref: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office]

I learned this whilst researching a solution to the mosquito problem that the pre-fair crew is describing at the location of the OCF. The fair starts in 10 days. Tickets are not available at the gate. You must buy them in advance.

ps. I also learned today, that not all hippies are fond of patchouli oil; "Life hack: pouring gasoline on yourself and lighting a match usually keeps mosquitos away. And it smells better than patchouli"

I still don't know what patchouli smells like.

 

[fresh_42]

I still don't know what patchouli smells like.

Similar to the smoke of weed. A little bit sweeter.

 

[Astronuc]

Huge Helium Gas Field Found in Africa Is a ‘Game Changer’
https://www.yahoo.com/news/huge-helium-gas-field-found-181044267.html
TIL" the discovery of a huge helium gas field in East Africa is a “game changer for the future security of society’s helium needs” amid a global shortage."

There must be a lot of heavy elements in the region.

 

[fresh_42]

Huge Helium Gas Field Found in Africa Is a ‘Game Changer’
https://www.yahoo.com/news/huge-helium-gas-field-found-181044267.html
TIL" the discovery of a huge helium gas field in East Africa is a “game changer for the future security of society’s helium needs” amid a global shortage."

There must be a lot of heavy elements in the region.

I wonder if it were related to the east african rift system, its movements resp.
Edit: I suspect the shortage will be back again as soon as the chinese collider will be cooled down.

 

[collinsmark]

ps. I also learned today, that not all hippies are fond of patchouli oil; "Life hack: pouring gasoline on yourself and lighting a match usually keeps mosquitos away.

[Source: http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/index.php?date=062716]

 

[Pepper Mint]

TIL people could change glucose's chemical structure to reduce our body's absorption of sugar in our blood stream. Awesome!

 

[jim hardy]

There must be a lot of heavy elements in the region.

is it near that ancient natural reactor ? Oklo i think ?

 

[Pepper Mint]

TIL people could change glucose's chemical structure to reduce our body's absorption of sugar in our blood stream. Awesome!

But then the news makes me wonder how diet sugar is functionally different from that special sugar they produce. Uhm, maybe a new variant of the same kind but will increasing or changing the physical shape of glucose induce more coming production of CO₂ in our blood ? What does our body do with those glucoses that can't be absorbed ? What about statistical data obtained in measuring how this approach is more helpful to patients of diabetes ? etc.
I guess it's all just about "Eat less sugar" then, which is the point of diet sugar sold in most supermarkets.

 

[jim hardy]

TIL people could change glucose's chemical structure to reduce our body's absorption of sugar in our blood stream. Awesome!

Got a link to the article you read? I'm interested in this.

 

[Astronuc]

is it near that ancient natural reactor ? Oklo i think ?

Oklo is in Gabon, which is on the west coast in Central Africa. Gabon is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo on the east and south, and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. The helium discovery is in Tanzania, which is across the continent on the east coast of Africa. Tanzania is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north; Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west; Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south; and by the Indian Ocean to the east.

Geographic references from Wikipedia articles on Gabon and Tanzania

 

[Pepper Mint]

Got a link to the article you read? I'm interested in this.

I took it from TV news of Japan.

 

[jim hardy]

What does our body do with those glucoses that can't be absorbed ? What about statistical data obtained in measuring how this approach is more helpful to patients of diabetes ? etc.
I guess it's all just about "Eat less sugar" then, which is the point of diet sugar sold in most supermarkets.

i have tried to read about metabolism of sugar but the chemical names are ever sooo loooong and I'm bad with names anyway...i get lost.
Not everybody metabolizes sugar the same though.

i've been experimenting with my own blood glucose

cut out sugar almost entirely
bought one of those meters and log morning readings on the fridge.
here's April, i haven't scanned May or June yet
i noted what i ate late in the day.

