ريتشارد دوكنز's Blog, page 701
August 30, 2015
LHC Finds Particles That Defy The Standard Model Of Physics
Photo credit:
Michael Taylor/Shutterstock
With the help of CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), an international team of researchers have found evidence of something physicists have spent decades hoping for – subatomic particles behaving in a way that defies the Standard Model. In particle physics, the Standard Model is the best theory we have for explaining how particles behave and interact; however, it is incomplete as it does not account for gravity. By using the LHC, researchers hope to observe conditions that violate the standard rules of particle physics.
Quantum Mechanics Just Got “Spookier”
Photo credit:
Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock
An international collaboration and a newly published paper may have just settled a century old physics debate.
August 29, 2015
Watch A Red-Hot Ball Of Nickel Melt A Bowl Of Jello From The Inside Out
Photo credit:
YouTube screen capture/Cars and Water
Apparently you guys love watching red hot nickel balls melting things! After the last few hugely popular posts we'll give the people more of what they want – a hot nickel ball boiling jello from the inside out.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkiJF...]
What Would Happen If The Earth Got Sucked Into A Black Hole?
Photo credit:
An artist's impression of black hole Cygnus X-1. NASA/CXC/M.Weiss
First, let's start by defining what a black hole is according to NASA:
"A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying. Because no light can get out, people can't see black holes. They are invisible. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes. The special tools can see how stars that are very close to black holes act differently than other stars."
Watch Two Sarcastic Fringeheads Fight
Photo credit:
A tube-dwelling Fringehead. Taken in La Jolla, California by Magnus Kjaergaard
Before we start – no, this isn't a GIF of some emo kids engaged a war of cutting and sarcastic words. It shows two sarcastic fringehead fish, or Neoclinus blanchardi, fighting over territory. Apparently not named for their dry sense of humour (I checked), their quirky name is attributed to their aggressive and fearless temperament. Small fish, normally less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) in length, the fringehead can be distinguished by the unusual appendages over their eyes, and wide-opening jaws containing needle like teeth.
What Causes Cramps?
Photo credit:
Ouch – calf cramp. Kryvenok Anastasiia/Shutterstock
Cramp – we've all experienced a random, crippling muscle spasm at some point. Maybe in the middle of the night for absolutely no damn reason at all, or when you're innocently strolling down the street.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, muscular cramps during exercise are attributed to dehydration and low sodium levels in the blood, or overworked muscle fibers.
Do Fetuses Poop Inside The Womb?
Photo credit:
Mother showing her ultrasound. Samuel Borges Photography/Shutterstock
The short answer? No, while in the womb, a fetus doesn't poop – although it does pee.
However, some waste does accumulate in its lower intestine throughout the pregnancy, which is a result of nutrients received from the mother via the umbilical chord. Called meconium, the fetus does not poop this while in the womb.
This Much Will Kill You
Photo credit:
Fer Gregory/Shutterstock
Did you know two cherry pits contain enough cyanide to kill you? And that drinking six liters of water is enough to induce a coma and even death?
And although it is essentially impossible to die from marijuana, you can die from listening to your music too loud. Check out this video by AsapScience explaining just how much will kill you.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPszR...]
How Much Water Would It Take To Extinguish The Sun?
Photo credit:
Plasma erupts from the Sun in the shape of a massive handle. NASA
How much water would it take to put out the Sun? Your first guess is probably – a shit ton. Like, a LOT of water. Billions of gallons, maybe double that or double that again. That would at least dampen it, right?
Those of us that aren’t overly knowledgeable in chemistry may be surprised to find out that although the Sun may look like it’s on fire, it isn’t the same as the fire you and friends sit around down the beach in the summer, or the type of fire that cuts a swathe across the Australian outback, or cooks your marshmallows when you’re out camping.
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