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written by reader arch1 science trivia

By arch1, February 12, 2017

I will from time to time post new things found and things of interest to me in the natural world. I will attempt to answer all questions to limits of my ability and reference. Nothing that advances knowledge off limits except personal attacks and things not suitable for a Travis forum. Please show basis for opinion expressed.

This is a discussion topic or guest posting submitted by a Stock Gumshoe reader. The content has not been edited or reviewed by Stock Gumshoe, and any opinions expressed are those of the author alone.

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jking1939
jking1939
February 12, 2017 6:05 pm
Reply to  arch1

O.K. Frank, what is this? The chemical.

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jimt47
jimt47
February 13, 2017 2:38 am
Reply to  arch1

Another way to look at it: a soap molecule has one end that is hydrophobic (non-polar) and one that is hydrophilic (polar); the non-polar end is attracted to oils (grease) while the polar ends are attracted to the water. The soap allows the water to carry away the oil. Soap also allows water to go through small spaces (like the weave of fabric) by interfering with water’s surface tension (caused by its strong intermolecular forces of attraction), thereby allowing water to do its job and carry away particles lodged in the spaces. It doesn’t take much, and we use far more soap than we need. The wonders of water are many and varied, although they all stem from its structure … it should be a gas at room temp, is less dense as a solid (keeping lakes from freezing from the bottom up), etc. etc.
Simple science that creates a complex world.

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SoGiAm
February 12, 2017 10:31 am

Hi Arch1 –
Notice that you have not posted to the current biotech thread: http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2017/02/the-rest-of-the-12-biotechs-of-christmas/

Glad that you started this thread, as many prior posts on this subject seem to get lost in the traffic on the politics and region thread. Best2You ~ Ben

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jking1939
jking1939
February 16, 2017 10:12 am

Arch1 – I just bought a book about an expedition(s) into a remote rainforest in Honduras. In brief, some of those on the expedition contracted leishmaniasis (white leprosy). I’m wondering how prevalent this is in rainforests? I have not started the book in earnest but noticed there was a section relating to NIH, which I skimmed and in turn that led to my question.

jokin

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tchris
tchris
February 16, 2017 11:27 am
Reply to  jking1939

Jking- When I worked in tropical panama, I was told not to sit in the buttress of any large tree, to minimize being bitten. Of course, I was bitten/stung/touched by many things, but never contracted leishmaniasis. The most interesting was temporary blindness from stinging caterpillar hairs.

Terry

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jking1939
jking1939
February 17, 2017 7:41 pm
Reply to  arch1

I think we were subjected to many Disney movies and books where animals were pictured in a syrupy make believe world. I loved my first book, bought with money I had earned, titled Bambi. A year or two later there were the Mother Westwind books. My father supplied my educational drift from fantasy toward the truth about wildlife, the ethics, and moral code we have as stewards. I grew up in a world where respect was key. I was also taught the difference between conservation and preservation. Your words are true about pseudo-environmentalists, and the world has many ancient ills waiting.

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jking1939
jking1939
February 18, 2017 4:25 pm
Reply to  arch1

I’ll admit it!

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SoGiAm
February 20, 2017 8:55 am

Scientists cook up material 200 times stronger than steel out of soybean oil
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-31/scientists-cook-up-super-strong-graphene-out-of-soybean-oil/8223686
The above article is referenced in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0ZMi83oUjk
Making progress… 🙂

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SoGiAm
February 22, 2017 5:46 pm

Glacier on the move! Shared by a friend – 🙂
“I think what is shown in this video will turn out to be one of the rarest sights we humans will ever see.”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/hC3VTgIPoGU?rel=0

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TomN
TomN
February 22, 2017 10:29 pm
Reply to  SoGiAm

OMG.. amazing…stupefying..

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jking1939
jking1939
February 23, 2017 6:12 pm
Reply to  arch1

Leaves little doubt as to how the glaciers in the three Ice Ages shaped much of North America.

Thanks Ben!

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jking1939
jking1939
February 24, 2017 6:46 pm

Arch – If you were down the block I would drive you nuts beating on your door. My latest investigation has to do with an abandoned and filled in mine that was pointed out to a troop of us Boy Scouts atop a hill near Manhattan, Kansas. I have talked to several friends who were in that troop with me, and one who is a geologist. This would have been in the late forties or early fifties. I haven’t found a clue as to the mine, but have found information on a number of kimberlites in the county and an adjacent county. I can’t imagine a volcano nearby, but these are volcanic “plugs” if I’m not mistaken. The question being, what the heck are they doing in Eastern Kansas? And, could there have been a mine on that hill top?

