General Science Discussion Thread!

[Mario4Ever]

the only thing this proves though is that i can't change my opinions instantly. it doesn't prove that i can't

I don't think the argument is that opinions can't change. I think it's similar to sexuality. You're either attracted to someone of the same sex or you're not. You don't make a conscious decision to be attracted to either. Similarly, you either believe (in) something or you don't.

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

the only thing this proves though is that i can't change my opinions instantly. it doesn't prove that i can't

I don't think the argument is that opinions can't change. I think it's similar to sexuality. You're either attracted to someone of the same sex or you're not. You don't make a conscious decision to be attracted to either. Similarly, you either believe (in) something or you don't.

No, I think opinions, once they're formed and maintained, are very hard to change. It's possible to convince otherwise, but it's near impossible. You can't convince me to accept most conservative beliefs, for instance, not even a little bit. I might consider them, but I'll find reasons to reject them. Opinions can still change, however, unlike sexuality. I was once undecided about the death penalty because I thought life in prison without parole is more expensive (you have to take care of them), but I didn't know about the process of death row, and that the methods employed are much more expensive, from the technology, to the paperwork, and the emotions and psychology of everyone involved. Now, don't argue about my viewpoints; this isn't the right topic; I'm providing just an example of how opinions can be changed.

Let me know if my response was out of context.

 

[ernesth100]

So is there a limit to how big something can get?

 

[Ray Trace]

So is there a limit to how big something can get?

Depends on what you mean on big really. Are you depending on a single object, a grouping, volume, mass, or what?

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

So is there a limit to how big something can get?

Well, there really isn't a limit because the known universe, the biggest thing ever, is expanding.

 

[Ray Trace]

So is there a limit to how big something can get?

Well, there really isn't a limit because the known universe, the biggest thing ever, is expanding.

There are different ways to classify "largeness" though; it's very vague.

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

So, anyway, super vague question, moving on.

Did you know that drones are incredibly helpful and being increasingly used in this society? We tend to focus on the military applications to drones, but drones can be used for scientific research, rescues, and reconnaissance as well. Drones also help keep poachers at bay (something the rhinoceros highly appreciates), and drones can stand in for very dangerous jobs, such as post-disaster rescues and flying into hurricanes. Drones can remove the potential human cost for these jobs. I wonder if drones can be employed for removing mines and post-crime scene decontamination...

 

[ernesth100]

So is there a limit to how big something can get?

Well, there really isn't a limit because the known universe, the biggest thing ever, is expanding.

Wait what?! Thats impossible!

 

[Dr. Javelin]

the only thing this proves though is that i can't change my opinions instantly. it doesn't prove that i can't

I don't think the argument is that opinions can't change. I think it's similar to sexuality. You're either attracted to someone of the same sex or you're not. You don't make a conscious decision to be attracted to either. Similarly, you either believe (in) something or you don't.

No, I think opinions, once they're formed and maintained, are very hard to change. It's possible to convince otherwise, but it's near impossible. You can't convince me to accept most conservative beliefs, for instance, not even a little bit. I might consider them, but I'll find reasons to reject them. Opinions can still change, however, unlike sexuality. I was once undecided about the death penalty because I thought life in prison without parole is more expensive (you have to take care of them), but I didn't know about the process of death row, and that the methods employed are much more expensive, from the technology, to the paperwork, and the emotions and psychology of everyone involved. Now, don't argue about my viewpoints; this isn't the right topic; I'm providing just an example of how opinions can be changed.

Let me know if my response was out of context.

No, that's perfectly in context.

I would also argue that sexuality is perfectly capable of changing, as there are numerous examples where people claim to have changed. Or maybe they didn't, and we're all secretly bisexual.

So, anyway, super vague question, moving on.

Did you know that drones are incredibly helpful and being increasingly used in this society? We tend to focus on the military applications to drones, but drones can be used for scientific research, rescues, and reconnaissance as well. Drones also help keep poachers at bay (something the rhinoceros highly appreciates), and drones can stand in for very dangerous jobs, such as post-disaster rescues and flying into hurricanes. Drones can remove the potential human cost for these jobs. I wonder if drones can be employed for removing mines and post-crime scene decontamination...

Uh, they already are used to remove mines.

 

[Mario4Ever]

I would also argue that sexuality is perfectly capable of changing, as there are numerous examples where people claim to have changed. Or maybe they didn't, and we're all secretly bisexual.

