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How do we know how far away the stars are? For relatively nearby stars, other than our own sun, we can use a trick of perspective called parallax. This gives rise to a unit of distanced called the parsec, roughly equivalent to 3.26 lightyears.
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From the earth’s surface, it can be difficult to tell how big or far away objects in the solar system are. From the earth’s surface, as illustrated by yesterday’s total solar eclipse, the moon and sun are the same apparent size.
Here’s a slightly cheesy YouTube video that describes a method for measuring the actual size of our sun.
Let’s Measure the Diameter of the Sun!
And here’s an article on measuring the sun, that includes other sections describing ways and means of measuring within the solar system.
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In episode 35, I said that I don’t know how to make a big bang. Here’s the closest thing to that that I’ve found so far.
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Today we take a closer look at the sound of the big bang © John g. Cramer – 2003, which he created from the data gathered by the WMAP satellite.
Here’s his original article on the subject.
Here are a bunch of versions of the sound of different lengths, and updated versions he created from the data gathered by the Planck mission in 2013.
You can also check out his home page, his Analog articles, and his science fiction novels—”Twister,” and “Einstein’s Bridge.”
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In 2013, a 10 to 11 ton rock exploded in the skys over Russia. That came in handy when I wanted an explosion sound effect. As Long as I used it, I may as well make an episode out of it.
Here’s a video of the event, and a couple of articles about it.
Meteorite shards hit Russia after explosion in the sky
Russia’s meteor explosion was as powerful as 400,000 tonnes of TNT
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How could you make a mind—a mind at least as good as ours are. Here’s one approach that has already worked. The details are a bit hazy, and I’m rather certain it’s outside of my budget; but it’s a place to start.
The sound of the big bang (c) John G. Cramer – 2003 used by permission.
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It’s called, “open label placebo,” and it seems to work by all reports. You take a sugar pill or other placebo, you know it is just a placebo, and yet sometimes, you still get some benefits.
Here’s a short NPR segment when an author is interviewed about his experiences using a placebo that he knew was a placebo to help with writer’s block.
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I was chatting with Antony, (@AntonyTheReal_) about the show and the recent episodes about the placebo effect. He wondered if you could take a placebo, know it’s a placebo, and still get some benefit from doing so. It turns out that you can.
It happens to be Antony’s birthday, and he happened to be interviewed in episode 2 of “The Lobby.” Happy birthday!
Here’s an article where the placebo effect and a labeled placebo was used to help suffers of IBS.
Placebo effect works even if patients know they’re getting a sham drug
Here’s another article where the results were replicated for suffers of lower back pain.
Placebos Can Work Even If You Know They’re Placebos
And here’s an article wherein a study found that a placebo that is known to be a placebo can help reduce the pain of migraine headaches. And the study wasn’t even trying to study that.
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In episode 27 and episode 28, we had a look at the placebo effect and found that it can improve performance on both physical and mental activities. But how do you give yourself a placebo?
Here’s one of many articles that referenced a 2010 study that showed some improved performance associated with superstitions presented as part of the study.