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Author
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Topic: Useless Fact's
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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)
Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-15-2006 10:08 AM
Rated G ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Useless fact - When spacecraft visit other planets, why can't they take color photos?
In order to send pictures back, they are typically digital images transmitted by radio waves. It is my understanding that digital black&white cameras consume less power, are simpler, more reliable, and higher resolution than digital color cameras. Instead of having two visible-light cameras on a mission, they send one good b&w and a series of filters that can be used to take three filtered pictures and assemble the three component colors back here on earth to create the true-color image. So, in a very real sense, they do take "color photos," they just do it one color at a time. For many space related tasks and research, knowing the colors is not a very important thing - but they are good for impressing the public.
Also, keep in mind that the pictures that we are getting today are coming from spacecraft that was launched 25 to 30 years ago or more. It's easy to sit here in the 21st century and think that it shouldn't be that much trouble to send out a 2.1 megapixel digital camera with 2 AA batteries and make the spacecraft send back 50 or more photos. But in the late 60's and early 70's you would be hard pressed to make an unmanned space craft send back some sort of communication let alone a high res color photo.
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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)
Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-16-2006 07:46 AM
Rated G
Useless fact - Why do wolves howl?
I guess nobody's actually asked a wolf and got a straight answer, but of all the sounds wolves make the howl is the one that carries the most distance. Its pitch and duration are well suited for transmission in forests and across tundras, and unique features of each individual's howl allow wolves to identify each other.
Howling is a long distance contact and reunion call; separate a wolf from its pack, and very soon it will begin howling. On a calm day, howling can be heard 120 feet away in any direction. Geographical features like hills or basins can amplify this even further.
Wolves howl alone and in packs, and while they sometimes howl to rejoin with the pack (wolves go for long solitary patrols as well as hang together), they also howl in groups to assert their pack's ownership of its territory to nearby packs competing for territory and prey.
Often group howling is a celebration or a bonding session between members of a pack, and this can also lead to a bit of scrapping when younger wolves with lower social status try to join in the chorus without the approval of their more senior packmates, who display their status by holding their tails higher.
Pups, especially those under four months of age, love to howl and will usually reply to any howling they hear, even that of total strangers
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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)
Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-17-2006 12:45 PM
Rated G
Useless fact - Does soda really damage your teeth? If so, which kinds (cola, root beer etc.) cause the most damage?
If you take your teeth, put them in a glass, pour soda over them and let them stand for days (or was it weeks...?), it will dissolve away the teeth. I saw a science project on it. Some kid actually acquired some used teeth and did the experiment for a science fair. I believe the clear drinks were the worst, but I don't really remember.
So, I strongly recommend not soaking your teeth in (what amounts to) sugar saturated carbonic acid (i.e. soda pop).
If, on the other hand, you take your teeth, pour soda over them momentarily then rinse immediately with a buffered, mineral-rich solution like, maybe, fresh saliva - you could probably do that daily for a lot of years before affecting any measurable reduction in tooth enamel.
By the way, lots of food are acidic. Many are more acidic than soda. I think anything tomato-sauce based qualifies, for example. (Tomato-based foods are also very effective for cleaning oxidized copper, by the way.)
I have never actually heard of a case of enamel loss due to drinking soda - and I have known people who drank on average more than a can a day, but at the same time I do not doubt that cases exist - probably extreme excessive consumption or defective saliva or defective enamel.
I don't recall ever hearing a dentist (I see one every six months) mentioning it either - So, while I agree that excessive consumption of soda is a bad idea for your teeth and your health, if it was a significant risk I would expect to see more interest from several independent sources.
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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)
Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-21-2006 08:56 AM
Rated G
Useless fact - Is it true that dolphins and some species of whales have a natural 'protector' instinct that leads them to aid other animals in danger, including humans?