In me, starchy food turns overnight into glucose as evidenced by my experiments eating them with or after dinner , shown above
so now I'm eating cauliflower instead of potatoes and pasta .

dropped about six pounds in April
and by late May no longer waking up at night with numb feet

i'm at the age i have to watch what i eat
i have known for years that sugar causes in me craving for more of it
so probably i am diabetes prone.

finally losing the craving to snack in the evenings
and morning BG readings are trending down 108 yesterday .

Slow steady progress i hope, or at least halt the decline.

old jim

 

[rbelli1]

so probably i am diabetes prone

waking up at night with numb feet

Please at the soonest possible time tell this to your doctor and show him that chart.

BoB

 

[OmCheeto]

i have tried to read about metabolism of sugar but the chemical names are ever sooo loooong and I'm bad with names anyway...i get lost.
Not everybody metabolizes sugar the same though.

i've been experimenting with my own blood glucose

Sounds like an interesting experiment.
I self-diagnosed as "hypoglycemic" about 30 years ago, based on what a doctor on TV said, regarding symptoms, and the cure.
Fixed me right up.
Someone about 10 years ago described the same symptoms, so I told him the story, and the cure.
He told me the next day, that I'd cured him.
Yay!

Ours apparently wasn't a dietary sugar problem, but a dietary protein problem.

cut out sugar almost entirely

I've been slowly cutting down on my salt for the last 15 years.
At one point, I was consuming so little salt in my regular diet, that I had constant cravings for "Cheetos".
I thought that was kind of ironic.

bought one of those meters and log morning readings on the fridge.

That sounds like fun.
Just finished googling the expense of the equipment required.
I would suggest that we should start a new thread, and publish our findings, but I think we'd get in trouble for that.

...
Slow steady progress i hope, or at least halt the decline.

old jim

 

[jim hardy]

That sounds like fun.
Just finished googling the expense of the equipment required.
I would suggest that we should start a new thread, and publish our findings, but I think we'd get in trouble for that.

meter is $9 at Walmart, Walgreens is comparable
about $15 more for test strips and a spring finger-pokey lance that's well worth it for it's almost painless...


old jim

 

[Astronuc]

TIL that Lockheed began working on a jet fighter as early as 1939 - Lockheed L133. Nathan "Nate" Price was the principal architect under Clarence "Kelly" Johnson of P-38 and SR-71 fame.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-133
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_J37

The video shows a German jet with a twin tail that flew first in September 1939. It looks like a Heinkel, or perhaps a Messerschmitt, but it looks like a design of the former.

 

[Jonathan Scott]

Today (well, yesterday now) I learned what it's like to play a Broadwood piano from 1846, specifically this one, which is in "The Vyne", an old house near Basingstoke:
https://www.facebook.com/VyneNT/pho...4846597643271/858011557660101/?type=3&theater
Visitors to the house are allowed, or even encouraged, to play it. It has a very light and shallow touch (much lighter than any modern piano), but could play very fast (a feature of the "patent repetitive action"). It was a bit clangy and in need of tuning, but now I feel I have a much better understanding of the sort of piano that Chopin and Mendelssohn would have played.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

i've been experimenting with my own blood glucose

cut out sugar almost entirely.

Congratulations! I gave up most carbs five years ago; lost 60 pounds and regained my health and my life. And for the first time in my life I got my blood sugar under control [have an unusual form of metabolic syndrome]. I haven't had a piece of bread, pasta, potatoes, or other high-carb or sugar products in over five years. Normally I try to limit my carb intake to about 100 grams a day. The most amazing thing was all of the side effects - blood pressure returned to normal, cured a lifelong case of heartburn and heavy Rolaid use, and most of my joint pain has disappeared. I put myself on a heavy exercise routine and added a lot of muscle. For a guy my age I'm pretty buff now.

I was about a foot from the grave when I started this diet.

My favorite part is making the young guys at the gym look bad. :D

Oooh, almost forgot, I haven't been sick one day since I started this diet. I used to get sick twice a year like clockwork!

