Not scientific. Our NT News reporting
Screenshot from NT News newspaper 19 Aug 2021
We do try to keep up
Screenshot from NT News newspaper 19 Aug 2021
We do try to keep up
Science stories of the week
- Thread starter wegs
- Start date
And...hot off the press:
https://phys.org/news/2021-08-major-nuclear-fusion-milestone-ignition.html
Wow - That 70% mark referred to earlier has now gone to 100%! Given what was uncovered earlier, that's still very disappointing. yet as this para proclaims:
"While the latest experiment still required more energy in than it got out, it is the first to reach the crucial stage of 'ignition', which allowed considerably more energy to be produced than ever before, and paves the way for 'break even', where the energy in is matched by the energy out."
Ah yes - that tricky but crucial ~ 100x distinction between 'ignition' and 'break even'. Well actually the latter mark is still not even close to being 'a eureka event'. Why? I left out previously another problematic issue in p6 #117. The evidently needed critically prepared cryogenically cooled state for each of those multi-layered peppercorn sized deuterium/tritium spherical target capsules:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ignition_Facility#NIF_and_ICF
2nd para:
"NIF is designed primarily to use the indirect drive method of operation, in which the laser heats a small metal cylinder instead of the capsule inside it. The heat causes the cylinder, known as a hohlraum (German for "hollow room", or cavity), to re-emit the energy as intense X-rays, which are more evenly distributed and symmetrical than the original laser beams. Experimental systems, including the OMEGA and Nova lasers, validated this approach through the late 1980s.[23] In the case of the NIF, the large delivered power allows for the use of a much larger target; the baseline pellet design is about 2 mm in diameter, chilled to about 18 kelvins (−255 °C) and lined with a layer of frozen DT fuel. The hollow interior also contains a small amount of DT gas."
Further, as mentioned 3rd para here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ignition_Facility#National_Ignition_Campaign
minute quantities of dust (and elsewhere that article - condensed water vapor) spoils things.
Just consider the logistical nightmare those factors alone implies. We have already covered that a repetition firing rate of ~ 10/s is required for a viable system. Each tiny deuterium + tritium capsule is a very carefully multi-layered arrangement exquisitely sensitive to any impurities present. That alone suggests a time consuming prep process for each and every tiny pellet placed on the assembly line. Fed into and aligned to the very precise center of the laser focus ignition site. Machine gun style. Now recall from quoted para above that each and every pellet has to be cryogenically cooled to ~ 18 Kelvin. Might as well say ~ 4 Kelvin as only liquid Helium can practically get to even the former figure, and as soon as outside the cryogenic cooling core, each and every pellet will be subject to relatively rapid heating.
That last issue alone would seem to be quite a problem, especially given the ignition site was VERY recently and necessarily subject to 100 million Kelvin + temperature as dictated by the fusion 'break even' requirement. And just how the hell can these utterly conflicting requirements be simultaneously met?! Well one could try and email the gurus in charge of it all at NIF. But I wouldn't be one holding my breath expecting a satisfactory response if any. A case of PR/spin reigning supreme?
https://phys.org/news/2021-08-major-nuclear-fusion-milestone-ignition.html
Wow - That 70% mark referred to earlier has now gone to 100%! Given what was uncovered earlier, that's still very disappointing. yet as this para proclaims:
"While the latest experiment still required more energy in than it got out, it is the first to reach the crucial stage of 'ignition', which allowed considerably more energy to be produced than ever before, and paves the way for 'break even', where the energy in is matched by the energy out."
Ah yes - that tricky but crucial ~ 100x distinction between 'ignition' and 'break even'. Well actually the latter mark is still not even close to being 'a eureka event'. Why? I left out previously another problematic issue in p6 #117. The evidently needed critically prepared cryogenically cooled state for each of those multi-layered peppercorn sized deuterium/tritium spherical target capsules:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ignition_Facility#NIF_and_ICF
2nd para:
"NIF is designed primarily to use the indirect drive method of operation, in which the laser heats a small metal cylinder instead of the capsule inside it. The heat causes the cylinder, known as a hohlraum (German for "hollow room", or cavity), to re-emit the energy as intense X-rays, which are more evenly distributed and symmetrical than the original laser beams. Experimental systems, including the OMEGA and Nova lasers, validated this approach through the late 1980s.[23] In the case of the NIF, the large delivered power allows for the use of a much larger target; the baseline pellet design is about 2 mm in diameter, chilled to about 18 kelvins (−255 °C) and lined with a layer of frozen DT fuel. The hollow interior also contains a small amount of DT gas."
Further, as mentioned 3rd para here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ignition_Facility#National_Ignition_Campaign
minute quantities of dust (and elsewhere that article - condensed water vapor) spoils things.
Just consider the logistical nightmare those factors alone implies. We have already covered that a repetition firing rate of ~ 10/s is required for a viable system. Each tiny deuterium + tritium capsule is a very carefully multi-layered arrangement exquisitely sensitive to any impurities present. That alone suggests a time consuming prep process for each and every tiny pellet placed on the assembly line. Fed into and aligned to the very precise center of the laser focus ignition site. Machine gun style. Now recall from quoted para above that each and every pellet has to be cryogenically cooled to ~ 18 Kelvin. Might as well say ~ 4 Kelvin as only liquid Helium can practically get to even the former figure, and as soon as outside the cryogenic cooling core, each and every pellet will be subject to relatively rapid heating.
That last issue alone would seem to be quite a problem, especially given the ignition site was VERY recently and necessarily subject to 100 million Kelvin + temperature as dictated by the fusion 'break even' requirement. And just how the hell can these utterly conflicting requirements be simultaneously met?! Well one could try and email the gurus in charge of it all at NIF. But I wouldn't be one holding my breath expecting a satisfactory response if any. A case of PR/spin reigning supreme?
