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List of pseudoscience topics from Wikipedia

Started by Apikoros II, August 26, 2010, 05:53:49 PM

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Golden Applesauce

I'll bite on the round earth argument.  

I observe that anywhere I go, I can see a horizon effect, provided there isn't too much stuff in the way (buildings, fog, etc.)  I can see the horizon further away if I'm high up off the ground (on a plane, top of a tall building, etc.)  This is consistent with the round earth theory.  TGRR mentioned his contact lens shaped earth theory, which would only be consistent with a true horizon at two points - everywhere else, the horizon would be much closer on one side than the other.
Q: How regularly do you hire 8th graders?
A: We have hired a number of FORMER 8th graders.

Doktor Howl

Quote from: Golden Applesauce on August 26, 2010, 09:00:49 PM
I'll bite on the round earth argument.  

I observe that anywhere I go, I can see a horizon effect, provided there isn't too much stuff in the way (buildings, fog, etc.)  I can see the horizon further away if I'm high up off the ground (on a plane, top of a tall building, etc.)  This is consistent with the round earth theory.  TGRR mentioned his contact lens shaped earth theory, which would only be consistent with a true horizon at two points - everywhere else, the horizon would be much closer on one side than the other.

If the lens is large enough, you wouldn't be able to see that.
Molon Lube

Bruno

It seems the moon is slowly moving away from the earth.

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=124

The earth is moving away from the sun for the same reason, but the sun will go pfffft before it matters.

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=317

Formerly something else...

Doktor Howl

Quote from: Jerry_Frankster on August 26, 2010, 09:02:44 PM
It seems the moon is slowly moving away from the earth.

Well, then, I think we have to question a few other basic assumptions, don't we?
Molon Lube

Adios

Quote from: Doktor Howl on August 26, 2010, 08:58:00 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on August 26, 2010, 08:54:02 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on August 26, 2010, 08:49:06 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on August 26, 2010, 08:45:25 PM
So let's go with science. The earth is in an elliptical orbit. Is this orbit perfect or is it deteoriating at the furthest points and getting closer to the sun on the flatter parts? If this is the case will we crash into the sun or break orbit and drift away first?

I admit I am over my head here.

If the world is as described, given enough time, it would crash into the sun.  Breaking orbit would require added energy that would have to come from somewhere, and we are actually inside the sun's "atmosphere", which means we very, very gradually slow down.

However, if the world is as described, two events would happen first:

1.  The moon would crash into the Earth for the same reason, and

2.  The sun would go red giant and pfffft!

Couldn't we measure slowing down by the length of days? If we go slower wouldn't days get longer?

Lost me on the sun going red.

When a star of our sun's type runs low on fuel, it does fun things.

Go to wikipedia and search "red giant".



OH!!!

The Sun is predicted to become a red giant in approximately five billion years.[7] It is calculated that the Sun will become sufficiently large to engulf the current orbits of the solar system's inner planets, up to Earth,[11][12][13] and its radius will expand to a minimum of 200 times its current value.[14] The Sun will lose a significant fraction of its mass in the process of becoming a red giant, and there is a chance that Mars and all the outer planets will escape as their resulting orbits will widen.[15] Mercury and most likely Venus will have been swallowed by sun's outer layer at this time. Earth's fate is less clear. Earth could technically achieve a widening of its orbit and could potentially maintain a sufficiently high angular velocity to keep it from becoming engulfed. In order to do so, its orbit needs to increase to between 1.3 AU (190,000,000 km) and 1.7 AU (250,000,000 km).[16] However the results of studies announced in 2008 show that due to tidal interaction  between sun and Earth, Earth would actually fall back into a lower orbit, and get engulfed and incorporated inside the sun before the sun reaches its largest size, despite the sun losing about 38% of its mass.[17] Before this happens, Earth's biosphere  will have long been destroyed by the Sun's steady increase in brightness as its hydrogen supply dwindles and its core contracts, even before the transition to a Red Giant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_giant

LMNO

Ok, what's really making me giggle is how you're going back and questioning/re-exploring Copernicus and Gallileo, but are totally cool with accepting the astrophysics of what the sun is made of and how it behaves.

Adios

Dammit, I have to leave now, but I will come back to this.

Doktor Howl

Quote from: Doktor Alphapance on August 26, 2010, 09:07:06 PM
Ok, what's really making me giggle is how you're going back and questioning/re-exploring Copernicus and Gallileo, but are totally cool with accepting the astrophysics of what the sun is made of and how it behaves.


Actually, I said "if the universe is as described".  I can think of several other explanations for the sun being what it is, that don't require the sun to behave as predicted.
Molon Lube

Bebek Sincap Ratatosk

Everyone knows that the sun runs on coal.
- I don't see race. I just see cars going around in a circle.

"Back in my day, crazy meant something. Now everyone is crazy" - Charlie Manson

Apikoros II

Wow--- This has gotten very heavy, I was hoping for witty comments about phrenology and the Maya. I will ask though if people think Mithc McConnell is part reptile ala David Ickes and John McCain mostly Lizard?



I also believe that everything is false, even that statement and the one above it. Also, when you look into the abyss the abyss looks into you. Heck, the abyss sometimes winks and once it gave me the finger.

President Television

Quote from: Ratatosk on August 26, 2010, 09:33:09 PM
Everyone knows that the sun runs on coal is made of iron.

Seriously. They used to believe this in the 1930s.
My shit list: Stephen Harper, anarchists that complain about taxes instead of institutionalized torture, those people walking, anyone who lets a single aspect of themselves define their entire personality, salesmen that don't smoke pipes, Fredericton New Brunswick, bigots, philosophy majors, my nemesis, pirates that don't do anything, criminals without class, sociopaths, narcissists, furries, juggalos, foes.

Apikoros II

Ohhh, and here is one of the weirder things I have seen on the E Train:

I also believe that everything is false, even that statement and the one above it. Also, when you look into the abyss the abyss looks into you. Heck, the abyss sometimes winks and once it gave me the finger.

Requia ☣

Quote from: Doktor Plague on August 26, 2010, 09:45:33 PM
Quote from: Ratatosk on August 26, 2010, 09:33:09 PM
Everyone knows that the sun runs on coal is made of iron.

Seriously. They used to believe this in the 1930s.

Really?  That makes no sense, even with 1930s science.   :?
Inflatable dolls are not recognized flotation devices.

Bebek Sincap Ratatosk

Quote from: Doktor Plague on August 26, 2010, 09:45:33 PM
Quote from: Ratatosk on August 26, 2010, 09:33:09 PM
Everyone knows that the sun runs on coal is made of iron.

Seriously. They used to believe this in the 1930s.

Coal was believed in the 16th/17th centuries. Coal burned hotter than everything else so... SCIENCE!  :lulz:
- I don't see race. I just see cars going around in a circle.

"Back in my day, crazy meant something. Now everyone is crazy" - Charlie Manson