The scientific breakthrough thread

Post by **spot** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 12:21 pm

A research team in America has announced that it will hold a press conference tomorrow to claim they have detected gravity.

'Update' on gravitational waves - BBC News

Stay tuned.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:47 pm

Not exactly a scientific breakthrough but interesting nontheless :-

Airlander 10: World's biggest aircraft will take to the skies in March

Post by **spot** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:47 pm

Good lord. You'd not want to bump into that on a dark night.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:58 pm

I've always thought Airships to be a very practical way for long distance travel - particularly where there's no particular hurry. Making use of the jetstreams - minimal pollution, and the luxury of a cruise liner, as back in the 30s - or it could simply be used for cargo.

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 3:01 pm

Bryn Mawr;1492603 wrote: Not exactly a scientific breakthrough but interesting nontheless :-

Airlander 10: World's biggest aircraft will take to the skies in March

It looks like a bumblebee.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 3:32 pm

FourPart;1492611 wrote: I've always thought Airships to be a very practical way for long distance travel - particularly where there's no particular hurry. Making use of the jetstreams - minimal pollution, and the luxury of a cruise liner, as back in the 30s - or it could simply be used for cargo.

In a recent interview I heard they were touting it as a floating wi-fi hub during an emergency situation - a neat solution in remote areas

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 3:34 pm

Or the modern day canal barge.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 4:03 pm

AnneBoleyn;1492612 wrote: It looks like a bumblebee.

That could be an idea for a paint job.

Post by **spot** » Thu Feb 11, 2016 3:35 pm

spot;1492598 wrote: A research team in America has announced that it will hold a press conference tomorrow to claim they have detected gravity.

'Update' on gravitational waves - BBC News

Stay tuned.

The press conference said it's so.

What they heard was a tenth-of-a-second event which converted three solar masses into energy. Fortunately it was some distance off. Our present level of technology is, apparently, incapable of recreating these conditions.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Feb 11, 2016 4:02 pm

It all went over my head, and under my feet as it happens..........apparently.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Fri Feb 12, 2016 6:54 pm

As the Creationists might say - Evolution is only a Theory.

So is Gravity.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 4:08 am

FourPart;1492700 wrote: As the Creationists might say - Evolution is only a Theory.

So is Gravity.

Gravity is an observable phenomenon (as is evolution but that's by the way).

The theory relates to exactly how it works, not that it exists.

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 4:34 am

I have constructed a gravity wave detector myself, though it is as yet uncalibrated.

On entering my kitchen this morning I checked the progress of my calf’s foot jelly and found it reliably set and properly motionless. A large lorry of substantial mass passed along the road 115 metres away at the end of the alley and the resulting variation in gravitational force caused my jelly to rapidly wobble.

This generated, for a couple of seconds, a standing wave of six peaks. My mould is 16x6x4", if anyone would like to estimate the mass of the truck. My preliminary back of an envelope sum makes it 3x10^16 kg which is definitely wrong.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 5:08 am

spot;1492709 wrote: I have constructed a gravity wave detector myself, though it is as yet uncalibrated.

On entering my kitchen this morning I checked the progress of my calf’s foot jelly and found it reliably set and properly motionless. A large lorry of substantial mass passed along the road 115 metres away at the end of the alley and the resulting variation in gravitational force caused my jelly to rapidly wobble.

This generated, for a couple of seconds, a standing wave of six peaks. My mould is 16x6x4", if anyone would like to estimate the mass of the truck. My preliminary back of an envelope sum makes it 3x10^16 kg which is definitely wrong.

That's a seismograph.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 6:03 am

Bryn Mawr;1492708 wrote: Gravity is an observable phenomenon (as is evolution but that's by the way).

The theory relates to exactly how it works, not that it exists.
It was intended TiC.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 12:52 pm

FourPart;1492718 wrote: It was intended TiC.

Ah - my bad

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 6:17 am

I was explaining to Ebe the other day about the difference between Petrol Engines & Diesel Engines, and why Diesels don't use Spark Plugs. I told him that I would find him a YouTube video to demonstrate this. Whilst I was looking there, I chanced upon this little item. Very 'Hillbilly', as he admits, but the concept is amazing.

Post by **spot** » Sat Aug 06, 2016 1:16 pm

Well, they got it out into the sunshine today for the first time and showed everyone how big it is. Better late than never.

Airlander 10: Aircraft leaves hanger for first time - BBC News

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Sun Aug 07, 2016 4:40 pm

Just saw scientists have discovered a breakthrough to treat panceatic cancer. Woohoo!

Mark Aspam · Post by **Mark Aspam** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:24 pm

spot;1492598 wrote: A research team in America has announced that it will hold a press conference tomorrow to claim they have detected gravity.I've always preferred comedy.

Wandrin · Post by **Wandrin** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:47 pm

Mark Aspam;1499878 wrote: I've always preferred comedy.

Or levity.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 3:30 pm

Wandrin;1499879 wrote: Or levity.

They can't have levity any more, now that they've discovered Gravity - no more levitation.

Post by **LarsMac** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 3:45 pm

FourPart;1499919 wrote: They can't have levity any more, now that they've discovered Gravity - no more levitation.

THAT's why I keep falling out of bed.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 3:54 pm

LarsMac;1499921 wrote: THAT's why I keep falling out of bed.
Gravity doesn't really exist. Like Evolution, it's only a theory, as the Creationists would say.

Post by **spot** » Wed Aug 24, 2016 5:01 am

Airlander 10: Longest aircraft damaged during flight - BBC News

They hit a telegraph pole?

What!

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:58 am

spot;1500275 wrote: Airlander 10: Longest aircraft damaged during flight - BBC News

They hit a telegraph pole?

