Technology, Science and the Environment.

[leicsmac]

Splashdown on target, looks like the upper stage went fireball not long after though.

 

Shame it didn't end up recoverable, but excellent all round.

[SpacedX]

Right on target 

[Izzy]

Piece of piss that booster capture.

 

It's hardly rocket science 

[leicsmac]

Just now, Izzy said:

Piece of piss that booster capture.

 

It's hardly rocket science 

It was like something out of Kerbal Space Program tbh. Brilliant.

 

Just now hope that Spacex can stick to their timetable with NASA and have this system properly ready for Artemis III. And to meet their own Mars timetable.

[Izzy]

28 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

It was like something out of Kerbal Space Program tbh. Brilliant.

 

Just now hope that Spacex can stick to their timetable with NASA and have this system properly ready for Artemis III. And to meet their own Mars timetable.

It was bloody impressive tbf. Clever stuff.

[SpacedX]

Europa Clipper was successfully launched today. This is a NASA mission to study Europa, one of Jupiter's four Galilean moons through a series of flybys while in Jupiter's orbit.

[Zear0]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/15/google-buy-nuclear-power-ai-datacentres-kairos-power

 

Going to see a lot of these deals in the next 12 months.  Good times!

[leicsmac]

18 hours ago, SpacedX said:

Europa Clipper was successfully launched today. This is a NASA mission to study Europa, one of Jupiter's four Galilean moons through a series of flybys while in Jupiter's orbit.

Another master of astrodynamics.

 

It would be nice to have a lander go there or to Enceladus sooner rather than later, though.

 

2 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/15/google-buy-nuclear-power-ai-datacentres-kairos-power

 

Going to see a lot of these deals in the next 12 months.  Good times!

Good.

 

Well managed small scale fission is at least part of the way forward.

 

Until we finally get fusion sorted.

[davieG]

 

Fact That Will Blow Your Mind  · 

Join

 

Oshani Jayawardana  · 3d  · 

 

 

Henry Ford built a car out of hemp plastic that ran on hemp fuel almost a century ago.

Ford's 1941 bioplastic Model T was made of hemp, flax, wheat, and spruce pulp, which made the car lighter than fiberglass and ten times tougher than steel, wrote the New York Times on February 2, 1941. The car ran on ethanol made from hemp or other agricultural waste.

Via Old Cars Lover

 

[davieG]

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/brussels-airlines-empty-flights-lufthansa-b1987187.html

 

Brussels Airlines has operated 3,000 flights without passengers this winter to avoid losing take-off and landing slots.

The airline’s parent company, Lufthansa Group, confirmed that 18,000 flights had been flown empty, including 3,000 Brussels Airlines services, reports The Bulletin.

EU rules require that airlines operate a certain percentage of scheduled flights to keep their slots at major airports.

 

No wonder I feel like I'm pissing in the wind recycling my plastic bottles

[ajthefox]

15 minutes ago, davieG said:

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/brussels-airlines-empty-flights-lufthansa-b1987187.html

 

Brussels Airlines has operated 3,000 flights without passengers this winter to avoid losing take-off and landing slots.

The airline’s parent company, Lufthansa Group, confirmed that 18,000 flights had been flown empty, including 3,000 Brussels Airlines services, reports The Bulletin.

EU rules require that airlines operate a certain percentage of scheduled flights to keep their slots at major airports.

 

No wonder I feel like I'm pissing in the wind recycling my plastic bottles

Whilst that is very disheartening and speaks to how the biggest climate problems (imo) are ones of industry and governance not at the individual level, the article is 2 years old and is obviously still taking into account the pandemic. 

 

[ALC Fox]

I was in Wigston on Saturday and think I saw a Starlink satellite train overhead.

 

It would've been approx 7.30-7.40 pm when I saw roughly 10 lights evenly spaced out fly overhead and disappear when they reached a certain point.

 

Did anyone else catch a glimpse?

Edited 22 October 2024 by ALC Fox

[davieG]

 

Colyton, old pictures  · 

Follow

10h  · 

 

 

An electric bathtub from 1910 exemplifies the innovative spirit of the early 20th century, a time when household appliances began to revolutionize daily life. This luxurious fixture combined modern technology with comfort, reflecting the era's fascination with electricity and its potential to enhance convenience in the home. Unlike traditional bathtubs, which relied on manual labor for heating water, the electric bathtub was designed to warm water automatically, allowing users to enjoy a relaxing soak without the hassle of preparing the bath. This advancement symbolized a shift towards a more modern lifestyle, where electricity began to play an integral role in household chores.