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fifthclmn
fifthclmn
February 24, 2017 9:41 pm
Reply to  jking1939

Fun stuff, jking1939! I imagine the University of Kansas may offer some clues.
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic16/pic16_1.html – Kansas Kimberlites
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/Bulletins/200/ – The Kimberlites of Riley County, Kansas 1970
https://thediggings.com/places/ks161485618 – Mining Deposits near Manhattan, KS

It’s too bad I can’t turn my metal detector into a diamond detector 8^(

Last Tuesday, I was at my Southwestern Prospectors and Miners Association (SPMA) meeting. Had a local Professor from Mira Costa College stop by to talk about our local (San Diego) geology. Bought his book “Surf, Sand and Stone.”

When $AKAO pays me (us) I might have some travel monies for out of state prospecting. It would be incredible to find a field of diamonds in Kansas much like that in Arkansas (Crater of Diamonds State Park). I was there once, before I knew how to pan for gold (much less diamonds). Really should go back for Round 2.

Jerry

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jking1939
jking1939
February 25, 2017 9:48 am
Reply to  arch1

Arch – Back in the fifties when the USSR was lab testing nuclear triggers,etc., they found a residue on the walls of the testing vessel that were diamonds. This led to other interesting areas, however, that said, I had a client who had traveled to Belarus to talk to a scientist there about using diamond for microprocessors, among other things. This fellow had achieved the needed dopants to take a diamond chip from an insulator to a transmitter. There’s a great deal to this story, of which I won’t bore you, but he did get it to work, and it was faster than any known microprocessor available at the time. Now, artificial diamonds are being made in several laboratories. I have to tell you Arch that I do not have a nuclear facility to do diamond manufacturing so like Jerry et al I’ll have to rely on the $AKAO, $AUPH, etc. to provide my journey to the land of milk and honey.

And, Jerry, I have read many of those papers, but not all, so I want to thank you!

jokin

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ricklesroc
ricklesroc
February 25, 2017 10:05 am
Reply to  arch1

Arch, In 2005, a friend was hired at the C level at Gemesis near Sarasota, FL. He gave me a tour of the production area. It was impressive from the perspective of what they were able to accomplish using technology but he told me the diamond miners of the world snubbed their noses (of course) at the thought these man-made diamonds could ever be of high quality. The non-quality product was used for industrial purposes. This article is a brief summary of their fortunes.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/business/20110628/gemesis-of-lakewood-ranch-says-its-reached-its-diamond-goal

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Cleveland
February 25, 2017 11:23 am
Reply to  ricklesroc

I have followed Gemesis for years. I was hoping that they would be cheaper. Not sure what you are saying about non-quality products? The naked eye cannot discern any difference. They are beautiful. I have gone to retail outlet to view.

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jking1939
jking1939
February 25, 2017 12:12 pm
Reply to  fifthclmn

Jerry – I think I neglected to say thanks for this comment and the links. Many thanks!

jokin

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jking1939
jking1939
February 25, 2017 9:55 am

While I’m pontificating, I would also like to mention the Diavik Mine in the NWT, Canada. This also has an interesting history. I had stock in it for a few years but moved to biotech and have almost forgotten that foray into diamonds. This mine is located close to a kimberlite that is under a nearby lake…can’t remember the name but will probably do some reading this morning now that the coals have been blown into flame again.

All of you guys are the absolute GREATEST!

jokin

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SoGiAm
March 4, 2017 9:09 am

Biologists propose to sequence the DNA of all life on Earth
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/biologists-propose-sequence-dna-all-life-earth
Shared by: https://twitter.com/DNA_oscar/status/837778360864428033
Now that’s a project. 🙂

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SoGiAm
March 4, 2017 8:47 pm

Lithium-Ion Battery Inventor Introduces New Technology for Fast-Charging, Noncombustible Batteries https://news.utexas.edu/2017/02/28/goodenough-introduces-new-battery-technology Keeps going and going… 🙂

Alternative strategy for a safe rechargeable battery
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2017/EE/C6EE02888H#!divAbstract

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