Technology, Science and the Environment.

[samlcfc]

40 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

Probably quite old to some, but watched a video from Brian Cox talking about the Fermi Paradox (bear with me, it is vaguely related) and he speaks about a Great Filter being an explanation for the paradox.

One of the potential positioning of this filter being when we as a species are unable to unite and thereby end up ‘doing ourselves in’ rather than making a meaningful attempt at getting to the stars.

 

He also suspected that space faring species may also have a short window of primacy before also fading or destroying themselves and therefore end up never seeing other such species.

'Cool Worlds' do some pretty good content on this topic too, in case it might be of interest.

 

Youtube: Cool Worlds

[leicsmac]

And on the same topic, there is the superb Kurzgesagt:

 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NJUJVSrAcZCkIcGnLoKDQcl0iZZPPPG&si=pAU50HWqntizBpcq

[The Bear]

I spent last month watching lots of Leonard Susskind and Roger Penrose videos on black holes, quantum field theory, and twistor theory (don't bother!). 

 

As such I am now agreed that Susskind is an arrogant ***** who still thinks that after decades of failure, string theory holds all the answers. Whereas Roger Penrose is a classy guy who has some very agreeable theories about quantum gravity, the wave function, and the beginning/future of the universe in particular. Basically he thinks the universe is eternal and makes some very good points to back that idea up.

[Dahnsouff]

One for the new Technology, Science, Environment and Video Games thread

 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2719750/Star_Birds/

 

#niche

Edited 16 March by Dahnsouff

[Dahnsouff]

11 hours ago, samlcfc said:

'Cool Worlds' do some pretty good content on this topic too, in case it might be of interest.

 

Youtube: Cool Worlds

Thanks, interesting vid and gives a sense of the ridiculousness of the question!

[blabyboy]

16 hours ago, Dahnsouff said:

Probably quite old to some, but watched a video from Brian Cox talking about the Fermi Paradox (bear with me, it is vaguely related) and he speaks about a Great Filter being an explanation for the paradox.

One of the potential positioning of this filter being when we as a species are unable to unite and thereby end up ‘doing ourselves in’ rather than making a meaningful attempt at getting to the stars.

 

He also suspected that space faring species may also have a short window of primacy before also fading or destroying themselves and therefore end up never seeing other such species.

The problem with the Fermi paradox is it's based on such little data as to being meaningless.. if you took a proper scientific approach to it.

 

But it does make for great conversations 🙂

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, blabyboy said:

The problem with the Fermi paradox is it's based on such little data as to being meaningless.. if you took a proper scientific approach to it.

 

But it does make for great conversations 🙂

I think that is considered as a qualifier in a lot of scientific discussions of it tbh - we have a great many possible reasons to explain it, some, all or none might be true because there's no empirical data beyond the absence of alien contact.

[leicsmac]

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/nih-grants-mrna-vaccines-trump-administration-hhs-rfk/amp/

 

National Institutes of Health officials have urged scientists to remove all references to mRNA vaccine technology from their grant applications, two researchers said, in a move that signaled the agency might abandon a promising field of medical research.

 

The UK, among others, should be offering these groups of researchers whatever they want should they choose to leave the US. And they will, given the obvious current situation.

[davieG]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd65px9461do

 

Severn Estuary lagoon offers 'rare' opportunity

 

A tidal lagoon should be created in the Severn Estuary to generate electricity, according to a report.

The Severn Estuary Commission, external rejected proposals for a large barrage spanning the Severn.

Instead, it said the UK and Welsh governments should back plans for a smaller project to harness the power of the tide on the England-Wales border.

The commission said a tidal lagoon demonstration project – the first in the world – would boost the economy and provide a better understanding of tidal power.

[blabyboy]

13 hours ago, davieG said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd65px9461do

 

Severn Estuary lagoon offers 'rare' opportunity

 

A tidal lagoon should be created in the Severn Estuary to generate electricity, according to a report.

The Severn Estuary Commission, external rejected proposals for a large barrage spanning the Severn.

Instead, it said the UK and Welsh governments should back plans for a smaller project to harness the power of the tide on the England-Wales border.

The commission said a tidal lagoon demonstration project – the first in the world – would boost the economy and provide a better understanding of tidal power.

Have you seen the comments under that thread ripping the proposal apart?

[blabyboy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4geldjjge0o

Intriguing.

[davieG]

From Quarks to Quasars  · 

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What If Pangea Still Existed Today? See the Incredible Map!

Hundreds of millions of years ago, the world looked nothing like it does today. All of Earth’s landmasses were fused together into a single supercontinent known as Pangea, surrounded by a vast ocean called Panthalassa.

