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Drxl_UGrad

Technology

Why Are Airplane Seats So Miserable, and What Can Be Done About It?

By Eric Hagerman Posted on 4.27.2009 22 Comments
I am not normal. Not even close, I am told. Apparently, my height, which at 6'4" has always seemed to me to be just this side of freakish, puts me in the 99th percentile of American adults. That is, statistically too tall to fly comfortably in coach.

4.28.2009 at 08:56am - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

Panther50 How does the fact that seats being built in other countries contribute to their small size? A united states airline company will purchase seats to their specs, not some other country's specs. That is a terrible argument
DIY

PopSci.com 5-Minute Project Video: Insta-cool Beer Chiller

By Posted on 1.5.2009 14 Comments
Editor Jake Ward demonstrates how to use an old plastic container and a can of air to take a beer from lukewarm to mountain-stream cold in just a few seconds. (For another video of this project, visit sonicIntoX’s channel at Metacafe.)

1.7.2009 at 12:10am - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

the article talks about chilling beer but the video is about chilling soda!
The Environment

Salt Water Rising

By the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine Posted on 1.5.2009 28 Comments
Dear EarthTalk: With all the talk of rising seas, what could happen to the rivers that flow into the oceans? Will they reverse flow? Will rising seas back up into fresh water lakes? And what happens to our groundwater should saltwater flow backwards into it? -- Sandy Smith, concerned Michigander

1.7.2009 at 12:07am - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

when i was really young, i remember the winters being cold all the time. Now there are 50 degree days almost every week. I live in Philadelphia and have all my life. The winters just arent the same. You dont get the cold winter months anymore. Instead its mild half the time outside and it just doesnt ever snow anymore. For a minute lets all just throw all the science and media out the window and go outside (if you live in a place that gets cold weather in the winter time). It rains more than it snows in the winter time. That never used to happen. It is definitely warmer outside. During the summer there are more heatwaves and 100 degree + days. I dont care what the media or scientists have to say about their facts whether they believe in GW or dont. Its definitely a hell of a lot warmer outside anymore
The Environment

Salt Water Rising

By the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine Posted on 1.5.2009 28 Comments
Dear EarthTalk: With all the talk of rising seas, what could happen to the rivers that flow into the oceans? Will they reverse flow? Will rising seas back up into fresh water lakes? And what happens to our groundwater should saltwater flow backwards into it? -- Sandy Smith, concerned Michigander

1.5.2009 at 11:43am - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

KIngoftown: how can you say higher sea levels is a myth? WHy do you even bother going on sites like this and trying to spread your conspiracy theories? Here's a hint, stop living in your mother's basement and get your @$$ off the copmuter playing World of Warcraft day in and day out and actually realize whats happening in the world we live in. Hopefully if not Local and State governments, the whitehouse will step in and recognize the importance of coastal habitat protection.
Entertainment & Gaming

Unwire Your Xbox

By Posted on 1.5.2009 22 Comments
This 50-foot Ethernet cable snaking all the way through my apartment from the router in the bedroom to my Xbox 360 in the living room? That's how I used to play videogames online. The Xbox doesn't come with wireless capability built in, and I didn't want to shell out the extra $100 -- a third the price of the console itself -- for Microsoft's wireless adapter. Third-party wireless bridges cost a bit less but are still pricey. Finally, though, I found a way to ditch the giant wire with a solution that cost me only 40 bucks.

12.31.2008 at 01:13am - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

mooshoo that doesn't solve the problem of getting a wireless connection to your xbox without dishing out $100 for the microsoft wireless adapter
Technology

If You Dropped a Corn Kernel From Space, Would it Pop During Re-Entry?

By Stuart Fox Posted on 12.30.2008 21 Comments
There’s a little bit of water inside each kernel of popcorn, and if you can heat the kernel above 212°F, that water should boil, turn into high-pressure steam, and pop the kernel. But in orbit, things aren’t so simple. First off, the cold vacuum of space would suck all the water out of the kernel before it could pop the corn. So any ordinary kernels would drop, not pop. But let’s say we figured out a way to keep the kernel watertight. In that case, it all depends.

