Wilma the Capacitor and Particle Accelerator 238
Sterling D. Allan writes "In a story at the new Open Source Energy Network site, Paul Noel says: "Energetically speaking, the vortex that forms in these storms is also a natural particle accelerator, and a massive capacitor bank. As the harmonic circuit develops, it resonates acoustically and functions as a capacitor, extracting the heat from the storm and transmitting it away. Without this electrical circuit, the storm would fail almost instantly due to the accumulation of heat from condensation of water." He also asserts that understanding these phenomena better could help us harness the power of nature, seen and unseen."
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
What the hell is this? Seriously, what the hell? (Score:5, Informative)
Check this bullshit out:
What a heaping plate of crud. This is embarassing.
Re:Possible way to kill hurricanes . . . (Score:3, Informative)
I can't find the original Popular Science article about it, but the most basic design is an electro-magnet wound around an aluminium tube, with an antenna at the opposite end of the detonator
Wrong (Score:4, Informative)
-everphilski-
Nutters (Score:5, Informative)
Since when did Slashdot become home to new age nutcases? Orgone Accumulators make great songs for Hawkwind and Kate Bush, but as physics it's not a basis for anything other than providing something to laugh at.
ian
Hmm... the submitter... (Score:2, Informative)
Electric Universe again? (Score:3, Informative)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Universe_mod el [wikipedia.org]
Re:What the hell is this? Seriously, what the hell (Score:5, Informative)
This guy's in the Bozo brigade. I'm not disputing that his back aches. I am disputing the wealth of bullshit in the article:
He's a bullshit artist, and he's selling a product. No different than Simpson & Son's Patented Energizing Moisturizing Tantalizing Romanticizing Surprising, Herprizing Revitalizing Tonic. The term might be vulgar, but it's a hell of a lot more to the point than just calling it "snake oil."
That's about the only thing they got right. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Hmm... the submitter... (Score:3, Informative)
Quite an interesting mix of websites he administers there...
That's an understatement. Check out some of his articles:
George W. Bush was Complicit with the 911 Attack on America [patriotsaints.com].
Was President Bush Behind Katrina? [greaterthings.com]. Lest the title fool you into thinking Allan considers this a question:
This guy is a fruitcake. And he doesn't know how to spell "martial law".
Slashdot needs a new category icon: the duncecap (Score:4, Informative)
The proper role of an editor is to properly categorize material which is suitable for the publication, and reject that which is not. Taco's judgement in this case is, shall we say, questionable. The source website is full of logical and scientific garbage, so it doesn't belong in the science category. The talk of "particle accelerators" is bunkum too, unless you are talking about phenomena like sprites and jets [alaska.edu] which also occur in thunderstorms (and are at least somewhat understood but still under research), or perhaps if you are talking about particles from shingles and 4x8 sheets of plywood up to whole trees accelerated to 150 knots. Thus it doesn't belong in the hardware category either. And it takes itself far too seriously to be funny.
There really is no legitimate Slashdot heading under which this piece fits. Accordingly, I suggest a new one: the duncecap. This is for articles (or editorial decisions to post articles) which are too stupid for words, and to properly categorize such errors in judgement rather than throwing them down the memory hole.
Any editor posting a mis-categorized article which really ought to be filed in "It's stupid. Ask your editor why this is here" should have to wear a real duncecap during the performance of their duties for the next 24 hours. That sort of reminder is necessary to keep editors from shirking their responsibility to be, you know, editors.
Re:Wow (Score:5, Informative)
The Atlantic has been a busy place for over 100yrs, I don't think the weather geeks missed too many big storms in the last century just because they didn't have satellites.
The GW aspect is not about the frequency of storms but rather the total amount of energy they contain, although given enough energy more storms could be expected to reach hurricane status. There is no hard evidence that the frequency is trending upwards (the frequency increase over the last few years is on too short a time scale to be significant). However there is good evidence that the total energy over the last 30 yrs has steadily increased but as far as I know the jury is still diliberating.
If you look back over the last 30yrs or so at reports such as from the IPCC and many other credible publications before it, you will find a plethora of predictions. Many of these predictions have already been verified by observation, unfortunately they have occured much sooner than the scientific establishment thought they would.
As an example, 10yrs ago the GHG feedback loop from melting permafrost was thought to be at least 50yrs away (if it happened at all). Recently one of those weather satelites observed this process over Siberria. A higher frequency of extreme weather has also been a long standing prediction, but you are technically correct, just because it waddles and quacks doesn't mean they are right.
The US has contributed as much to climate research as all the other countries combined. The rest of the planet appreciates this incredible scientific effort but cannot understand why the US continues to insist their emporer is not stark naked.
As for TFA, magnets will not stop a hurricane, cure arthritis or sterilize your water but they can be used to scan for brains.
Re:Possible way to kill hurricanes . . . (Score:1, Informative)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Stormfury [wikipedia.org]