Groups »
Forums »
Answers »

Featured Groups

  • Bare Conductive
  • Drawing and Art
  • Sustainability
  • 123D
  • Fenix Intl, Ready Set Off The Grid
  • Kollabora
  • 3D Printing

COMMUNITY : FORUMS : SCIENCE


String Theory,..this is not detailed, but what do you think?

Here is a short video (not embeddable, sorry) on the Higgs-Boson and string theory by Dr. Michio Kaku.  Comments?

Dr Michio Kaku.png
sort by: active | newest | oldest
49
lemonie says: Jan 28, 2012. 12:41 PM
I don't like the chopping camera-angles, it makes no sense; someone thought it would make things look more interesting but it's just a distraction.
Nice talk, everything does come down to vibrations in the end.

L
4
Sovereignty in reply to lemonieJan 29, 2012. 7:57 AM
Was that a fart joke?


Sorry, I couldn't resist.
49
lemonie in reply to SovereigntyJan 29, 2012. 11:53 AM
No, where did you get a flatus-reference in there?

L
4
Sovereignty in reply to lemonieJan 29, 2012. 2:04 PM
The last few words...

I guess I'm just a 38 year old who's still amused by immature things.
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to SovereigntyFeb 16, 2012. 8:35 AM
Bah, if we lose out ability to think diversely THEN we've become old.....never give that up :-) Hey, I pointed it out and I am 53 LOL
4
Sovereignty in reply to SovereigntyJan 29, 2012. 2:15 PM
And I actually had this in mind when I thought of it.
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to SovereigntyFeb 16, 2012. 8:36 AM
I remember that LOL
16
Lithium Rain in reply to lemonieJan 29, 2012. 12:19 PM
Even I picked up on that one... ("vibrations in the end", for the record)
jaffawarrior1 says: Feb 16, 2012. 2:27 AM
STRING THEORY IS THE FUTURE OF PHYSICS LOOP QUANTUM GRAVITY IS NOTHING THX 4 LISTENING FOLKS LOL
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to jaffawarrior1Feb 16, 2012. 8:33 AM
Typing in all caps (internet shouting) is not necessary....
7
colorex says: Jan 25, 2012. 8:00 PM
I understood every single thing he said!
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 25, 2012. 9:23 PM
He is good that way. :-)
7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 25, 2012. 9:28 PM
That was sarcasm :)

Though I understood some of it!
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 26, 2012. 9:31 AM
Oh sorry, I don't always recognize sarcasm even face to face *blush* Then I suppose the book: Quintessence: the search for the missing mass of the universe; would be a bit beyond you then :-)
7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 26, 2012. 9:48 AM
Don't worry...
Well, maybe if I was updated on the topic I would understand it, right now I'm completely into RC planes, not so much into science. But If I read up on it I would surely understand it.
jaffawarrior1 in reply to colorexFeb 16, 2012. 2:28 AM
rc planes r kool do u have a nite vapour
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 26, 2012. 7:26 PM
Oh and I didn't mean to imply that you were dumb or anything, just that the book I mentioned would be a bit much at your current knowledge level. I found it fascinating and have moved on to others like it (but I have a varied thirst for understanding and am also reading up on brain physiology/function, electrochemical reactions, and quantum theory, to name a few)....I find it fun to find out things....especially the things I can experiment with later (like electronics).
7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 26, 2012. 7:39 PM
WOW! You're awesome! That's some heavy reading! I could read up on physics, but I am dumb on electrochemical reactions!
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 27, 2012. 8:27 PM
Well, starting with "how a battery works" and working your way up to how solar cells work would help in the electrochemical area....it's a start anyways :-)

7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 28, 2012. 4:07 AM
Yeah, I know. I know that the acid in a battery produces an electrochemical reaction with the metallic plates, producing energy; but solar cells, I know just that they do work!
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 28, 2012. 1:06 PM
Not all batteries (or cells to be more accurate) use "acid" however. But yes, the principle is nearly the same in all of them, no matter the chemicals used (nickel metal hydride, etc, & etc.).
Then there is plating, de-plating (stipping), oxidation, infusion, and many other things that can be done this way.
The world of physical-chemical reactions are also multitude however.  Take for instance simple glycerin.   Put a drop on a small pile of permanganese dioxide and you will have purple flames and smoke galore.  
7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 28, 2012. 2:25 PM
BTW Would you know how to make a smoke bomb? Non-toxic, easy and cheap? maybe also for a streamer on a plane?
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 28, 2012. 7:56 PM
sugar, burned quickly and without much of an O2 supply will smoke like crazy.  A mix with potassium nitrate when burned will produce a fair volume of smoke. 
16
Lithium Rain in reply to GoodhartJan 28, 2012. 10:16 PM
Careful though - that's one ingredient short of gunpowder. :D (Also, on a pedantic note, it's not non-toxic - even ignoring the fairly standard "if you eat this or rub it on your skin it will be unpleasant" effects, it's a known producer of human carcinogens.)
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to Lithium RainJan 29, 2012. 4:45 AM
True enough, however, anyone that has attempted (innocent whistle concerning actions 35+ years ago) to make black powder has found that is it not simple to make so that it burns efficiently ;-)
7
colorex in reply to Lithium RainJan 28, 2012. 10:35 PM
Potassium nitrate is carcinogen?? The first gunpowder had 1 x coal powder, 1x sulphur, and 6x nitrates... Is this right?
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 29, 2012. 4:50 AM
Yes, my apologies, I should have given the warning that it "can" become potentially dangerous; it burns brightly if not quickly, if enough "carbon" is present, and produces a lava like molten substance with potential to ignite what it is laying in, or other nasty offshoots. And yes, the sugar should be powdered. The amount of heat produced by a violent burn, can be hazardous in many ways.
7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 29, 2012. 8:54 AM
Well, I'm careful by nature with chemical compounds. I plan on making smoke streamers for an RC airplane. I read on Wikipedia that potassium nitrate will melt with sugar at medium temperatures.