The design of the electric bathtub often featured elegant lines and ornate details typical of early 20th-century aesthetics. Made from durable materials such as porcelain or cast iron, these bathtubs were not only functional but also served as a statement piece in the bathroom. Some models included built-in heating elements and controls, allowing users to adjust water temperature to their preference. The incorporation of such technology into bathroom fixtures marked a significant milestone in the evolution of home design, making bathing a more enjoyable and sophisticated experience, particularly for the middle and upper classes who could afford these luxuries.

Despite its innovative design, the electric bathtub also raised concerns regarding safety, especially in an age when the implications of electricity were still being understood. Early adopters had to navigate potential risks associated with water and electrical systems, leading to discussions about regulations and safety standards in household appliances. Nevertheless, the electric bathtub paved the way for the future of modern bathrooms, influencing the development of various electric fixtures and appliances that would soon become commonplace. As society embraced the advancements of the 20th century, this luxurious item reflected not only a commitment to comfort and convenience but also the broader cultural shift towards modernization and the integration of technology into everyday life.

 

 

[Zear0]

2 minutes ago, davieG said:

 

Colyton, old pictures  · 

Follow

10h  · 

 

 

An electric bathtub from 1910 exemplifies the innovative spirit of the early 20th century, a time when household appliances began to revolutionize daily life. This luxurious fixture combined modern technology with comfort, reflecting the era's fascination with electricity and its potential to enhance convenience in the home. Unlike traditional bathtubs, which relied on manual labor for heating water, the electric bathtub was designed to warm water automatically, allowing users to enjoy a relaxing soak without the hassle of preparing the bath. This advancement symbolized a shift towards a more modern lifestyle, where electricity began to play an integral role in household chores.

The design of the electric bathtub often featured elegant lines and ornate details typical of early 20th-century aesthetics. Made from durable materials such as porcelain or cast iron, these bathtubs were not only functional but also served as a statement piece in the bathroom. Some models included built-in heating elements and controls, allowing users to adjust water temperature to their preference. The incorporation of such technology into bathroom fixtures marked a significant milestone in the evolution of home design, making bathing a more enjoyable and sophisticated experience, particularly for the middle and upper classes who could afford these luxuries.

Despite its innovative design, the electric bathtub also raised concerns regarding safety, especially in an age when the implications of electricity were still being understood. Early adopters had to navigate potential risks associated with water and electrical systems, leading to discussions about regulations and safety standards in household appliances. Nevertheless, the electric bathtub paved the way for the future of modern bathrooms, influencing the development of various electric fixtures and appliances that would soon become commonplace. As society embraced the advancements of the 20th century, this luxurious item reflected not only a commitment to comfort and convenience but also the broader cultural shift towards modernization and the integration of technology into everyday life.

 

 

Who needs the Winter Fuel Allowance when you've got that?

[davieG]

 

Strange Things Will Blow Your Mind  · 

 

Sharlin Nelka Premarathna 

 

The 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille was manufactured in Detroit, Michigan. It was one of the most fascinating car designs of the 1950s. The car was designed by Bill Mitchell, Chuck Jordan, and Dave Holls.

The 1959 Cadillac lineup was considered to be the heyday of Cadillac. The 1959 Cadillacs had some of the most technologically advanced options of the 1950s, including air conditioning, cruise control, and a triple-carb V8.

The 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille was a two-door hardtop coupe with a 130 inch wheelbase. It was the most popular style of the Series 6300 DeVille line, with 21,924 sales. The Coupe DeVille came with a 390 cubic inch (6.4 liter) V8 engine. The engine has a 4-barrel Carter AFB2814S carburetor and produces 325 horsepower.

The 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille was 225 inches long, 80.2 inches wide, and had the largest tailfins ever fitted to a Cadillac. It also had dual "rocket" tail lamps, which are considered the most recognizable tail lights in history. It's considered one of the most iconic car designs of all time.

 

[Izzy]

Solar System on BBC with Brian Cox is awesome.

 

I love how he explains things so simply that even a noddy like me understands it.

 

Those NASA probes out there exploring space are amazing.

