The Skeptics Guide #871 - Mar 19 2022 (Ad Free)
Added 2022-03-19 16:23:03 +0000 UTCInterview with Michelle Ciulla Lipkin from the National Association for Media Literacy Education.
News Items: Why Is Life Symmetrical, Evolution of Language, Moon Rocks, Plasma Laser Lens, International Paranormal Conference
Who's That Noisy
Science or Fiction
Comments
Bob, I hate to rain on your parade re: lasers because I agree they are cool and interesting. But. A Petawatt laser for a Picosecond uses 1 Joule of energy. For comparison, the 2 AA batteries currently powering my wireless mouse contain around (your mileage will vary greatly here) 20,000 joules. Enough to fire your laser 20,000 times. Not that impressive. Again, I'm very sorry to say it as I am interested and excited about lasers and their research too. But it needs perspective, just a little bit too. I do hear you guys mixing up or getting wrong watts vs joules vs kilowatt hours etc a lot (I'm a wind turbine tech and you guys talk about those a lot hoorayish here!) and it drives me nuts. Very sorry to rain on your parade.
Jess Donovan
2022-03-20 10:10:05 +0000 UTCThe symmetry discussion reminded me of melting point theory. Basically, if two unique substances have identical melting points, mixing them together in any quantities will usually result in a lower melting point. That's because the melting point of a pure substance comes about because it has an ideal crystalline structure, which maximizes intermolecular forces. Mixing two unique substances will usually result in a less than ideal crystalline structure, making IMF's weaker. Weaker IMF'S result in a lower melting point.
Drock Drack
2022-03-20 02:56:51 +0000 UTCThe problem that wasn't discussed re Daylight Savings is that different states have different views on keeping the adjusted or unadjusted time as the ongoing time. Most agree that the change sucks; they can't agree what the ongoing result should be once it's determined that it won't change.
Philip Berghan-Whyman
2022-03-19 22:33:51 +0000 UTC
