Loko

Inspired By: Free Higgs!, The Higgs Boson Part I, Is It The Higgs Boson?

Okay, so this post is a bit more technical than the others… Basically, scientists believe that they may have found a new particle. There are, according to the sources, 12 particles that make up our universe. And the majority of our universe can be described by a model known as the Standard Model. This model has long been incomplete because one of the theorized particles of this model was never really discovered. The Higgs Boson. As of July 4, 2012, it is believed that this particle has been discovered. 

In order to understand what the Higgs Boson is, we’ll compare it to electrons. There is something known as an electron field where electrons are generated from when the field is exited. Similarly, a Higgs Boson is generated when the Higgs field is excited. The Higgs field is present everywhere and is basically a barrier that holds mass so that it cannot exceed the speed of light. (Yes, Higgs sounds like an a*shole for holding us back but please disregard that. ><) 

Because we cannot see the Higgs field, the only way to verify its existence is to find a Higgs Boson. In order to do so, a large amount of energy is generated in order to excite the Higgs field that is everywhere and detectors are set up to find the Boson. Unfortunately, the Boson decays almost as soon as it is formed. As a result, it has been almost 50 years since the first theory of the Higgs field until we are now able to even TRY to verify its existence.  Theoretically this particle has been found, but whether it acts as it should is still questioned. More so, some scientists hoped it would act differently in order to help extend the Standard Model to be more complete as it does not even include gravity in it at the moment. 

Hopefully, a final conclusion will be made soon. 

Inspired By: The Mysterious Leap Second

So, apparently, on June 30, 2012 at 7:59:59 P.M. EST, we, as a world, will be adding a second to our time. The idea behind this addition of a second is similar to the idea of adding a day every four years. The leap year that occurs each year is the result of the revolution of the Earth around the sun taking slightly more than 365 days per year. In fact, it takes about 365.25 days for the Earth to rotate around the sun each year. As a result, every four years when the 0.25s add up to 1, we add a day to February.

The “leap second” however, has to do with the revolution of the Earth around its own axis. Due to the gravitational pull and friction caused by the moon, the Earth is actually slowing down in its revolution around its axis per day. Because a day is measured as the time it takes for the Earth to revolve around its axis, if this process is slowing down, it becomes necessary to slow down our time to stay in sync with its definition. Hence the added second this year. 

So be glad that this year is not only a day longer because of leap year, but also another second longer for leap second. 

Inspired By: I Hate Pennies (And Nickels)

Alright, so apparently, the U.S. throws away a great deal of money each year in its ridiculous production of pennies (and nickels). Before anything, I’ll throw some numbers:

In Year 2011: The U.S. Mint produced roughly 4,938,540,000 pennies. Interestingly, however, it costs the U.S. roughly 1.7¢ to produce each penny. (In case it’s not commonly know, a penny is only worth 1¢.) In other words, in 2011, the U.S. used $83,955,180 to produce $49,385,400. That is a difference of $34,569,780. I apologize for my criticism, but I cannot even begin to understand why a developed nation such as the U.S. would spend 30 million dollars in the production of pennies. In the same year, the Mint produced 990,240,000 nickels. Nickels, valued at 5¢ in our society, requires 9¢ to produce. So in perspective, the U.S. used $445,608,000 to produce $247,560,000; a difference of $198,048,000. Therefore, just in the year of 2011, the U.S. managed to throw away almost a quarter of a billion U.S. dollars in the production of basically useless coins. 

The importance of these numbers is the fact that the price paid to produce these worthless chips comes from the taxes that are paid by the citizens. I’m sorry, but I believe that our government is making cuts on education instead of ceasing the production of what I wish to refer to as wasted metals. 

Mentioned in my inspiration, currency was made to “facilitate” trade. Ironically, neither of these coins have any true help in the facilitation of trade. In fact, they could be considered to do the opposite. We have had to make specific machines to convert these useless coins into bills… The only true legitimate argument for these coins would be to pay cash for products after tax calculations that end up with uneven values in cents. This problem could easily be fixed in many ways, a couple being companies altering their prices slightly so that the prices would result nicely after the taxes were done, or to set up a rounding system (as mentioned in inspiration) to round awkward cents up or down in a way that ultimately losses and gains would even out to an expected value of 0. 