Now, a fascinating map by Massimo Pietrobon overlays modern political borders onto this ancient landmass, offering a glimpse at a world where Brazil was neighbors with Nigeria, New York was just a short distance from Morocco, and Antarctica wasn’t an icy wasteland.

Pangea began forming over 300 million years ago, covering nearly a third of the planet’s surface. The center of this massive continent was a harsh, arid desert, with temperatures reaching 113ºF (45ºC)—so extreme that very few fossils have been found from that region. But along its coasts and forests, life flourished. Early dinosaurs roamed freely across the vast landmass, unimpeded by oceans. Intense monsoon storms, triggered by the sharp contrast between land and sea, swept across Pangea, shaping its climate.

But supercontinents do not last forever. Around 200 million years ago, deep within the Earth, magma began pushing upward, weakening the crust. The landmass cracked apart, creating a rift that would eventually become the Atlantic Ocean. Over millions of years, the land continued to break apart and drift, with South America splitting from Africa, North America pulling away from Europe, and India eventually crashing into Asia, forming the towering Himalayas. Even today, the continents are still moving, creeping along at 1-4 inches per year—too slow for human lifetimes, but enough to reshape the planet over millions of years.

The breakup of Pangea transformed the world, shaping the continents and coastlines we know today. But Earth is not finished shifting. In another 300 million years, the land may once again come together to form a new supercontinent: Pangea Proxima. The world we know is only temporary, and the ground beneath our feet is always in motion.

Learn more: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/incredible-map-of.../

See more space comics & infographics: www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/

[davieG]

Planet Warriors  · 

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A team of 22 Dutch students from Eindhoven University of Technology, known as Solar Team Eindhoven, has engineered the world's first solar-powered camper van, aptly named Stella Vita.

This innovative vehicle is designed to be entirely self-sufficient, drawing energy exclusively from solar panels integrated into its roof. On a sunny day, Stella Vita can travel up to 730 kilometers (approximately 450 miles) within 24 hours and reach speeds up to 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph).

The camper van is thoughtfully equipped to accommodate two people, featuring essential amenities such as a kitchen with a refrigerator, a seating area, a bed, a shower, and a toilet. When stationary, the roof can be elevated to allow occupants to stand upright, enhancing comfort during activities like cooking or working.

The vehicle's solar panels not only power its driving capabilities but also supply energy for all onboard utilities, including lighting, cooking appliances, and even a television. To maximize solar energy capture, additional panels can be extended when the van is parked, effectively doubling the surface area available for energy absorption.

In a remarkable demonstration of its capabilities, the team embarked on an 1,800-mile journey from Eindhoven to the southernmost tip of Spain, relying solely on solar power. This expedition aimed to showcase the potential of sustainable energy in revolutionizing mobility and inspiring a transition towards more eco-friendly transportation solutions.

[davieG]

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559100947713

 

The Physics Lab

 

Intro
daily dose of fascinating facts, mind-bending experiments, and thought-provoking

 

Some incredible stuff.

[blabyboy]

Beware! Those videos are a time sink 😉

[davieG]

Architecture Hub   · 

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A bit like the internet, but manual!

File clerks working at their electric elevator desks in Prague, 1937, former Czechoslovakia.

The Central Social Institution housed the world’s largest vertical file cabinet, with 3,000 drawers standing 10 feet high, covering 4,000 square feet. Each drawer had roller bearings for smooth operation.

To access files efficiently, clerks used special electrically operated desks that worked like small elevators. With the push of a button, these desks could rise, lower, and move horizontally to reach the right drawer—an innovative system for its time.

Photo credit: Česká Správa Sociálního Zabezpečení

[davieG]

Planet Warriors  · 

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The innovative floating blue devices are Eco Wave Power's (EWP) pioneering technology, designed to harness the energy of ocean waves and convert it into electricity. These floaters are attached to existing man-made structures, such as breakwaters, piers, and jetties, allowing them to efficiently capture the rising and falling motion of waves. This motion drives hydraulic systems that generate clean energy, which is then fed into the electrical grid.

In Gibraltar, EWP successfully installed a 100-kilowatt system that has been operational for six years, providing power to over 100 homes during this period. Building on this success, plans are underway to deploy their technology at the Port of Los Angeles, with the potential to supply electricity to approximately 15,000 households.

The potential of wave energy is substantial; estimates suggest that waves off the U.S. coasts could theoretically generate up to 2.64 trillion kilowatt-hours annually, equating to about 63% of the country's total utility-scale electricity generation in 2023. By integrating technologies like EWP's, we can tap into this vast renewable resource, advancing our transition to sustainable energy solutions.

[Grebfromgrebland]

Can't see fossil fuel lobby being held about this. There's a reason the whole world isn't running off virtually free energy. 

