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Science

High Temperature Superconductivity Record Smashed By Sulfur Hydride 80

KentuckyFC writes Physicists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany have measured sulfur hydride superconducting at 190 Kelvin or -83 degrees Centigrade, albeit at a pressure of 150 gigapascals, about the half that at the Earth's core. If confirmed, that's a significant improvement over the existing high pressure record of 164 kelvin. But that's not why this breakthrough is so important. Until now, all known high temperature superconductors have been ceramic mixes of materials such as copper, oxygen lithium, and so on, in which physicists do not yet understand how superconductivity works. By contrast, sulfur hydride is a conventional superconductor that is described by the BCS theory of superconductivity first proposed in 1957 and now well understood. Most physicists had thought that BCS theory somehow forbids high temperature superconductivity--the current BCS record-holder is magnesium diboride, which superconducts at just 39 Kelvin. Sulfur hydride smashes this record and will focus attention on other hydrogen-bearing materials that might superconduct at even higher temperatures. The team behind this work point to fullerenes, aromatic hydrocarbons and graphane as potential targets. And they suggest that instead of using high pressures to initiate superconductivity, other techniques such as doping, might work instead.

Comment Re:I'm glad there is rioting. (Score 1) 1128

Your statistics don't sound out of line, but I'd love citations. The one I've got shows sexual assault (not specifically rape) is higher for cops but 2x rather than 4x. On the other hand, it shows between 5 and 6 times as high for cops as non-cops for homicide. Copblock has an article about relative rates for cops.

When race is the issue, remember that homicide with both white and black victims is primarily an intraracial issue. Most (84%) white murder victims are killed by whites and most (93%) blacks are killed by blacks. Murder is a mostly intraracial crime.

Comment Re:I just don't understand (Score 1) 1128

Read the fucking testimony. Read it. Don't armchair quarterback or Monday morning quarterback without watching the fucking game.

AP document collection
PDF of the transcript of the grand jury proceedings

tl;dr : Wilson was in the SUV. His left hand was struggling with Brown. His OC was on his left. His asp was on the back of his belt and he was sitting on part of it. He couldn't extend it and swing inside the car. He didn't have a taser on him and he certainly didn't have a shotgun loaded with bean bags. He had already been threatened and struck when he drew his weapon, which Brown then struggled to turn on him. He fired through the vehicle's door and window the first two shots at _that_ point.

It wasn't an "arbitrary assault" on Brown, and Brown was using force against the officer.

Comment Re:I just don't understand (Score 1) 1128

There are lots of conflicting reports. There is also forensic evidence. Read the grand jury testimony that was released. Is there really enough supporting guilt over and above that establishing doubt of guilt that there's a chance an impartial jury wouldn't find reasonable doubt on Wilson's behalf?

That's what a grand jury does. They decide if it's worthwhile to try the case based on 9 or more of 12 deciding that there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. The didn't indict because they didn't find it met that standard.

If the grand jury can't meet their standard, what are the chances of getting 12 of 12 to agree that the evidence supports a much higher standard: beyond a reasonable doubt?

If they are sure there's going to be an innocent verdict at trial then why try the case?

Comment What matters: no multi-platform multi-player (Score 1) 227

If you can't play multi-player with your friend on another platform then who cares which one of you has better graphics? Are you people more concerned with e-peen rants than about being able to play the game together? How many of you are buying a platform based on this title? I'd much rather buy titles that let me play with my friends no matter who has what hardware.

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