Today I Learned

[berkeman]

But it turns out C02 is the biggest problem and there doesn't seem to be any practical solution.

The article I linked says outside air exchange is your best bet. Maybe add your air purifier in series with that outside air feed... And add a CO monitor please, just in case.

 

[fresh_42]

TIL about phytomining. Corn uses Si to make its leaves inedible. But corn cannot distinguish between Si and Ge, so it collects Ge in its leaves, too. Researchers have found even equal amounts on La.

 

[DrGreg]

Today I learned that (if Wikipedia can be trusted) the degree symbol ° originated in the 17th century as a "sexagesimal point" in base-60 numbers

E.g.

36‵‵‵25‵‵15‵1°15′2″36‴​

meaning$$ 36 \times 60^3 + 25 \times 60^2 + 15\times 60+ 1 + 15 \times 60^{-1}+ 2 \times 60^{-2} + 36 \times 60^{-3}$$Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal#Notations

 

[fresh_42]

Today I learned that (if Wikipedia can be trusted) the degree symbol ° originated in the 17th century as a "sexagesimal point" in base-60 numbers

E.g.

36‵‵‵25‵‵15‵1°15′2″36‴​

meaning$$ 36 \times 60^3 + 25 \times 60^2 + 15\times 60+ 1 + 15 \times 60^{-1}+ 2 \times 60^{-2} + 36 \times 60^{-3}$$Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal#Notations

The German Wikipedia says the same but notes that the first known usage has been in 1569.
(Cajori, Florian: A History of Mathematical Notations. Dover Publications, New York 1993, ISBN 0-486-67766-4)

But they also added:

An alternative theory for the origin of the degree symbol says that it comes from an Egyptian hieroglyph, which represents the sun and means day.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gradzeichen#Geschichte

 

[Astronuc]

AFP - Scientists have discovered what is believed to be the world's northernmost landmass — a yet-to-be-named island north of Greenland that could soon be swallowed up by seawaters.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210828-researchers-discover-world-s-northernmost-island

Ever been to Oodaaq? Oodaaq is some 700 kilometres (435 miles) south of the North Pole, while the new island is 780 metres (2,560 feet) north of Oodaaq.

I'm guessing part of the same land mass.

 

[Keith_McClary]

Oodaaq

Oodaaq Ø and other short-lived islets north of Greenland​

Abstract​

In 1978, a small island was discovered north of Kaffeklubben Ø, until then considered the most northern island on Earth. This island was named Oodaaq Ø. It was visited again in 1979, and in 1980 it was seen from Kaffeklubben Ø by members of the Sirius sledge patrol. Sirius searched for Oodaaq Ø again from 1981 to 1984 but did not find it. During the period from 1996 to 2008, the region was visited regularly and a number of new islets were discovered: the 1996 ATOW Island, KMS Island, 2001 RTOW Island, 83-42 Island, Stray Dog West Island and the 2008 Island. The islets are composed of gravel. We believe the area with islets is shallow, being a continuation of a coastal plain to the south. We suggest that the sea floor in the area is irregular and that the islets form by floes of sea ice that bulldoze material from the sea floor up above sea level. In some cases, perhaps all, the islets disappear when sea ice floes bulldoze sediment back below sea level. Alternatively, the so-called islets are just accumulations of gravel on sea ice.

Paywalled.
I don't get how gravel could get on top of sea ice.

 

[fresh_42]

I like the names, especially Kaffeeklubben! Who the heck brings that coffee?

 

[mfb]

Named after a club in a Danish museum, no coffee club on the island I fear. Has a bit of vegetation but not much else: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffeklubben_Island

 

[kyphysics]

 

[kyphysics]

Crazy

 

[fresh_42]

TIL I learned that even good old British humour counts as politics. I would have called it satire. I fear that even this post might be called politics.

 

[Borg]

After seeing candidates like Lord Buckethead, I didn't think there was a difference.

 

[kyphysics]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...r-covid-antibody-levels-in-study?srnd=premium

A study of almost 2,500 workers at a major Belgium hospital system found antibody levels among individuals who hadn’t been infected with the Coronavirus before getting two doses of the Moderna vaccine averaged 2,881 units per milliliter, compared with 1,108 units/mL in an equivalent group who got two jabs of the Pfizer shot.

The results, published Monday in a letter to the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggested the differences might be explained by the:

• higher amount of active ingredient in the Moderna vaccine -- 100 micrograms, versus 30 micrograms in Pfizer-BioNTech
• longer interval between doses of the Moderna vaccine -- four weeks, versus three weeks for Pfizer-BioNTech

Found this interesting. Wondering how we should interpret this from a practical standpoint. If you had a choice, say, to go back in time and choose between Moderna vs. Pfizer, would this news make you lean more toward Moderna at all? The following was mentioned as well:

Moderna’s vaccine was associated with a two-fold risk reduction against breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections compared to Pfizer’s in a review of people in the Mayo Clinic Health System in the U.S. from January to July. The results were reported in a separate study released ahead of publication and peer review on Aug. 9.