 

[Astronuc]

TIL about the tidal waves at Talbot Bay, Australia - David Attenborough - BBC


I'd never heard the place. I have visited Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy, another place for high tides, and watched as the tidal bore came in.

 

[Jonathan Scott]

Today I learned how to make sense of the structure of the opening bars of the slow movement of Sibelius's Symphony No 2.

After a 4/4 measure of timpani roll, there are 38 measures of slow 3/8 time (one beat per measure, the same beat as for the 4/4) with pizzicato double basses or cellos, which mostly sound fairly random and unstructured, then it goes back into 4/4 (really 12/8) for the mournful bassoon tune. I've always wondered whether there was some simple structure within the wandering pizzicato line to help me make sense of it.

Today I spotted that the first 26 of the 38 measures are in groups of 3, like 9/8 with 3 beats, starting on the second of 3, and the last 12 are ambiguous, fitting both the previous grouping of 3 and the following grouping of 4. If the opening 4/4 is treated like four more 3/8 measures, then the grouping by threes starts from the beginning, with the fourth beat of the first bar forming the first beat of the following group of three.

 

[mfb]

Today I learned: In the US, there is an official role called designated survivor.

 

[Buzz Bloom]

TIL several new things related to the 2048 puzzle.

http://2048game.com/​

1. I learned the benefit of a method of doing redos taught to me by my 12 year old grandson a few weeks ago, combined with some additional techniques for exploiting the redo method. I have been experimenting with the method since I leaned it, and have discovered just how far I can take it, using 71 redos, during a session of 2-3 hours over 2 days. (See attached PNG file.)
2. I learned that the score can be (slightly over) estimated by the tiles shown. Each tile with face value N, other than the 2's and those 4s which were created as new tiles, represents an approximate value of log₂(N) × N. The over estimate are the 4s that were created as new tiles and then combined to generate 8s, in addition to such tile still showing in the display.
3. For the tiles shown in the PNG, the (over)estimated score is 423,968. The actual score is 358,628. The difference of 38,340 represents that about 20% of the created new tiles were 4's rather than 2's.

 

[fresh_42]

TIL that a Doner kebab may be halal but not necessarily kosher. Some producers mix yoghurt in it to soften the meat. It doesn't help to avoid milky sauces, it's already in it. Mean, isn't it?

 

[Buzz Bloom]

Each tile with face value N, other than the 2's and those 4s which were created as new tiles, represents an approximate value of log2(N) × N.

I wrote the formula incorrectly. It should be: log2(N) × N / 2.

 

[Buzz Bloom]

I wrote the formula incorrectly. It should be: log2(N) × N / 2.

One senior moment after another. It should be (log₂(N)-1) × N.

 

[Pepper Mint]

One senior moment after another. It should be (log₂(N)-1) × N.

 

[jim hardy]

TIL who is Fritz Hansgirg, father of heavy water production

Fritz Johann Hansgirg (1891–1949) was an Austrian electrochemist and metallurgist who in 1928 invented the carbothermic magnesium reduction process (magnesium, like calcium, can be used to reduce uranium oxide to pure uranium metal for use in nuclear weapons), similar to the Pidgeon process. In 1934, he left Austria for the Empire of Japan where he worked with industrialist Shitagau Noguchi to set up a magnesium plant and further helped the Japanese build a pilot plant[in N Korea i think - jh] to produce heavy water by the Combined Electrolysis Catalytic Exchange (CECE)[1] he invented. Coming to the United States in 1940, he worked with American industrialist Henry J. Kaiser to design a magnesium plant in California, but at the outbreak of World War II, Hansgirg was arrested by the FBI on a Presidential warrant and interned for "the duration of the war." After the war, the Soviet Union captured Hansgirg's plants in northern Korea, using the plants' processes and equipment for their atomic bomb project against the United States, likewise, using them in the Manhattan Project,[clarification needed] the exact details of which still remain classified in both the United States and Russia.

i hope to find this book