News Weird News Compilation

[Hornbein]

A source of that size should have been secured in a larger container.

According to the article the larger container collapsed. The capsule escaped the truck through a hole formerly occupied by a bolt.

I seem to recall that the Mafia dumped dioxin next to a Georgia roadway. Quite a bit of possibly contaminated topsoil was removed.

 

[Astronuc]

According to the article the larger container collapsed. The capsule escaped the truck through a hole formerly occupied by a bolt.

Not a large intermodal shipping container (as in a 20 ft or 40 ft container), but a box, even of wood, with a slot for the source. In our experimental work in laboratory classes, we handled various radioactive sources. They were stored in small, approved containers from which sources were removed for use, then replaced after use.

For example - https://www.imagesco.com/geiger/containers.html
or - https://www.lemerpax.com/en/products/shielded-transport-storage-container/
or - https://www.findel-international.co...cture/radioactive-source-storage-box/e8r07379

One would certainly not legally or correctly place a tiny capsule 6mm diameter by 8mm high in a huge shipping outside of an approved shipping/storage container. I would expect that capsule was improperly handled to the point of negligence.

 

[Jarvis323]

Physics forums has made the news: for its discussions by "non-physicist members of the public" on zero point energy!

Naturally, you can imagine that zero-point energy has garnered a lot of interest not only from physicists, but eager members of the public, as discussions on sites like Physics Forums demonstrate. It's a wonderful idea. Spaceships cruising around the cosmos and hoovering up virtual particles to use as limitless fuel? No more energy concerns for humanity ever again? If this sounds a bit too convenient or good to be true, that's because it is. We've got two hurdles to overcome before zero-point energy becomes a reality: proving that the vacuum energy of quantum fields exists, and engineering a machine that can tap it. The former we've done. The latter is complicated.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...ess-fuel-from-the-vacuum-of-space/ar-AA16CF74

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/zero-point-energy.1015326/

 

[berkeman]

Physics forums has made the news: for its discussions by "non-physicist members of the public" on zero point energy!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...ess-fuel-from-the-vacuum-of-space/ar-AA16CF74

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/zero-point-energy.1015326/

Yikes. I'm not sure that's a good thing...

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Yikes. I'm not sure that's a good thing...View attachment 321378

Come to PF and learn how to harness zero-point energy!

 

[fresh_42]

Come to PF and learn how to harness zero-point energy!

$$
\boldsymbol{E=0\cdot c^2}
$$

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Physics forums has made the news: for its discussions by "non-physicist members of the public" on zero point energy!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...ess-fuel-from-the-vacuum-of-space/ar-AA16CF74

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/zero-point-energy.1015326/

Wow that is a good backlink! Let's make sure we have a crafted and appropriate end to the discussion. Is there something we can write to educate anyone that ends up at that link?

 

[mfb]

Some more details about the radioactive capsule and a picture of them searching on a road. Looks like two people with a Geiger counter or similar device walking along the road.

 

[Astronuc]

Based on "The half-life of the substance is 30 years," I would expect the source to be ¹³⁷Cs, 0.6617 MeV gamma accompanying beta decay.

https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/nudat3/decaysearchdirect.jsp?nuc=137Cs&unc=NDS

A Fortune article confirms ¹³⁷Cs.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/tiny-radioactive-capsule-lost-australian-134843171.html

The piece is a density gauge used by Rio Tinto and was collected from its Gudai-Darri mine on Jan. 12.

It was reported missing on Jan. 25 when its package was opened at a secure storage facility and pieces that had been packed were not found inside. Authorities fear it was lost in transportation somewhere on the 870-mile stretch from north of Newman to the northeastern suburbs of Perth.

CEA Simon Trott added: “Rio Tinto engaged a third-party contractor, with appropriate expertise and certification, to safely package the device in preparation for transport off-site ahead of receipt at their facility in Perth. Prior to the device leaving the site, a Geiger counter was used to confirm the presence of the capsule inside the package.

Well, in this case expertise was not enough.Edit/update:

Radioactive sources are common, but they rarely go missing​

Transporting radioactive sources is a commonplace activity. Each month, the Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) ships some 2,000 packages containing nuclear medicine around Australia. There are also several private companies who transport radioactive sources.

There are well-established procedures and strict regulations for making sure this happens safely. At the national level, this is overseen by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), while each state and territory also has its own regulator.

https://theconversation.com/a-tiny-...-australia-heres-what-you-need-to-know-198761

 

[Astronuc]

Massive Boulder Crashes into Hawaii Home, Narrowly Missing Woman​

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/massive-boulder-crashes-hawaii-home-142906242.html

Torrential rains and/or earthquakes can let loose rocks and boulders on hillsides. I've seen that in news articles from Christchurch, NZ following moderate to strong earthquakes.

 

[Rive]

When your pet fish goes shopping

(Switch on CC!)

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Wow that is a good backlink! Let's make sure we have a crafted and appropriate end to the discussion. Is there something we can write to educate anyone that ends up at that link?

This will not replace oil?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

There is a god!

...Conclusions
In a large population of US men with ED, PDE-5i [in Viagra and Cialis] exposure was associated with lower incidence of MACE, CV death, and overall mortality risk compared to non-exposure. Risk reduction correlated with PDE-5i exposure level.

[Header]
Effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors on major adverse cardiovascular events and overall mortality in a large nationwide cohort of men with erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular riska factors: A retrospective, observational study based on healthcare claims and national death index data
https://academic.oup.com/jsm/article/20/1/38/6986842?login=false

On the down side, I don't need the stuff when I'm on my routine and fit, like now. Hopefully being fit and Viagra free has greater benefits than being unfit and taking Viagra.

