Today I Learned

[zoki85]

I'm not totally sure, but isn't there a massive lack of Lithium in the universe?

Humans are stealing it from the universe (for their cell phones and electric cars)

 

[Ibix]

Today I learned that if you start an email "Hi Jim. Please find attached..." and don't attach anything, Outlook will warn you that there are no attachments.

 

[Zantra]

Today I learned that at my advanced age with all the sum knowledge and experience that we'll probably never understand the nature of a woman. Some things are just not meant to be understood: )

 

[Adesh]

Humans are stealing it from the universe (for their cell phones and electric cars)

Some are stealing it for psychotic purpose too.

 

[Adesh]

Today I learned that I have become a PF electron. No idea what that metaphor means but I'm no longer a quark, haha!

 

[Ibix]

It's related to the points you get from trophies - I think estimated thresholds can be found on this thread (or at least in General Discussion) if you care to search.

 

[Adesh]

It's related to the points you get from trophies - I think estimated thresholds can be found on this thread (or at least in General Discussion) if you care to search.

What does electron signifies?

 

[Ibix]

Just that the number of trophy points you have is above a certain value. You probably got an alert about a trophy, for replying or posting a certain number of times or whatever. Noting that you have 22 trophy points, I guess "electron" is 20+. As I say, someone reverse engineered it - search General Discussion for posts containing ocean and mountain.

Edit: it doesn't mean we think negatively of you...

 

[strangerep]

TIL... that some people now abbreviate Starbucks -> Sbux.

(Hence I also learned that laziness is a monotonically increasing function of time).

 

[fresh_42]

TIL... that some people now abbreviate Starbucks -> Sbux.

(Hence I also learned that laziness is a monotonically increasing function of time).

And IBM employees probably use SBX.

 

[Adesh]

Today I learned that Freeman Dyson has died yesterday at the age of 96. Rest in peace!

 

[berkeman]

Today I learned that it's Stupid Leap Day today!

So I had made an appointment with the San Jose Household Hazardous Waste department for today to drop off some old motorcycle fluids and an old battery. I made the appointment online earlier this week, and thought I'd picked an 8AM Saturday dropoff appointment timeslot. I'd printed out the appointment and some other paperwork, and had it ready to go this morning.

But as I was putting the box of containers in the back of my vehicle to head down to the dropoff, I double-checked the appointment and saw 2/29/2020. But then I looked at my watch and saw 3/01, and I panicked. I started thinking, "How could I have been so stupid to make the appointment for Friday instead of Saturday? I wonder if they'll still let me do the dropoff today, or if I'll have to reschedule..."

So on the chance that they'd take pity on me and let me do the dropoff today instead of yesterday, I headed down the hill. When I got there right on time, I checked in with the guy at the gate, and was all apologetic saying that I think I messed up the appointment and it was for yesterday instead of today. He just asked for my name and checked me off the list for today (and I'm thinking WITW?), and waved me through to the dropoff spot.

I was happy that it went so smoothly (but still confused why I was on his printout list for today), and headed into work (yes it's Saturday). Now several hours later I notice online that today is Leap Day, and realized that my watch had automatically gone from 2/28 to 3/01. Lordy!

 

[fresh_42]

We have watches here which automatically synchronize with the official atomic clock ...

 

[Keith_McClary]

Today I re-learned from @berkeman that my watch does not understand leap days.

 

[hmmm27]

Today, I learned that 70% isopropanol is preferable to 99% for the purposes of disinfection.

 

[fresh_42]

TIL that apple juice made of apples which had possible grubs officially still count as vegan.

Not that I would care. It's more a case of schadenfreude.

 

[epenguin]

Just that the number of trophy points you have is above a certain value. You probably got an alert about a trophy, for replying or posting a certain number of times or whatever. Noting that you have 22 trophy points, I guess "electron" is 20+. As I say, someone reverse engineered it - search General Discussion for posts containing ocean and mountain.

Edit: it doesn't mean we think negatively of you...