There's a difference between it changing (which is possible) and making the conscious choice to change it (which really isn't).

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

So is there a limit to how big something can get?

Well, there really isn't a limit because the known universe, the biggest thing ever, is expanding.

Wait what?! Thats impossible!

Prove it's impossible.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/18/science/space/detection-of-waves-in-space-buttresses-landmark-theory-of-big-bang.html?_r=0
http://www.aip.org/history/cosmology/ideas/expanding.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_%28cosmology%29

Uh, they already are used to remove mines.

Cool. I thought they're using honey bees to remove mines as well.

 

[banjonator1]

When we finally start living on mars i wonder what property laws will be like. How would you claim your property? Would people have allocated property, or would you have the right to stake out your property and take it for yourself?

Aso if you tried to shoot someone on mars, what would the effect be? The lack of wind resistance would make the bullet accelerate more, right? But the whole idea behind a mars colony is terraforming it to create a livable atmosphere... So with a similar atmosphere but reduced gravity, what would happen?

What would gun laws be like on mars?

These are the questions that keep me up at night.

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

When we finally start living on mars i wonder what property laws will be like. How would you claim your property? Would people have allocated property, or would you have the right to stake out your property and take it for yourself?

Aso if you tried to shoot someone on mars, what would the effect be? The lack of wind resistance would make the bullet accelerate more, right? But the whole idea behind a mars colony is terraforming it to create a livable atmosphere... So with a similar atmosphere but reduced gravity, what would happen?

What would gun laws be like on mars?

These are the questions that keep me up at night.

Wait until we can actually establish self-sustaining colonies first, friend.

 

[ernesth100]

First build giant domes all around mars then pump them full of oxygen next plant crops then drill some giant craters atleast wide as two foot ball fields and fill them with water! Then send a couple of monkeys test it all out for about week. If their all alive and happy after the week we may colonize it.

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

It's not as simple as that. </wishfulthinking>

 

[Toad Eightyfive]

First build giant domes all around mars then pump them full of oxygen next plant crops then drill some giant craters atleast wide as two foot ball fields and fill them with water! Then send a couple of monkeys test it all out for about week. If their all alive and happy after the week we may colonize it.

So do you have a Scrooge McDuck swimming pool of cash to fund all this, plus paying all the various astronauts and engineers and funding R&D for the technology required to perform all this?

 

[ernesth100]

Who the heck is scroog mcduc? Oh well it was just an idea.

 

[Lakituthequick]

Who the heck is scroog mcduc?

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

Why don't you just Google your questions before you ask? Help will come for those that help themselves, you know.

 

[Zae]

Who the heck is scroog mcduc?

freaking jeez

 

[Mario4Ever]

^It is a dark day in Duckburg, Calisota.

Evidently, there is liquid water beneath the surface of Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. Scientists think that because it is in contact with a rocky seafloor as opposed to ice, such as on Ganymede, the water has a higher chance of harboring life.

I look forward to the day when technology advances enough for us to stop speculating and be able to confirm whether or not life currently exists on the alien worlds we see every day.

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

Who the heck is scroog mcduc?

freaking jeez

Yeah, I mean, c'mon, a quick Google can help you answer some of your previous questions.

^It is a dark day in Duckburg, Calisota.

Evidently, there is liquid water beneath the surface of Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. Scientists think that because it is in contact with a rocky seafloor as opposed to ice, such as on Ganymede, the water has a higher chance of harboring life.

I look forward to the day when technology advances enough for us to stop speculating and be able to confirm whether or not life currently exists on the alien worlds we see every day.

Very, very interesting. I wonder if life even exists in one of those moons of Saturn or Jupiter... I can't remember. Maybe one day, when the sun swells to a red giant, we can make home in Titan, I think.

 

[SpinyMaster347]

Who the heck is scroog mcduc?

freaking jeez

Yeah, I mean, c'mon, a quick Google can help you answer some of your previous questions.

some people can't google. for example, on the internet channel on wii, it'd take forever to google it, find it, return here and reply.


i feel as though everyone is relying too much on technology, like i dunno, i'd rather manually write an essay than type it and print it, and i've always found it easier to access books for information than websites

 

[2257]

do you think books and writing are not technology?

 

[SpinyMaster347]

not in the general way

yeah sure technology is anything to help people and all that

but the internet and typing is more modern as opposed to writing and books