Yes, there have been numerous reports over the years suggesting that dolphins and some types of whales have a naturally protective instinct that causes them to aid other animals in need. There have been some instances of people who were lost at sea being guided safely to shore by whales (think of the movie Cast Away with Tom Hanks). There have also been reports of dolphins sensing injury in humans, such as cramps or physical injuries that would cause the person to be unable to swim, and the dolphins have guided them to shore, even allowing them to hold on and be 'carried' to shore.
Recently, in October 30th, 2004, an amazing event occurred, where a group of swimmers in New Zealand was, without their knowing, stalked by a Great White Shark, and before the shark could close in to attack, a pod of dolphins surrounded and protected the swimmers. When some of the swimmers tried to stray away from the group, the dolphins corralled the swimmer back into the group, and swam circles around them, leading them into shore. The swimmers noticed the 9-foot Great White when the dolphins began swimming tighter circles around them. The shark was only about 6 feet away from the group, and the dolphins kept the swimmers surrounded for about 40 minutes before allowing them to swim back towards the shore.
While most whales, especially predatory whales like Orcas are not particularly prone to playing nice with people (they rarely interact in the wild), Orcas are often reported coming to the aid of people when sharks stake a claim at public beach areas. Dolphins also have the protective instinct, as shown in the above example. This is basic protection behavior, as dolphins will also do this for their own young and to protect themselves, but the fact that they encircled and corralled the group of people with the sole intention of protecting them is remarkable.
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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)
Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-22-2006 02:21 PM
Rated G
Useless fact - Do you need an instructor or coach to become a great skateboarder?
I've always been a big fan of professional skateboarders like Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Mullen (you know the old school) and reading about their lifes I learned that all of them has been always self-learners that base their progress on creativity and group practice (you know hanging around with other skaters and challenge themselves to new more exciting tricks).
These days are less romantic and much more money-driven, so many pros have managers that one way or another direct their careers, but they aren't actually coaches or instructors.
The new skate stars, as they always say on interviews, learn from watching the masters, and in some cases a pro can act as a "couch" but they are more like friends that skate along with you giving some advice.
So in short, to be a great skateboarder you need a board, wheels and lots of guts and creativity, together with hours and hours of practice a week. If you can add to this mixture an experienced friend I'm sure you can save some time on the learning curve. Oh, and please don't forget the knee and elbow pads along with a helmet.
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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)
Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-25-2006 09:24 AM
Rated G
Useless fact - Why does the winner of the Indy 500 drink a glass of milk?
Milk became the drink of champions after Louis Meyer, the winner of the 1936 Indianapolis 500, was photographed gulping down a bottle of buttermilk, his favorite drink. Apparently, his mom had recommended the drink, claiming it would refresh him.
The photo found its way to the desk of an executive at the Milk Foundation who, seeing a rare promo opportunity, "made sure that from that year on the winner of the race received a bottle of milk to drink." A tradition was born. Not surprisingly, the National Dairy Council supports this ritual, calling the celebratory chugging of the milk, "a winning example for people everywhere who are looking to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle."
Anyway, this started a tradition and symbol of victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - a tradition, established and maintained by the Speedway, that has spanned more than five decades. The victory milk is just one of may long standing traditions associated with the Indy 500, but if PETA has its way, it will soon come to an end. The organization is looking to end the drinking of the milk, claiming it to be a "beverage born out of cruelty to baby calves" and a "racist drink".
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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)
Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-26-2006 12:08 PM
Rated G
Useless fact - In which states is it legal to own a piranha? Do they make good pets?
I found that there are 24 states that prohibit piranha, though some may allow ownership by permit. Those states are [by abbreviation]: AK, CA, HI, WA, NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM, TX OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, KY, MA, NY, and ME. These states oultlaw piranha due to the fear that breedable species will be released into lakes and rivers, and will take over the local species of fish. Piranha are a hardy breed of fish, and would easily overpower local breeds such as bluegill and carp. While piranha are not wanted by many states, most people get their cousins the Pacu. However, be ready to buy a 500 gallon tank as that is what it will take to house 2 comfortably. If you do get pet piranhas, remember that they are "school fish", so you need to get more than one. Start with about 3-5, and make sure the tank is covered, as they like to jump out.
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