However, I need to know how to make sure that the mixture doesn't explode, but burns gradually. I know this has something to do with how it's packed into the tube that contains it. But I don't know for sure...
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 29, 2012. 12:28 PM
I've never been able to make it burn THAT quickly....YMMV. Careful experiments should yield results similar to mine however.
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 29, 2012. 12:27 PM
Hmmm, I have never been able to make "really fast burning" black powder (especially without the sulfur). It burns fairly fast, BUT not like gunpowder, more like a fuse :-) I am sure a little experimentation (done carefully) would yield results that would rival my experiences however.
7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 29, 2012. 12:31 PM
I need it to burn gradually into a tube, and make it last for a minute or so...
16
Lithium Rain in reply to colorexJan 28, 2012. 11:03 PM
No, it isn't a carcinogen itself; under certain (fairly common) conditions it can produce them (nitrosamines, specifically). It's a somewhat pedantic point because AFAIK casual contact with limited amounts of potassium nitrate (as opposed to potassium nitrite, which is itself a carcinogen) isn't actually going to hurt anything. But, y'know, still technically makes stuff that gives you cancer. :P
 
I dunno - Google it. :P Point isn't that it will magically transform into gunpowder, but that with that combination you have a very strong oxidizer mixed with a fast-burning fuel, which you ought to be aware of before you start. :)
16
Lithium Rain in reply to Lithium RainJan 28, 2012. 11:10 PM
*Seems I remember that wrong - potassium nitrite isn't demonstrably itself a carcinogen, but is similar to nitrate in producing nitrosamines and having a _suspected_ rather than a confirmed link to cancer.
49
lemonie in reply to Lithium RainJan 29, 2012. 1:33 AM
It's eating it with protein, like in bacon & other cured-meats, that produces these nitosamines.
Technically "bacon gives you cancer".

L
16
Lithium Rain in reply to lemonieJan 29, 2012. 12:19 PM
Well, or ingesting large dosages.
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to lemonieJan 29, 2012. 4:52 AM
bacon and picnic hams :-D Ugh, I still remember the smell of those things after they were pumped full of nitrates at the rendering plant I worked for 30+ years ago....*shiver* I limit my swine intake to this day because of it.
4
Sovereignty in reply to GoodhartJan 29, 2012. 7:08 AM
I still remember what this topic started as, looking back....we should start heading back to physics starting with chaos.
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to SovereigntyJan 29, 2012. 12:23 PM
Indeed :-)
7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 28, 2012. 10:10 PM
Potassium nitrate... does that ignite with sulfuric acid?

And should it be powder sugar?
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to colorexJan 29, 2012. 4:55 AM
If one, under the proper conditions (again, this is NOT safe outside a controlled lab), burns sulfur and potassium nitrate, they can produce sulfuric acid. But doing this outside the lab can potentially produce enough of it in vapor form to give a person severe burns "from the inside out".
7
colorex in reply to GoodhartJan 29, 2012. 12:34 PM
Oh, I remember now, school experiment: Sugar, potassium *chlorate* and sulphuric acid. Big fast flame, but not much smoke.
17
blkhawk says: Feb 11, 2012. 8:58 PM
There is more on the String Theory:

Watch The Elegant Universe: Part 2 on PBS. See more from NOVA.

38
Goodhart (author) in reply to blkhawkFeb 12, 2012. 7:08 AM
Oh yes, I have read up much more detail in the theory itself, I just wanted to know if this was intelligible to others, or if they felt he "stretched things a bit". :-)
26
iceng says: Jan 25, 2012. 8:04 PM
Appreciating your post !

A
38
Goodhart (author) in reply to icengJan 25, 2012. 9:23 PM
Yeah, I have read up on this a little bit, and he does an excellent job of simplifying....but often the details I crave I need to get from another source....I DO like his different shows he appears in though :-)
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!