Hot Topic

Comrades, consider: Planet Earth must radiate from nightside thermal energy equivalent to total absorbed Solar radiation of dayside or quickly become barren lump of molten rock, agreed? If we can visualize steam engine of sufficient structural integrity and heat condenser to same temperature as boiler(kids: do not try this at home!), no work can be done. It is not heat per se but the difference in temperature which allows work to be done, and with a suitable working fluid and an appropriately cold condenser, room temperature boilers are possible. "So what?", I hear you cry- only this: It may be practical at some point to use simple radiators to improve the efficiency of any fossil fueled or nuclear generation plant by reducing condenser temperature. Visualize a transparant pipe with open sky on one side and a reflective trough with parabolic cross-section on the other, oriented to geographic north (or south for applications in the southern hemisphere). It is much easier to aim something away from the sun's path across the sky than to track it. Simple, elegant, minimal added complications. With correct insulation, temperatures adequate to liquefy air in commercially significant amounts at very low cost should be possible- freeze-dry garbage with the liquid nitrogen and burn with the liquid oxygen to eliminate all dumps everywhere! The intelligent application of labor, transforming Nature to meet human requirements, is the source of all wealth. I admit all my best ideas I stole from smarter guys, but at least I know a good thing when I see it! Also imagine superconductor potential for my passionately beloved magnetically levitated railway networks!

[Ragnvald]

I am not sure, if I have heard correctly that magnetically leviated railways are accomplished in Japan.
I would suspect that they become economical when room temperature superconductors would be dicovered. Or volumes of railway transported goods will increase dramatically.

At the moment cost of transportation is extremely high.
I will give you simple example.
I live in Australia and often buy books at Amazon.com.
Cost of shipment is often up to 50% of total cost.

So Internet is good, but not supported by improvement in physical movement of goods, it's nothing.

Many of my gullible and well-armed countrymen will discover the "New Economy" is a fraud very soon. I anticipate martial law at that point, and a certain disenchantment with the Federal Reserve, Wall Street scum, and public figures in general.

[Ragnvald]

Can I ask you, Tovarisch, why do you call everyone "comrade".
It's quite strange to hear, really.
Is there a message behind it, or just habit, or purpose, or anything else. Sorry, just asking.

the allAmerican habits of arrogance and verbal abuse. Unfortunately if you examine the exchanges between some of my fellow Americans and me, you will notice it is not always successful. I lose patience with them because they don't know and they don't want to know that they can be so much more than they are willing to settle for. They need to grow up and take responsibility, but their heads are shrunken by "common sense" and adolescent arrogance/cynicism. True fraternity between all men of goodwill is not only possible, but necessary for the survival of Mankind, for we are capable of touching the stars, and that is why I am proud to call you comrade.PERARDUAADASTRA,T.

[Ragnvald]

I feel like this word discredited itself by being used by communists.
Don't tell me that you are a communist.
Love to humanity, struggle for progress don't involve being a communist. Why can't we be just friends.

comrade is a word that nearly everybody knows but practically nobody uses (in English,at least)so I thought to give it a good workout. Some Americans work very hard on their incivility, they embarass me. But to matters of heat management, since this is the science board. Are tou familiar with a material called aerogel? It is reputed to be a fabulous insulator.PROGRESS.T.