Friday, February 20, 2009

Yikes!

Let me know if I am the only one who thinks scientists creating a star is a bad idea.


10 comments:

Candy said...

I'll be the first to admit, I know the words by heart to this song - and I probably have the record in the basement. Yes, the RECORD. As in vinyl. Get over it.

As for creating stars, I think the label "Huh?" says it all cuz I thought only God did that -- the Bible tells me so. Have I been under a rock? (No need to answer that, Katdish).

Sherri Murphy said...

Man's futile attempt to create a UNIVERSE. Yeah, keep trying.

Seems kind of "Tower of Babble"y to me.

Nick the Geek said...

It is inaccurate to say they are creating a star. This is an attempt to create a fusion reactor. There are two types of nuclear reactions, the fission reaction and the fusion reaction. The hydrogen bomb is a fusion reaction and so the essence of what is being done is not new. The difference is the level of control and harnessing that energy.

With a fission bomb they take a heavy element like uranium and initiate a reaction that causes the uranium to split at an atomic level releasing tons of energy. Controlling this reaction is much easier so long as the reaction never gets critical (Chernobyl). This is basically what goes on in nuclear power plants.

With a fusion bomb simple elements are forced together until they join on an atomic level. This releases a ton of excess energy (think all those extra parts inside of anything you've ever taken apart or your husband has ever taken apart). The trick is controlling the reaction and harnessing the energy. It is generally cleaner than a fission reaction and uses a much more abundant source material (hydrogen is the most abundant material in the entire universe).

To say that God along could do such a thing is not even Biblical. This would be like saying only God can be an artist or only God can write a song. Now creating it from nothing, that's a different story.

Candy said...

OK, Nick, you just officially kept the Geek award. As a lovely bonus, you get to memorize the words to the song so we can do a duet. And mind you, I'm usually allowed to only sing "Far, Far Away."

And your last sentence - yeah, I got that one. Whoa. Amen.

Stephanie Wetzel said...

Nick. You are such a geek. That is all. ;)

Nick the Geek said...

Candace, if we get steph good and drunk she'll join in too.

Stephanie Wetzel said...

Oh, if only that were possible.

Sadly, if you get me good and drunk, I'm less likely to sing with you than throw up on you.

But the good news is, you can probably get me to join in just by offering me cookies. I'm easy that way.

Anonymous said...

I don't have to get drunk to sing it with you. And I know all the words! My momma and daddy loved Perry Como...

Candy said...

Thank you Sista Helen!!

There's a little link up on the left that says "Manage" by the "Followers." Be careful, Nick, or we'll me a-managing you.

Of course, those sidebar links have taken on a life of their own and are in different places every time I come here. This place is just so, well....random.

Helen said...

Candace, anytime. My favorite Perry Como song is "Til The End of Time" , which uses one of Chopin's Polonaises as the melody. It is so beautiful....