12.31.2008 at 01:10am - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

Kinsman, anything with volume will produce compression waves in front of it (you learn this in college). What you're failing to realize is that if the kernel already has a high velocity upon entering the atmosphere, those first few seconds during impact of the atmosphere will have a high velocity. Yes there will be a negative acceleration immediately but there could possibly be enough momentum to indeed cause friction and high heat.
The Environment

Fly? Or Drive?

By the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine Posted on 11.18.2008 12 Comments
Dear EarthTalk: How can I determine if it is more eco-friendly to fly or drive somewhere? -- Christine Matthews, Washington, DC

11.20.2008 at 04:21pm - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

Hey Bud the Chud, Any ".com" website isn't going to give you reliable "scientific" material. I learned that in 6th grade. Did you go to college, did you learn what a good reliable source is? I have professors that would turn down an entire paper if I referenced "scientific" facts from a commercial website. So don't go around preaching your stuff about quoting facts. Your geocraft website might have some fancy links, and some quotes from some big names, but its all taken out of context to argue their opinions. Try reading a little more of what you call a "reliable" source or did you not learn to read either?
Shimano Dura-Ace 7970 Di2

By Posted on 11.11.2008 Comments
For years, the increased accuracy, smoothness and reliability of electronic shifting has been perhaps the ultimate goal for high-performance-bike designers. After several companies’ attempts failed—suffering from breakdowns in bad weather, poor battery life or unbearable complexity—Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 has finally delivered it.

Article Rating:

11.20.2008 at 03:32pm - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

Ditch the cables and go with a hydraulic gear shifter mechanism. There are patents filed for this but why hasn't any of the companies put out products utilizing hyrdaulics? It could be much more accurate, durable, and faster than traditional cable style gear shifters. Thats just my two cents
Entertainment & Gaming

The Truth About Table Tennis

By Posted on 8.13.2008 4 Comments
Every four years, we watch. We marvel at badminton, wonder about the modern decathlon and proudly pause for synchronized swimming. With more than 300 gold medals awarded across 37 disciplines, the next two weeks of our lives should be impressively unproductive. To aid in your immersion, we introduce the first installment of “know your Olympic sport.” It’s part reminder that people actually get medals for this stuff (see: trampoline gymnastics) and part introduction to the science behind the sports. As a tribute to the recently lit flame in Beijing, our first installment focuses on the pride of China: Table Tennis (a.k.a. Ping Pong). Inside you’ll find a 30-year old performance enhancer in its final days, a training method built for Forrest Gump and all (perhaps even more than) you'll ever need to know about Ping Pong balls.

8.9.2008 at 09:39pm - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

PopSci, check your spelling on the last sentence on page 3. As a college student, I am disappointed in seeing my favorite brand of red disposable cups misspelled. SOLO Cups, not Silo Cups
Entertainment & Gaming

The Dangers of Flip-Flops

By Posted on 6.24.2008 9 Comments
For non-metrosexual men, they’re one of three pairs of shoes on the closet floor. Between the dusty brown loafers and Adidas cross-trainers lies a pair of flip-flops. In Providence they’re worn four months a year, in Florida everyday after work and in California—from birth. Flops are an extension of man’s feet, but could the pleasure of air running through ones toes be outweighed by long term complications?

6.26.2008 at 10:13am - Comment by Drxl_UGrad

This isn't a matter of us guys complaining that flip flops hurt after a while. Its a study. There have been many before it that have showed that flip flops are bad for your feet giving no support and leading to joint as well as back problems. But please don't complain about wearing stillettos. I know many guys can join me in saying, if they don't feel comfortable, then don't wear them ladies. Yeah, they may look nice, but i would rather my girlfriend wear comfortable nice looking shoes rather than 'cute' heels that she'll complain about hurting her all night.