Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

#MythBusters (ep 192)


18 Jun

Apparently, if you are going to shoot with a gun in each hand, you should fire simultaneously. Still, that puts firing two guns at the “as effective as” one gun point, using twice the ammo.

But I have a methodology question. They are taking their number of points and dividing it by the time it took. When not firing simultaneously, shouldn’t it take twice as long? One shot at a time, with two guns, should take twice as long as one gun, or simultaneous fire with two guns.

So is it really less effective? Or does it just take longer?

#MythBusters (ep 191)


11 Jun

I understand that in some circumstances, you could bring a knife to a gunfight, but I think I would skip that experience anyway. As for the myth about reaction being faster than action, I understand why they tested it the way they did, but I remember that myth always having the reactor being the more skilled- so I think skill and skill differential might matter.

Chinese rocket arrows are cool. No, they aren’t super accurate, but I don’t think that would have prevented them from being used. Warfare did not used to be quite as bloody as it is nowadays.

A First and Final Mission


22 May

This morning, a private spacecraft was launched out ofCape Canaveral. Its mission is to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. It is the first every private vessel that will be allowed to dock with the space station. A new era is beginning.

Besides giving things cool names (the capsule is called Dragon, the rocket that launches it Falcon-9), SpaceX did one more thing right this morning. In the rocket, set for one final mission to space, are the ashes of Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and our favorite engineer, James Doohan- “Scotty” from Star Trek. Rest in peace, gentlemen.

Faster Than Light Travel


15 May

We’re not there yet, but we are getting closer. A rocket powered by smashing matter and antimatter together could get us to about 70% the speed of light. I know that doesn’t make it seem like we are close to faster than light travel, but please note that the previous top speed was 33% the speed of light. That’s a jump of 37%. Another jump of that magnitude takes us over.

Still, I think my favorite thing about this is that the pair of people who did the research were a senior research fellow and a senior in high school.

#MythBusters (ep188)


14 May

I know the MythBusters love guns and gun myths, but if they are now able to get the rights to do Burn Notice myths, why was this the first one? I was not surprised the bullets through the undercarriage myth was busted, even though the components looked good.

The most important part of the surfing a shockwave myth came at the end, in their attempt to make it work. They coated a blanket in bed liner. Now I want to know if a blanket coated in bed liner would protect me from a blast. Exactly how strong is bed liner?

#MythBusters (ep 187)


07 May

I love the water heater myths, though they do make me really wish I had gas heat at my house so I could switch to a tankless water heater. (They have them for electric, too, but they aren’t very energy efficient.). And I know I shouldn’t speculate, but given the absolute elaborate setup they had for stopping the water heater cannon, what do you want to be this was the myth where they sent a cannonball into a neighborhood and through houses?

I don’t know that I’d call rocket man confirmed. Survivability was pretty much a zero in that scenario.

Science Links


06 May

Four things:

Living near volcanoes myself, it’s good to have a reminder that a eruptions do not pose the only danger. A mudflow that is like a wall of concrete coming at you is not something to be dismissed.

Like me, you’ve probably always pictured robots as being made of metal, but think of the possibilities for biodegradable robots- mechanisms that could be released into the ocean to help with oil spills and such.

You know I love space. Information has recently been gathered that challenges the current dark matter theory.

The Astronomy Picture of the Day website is awesome.

#MythBusters (ep186)


30 Apr

Shoes do not make a difference in how you drive, but a full bladder does. While I agree, it is definitely not as bad as driving intoxicated, a lot more people are likely to drive with a full bladder than do drunk. Given that, I think it is important to show people that they are not as good of drivers when they are that distracted by discomfort. Remember when you were a child and your parents made you go to the bathroom before getting in the car, even if you did not have to go? Everyone should remember that lesson.

#MythBusters (ep 185)


23 Apr

I don’t disagree with the methodology or even any of the experiments conducted last night. However, I’m not certain that in most cases what the MythBusters were testing was the result of those differences. Maybe the emotional recognition and maybe the special recognition result from the physiological differences. But driving or map reading or grilling? Not so much.

They may have been a social construction. Women are worse drivers because we’ve heard comments all of our lives about “women drivers”. Men may have a harder time recognizing emotion because they are not raised with the belief that it is important.

#MythBusters (ep 184)


16 Apr

The thing I liked the least about Pirates of the Caribbean 2 was the preponderance of hamster ball scenarios, so I wasn’t certain what I was going to think of last night’s Jamie and Adam myth. But overall, I enjoyed it, and the reminder that professional trapeze artists are freaky strong. I’m not certain Adam helped the climb at all.

The build team built a rocket powered barrel- kind of. I liked that they had to go to an expert to replicate the results of the myth.

Am I the only person that misses the myths where everyone worked together?

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