Random Articles
Have a deep view into what people are curious about.
🔗 Russian political jokes
Russian political jokes are a part of Russian humour and can be grouped into the major time periods: Imperial Russia, Soviet Union and finally post-Soviet Russia. Quite a few political themes can be found among other standard categories of Russian joke, most notably Rabinovich jokes and Radio Yerevan.
Discussed on
- "Russian political jokes" | 2016-09-11 | 10 Upvotes 1 Comments
🔗 Non-explosive demolition agents
Non-explosive demolition agents are chemicals that are an alternative to explosives and gas pressure blasting products in demolition, mining, and quarrying. To use non-explosive demolition agents in demolition or quarrying, holes are drilled in the base rock as they would be for use with conventional explosives. A slurry mixture of the non-explosive demolition agent and water is poured into the drill holes. Over the next few hours the slurry expands, cracking the rock in a pattern somewhat like the cracking that would occur from conventional explosives.
Non-explosive demolition agents offer many advantages including that they are silent and do not produce vibration the way a conventional explosive would. In some applications conventional explosives are more economical than non-explosive demolition agents. In many countries these are available without restriction, unlike explosives which are highly regulated.
The active ingredient is typically calcium oxide, "burnt lime," and is typically mixed with Portland cement and modifiers.
These agents are much safer than explosives, but they have to be used as directed to avoid steam explosions during the first few hours after being placed.
Many patents describe non-explosive demolition agents containing CaO, SiO2 and/or cement.
Discussed on
- "Non-explosive demolition agents" | 2024-01-20 | 58 Upvotes 26 Comments
🔗 The inventor of microfleece refused to patent it.
Polar fleece is a soft napped insulating fabric made from polyester.
Discussed on
- "The inventor of microfleece refused to patent it." | 2010-10-16 | 81 Upvotes 21 Comments
🔗 Heckler and Koch P 11, underwater firearm from 1976
The Heckler & Koch P11 is an underwater firearm developed in 1976 by Heckler & Koch. It has five barrels and each fires a 7.62×36mm dart electrically. Loading is by means of a five-round case. The design resembles that of a pepper-box firearm.
🔗 Shot tower
A shot tower is a tower designed for the production of small diameter shot balls by freefall of molten lead, which is then caught in a water basin. The shot is primarily used for projectiles in shotguns, and also for ballast, radiation shielding and other applications where small lead balls are useful.
Discussed on
- "Shot tower" | 2013-09-12 | 269 Upvotes 79 Comments
🔗 Queueing Theory
Queueing theory is the mathematical study of waiting lines, or queues. A queueing model is constructed so that queue lengths and waiting time can be predicted. Queueing theory is generally considered a branch of operations research because the results are often used when making business decisions about the resources needed to provide a service.
Queueing theory has its origins in research by Agner Krarup Erlang when he created models to describe the system of Copenhagen Telephone Exchange company, a Danish company. The ideas have since seen applications including telecommunication, traffic engineering, computing and, particularly in industrial engineering, in the design of factories, shops, offices and hospitals, as well as in project management.
Discussed on
- "Queueing Theory" | 2022-10-14 | 184 Upvotes 79 Comments
🔗 A baboon who acted as assistant to a disabled railway signalman in South Africa
Jack (died 1890) was a chacma baboon, who attained some fame for acting as an assistant to a disabled railway signalman in South Africa.
Discussed on
- "A baboon who acted as assistant to a disabled railway signalman in South Africa" | 2019-06-04 | 98 Upvotes 20 Comments
🔗 Digital sundial
A digital sundial is a clock that indicates the current time with numerals formed by the sunlight striking it. Like a classical sundial, the device contains no moving parts. It uses no electricity nor other manufactured sources of energy. The digital display changes as the sun advances in its daily course.
Discussed on
- "Digital sundial" | 2014-07-16 | 232 Upvotes 47 Comments
🔗 Nasal Cycle
The nasal cycle is the unconscious alternating partial congestion and decongestion of the nasal cavities in humans and other animals. This results in greater airflow through one nostril with periodic alternation between the nostrils. It is a physiological congestion of the nasal conchae, also called the nasal turbinates (curled bony projections within the nasal cavities), due to selective activation of one half of the autonomic nervous system by the hypothalamus. It should not be confused with pathological nasal congestion.
Discussed on
- "Nasal Cycle" | 2022-11-12 | 25 Upvotes 8 Comments
🔗 75½ Bedford Street
75½ Bedford Street is a house located in the West Village neighborhood of New York City that is only 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 meters) wide. Built in 1873, it is often described as the narrowest house in New York. Its past tenants have included Edna St. Vincent Millay, Ann McGovern, cartoonist William Steig and anthropologist Margaret Mead. It is sometimes referred to as the Millay House, indicated by a plaque on the outside of the house. The house is located in the Greenwich Village Historic District, but is not an individually designated New York City Landmark.
Discussed on
- "75½ Bedford Street" | 2020-02-25 | 45 Upvotes 52 Comments