Today I Learned

[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.