Is there anything less than a PF quark?

I don't know if there is an astronomical term for a body that enters the solar system, maybe interacts slightly with one or two planets and then vanishes out beyond possibility of observation? (They might very slightly have altered some orbits and tides scarcely detectably, but overall there is only a small effect bringing forward the running down of the system.)

 

[Stephenk53]

Today I learned that it’s important to check to make sure you click reply and not reply all to an email sent to dozens of people. Now I keep getting reply’s from people trying to reply to the first email and instead accidentally replying to mine.

 

[Ibix]

Is there anything less than a PF quark?

Here's the list that was reverse engineered. Presuming you can't get negative trophy points, I think the answer is no.

 

[zoki85]

Universe is full of giant clouds containing significant percentage of https://www.sciencealert.com/cosmic-cloud-contains-enough-alcohol-to-keep-the-world-world-drinking-for-a-billion-years.
Let's have a party!

 

[Hsopitalist]

Today I learned that tyro means beginner.

 

[Klystron]

Today I learned the word abecedarian as a synonym for tyro.

 

[epenguin]

Today I learned what ortalans are and that it not so long ago was made illegal to hunt them in France or to serve them in restaurants (on account of cruelty as well as extinction probability). I don't suppose they ever were anywhere else, except they, or something like them in China no doubt.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/04/real-story-about-the-illegal-ortolan-delicacy-eaten-on-billions.html

 

[BillTre]

TIL that fans heckling the Sign Stealing Houston Astros at a preseason game with signs about the Astro's sign stealing had their heckling signs stolen (taken) by stadium personnel.

 

[Tom.G]

TIL that fans heckling the Sign Stealing Houston Astros at a preseason game with signs about the Astro's sign stealing had their heckling signs stolen (taken) by stadium personnel.

AARRGHH! No good deed goes unpunished!

 

[Adesh]

Today I learned (realised) that Physics is different from Mathematics. Mathematics can help us in Physics but upto to a limited extent only.

 

[PeroK]

Today I learned that "dilatation" is a word:

https://english.stackexchange.com/q...al-difference-between-dilation-and-dilatation

That said, I'm not sure that "time dilatation" is correct:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...tation-and-curved-spacetime-follow-up.985656/

 

[cosmik debris]

Today I learned (realised) that Physics is different from Mathematics. Mathematics can help us in Physics but upto to a limited extent only.

You've been watching Sabine haven't you?

Cheers

 

[Adesh]

You've been watching Sabine haven't you?

Cheers

I don’t know what Sabine is?

 

[Keith_McClary]

I don’t know what Sabine is?

http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2020/03/unpredictability-undecidability-and.html

 

[Adesh]

http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2020/03/unpredictability-undecidability-and.html

But I got that realisation when I tried to solve a problem
“Show that the magnetic field produced by a solenoid will be parallel to its axis regardless of its cross sectional shape”.
Due to some previous confrontations and the above question I became sure that Mathematics cannot fully describe Physics.

 

[PeroK]

Today I learned that there really is a fish called the red herring.

 

[Ibix]

Today I learned that there really is a fish called the red herring.

There is indeed - a method of preparing a kipper: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kipper#Colouring

 

[PeroK]

There is indeed - a method of preparing a kipper: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kipper#Colouring

Have you been watching "Grand Tours of Scotland" as well?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b094ndf8/grand-tours-of-scotlands-lochs

 

[Ibix]

Have you been watching "Grand Tours of Scotland" as well?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b094ndf8/grand-tours-of-scotlands-lochs

No - I looked up the expression ages ago when I realized I knew what it meant but not why it meant it. The story is that someone distracted some hounds using a red herring (smelly fish), and it became a byword for a false lead. I must say I don't think I've seen a red herring in real life, but I knew it was a real as well as a figurative thing.

I take it you're enjoying the series? I think I may be looking for ways to pass the time over the next few weeks...

