Random Articles
Have a deep view into what people are curious about.
π Porkchop plot
A porkchop plot (also pork-chop plot) is a chart that shows contours of equal characteristic energy (C3) against combinations of launch date and arrival date for a particular interplanetary flight.
By examining the results of the porkchop plot, engineers can determine when launch opportunities exist (a launch window) that is compatible with the capabilities of a particular spacecraft. A given contour, called a porkchop curve, represents constant C3, and the center of the porkchop the optimal minimum C3. The orbital elements of the solution, where the fixed values are the departure date, the arrival date, and the length of the flight, were first solved mathematically in 1761 by Johann Heinrich Lambert, and the equation is generally known as Lambert's problem (or theorem).
Discussed on
- "Porkchop plot" | 2019-12-27 | 101 Upvotes 13 Comments
π Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied
"Justice delayed is justice denied" is a legal maxim. It means that if legal redress or equitable relief to an injured party is available, but is not forthcoming in a timely fashion, it is effectively the same as having no remedy at all.
This principle is the basis for the right to a speedy trial and similar rights which are meant to expedite the legal system, because of the unfairness for the injured party who sustained the injury having little hope for timely and effective remedy and resolution. The phrase has become a rallying cry for legal reformers who view courts, tribunals, judges, arbitrators, administrative law judges, commissions or governments as acting too slowly in resolving legal issues β either because the case is too complex, the existing system is too complex or overburdened, or because the issue or party in question lacks political favour. Individual cases may be affected by judicial hesitancy to make a decision. Statutes and court rules have tried to control the tendency; and judges may be subject to oversight and even discipline for persistent failures to decide matters timely, or accurately report their backlog. When a court takes a matter "under advisement" β awaiting the issue of a judicial opinion, order or judgement and forestalls final adjudication of a lawsuit or resolution of a motion β the issue of timeliness of the decision(s) comes into play.
Discussed on
- "Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied" | 2026-01-13 | 29 Upvotes 1 Comments
π MSX-DOS
MSX-DOS is a discontinued disk operating system developed by Microsoft for the 8-bit home computer standard MSX, and is a cross between MS-DOS v1.25 and CP/M-80Β v2.2.
Discussed on
- "MSX-DOS" | 2023-07-20 | 161 Upvotes 49 Comments
π Daemon (2006)
Daemon is a 2006 novel by Daniel Suarez about a distributed persistent computer application that begins to change the real world after its original programmer's death. The story was concluded in a sequel, Freedomβ’, in 2010.
Discussed on
- "Daemon (2006)" | 2026-03-04 | 53 Upvotes 13 Comments
π Choking game, also known as the fainting game
The choking game (also known as the fainting game and a wide variety of slang terms) refers to intentionally cutting off oxygen to the brain with the goal of inducing temporary loss of consciousness and euphoria.
Discussed on
- "Choking game, also known as the fainting game" | 2019-06-30 | 25 Upvotes 25 Comments
π Sabre (computer system)
Sabre Global Distribution System, owned by Sabre Corporation, is used by travel agents and companies around the world to search, price, book, and ticket travel services provided by airlines, hotels, car rental companies, rail providers and tour operators. Sabre aggregates airlines, hotels, online and offline travel agents and travel buyers.
Discussed on
- "Sabre (computer system)" | 2018-07-30 | 65 Upvotes 30 Comments
π Zachtronics
Zachtronics LLC is an American indie video game studio, best known for their engineering puzzle games and programming games. Zachtronics was founded by Zach Barth in 2000, who serves as its lead designer. Some of their products include SpaceChem, Infinifactory, TIS-100, and Shenzhen I/O.
Discussed on
- "Zachtronics" | 2023-06-01 | 29 Upvotes 5 Comments
π Nicaraguan Sign Language
Nicaraguan Sign Language (ISN; Spanish: Idioma de SeΓ±as de Nicaragua) is a sign language that was largely spontaneously developed by deaf children in a number of schools in western Nicaragua in the 1970s and 1980s. It is of particular interest to the linguists who study it because it offers a unique opportunity to study what they believe to be the birth of a new language.
Discussed on
- "Nicaraguan Sign Language is a sign language largely spontaneously developed" | 2022-04-03 | 84 Upvotes 14 Comments
- "Nicaraguan Sign Language" | 2017-01-17 | 74 Upvotes 1 Comments
π Sprouts is a pencil-and-paper game with interesting mathematical properties
Sprouts is a paper-and-pencil game that can be enjoyed simply by both adults and children. Yet it also can be analyzed for its significant mathematical properties. It was invented by mathematicians John Horton Conway and Michael S. Paterson at Cambridge University in the early 1960s. Setup is even simpler than the popular Dots and Boxes game, but game-play develops much more artistically and organically.
Discussed on
- "Sprouts is a pencil-and-paper game with interesting mathematical properties" | 2012-04-01 | 169 Upvotes 9 Comments
- "Sprouts game" | 2008-09-01 | 64 Upvotes 16 Comments
π LondonβCalcutta Bus Service
The bus service from London, England to Calcutta, India (now Kolkata) was considered to be the longest bus route in the world. The bus service, which started in 1957, was routed to India via Belgium, Yugoslavia and North Western India. This route is also known as the Hippie Route. According to reports, it took about 50 days for the bus to reach Calcutta from London. The voyage was over 10,000 miles (16,000Β km) one way and 20,300 miles (32,700Β km) for the round trip. It was in service until 1976. The cost of the trip one-way was Β£85 in 1957 and Β£145 in 1973. This amount included food, travel and accommodation.
Discussed on
- "LondonβCalcutta bus service" | 2026-01-09 | 367 Upvotes 174 Comments
- "LondonβCalcutta Bus Service" | 2024-06-11 | 203 Upvotes 117 Comments