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The Pearly White Baths of Pamukkale
by Amanda Arnold | September 14, 2011
No, this isn’t the Arctic; it’s Turkey. That white stuff isn’t ice; it’s limestone. Those waters aren’t cold; they’re scorching hot. I know — it’s confusing here at Pamukkale, or the Cotton Castle.
Here’s how things got all weird:
In the Brain household, for reasons that are not necessarily the best thought out in retrospect, the key rack hangs on the wall and the dog’s food and water bowls are on the floor underneath it. So one day, about 2 weeks ago, I was grabbing Leigh’s keys for her. I had a bunch of [...]
People typically use chlorine bleach for three different things: Cleaning and disinfecting in the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room Treating a well to eliminate bacteria as explained here: How do you chlorinate a well? Disinfecting drinking water in emergency situations as described here: How to purify drinking water in emergencies (like hurricanes) Especially in the [...]
How a Semi-Submarine Works – A cheaper way to build a sub
by Marshall Brain | February 22, 2011
Submarines tend to be expensive, even if they are small. That’s because any sealed container full of humans presents problems with oxygen supply, CO2 removal and humidity. Then when you stick that sealed container underwater in the form of a submarine, the problems multiply because of water pressure. The container (including its windows) has to [...]
The post on bell-mouth spillways mentions a number of dams, and brought to mind one the most impressive dams in the world – the Hoover Dam. This video explains its construction and many of the challenges faced: The first five minutes are a little slow, but then the construction process starts and it is impressive. [...]
One winter I was in the airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota getting ready to fly home. I had arrived there on a flight from Rochester, Minnesota in the afternoon. As the sun set, however, there was a problem – it got so cold they closed the airport. It was something amazing like -40 degrees F. So [...]
Inventions – Time magazine names the top 50 inventions of 2010
by Marshall Brain | November 12, 2010
It’s coming to be that time of year, when magazines, web sites and news outlets start publishing their “best of” lists for 2010. Here’s one of the first and it is in a HSW sweet spot – Time’s list of the best inventions: The 50 Best Inventions of 2010 The list is broken into sections: [...]
When thinking about the ancient city of Rome, and Roman engineering, one thing that is amazing even today is the aqueduct system they used to bring water into the city. Water might travel hundreds of miles through canals and tunnels to reach the city, and then flow to the citizens either through pipes or public [...]
The strangest battery you will see today – the Kelvin Water Dropper
by Marshall Brain | October 13, 2010
The Kelvin Water Dropper is a battery like no other. Falling water produces 10,000 to 20,000 volts for no apparent reason. In the following video, jump forward to 44:00 and prepare to be amazed: Now I want to entertain you for the last 6 minutes with something amazing. Something truly amazing. It is a form [...]
Why do air bubbles appear in a glass of water after a while?
by Marshall Brain | September 15, 2010
Here is the setup. Take a clear plastic (or glass) drinking glass. Fill it with cool tap water. Let it sit on the counter for a couple of hours. In some cases you will come back to find dozens of small bubbles clinging to the inside of the glass. why?
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