 

[jack action]

TIL:
An Incredible Move: The Indiana Bell Telephone Building Rotation in 1930

​

 

[Hornbein]

Oodaaq Ø and other short-lived islets north of Greenland​

View attachment 288264
Paywalled.
I don't get how gravel could get on top of sea ice.

It isn't on the ice. It's piled up on the sea floor.

 

[Keith_McClary]

It isn't on the ice. It's piled up on the sea floor.

What do they mean by:

Alternatively, the so-called islets are just accumulations of gravel on sea ice.

"Sea ice" means floating ice that froze on the sea (+ some snow).

 

[Hornbein]

What do they mean by:

"Sea ice" means floating ice that froze on the sea (+ some snow).

It says there are two alternatives. I'd say the gravel on top of ice has got to be wrong.

 

[baruch60610]

Today I learned that "chasing the dragon" is slang for smoking heroin.

Originally, it was smoking opium...

 

[fresh_42]

TYL: "Things you have to cope with on German Autobahns." (Just in case you erroneously think you could try on holiday.) We are trained.

 

[DaveC426913]

It says there are two alternatives. I'd say the gravel on top of ice has got to be wrong.

The debris is almost certainly not deposited on the surface, it is surely left on the surface as snow melts (or sublimates) off.

Here in the Great White Slush, we see this effect all the time on winter roadsides.
Snowplows plow the snow off the roads, leaving three foot high banks. The banks start off pristine white, but as the snow melts away, the debris that's intermixed does not. Instead it accumulates thicker and thicker on the surface until the banks are black with it.

At that point, covered in a protective layer of grit, the snow banks virtually stop melting. But subsequent snowfalls or plowings accumulate; the new snow overlays the debris, then melts, and the new debris is simply laid down on the ever-thickening crust.

In the frozen artic who knows how old the surface of those islands could be. They could have been cycling through this process for centuries, millennia.

 

[DaveE]

TYL: "Things you have to cope with on German Autobahns." (Just in case you erroneously think you could try on holiday.) We are trained.

What are those yellow flashing lights I see sometimes on the corners of the cars? Do we have those on our cars in California?

 

[fresh_42]

Yellow flashing lights translate to "attention!" We use them to warn other drivers, e.g. at the end of a traffic jam to slow down in time, or in case of accidents, or if we have to stop at locations where it is forbidden or not supposed to stop.

 

[DaveC426913]

Yellow flashing lights

on the corners of cars, he said.

 

[DaveE]

Yellow flashing lights translate to "attention!" We use them to warn other drivers, e.g. at the end of a traffic jam to slow down in time, or in case of accidents, or if we have to stop at locations where it is forbidden or not supposed to stop.

I guess I'll need to work on my delivery then, maybe some open mike nights.

Unless they've change it, the law in California for emergency flashers was, when I learned it, that you can only use them when the vehicle is stopped. Which was stupid from the outset and ignored (or unknown) by everybody. That removes lots of useful circumstances that can improve safety.

 

[fresh_42]

I guess I'll need to work on my delivery then, maybe some open mike nights.

Unless they've change it, the law in California for emergency flashers was, when I learned it, that you can only use them when the vehicle is stopped. Which was stupid from the outset and ignored (or unknown) by everybody. That removes lots of useful circumstances that can improve safety.

If you are approaching a traffic jam and see a Porsche in the rear view mirror from far, you better use them.

 

[berkeman]

Unless they've change it, the law in California for emergency flashers was, when I learned it, that you can only use them when the vehicle is stopped. Which was stupid from the outset and ignored (or unknown) by everybody. That removes lots of useful circumstances that can improve safety.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=25251.

California Vehicle Code - VEH
DIVISION 12. EQUIPMENT OF VEHICLES [24000 - 28160] ( Division 12 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )

CHAPTER 2. Lighting Equipment [24250 - 26106] ( Chapter 2 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )


ARTICLE 7. Flashing and Colored Lights [25250 - 25282] ( Article 7 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )


25251.

(a) Flashing lights are permitted on vehicles as follows:

(1) To indicate an intention to turn or move to the right or left upon a roadway, turn signal lamps and turn signal exterior pilot indicator lamps and side lamps permitted under Section 25106 may be flashed on the side of a vehicle toward which the turn or movement is to be made.

(2) When disabled or parked off the roadway but within 10 feet of the roadway, or when approaching, stopped at, or departing from, a railroad grade crossing, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(3) To warn other motorists of accidents or hazards on a roadway, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights while the vehicle is approaching, overtaking, or passing the accident or hazard on the roadway if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(4) For use on authorized emergency vehicles.

(5) To warn other motorists of a funeral procession, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights on all vehicles actually engaged in a funeral procession, if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

<<snip>>

 

[Ibix]

on the corners of cars, he said.

On an old forum I used to read someone's signature was "Use your turn signals! You people act like it's sharing information with the enemy!"

 

[BillTre]

From a fun movie I like:

 

[Borg]

I was trying to figure out where that came from and eventually ran across this one.

 

[BillTre]

I was trying to figure out where that came from and eventually ran across this one.

It is from the movie "Shoot Em Up".


Lots of guns, lots of shooting.