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In stride with this topic, I think there's an ''art'' to convincing people to believe certain things, but from my observation, you can't change people's minds. They have to want to change. That said, I think many people (find it easier) to believe kind, thoughtful ''pseudo-scientists'' over actual scientists, even if the latter is telling the truth. Is it worth the time to try to ''educate'' people who believe in pseudo-science?
Anyway, something new to think about this week. . .
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/on-the-fringe-book-science-pseudoscience
Anyway, something new to think about this week. . .
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/on-the-fringe-book-science-pseudoscience
Yes, absolutely it is worth it. Politicians typically conduct themselves in a manner that appeals to their electorate. They play to their base. If the base is uneducated pseudoscience believers, then we end up with government policy that reflects that. If we want forward-thinking politicians that make evidence-based decisions, then that will be driven from the bottom upwards.
Of course, exactly how we educate pseudoscience believers is a whole other thing. Easier said than done.
Unfortunately, that goes both ways. People want easy answers. "Aliens did it," is easier to handle than, "I don't know." And people want to think they know something that other people don't know.
It is easier said than done, but patience can go a long way with making strides forward. (Patience on both sides, trying to at least listen to one another.) Exclaiming with an authoritative, condescending tone ''You're wrong, I'm right,'' usually leads nowhere productive. But, there probably comes a point when one needs to accept that some people can't be ''saved'' from what they hold fast to believing.
There's no fun in ''I don't know.'' lol
Although, I don't swiftly dismiss (what seem to be) unusual experiences that don't have immediate, logical answers as gullibility on the part of the person claiming the experiences, simply because they want to be taken seriously.
Something new for the week...
When the wind makes music...although, this ''tree'' sounds like it's wailing and moaning. There's something oddly meditative about it, though.
Hear for yourself:
https://nerdist.com/article/singing-ringing-tree-sculpture-belongs-in-horror-movie/
When the wind makes music...although, this ''tree'' sounds like it's wailing and moaning. There's something oddly meditative about it, though.
Hear for yourself:
https://nerdist.com/article/singing-ringing-tree-sculpture-belongs-in-horror-movie/
ORFIELD LABORATORIES in South Minneapolis is the home of a space that was once dubbed “the quietest place on earth” by Guinness World Records. (As of 2015, that title now belongs to a quiet room developed by Microsoft in Washington state). The lab is called an anechoic chamber, meaning there is no echo as the room absorbs 99.99 percent of sound. It is used by various manufacturers to test product volume and sound quality—and it can also drive a person mad.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/orfi...et-chamber
Sounds like an incredibly eerie experience, trying to process the lack of ambient noise.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/orfi...et-chamber
Sounds like an incredibly eerie experience, trying to process the lack of ambient noise.
Be interesting to have an overhead drone shot showing how big is the zone where the grass keeps growing - i.e. where the sheep aren't going. (Worked hard there to get the rhyme just right.)
Can't recall the movie title but a flotation tank was employed to drive people bonkers - total sensory deprivation - mind torture - no burns or bruises needed.
At first, it seems like it would be a really deep meditative experience, until you hear the sound of your heartbeat or air rushing into your lungs as you have a panic attack.
That would be too strange, the only sounds to be heard would be coming from one’s self.
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Yeah hypersensitivity and all that. Apparently the mind needs constant feedback from the environment above some threshold level - otherwise it starts to hallucinate in an attempt to compensate. Not a good place to goooooo.At first, it seems like it would be a really deep meditative experience, until you hear the sound of your heartbeat or air rushing into your lungs as you have a panic attack.
''Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.'' - Emily Bronte
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/fall-equinox-2021-first-day-of-fall-trnd-scn/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/fall-equinox-2021-first-day-of-fall-trnd-scn/index.html
Here is a interesting titbit about why NASA solar prob has not melted in Sub's corona
https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/nasa-parker-solar-probe-inside-solar-corona-melted/
Do you see this catching on? Less expensive than homes built by ''traditional'' construction methods, and potentially environmentally sound, but seems like they're designed to be built rather fast. Like really fast. I suppose this drastically cuts labor costs, and houses can be move-in ready far quicker than normal construction (although, there's still the issue of plumbing, interior wiring, etc) but how safe would one be in a severe thunderstorm, or six months of brutal winters? Sounds like an insurance nightmare.
https://nerdist.com/article/first-3d-pri...ed-states/
https://nerdist.com/article/first-3d-pri...ed-states/
Haven't the link but I recall seeing a video of a house being built (printed) in 3D
All plumbing and electrical wiring stuff (inside plastic tubing) was in place inside the form work for the walls and the concrete poured (pumped) around
Can't see anything wrong with this. Walls have been fabricated off site and assembled on site long time
If company fabricates walls with a 3D printer using concrete as printing material - brilliant - way to go
Do you think it will be as sturdy as regular construction? I think it's a great concept in terms of speeding up the time it takes for a home to be built, but faster doesn't mean better, or quality. I don't know...Haven't the link but I recall seeing a video of a house being built (printed) in 3D
All plumbing and electrical wiring stuff (inside plastic tubing) was in place inside the form work for the walls and the concrete poured (pumped) around
Can't see anything wrong with this. Walls have been fabricated off site and assembled on site long time
If company fabricates walls with a 3D printer using concrete as printing material - brilliant - way to go
I have a son-in-law who worked in testing concrete. Each batch on its way to a building site had a sample taken
Once the sample had cured it was tested to destruction. I'm sure same requirements are in place for 3D printed houses
I would think a concrete home would be a lot safer than a wooden stick-frame house in severe weather.