Many countries have already followed this idea and have gotten rid of the penny. Hopefully, the U.S. will be willing to change and accept the facts and numbers and abolish these coins. Maybe the country will even adopt the metric system instead of using ridiculous measurements such as the foot and yard… Only time will tell… 

Inspired By: Floating Race Cars

Alright, so from what I can understand, the physics behind these epic toys lies in the two sets of superconductors. There is a set that is built into the inside of the track itself and one embedded inside each of the two cars. Apparently, when a superconductor is cooled to 77 degrees Kelvin, its properties change so drastically that it results in a semi-magnetic, semi-repulsive field. This field is precisely what holds the cars at a set distance above the track. The superconductor within the cars are pre-cooled, using liquid nitrogen, to the desired temperature before placement onto the track. The superconductor on the track is not cooled, for only the ones in the cars need to be. The superconductors account for the levitation that is seen, but as for the movement of the cars, I believe that there are tiny fans within the car that are controlled remotely. These fans are built on all four sides of the car and are the engines of the cars. Because the fan propels the car forwards, the trails that follows the cars are the evaporation of nitrogen. With these assumptions, however, I believe that these cars will only stay afloat for no longer than five minutes at a time before requiring a refill, or in this case, a re-cooling of the superconductor. Because of the specific track required and the relatively short amount of time that these cars can be sustained afloat, any large scale model of these will probably require much more technology and advancements. As for us in the public, our generation is unlikely to see anything like this publicly. 

Inspired By: Quadrantid Meteor Shower

So apparently, the Quadrantid Meteors are due tonight. They are theoretically fragments or debris of a larger comet that streaked across the area. Whenever Earth passes through this area of space, fragments or dust from this debris enters our atmosphere and burns up in a beautiful display that we know as shooting stars. Luckily for us, these debris burn to completion over 50 miles before reaching the surface of Earth and causing any damage. Because of its location, only the northern hemisphere will be able to see the shower that is due tonight.

Perhaps tonight would be a special night to spend with your special person. After all what’s more romantic than a night under shooting stars? Unfortunately, however, they do not begin until two in the morning. 

For those who are interested in watching: 
The peak intensity, or when the most “shooting stars” come through our atmosphere should be around 2:30am EST
The shower should last until 6:00am EST with an average of 60-75 per hour.
At 3:00am EST the moon should set and leave the sky pitch dark making it a perfect time to search for these beauties.

Do keep in mind that the weather tonight will be dropping to a low of 34°F breaking the record low in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Perhaps a blanket and several jackets will keep you warm enough to enjoy this night. 

Inspired by: Siblings Share Genes, But Rarely Personalities

So apparently, siblings are generally no more than 20% similar personality-wise. Interesting enough, instead of the normally perceived effect that a younger sibling will become much like the elder one, the majority of siblings tend to diverge more as they grow. It seems to be of human nature to want uniqueness. Luckily, this effect tends to fill gaps in personalities that would otherwise be lost. While an older sibling may be outgoing and athletically inclined, the younger sibling may be rather modest and academically inclined. This makes sense as well because by “majoring” in different areas, siblings are able to lower competition. It is also this difference in different areas that causes jealousy among each other. This jealousy is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be turned into momentum that can encourage each of the siblings to share ideas and strengths, but at the same time, it could lead to disastrous effects. Unsatisfactory results from this inevitable jealousy are often caused by a “dominant” sibling, one who seems to excel at everything while the others can never seem to match to. Instead of using the jealousy as a push to become better, the “lesser” sibling loses self-esteem and ultimately “gives up.” This effect is usually more common among sets of siblings in which the “dominant” sibling is the younger one. Because of the generalization that wisdom should come with age, when the younger sibling surpasses the elder, there is a tension that causes the elder to lose the momentum that is needed. If anything though, statistics do support that children that have a sibling that they grow up with tend to interact more often with others in the future.  

Inspired by: How Much Money is Love Worth

“Looking into the eyes of somebody you like is the administration of a physcoactive drug, that’s addictive, and, the long term consequences are living longer. “

Chemicals released when looking into the eyes of someone you like: 

Vasopressin: 
 
Apparently, Vasopressin is an important chemical that helps the human body maintain homeostasis. It’s also capable in retaining water within the body thereby putting less stress on the kidney. For individuals with conditions of low blood pressure, Vasopressin has the ability to narrow veins and vessels and thereby increasing blood pressure. Perhaps the most important effect that Vasopressin has on humans is its physcological effects. When found in the brain, this chemical can strengthen long term emotional bonds.

Oxytocin: 
 
Unlike Vasopressin, Oxytocin does not have as many beneficial side effects. It’s clear effects are only physcological. It’s theoretically capable of diminishing mood disorders or social awkwardness. It also has the capability of reducing anxiety and stress. It’s physical effects on humans, however, seem to be more closely tied to sexual arousal and muscle contractions, especially after orgasm. 

Both of these chemicals are released when you look into the eyes of someone you like, with “like” defined as a long-term commitment love. The two chemicals are both considered addictive drugs and clearly lead to limerent behavior. Limerent behavior is basically the behavior that you would find in new couples where they are inseparable and practically obsessed with one another. Limerent behavior is not tied with lust, and thereby is not a result of testosterone or estrogen. Because both Vasopressin and Oxytocin have beneficial effects on humans in small doses such as those received when looking into the eyes of a partner, it does indirectly lead to living longer.