Groucho's Fact Hunt

[BigBlueConk]

lads, this talk is all hot air.

 

[BigBlueConk]

The verb given to any sports team that totally dominates another yet fails to win is "Englanding".

 

[Groucho]

136 degrees seemed low to me, so a quick hit on google shows up a few things.

Firstly, temperatures reached are generally lower than what I though!!! I myself have been in 122 F in Palm Desert, CA.....so I expected the records to be much higher!!!!!

But the world record temperature you mentioned was de-certified (apparently a recorder error) and is no longer recognized as the record. The current standing record is in Death Valley, California from 1912, at a lower 56.7 C / 134.1 F (although there is apparently a fair amount of controversy over that record as well).

However they think much higher temps have occurred, just not ever been recorded. Including a heat burst in Iran measuring 87 C / 188 F (June 1967) and 66.8 C / 152.2 C in the aptly named Flaming Mountains of China (though this was recorded by a satellite and not confirmed)

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jul/15/doubts-cloud-death-valleys-100-year-heat-record/
http://wmo.asu.edu/world-highest-temperature

Wow that's hot

 

[chrismpw]

Dinosaurs grew to the size that they did because air had more oxygen in it then.

They could not evolve now, with 21% O2.

Accounts for the huge dragonflies and other insects at the time too.

 

[deipnosophist]

Dinosaurs grew to the size that they did because air had more oxygen in it then.

They could not evolve now, with 21% O2.

...the most common element on earth is oxygen....and it's the third most common element in the universe

 

[Gladystweet]

The temperature of the Earth's core is as hot as the sun's surface.

Surface temperature of the sun related.
The pistol shrimp has an enlarged claw that it uses to stun and kill its prey. The claw is ratcheted open in readiness and snaps shut with such speed that it causes a cavitation bubble that generates accoustic pressure of a distance of 4cm from the claw at 60mph. As the bubble collapses it reaches temperatures of 4,700 degrees C, close to that of the surface of the sun.

 

[summerisle]

Surface temperature of the sun related.
The pistol shrimp has an enlarged claw that it uses to stun and kill its prey. The claw is ratcheted open in readiness and snaps shut with such speed that it causes a cavitation bubble that generates accoustic pressure of a distance of 4cm from the claw at 60mph. As the bubble collapses it reaches temperatures of 4,700 degrees C, close to that of the surface of the sun.

Not sure I understood all of that ; does it mean that it burns its prey ?

 

[TheFinnFan]

Not sure I understood all of that ; does it mean that it burns its prey ?

Haha x Nah, just grabs it fast like Chicos mar.

Anyways...that creature looks like from outher space. I remember watching nature document about it. It has unique eye sight too. Dont remember exactly how but anyways unique compared to other living thingys.

 

[madkiwi]

French toast isn't. It's named after Mr French.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

French toast isn't. It's named after Mr French.

So Americans can stop calling it 'Liberty Toast'.

 

[The Cowboy]

French toast isn't. It's named after Mr French.

Had wondered about that. Never seen it on the menu in France, and doesn't look especially Gallic. Makes sense now.

 

[Gladystweet]

Not sure I understood all of that ; does it mean that it burns its prey ?

No, the shock wave caused by the bubble kills and stuns its prey. When viewed in super slow motion, as the bubble collapses, you can actually see a very bright light caused by the heat, it also leaves what looks like a vapour trail as the shock wave hits its prey.

 

[Rob17896]

First born children are more likely to need glasses than their siblings.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/i...ore-firstborn-kids-need-glasses/#.V1pZwPR4WnN

Drivel

 

[Rob17896]

And

Accounts for the huge dragonflies and other insects at the time too.

And Raquel Welch's chest.

 

[COYBL25]

The Slinky.

Discovered by accident in 1943, by mechanical engineer Richard Wilson.

Whilst working to devise springs to keep sensitive ships equipment steady at sea, Wilson accidentally knocked the new spring he had been working on and found that it " walked " down the shelf it was on rather than falling to the floor.

I suspect he went onto become quite a wealthy man !