Comments for Sorting Out Science http://sortingoutscience.net Science for people who never knew it could be interesting Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:00:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on The scientific tourist #26 — Cliff Palace by airtightnoodle http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/06/24/the_scientific_tourist_26_--_cliff_palace/#comment-1038 airtightnoodle Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:33:26 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/06/24/the_scientific_tourist_26_--_cliff_palace/#comment-1038 Neat picture. Thanks for sharing! Neat picture. Thanks for sharing!

]]> Comment on The scientific tourist #17 — King’s Palace by Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » The scientific tourist #27 — El Capitan http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/04/22/the_scientific_tourist_17_--_kings_palace/#comment-1037 Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » The scientific tourist #27 — El Capitan Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:16:32 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/04/22/the_scientific_tourist_17_--_kings_palace/#comment-1037 [...] really spectacular caverns — like, for instance, Carlsbad Caverns (which I’ve written a bit about [...] [...] really spectacular caverns — like, for instance, Carlsbad Caverns (which I’ve written a bit about [...]

]]> Comment on Episode 10 — Quantum Mechanics by Knut Holt http://sortingoutscience.net/2007/06/26/episode_10_--_quantum_mechanics/#comment-1032 Knut Holt Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:15:44 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2007/06/26/episode_10_--_quantum_mechanics/#comment-1032 In many ways QM is not waired at all. It is simply a formulation of the fact that the matter is stabie and ordered when tied together with forces and shows an arbitrarynes when this is not so. Classical physics did not have any formulation for this. But QM does not give any deeper explanations. In many ways QM is not waired at all. It is simply a formulation of the fact that the matter is stabie and ordered when tied together with forces and shows an arbitrarynes when this is not so. Classical physics did not have any formulation for this. But QM does not give any deeper explanations.

]]> Comment on Casual Friday — Babbage’s Difference Engine #2 by Sam Wise http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/06/20/casual_friday_--_babbages_difference_engine_2/#comment-1031 Sam Wise Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:57:47 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/?p=419#comment-1031 Actually, I'm going to be doing a podcast on Ada in the future. I didn't mention her in this post primarily because my understanding is that she didn't work on the Difference Engine (which is in the video), but rather on Babbage's "Analytical Engine" -- which may or may not have ever been fully designed. At least, I can't find any sources stating that the Analytical Engine reached a detailed design stage, unlike the Difference Engine. From what I can tell, the Difference Engine isn't really programmable -- although you can change the values of its inputs. The Analytical Engine was supposed to be a fully programmable mechanical computer (i.e., with changeable algorithm and inputs), a much tougher nut to crack mechanically. Actually, I’m going to be doing a podcast on Ada in the future.

I didn’t mention her in this post primarily because my understanding is that she didn’t work on the Difference Engine (which is in the video), but rather on Babbage’s “Analytical Engine” — which may or may not have ever been fully designed. At least, I can’t find any sources stating that the Analytical Engine reached a detailed design stage, unlike the Difference Engine.

From what I can tell, the Difference Engine isn’t really programmable — although you can change the values of its inputs. The Analytical Engine was supposed to be a fully programmable mechanical computer (i.e., with changeable algorithm and inputs), a much tougher nut to crack mechanically.

]]> Comment on Casual Friday — Babbage’s Difference Engine #2 by alida http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/06/20/casual_friday_--_babbages_difference_engine_2/#comment-1030 alida Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:27:57 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/?p=419#comment-1030 How about a comment about Ada Byron Lovelace who did significant work on Babbages machine? How about a comment about Ada Byron Lovelace who did significant work on Babbages machine?

]]> Comment on Episode 20 — Wet Mars / White Mars by Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » The scientific tourist #24 — Lowell’s globes http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/06/05/episode_20_--_wet_mars_white_mars/#comment-1027 Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » The scientific tourist #24 — Lowell’s globes Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:41:38 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/?p=410#comment-1027 [...] image comes from the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. As I mentioned in the last podcast episode, Percival Lowell was engrossed by reports of Schiaparelli’s observations of Mars. Being a man [...] [...] image comes from the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. As I mentioned in the last podcast episode, Percival Lowell was engrossed by reports of Schiaparelli’s observations of Mars. Being a man [...]

]]> Comment on The scientific tourist #11 — gypsum pedestals by Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » The scientific tourist #23 — fossilized roots http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/03/11/the_scientific_tourist_11_--_gypsum_pedestals/#comment-1024 Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » The scientific tourist #23 — fossilized roots Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:13:24 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/03/11/the_scientific_tourist_11_--_gypsum_pedestals/#comment-1024 [...] so today you get two!), we’re going back to the White Sands National Monument. As I’ve mentioned previously, many plants are able to survive the passage of an oncoming sand dune by growing fast [...] [...] so today you get two!), we’re going back to the White Sands National Monument. As I’ve mentioned previously, many plants are able to survive the passage of an oncoming sand dune by growing fast [...]

]]> Comment on Casual Friday — Phoenix (nearly) on Mars by Philds http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/05/23/casual_friday_--_phoenix_nearly_on_mars/#comment-1021 Philds Sun, 25 May 2008 05:37:31 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/05/23/casual_friday_--_phoenix_nearly_on_mars/#comment-1021 That's a realy cool movie. Reality can rock more than (sci) fiction. I hope it finds a nice boulderfree spot to land. Preferably next to the house of some little green men and women. That’s a realy cool movie. Reality can rock more than (sci) fiction.
I hope it finds a nice boulderfree spot to land. Preferably next to the house of some little green men and women.

]]> Comment on The scientific tourist #18 — platypode at play by The Ridger http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/04/29/the_scientific_tourist_18_--_platypode_at_play/#comment-1020 The Ridger Mon, 19 May 2008 23:12:29 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/04/29/the_scientific_tourist_18_--_platypode_at_play/#comment-1020 Surely platypodes? Though since it's not a genuine Greek word, platypuses seems fine. Surely platypodes? Though since it’s not a genuine Greek word, platypuses seems fine.

]]> Comment on The scientific tourist #16 — the Sea Dart by Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » The scientific tourist #19 — the X-13 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/04/15/the_scientific_tourist_16_--_the_sea_dart/#comment-960 Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » The scientific tourist #19 — the X-13 Tue, 06 May 2008 12:32:00 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/04/15/the_scientific_tourist_16_--_the_sea_dart/#comment-960 [...] the program was shut down (as was the Sea Dart) when jets capable of aircraft carrier operations became available. The X-13 in San Diego was the [...] [...] the program was shut down (as was the Sea Dart) when jets capable of aircraft carrier operations became available. The X-13 in San Diego was the [...]

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