[leicsmac]

1 minute ago, Izzy said:

Solar System on BBC with Brian Cox is awesome.

 

I love how he explains things so simply that even a noddy like me understands it.

 

Those NASA probes out there exploring space are amazing.

Just finished this myself.

 

The real find of the last couple of decades is that liquid water doesn't have to rely upon the heat from a nearby star to produce it. Ganymede, Europa and Enceladus, at least, are testament to that. The "Goldilocks" zone for such things is a fallacy.

 

My belief that there is simple microbial life on at least one of those keeps growing with every discovery we make.

[Izzy]

9 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Just finished this myself.

 

The real find of the last couple of decades is that liquid water doesn't have to rely upon the heat from a nearby star to produce it. Ganymede, Europa and Enceladus, at least, are testament to that. The "Goldilocks" zone for such things is a fallacy.

 

My belief that there is simple microbial life on at least one of those keeps growing with every discovery we make.

What I can't warp my head around is how much we know about places like Enceladus when its 1.273 BILLION km's from Earth!

[The Bear]

26 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Just finished this myself.

 

The real find of the last couple of decades is that liquid water doesn't have to rely upon the heat from a nearby star to produce it. Ganymede, Europa and Enceladus, at least, are testament to that. The "Goldilocks" zone for such things is a fallacy.

 

My belief that there is simple microbial life on at least one of those keeps growing with every discovery we make.

Thing is we've known about tidal heating for a good while now. You'd think we'd have predicted that icy moons might have a warm interior. 

[Izzy]

How can someone be this clever?

 

Mind blowingly fascinating.

 

 

[The Bear]

I liked his conversation with Rogan about black holes, my favourite cosmic subject. It's just a shame he didn't go into more depth about the information paradox and the theories around the solution to it. There's some mind blowing stuff they've discovered on that topic. 

 

 

 

Edited 28 October 2024 by The Bear

[WigstonWanderer]

25 minutes ago, The Bear said:

I liked his conversation with Rogan about black holes, my favourite cosmic subject. It's just a shame he didn't go into more depth about the information paradox and the theories around the solution to it. There's some mind blowing stuff they've discovered on that topic. 

 

 

 

Yes I found it frustrating that he didn’t seem to get to the punchline, though I’m only about 25% through I think the moment has passed.

Interesting stuff though 

Edited 29 October 2024 by WigstonWanderer

[The Bear]

My favourite theory I heard is that the matter falling in gets its information encoded across the surface of the event horizon. Then as Hawking radiation occurs it uses that information to re-encode the particle being "emitted" thanks to it being quantum entangled with the anti-particle falling in. Thus meaning that the black hole essentially keeps a memory of all the matter it ever consumes, and that matter is accurately represented again during the process of it's evaporation over 10 to the power 100 years it takes for a supermassive black hole to evaporate. 

 

No idea if that's ultimately true but it blew my mind at the possibility. 

Edited 29 October 2024 by The Bear

[leicsmac]

10 hours ago, Izzy said:

What I can't warp my head around is how much we know about places like Enceladus when its 1.273 BILLION km's from Earth!

And that's not far at all, in cosmological terms.

 

It is rather amazing what we can do with the limited observational information we have.

 

10 hours ago, The Bear said:

Thing is we've known about tidal heating for a good while now. You'd think we'd have predicted that icy moons might have a warm interior. 

I'm not sure, but perhaps they thought the tidal forces simply wouldn't be strong enough to cause effects like this?

 

Hopefully craft like Europa Clipper will give us an even better idea of what's going on.

 

6 hours ago, The Bear said:

My favourite theory I heard is that the matter falling in gets its information encoded across the surface of the event horizon. Then as Hawking radiation occurs it uses that information to re-encode the particle being "emitted" thanks to it being quantum entangled with the anti-particle falling in. Thus meaning that the black hole essentially keeps a memory of all the matter it ever consumes, and that matter is accurately represented again during the process of it's evaporation over 10 to the power 100 years it takes for a supermassive black hole to evaporate. 

 

No idea if that's ultimately true but it blew my mind at the possibility. 

That would be utterly insane if true.

 

But then who knows? Singularities are one of those areas where practically every tested model we have on physics falls apart.

[jgtuk]

https://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dp1l8wklo.amp?amp_js_v=0.1&amp_gsa=1#webview=1&cap=swipe 

Terrible weather we’re having lately…