 

 

[davieG]

The people that got and are still getting rich off of oil have gained very influential positions and are using that to see that continues.

[davieG]

The Running Week  · 

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Ever wondered why runners always circle the track counterclockwise?

Interestingly, more than a century ago, runners actually raced clockwise. At the earliest modern Olympic Games, such as those held in Athens in 1896, athletes ran events like the 200m, 400m, and 800m clockwise around the track.

However, many runners experienced discomfort or even pain running in that direction. Recognizing this issue, athletic authorities around 1913 officially switched track events to a counterclockwise direction, a practice that's been standard ever since.

Science now supports this choice by showing how counterclockwise rotation frequently appears throughout nature. For example:

Human blood circulation naturally follows a counterclockwise path.

Electrons orbit their atomic nuclei counterclockwise.

Even on a larger scale, natural celestial movements share this pattern:

The Moon orbits Earth counterclockwise.

Earth itself revolves around the Sun counterclockwise.

The planets of our solar system orbit the Sun counterclockwise.

Our Sun and solar system rotate around the center of the galaxy counterclockwise.

Entire galaxies themselves rotate counterclockwise.

Moreover, certain cultural traditions have embraced this natural phenomenon, such as Muslims performing the ritual of circling the Kaaba in a counterclockwise direction for the past 1400 years.

This commonality suggests there's more to counterclockwise movement than mere coincidence, it aligns runners naturally with a fundamental rhythm of nature.

[The Bear]

/pedant

 

Electrons don't orbit around a nucleus. Certainly not in a quantum mechanical interpretation. They have a probability of being in a certain place around the atom, and can be at any point around it at any time, but have a higher probability of being in certain places depending on the structure and complexity of what type of atom it is. 

 

/pedant 

[blabyboy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cj4n7r4gqr9o

 

Next couple of nights good for aurora spotting 

[CheeseHead]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

 

The Moon orbits Earth counterclockwise.

Earth itself revolves around the Sun counterclockwise

The planets of our solar system orbit the Sun counterclockwise.

Our Sun and solar system rotate around the center of the galaxy counterclockwise.

Entire galaxies themselves rotate counterclockwise.

Moreover, certain cultural traditions have embraced this natural phenomenon, such as Muslims performing the ritual of circling the Kaaba in a counterclockwise direction for the past 1400 years.

This commonality suggests there's more to counterclockwise movement than mere coincidence, it aligns runners naturally with a fundamental rhythm of nature.

 

But isn't this all based on frame of reference? If you were viewing from 'below' the orbital plane, you might state that the Earth orbits clockwise, but viewing from 'above' the orbital plane it would orbit in the opposite direction.

[davieG]

Hope this one fares better

 

Space Knowledge  · 

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As of 2025, there are approximately 10,000 active satellites orbiting Earth, a significant increase from previous years. A large portion of these satellites belong to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which aims to provide global internet coverage. This rapid expansion of satellites has led to growing concerns about space debris.

With more satellites in orbit, the risk of collisions increases. When satellites or other objects crash into each other, they can break apart into smaller debris, which can remain in orbit for years or even decades. These fragments pose a threat to operational satellites, the International Space Station, and future space missions. Even tiny debris, traveling at high speeds, can cause significant damage to spacecraft.

To address this issue, space agencies and private companies are developing strategies for debris mitigation, such as de-orbiting satellites at the end of their life cycles and designing systems to remove existing debris from space. However, as satellite launches continue to rise, managing space traffic and preventing collisions will become even more critical for the sustainability of space activities.

#space #earth #satellite # #satelliteinternet #spacetrash #elon #starlink #starlinkinternet #starlinksatellite

[leicsmac]

Just now, davieG said:

Hope this one fares better

 

Space Knowledge  · 

Follow

 

As of 2025, there are approximately 10,000 active satellites orbiting Earth, a significant increase from previous years. A large portion of these satellites belong to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which aims to provide global internet coverage. This rapid expansion of satellites has led to growing concerns about space debris.

With more satellites in orbit, the risk of collisions increases. When satellites or other objects crash into each other, they can break apart into smaller debris, which can remain in orbit for years or even decades. These fragments pose a threat to operational satellites, the International Space Station, and future space missions. Even tiny debris, traveling at high speeds, can cause significant damage to spacecraft.

To address this issue, space agencies and private companies are developing strategies for debris mitigation, such as de-orbiting satellites at the end of their life cycles and designing systems to remove existing debris from space. However, as satellite launches continue to rise, managing space traffic and preventing collisions will become even more critical for the sustainability of space activities.

#space #earth #satellite # #satelliteinternet #spacetrash #elon #starlink #starlinkinternet #starlinksatellite

Kessler Syndrome.

 

It is a real potential threat.