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Comment Tomorrow on Slashdot - perpetual motion mystery (Score 1) 102

Claimed by some to be the most puzzling physics demonstration on TikTok! Could there perhaps be a battery hidden in the needlessly large apparatus? Some have theorized that there could be a fan just outside the frame. One crazy theory even proposes another motor hidden below the table. Or could it be the most important discovery of the human civilization put together from random trash? Unless the original author comes forward, we'll never know.

Comment Re:Sell it! (Score 5, Informative) 197

This is what meteorite collectors call a 'hammer stone' - a rare meteorite that actually damages a man-made structure during the fall. In such cases it matters little if it's an iron, ordinary chondrite or something a bit more exotic. Basically unless it's a rare Lunar or Martian, the unusual circumstances of the fall will dictate the price and my guess is that it would be far above the said $25,000.
As for getting the funds to fix the roof, she can cut out the damaged area and sell it for far more than what would cost to fix the roof.
Even tiny fragments of her roof could fetch $20-$50.
On the other hand, exporting meteorites from Canada is very strictly regulated so if it turns out to be something interesting she is not likely to receive the required permits and could be forced to sell to a Canadian university for a lower amount than what she could get on an open auction.

Comment A bird? (Score 1) 216

This is obviously a thermal IR footage. I wonder what would a slightly larger bird landing on the water and being partly obstructed by the waves look like. The second one, with a triangular 'UFO' is really shocking and inexplicable. Why have they used a simple 3-bladed aperture on an expensive military scope and why has it problems with focusing at infinity? I can't explain it. That is not to say that unfocused object it the footage is difficult to identify. It's obviously an extremely polite and security conscious alien craft with fully compliant blinking light installed, to perfectly mimic an airplane.

Comment High specific impulse != high thrust (Score 1) 88

Just because the propulsion promises high specific impulse does not mean that it can produce high trust. Classic ion engines have high specific impulse but also very low thrust so can't be used to get anywhere quickly (only cheaper). I think both technologies share the same limitation - it's difficult to produce enough electrical energy in space with very low mass equipment.

Comment Formation of the Universe? (Score 4, Interesting) 29

Not since the Solar system formed?
Small white particles called CAI-s (calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions), found in meteorites, are the oldest condensed matter in our solar system. Even though you can have nano-diamonds that are thought to be even older (formed by a nearby supernova shortly before out Solar system was formed), as far as I know, the bulk of meteoritic material is younger than CAI-s (4.567 billion years old).

As for the possibility of organic chemistry, I would be extremely surprised if none was found. The material that is spectroscopical match to the asteroid Ryugu has been studied through multiple meteorites and all meteorites of that type have been found to contain organic compounds.

Comment Biodiversity over Himalayas and helicopters (Score 1) 223

According to the company director, with it's operating altitude of 15km, it won't interfere with flora and fauna, unless (of course) flying over the Himalayas (alien traffic?). If 15km up is such a wonderfully uncrowded place with a lot of sunshine, gentle breeze and a wonderful view, I can't think of a reason helicopters have not once flown at this altitude. Also, I love the idea of generating power by flying a quad against a wind. Brilliant!

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