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Submission + - Carbon nanotubes too weak for space elevator (newscientist.com)

Submitted by teasea
teasea writes: Tensile strength of nanotubes is dependent on manufacturing perfection. One out of place atom is "enough to cut the ideal strength of a CNT to 40 GPa, with the effect being even more severe when they increased the number of misaligned atoms." I wonder how far a hook hanging from a geosynchronous satellite could reach?

Comment It's non-addictive (Score 1) 346

by teasea (#39305129) Attached to: LSD Can Treat Alcoholism

Demonstrably so. Well proven to be less addictive than no-doz and lollipops. All whose comments or arguments cite LSD addiction get a zero on this subject and should do a bit of further reading.

(Funny you should ask. Why no, I am not promoting the use of LSD.)

Image

The Science of Caddyshack 55

Posted by samzenpus from the it's-in-the-hole dept.
astroengine writes "Thirty years after the release of the cult classic comedy Caddyshack, Discovery News has geeked out and gone on the hunt for any trace amount of science they can find in the movie (video). From gopher territoriality to seismic deformation, from pool poop bacteria to the color of lightning, it turns out there's quite a lot of science to talk about..."
Earth

Sticky Rice Is the Key To Super Strong Mortar 194

Posted by timothy from the what-can't-sticky-rice-do? dept.
lilbridge writes "For over 1,500 years the Chinese have been using sticky rice as an ingredient in mortar, which has resulted in super strong buildings, many of which are still standing after hundreds of years. Scientists have been studying the sticky rice and lime mortar to unlock the secrets of its strength, and have just determined the secret ingredient that makes the mortar more stable and stronger. The scientists have also concluded that this mixture is the most appropriate for restoration of ancient and historic buildings, which means it is probably also appropriate for new construction as well."
Technology

Iron Alloy Could Create Earthquake-Proof Buildings 107

Posted by samzenpus from the shake-all-you-want dept.
separsons writes "Researchers at Japan's Tohoku University designed a new shape memory metal alloy. The super elastic iron alloy can endure serious stretching and still return to its original shape. The scientists say that once optimized, the material could be used in everything from braces to medical stents to earthquake-proof buildings!"

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