What!

A spokesman said: "The flight went really well and the only issue was when it landed."

Isn't that what they said of the Hindenburg and the R101?

Post by **spot** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:24 pm

I expect the comment comes from the "what never to say about an aircraft flight" handbook.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 4:03 am

I love the idea of Airships. The problem is that by their very nature, they are completely prone to the unpredictability of constantly changing weather conditions, as well as not having the speed capability to avoid the weather fronts.

Post by **spot** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 9:43 am

spot;1500699 wrote: I expect the comment comes from the "what never to say about an aircraft flight" handbook.

"We are testing a brand new type of aircraft and incidents of this nature can occur during this phase of development.

"We will assess the cause of the incident and the extent of repairs needed to the aircraft in the next few weeks."

Airlander 10 'breaks in two' and collapses at Cardington - BBC News

The Graf von Zeppelin must be spinning in his grave - how long is it taking these comatose prats to go from paper to sales? They are failing to get it up. Their dirigible is not stiff enough, not large enough, not exciting enough. If someone would like to put it up them I'll work the handpump.

If it's a prototype, scrap it. If the final product is intended to be lots larger - and I do hope it is or there's no point - get it built and show it works. Go back to hydrogen and seal the cells adequately, you get more lift from hydrogen.

magentaflame · Post by **magentaflame** » Sun Nov 19, 2017 4:14 am

Those last six words to that post was a joke, right?

Post by **spot** » Sun Nov 19, 2017 5:41 am

Not at all, it's arithmetic.

If the Germans could safely keep a fleet of hydrogen-lift dirigibles doing world tours eighty years ago until some idiot in America pulled the wrong guy-rope, you'd think modern materials would pretty well guarantee the safety of a modern airship full of hydrogen. It's far cheaper than helium, far less polluting and easily topped up without a fuel depot.

In my opinion an airship lifted by hydrogen should be at least a half mile across, blot the sun from the sky as it passes overhead, carry as much cargo as a current container ship and be an esthetic amazement. This experimental prototype they keep crashing is a toy headed down the wrong development path.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:40 am

spot;1514718 wrote: Not at all, it's arithmetic.

If the Germans could safely keep a fleet of hydrogen-lift dirigibles doing world tours eighty years ago until some idiot in America pulled the wrong guy-rope, you'd think modern materials would pretty well guarantee the safety of a modern airship full of hydrogen. It's far cheaper than helium, far less polluting and easily topped up without a fuel depot.

In my opinion an airship lifted by hydrogen should be at least a half mile across, blot the sun from the sky as it passes overhead, carry as much cargo as a current container ship and be an esthetic amazement. This experimental prototype they keep crashing is a toy headed down the wrong development path.

I seem to recall that static and lightning had a lot to do with the airship disasters - not just one idiot in America pulling the wrong rope

Post by **spot** » Thu Nov 23, 2017 8:11 am

I think if you look for the single direct cause for the loss of the Hindenberg, which triggered the static during a lightning storm, you'll find just one idiot in America pulling the wrong rope. I have no doubt his training was non-existent and that he thought he was the best thing since sliced bread with superpowers to match.

I can't recall any other German passenger dirigible loss, that tended to be a foible of the British Government's white elephants. And a French and an American one. And the military USS Akron despite it being helium filled. I'd be delighted to be told I'm wrong.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Thu Nov 23, 2017 12:16 pm

spot;1514883 wrote: I think if you look for the single direct cause for the loss of the Hindenberg, which triggered the static during a lightning storm, you'll find just one idiot in America pulling the wrong rope. I have no doubt his training was non-existent and that he thought he was the best thing since sliced bread with superpowers to match.

I can't recall any other German passenger dirigible loss, that tended to be a foible of the British Government's white elephants. And a French and an American one. And the military USS Akron despite it being helium filled. I'd be delighted to be told I'm wrong.

Plus several British attempts.

My memory is that almost all of the hydrogen filled dirigibles went up in flames - I agree that the R101 fire was due to collision rather than static / lightning but still would not have happened if helium filled.

Post by **spot** » Thu Nov 23, 2017 12:52 pm

Really, the Hindenberg was the only German passenger dirigible loss out of a fleet that carried people for over a decade. Do go and check. It was amazingly safe and entirely hydrogen lifted - the Americans had a munitions monopoly on helium and refused to export any.

xfrodobagginsx · Post by **xfrodobagginsx** » Thu Nov 23, 2017 5:57 pm

magentaflame;1499770 wrote: Just saw scientists have discovered a breakthrough to treat panceatic cancer. Woohoo!

What is the treatment?

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 7:04 pm

spot;1514895 wrote: Really, the Hindenberg was the only German passenger dirigible loss out of a fleet that carried people for over a decade. Do go and check. It was amazingly safe and entirely hydrogen lifted - the Americans had a munitions monopoly on helium and refused to export any.
There seem to have been quite a few more.

Hydrogen Airship Disasters | Airships.net

Post by **spot** » Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:27 am

FourPart;1515034 wrote: There seem to have been quite a few more.

Hydrogen Airship Disasters | Airships.net

I did think from the context that we were talking about the German post-war civilian passenger fleet and if you look at your cited page, I'm exactly right. The first German post-war civilian passenger crash was the Hindenburg in 1937, eighteen years after the end of the war. Until then they had a fault-free record.

If you include the pre-war experimental models then yes, some German civilian passenger dirigibles did crash.

xfrodobagginsx · Post by **xfrodobagginsx** » Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:01 pm

magentaflame;1499770 wrote: Just saw scientists have discovered a breakthrough to treat panceatic cancer. Woohoo!

Seriously what is the new treatment for it?