Back when I first started dating, I just wore a Viagra suit.

 

[jrmichler]

Hopefully being fit and Viagra free has greater benefits than being unfit and taking Viagra.

No hopefully about it: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.032047. This study showed that a healthy lifestyle adds 14 years life for women and 12 years for men when compared to an unhealthy lifestyle.

And an article about another study: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ar...attack-stroke-risk#What-happened-in-the-study. Excerpt: Compared to people who walked 2,000 steps per day, researchers found that individuals walking between 6,000 and 9,000 steps daily had a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, by 40% to 50%. A far larger benefit than that discussed in the Viagra study.

 

[Tom.G]

FOUND - Missing radioactive capsule
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...e-capsule-found-western-australia-2023-02-01/

 

[fresh_42]

FOUND - Missing radioactive capsule
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...e-capsule-found-western-australia-2023-02-01/

This is hard to believe. Maybe they have lost a couple and found one. How can you find an 8 mm piece on a 1,400,000,000 mm long track? That's a 1:175,000,000 chance.

 

[mfb]

This is hard to believe. Maybe they have lost a couple and found one. How can you find an 8 mm piece on a 1,400,000,000 mm long track? That's a 1:175,000,000 chance.

"Mathematician suggests looking at a single 8 mm portion of the road in order to locate capsule."

When your pet fish goes shopping

The gain in publicity was probably worth far more than 500 Yen (~4 USD?).

 

[Astronuc]

FOUND - Missing radioactive capsule
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...e-capsule-found-western-australia-2023-02-01/

Couldn't read without subscribing, but the Telegraph reported the story

Detection devices attached to a vehicle picked up signs of radiation waves on Wednesday morning south of the Pilbara town of Newman, about two metres from the edge of the Great Northern Highway.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-n...hnD_nmcmrhFE8Qsv_wxLLwVZFo5L8Ak8LiiZh3RoPL_Mo

The small part, from a gauge used to measure the density of iron ore, was believed to have fallen off the back of a truck some time between Jan 11 and Jan 16 while it was being driven from Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri mine to a city storage facility.

When workers unpacked the package for inspection, the gauge was found broken apart, with one of four mounting bolts missing and screws from the gauge also gone.

Gudai-Darri mine site is NE of Newman. It appears that the gauge broke during transport just south of Newman, i.e., near the origin. Shortest distance from Gudai-Darri mine site to Newman is 97 miles (156 km). Details are sketchy, but it seems the capsule was found between Newman and Capricorn, which is about 45 miles (72 km) south of Newman.

Since the Telegraph may require registration or subscription, here is the CNN story.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/01/australia/australia-radioactive-capsule-found-intl-hnk/index.html

ABC - https://abcnews.go.com/Internationa...y-deadly-prolonged-exposure/story?id=96789463

 

[Astronuc]

No hopefully about it: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.032047. This study showed that a healthy lifestyle adds 14 years life for women and 12 years for men when compared to an unhealthy lifestyle.

And an article about another study: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ar...attack-stroke-risk#What-happened-in-the-study. Excerpt: Compared to people who walked 2,000 steps per day, researchers found that individuals walking between 6,000 and 9,000 steps daily had a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, by 40% to 50%. A far larger benefit than that discussed in the Viagra study.

Assuming 1 step = 1 yd (0.91 m), that would be about 1.14 miles (1.8 km), 6000 steps would be 3.4 miles (5.5 km), and 9000 steps would be 5.1 miles (8.2 km). So, walk about 4 to 5 miles (6.4 to 8 km) per day. And probably eating healthful foods is part of that as well.

 

[Ibix]

This is hard to believe. Maybe they have lost a couple and found one. How can you find an 8 mm piece on a 1,400,000,000 mm long track? That's a 1:175,000,000 chance.

It's emitting enough radiation to be a health hazard if you hang around. So it's (with the right sensors) a brightly glowing 8mm capsule on a fairly dark background.

 

[Jonathan Scott]

It's emitting enough radiation to be a health hazard if you hang around. So it's (with the right sensors) a brightly glowing 8mm capsule on a fairly dark background.

A BBC news article says it was spotted using radiation sensors from a vehicle which was moving at 70 km/h (!), and was found around 200km from the mine site. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64483271

 

[fresh_42]

One has to set one's priorities!

Couple leave ticketless baby at Israeli airport check-in

The pair, who have not been identified, were checking in for a Ryanair flight from Ben Gurion International Airport to Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday with the infant.
It emerged that the baby did not have a ticket, and the couple headed off to board the flight – leaving their child behind on the airline check-in counter.

 

[strangerep]

This is hard to believe. Maybe they have lost a couple and found one. [...]

No -- those things have serial codes on them.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

One has to set one's priorities!

Couple leave ticketless baby at Israeli airport check-in

 

[berkeman]

Go Woody go!

https://abc7news.com/nicks-extreme-...l-700-lbs-woodpecker-stores-ca-home/12767707/

 

[fresh_42]

Go Woody go!

View attachment 321709
https://abc7news.com/nicks-extreme-...l-700-lbs-woodpecker-stores-ca-home/12767707/

Was it in Thousand Oaks?

 

[Hornbein]

 

[Ivan Seeking]

New Hampshire's Mount Washington sees record cold, stunning -108 wind chill amid arctic blast​

https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-hamp...ord-cold-stunning-108-wind-chill-arctic-blast

Yes but it's a dry cold.

 

[berkeman]

[Note -- sub-thread about the shootdown of the Chinese weather balloon over the US has been split off]:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/chinese-weather-balloon-shoot-down-over-us.1049687/

 

[Ivan Seeking]

One fan and TV commentator said she is really excited that they are having a Superbowl in the middle of a Rihanna concert.