 

[Klystron]

TIL (yesterday morning, actually) not all strikes on your windshield while freeway driving are necessarily gravel.

While tailing a gravel truck up a grade on I-215 freeway, I heard several loud 'Ticks' on my windshield. "Loose gravel", I thought; though the truck appeared clean as I passed it on the next down grade. Gray massive clouds roiled but no rain. 'Tick, Tick'. Finally realized my truck was being pelted by nearly invisible hail stones! The sound followed me down Iron Mountain abating around 3000' elevation.

 

[Keith_McClary]

I don't think I've seen a red herring in real life

You should find them shelved right next to the haggis.

 

[zoki85]

Didn't know Heron of Alexandria was a true inventor of the steam engine.
James Watt, don't you ever brag about it!

 

[Buzz Bloom]

Didn't know Heron of Alexandria was a true inventor of the steam engine.
James Watt, don't you ever brag about it!

Hi zoki:

I did not find any mention of steam engine in the link you cited. Perhaps you had intended to cite a different article about Heron.

I do vaguely remember from some reference which I have forgotten that someone in that era, I think a Greek inventor, invented a more-or-less hollow spherical device filled with water and mounted to spin. The device had a few spouts at an angle along its equator. When it was heated, steam jets came out out the spouts and propelled rotation of the sphere. I believe this device had no practical use at the time. I suppose that technically this was an engine having motion generated by steam.

Regards,
Buzz

 

[mfb]

The Greeks invented the aeolipile. While it uses steam to create motion its efficiency is really bad, it isn't practical for anything.

 

[Keith_McClary]

Today I learned about neutron radiography:


More examples and info here.

 

[zoki85]

The Greeks invented the aeolipile. While it uses steam to create motion its efficiency is really bad, it isn't practical for anything.

Come on, nobody should expect any decent efficiency from a small, primitive, steam propelled device. The important however was demonstrated principle.

 

[zoki85]

I did not find any mention of steam engine in the link you cited. Perhaps you had intended to cite a different article about Heron.

Indeed. I wanted to include wiki article but forgot to do it.
Don't know how accurate is the wiki regarding Heron. I watched documentary on TV about him

 

[Keith_McClary]

I believe this device had no practical use at the time. I suppose that technically this was an engine having motion generated by steam.

Today I Learned about:
https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2020/03/19/four_ancient_greek_inventions_that_were_way_ahead_of_their_time.html?

Heron of Alexandria was one of antiquity's great experimenters. He devised a vending machine, a basic syringe, and an ingenious fountain, but he was particularly fond of steam devices. One of his most notable and theatrical feats of technology was getting temple gates to open automatically. A roaring fire would be lit on a large altar and some of the heat would be siphoned to a pot of water below. The heated, expanding gases would force water through a siphon into another tank attached to a balance system which operates the axles of the doors. When the tank filling with water would sink down, the doors would swing open!

 

[nrqed]

Today I learned that "dilatation" is a word:

https://english.stackexchange.com/q...al-difference-between-dilation-and-dilatation

That said, I'm not sure that "time dilatation" is correct:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...tation-and-curved-spacetime-follow-up.985656/

"Dilatation" is the word we use in French. I wonder if it might have crept into English through French speaking scientists.

 

[PeroK]

"Dilatation" is the word we use in French. I wonder if it might have crept into English through French speaking scientists.

I suspect it crept into PF though a French-speaking OP!

We have the word "dilatory" as well in English, which means slow to act.

 

[mfb]

It's "Dilatation" in German, too. And in Swedish. And most other related languages use something similar.

 

[PeroK]

It's "Dilatation" in German, too. And in Swedish. And most other related languages use something similar.

If you think about it "dilatation" is a dilation of dilation.

 

[fresh_42]

Our lexicon says: late latin dilatatio = extension

 

[PeroK]

Today I learned that King George III donated his large private library to the nation and it became the British Library. And, on account of the King's interest in and patronage of astronomy, William Herschell originally named the new planet Uranus after him: Georgium Sidus.