Vincent Summers, Author at Quirky Science

03Dec 2016 by Vincent Summers 4 Comments

Why Do My Fingernails Split Down the Middle?

Even something as insignificant as fingernails can experience problems. For example, Nails Magazine discusses "longitudinal ridging", exacerbated by placing the hands in alcohol or water for long periods or by stress from typing or playing piano. Another difficulty is vertical splitting of the nails. An inconvenience, it is not overly serious. Sometimes fingernails split because the sufferer also has eczema or nail psoriasis. Why, hypothyroid can be a reason fingernails split! That’s How. Why? Imagine you have an 8-1/2” x 11” piece of paper used to print a check with a stub above the check. You must "tear along the dotted line". The perforation weakens the paper so it is easily tears along it. Similarly for some varieties of heavily grained wood. The wood splits along its grain, rather than…

26Nov 2016 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

How I Relate to Mrs. O’Leary, Her Cow, and the Great Chicago Fire

People, The Arts

[caption id="attachment_15804" align="alignright" width="480"] Currier & Ives Image[/caption] The Great Chicago Fire was a deadly, massive fire that ran from October 8 – October 10, 1871. Hundreds of people were killed, but outstandingly, 110,000 were left homeless. The exact cause of the fire was never established, but it began in a barn owned by one Mrs. O’Leary, just behind 137 DeKoven Street. A map was made in 1871 showing the area of the conflagration. Examining Pieces of the Puzzle One of the theories was that it was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern that ignited the fire. Certainly it is the most romantic theory. But how does Mrs. O’Leary and a fire in her barn relate to me? First, it involves the famous Abraham Lincoln photographer, Alexander Hesler. It…

23Nov 2016 by Vincent Summers 2 Comments

November 2016 Nelson County and Amherst County VA Brush Fires

News

[caption id="attachment_15770" align="alignright" width="440"] Part of the Eades Hollow fire in Lovingston. Photo (11-24-2016) copyright Robert D. McNeish[/caption] During November 2016—the 19th—a major fire, burning thousands of acres of woodland, began, or at least was first reported, in Amherst County, Virginia. This wasn’t the only forest fire in the vicinity, however. Adjacent Nelson County, too, was the scene of a fire that began on November 20th—the very next day. It has received considerably less media attention than the Amherst fire. Why is that? Scope and Magnitude Progressively, the Lovingston fire was listed as affecting 40 acres, then 450 acres, then 1,000 acres (as of November 23, 2016). Initially, the Amherst fire was reported to have affected a mere 25 acres. But by the time Lovingston reached 1,000 acres, Amherst had…

09Nov 2016 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

How Can a Rocket Fly in the Vacuum of Space?

Physics, Technology

Recently a friend told me he met a man who doesn’t believe in rockets flying in space. Why not? Because (he said) there’s nothing in space for a rocket to push against. There’s only vacuum—no air. A rocket fly in space? Nah. Rockets in space are products of film studios. A Stupid Thing to Say? That’s not really an entirely stupid statement. Imagine you’re on a chair with wheels. How can you move if you don’t push on something? But the man didn’t fully appreciate the rocket does push on something—or, rather, something pushes on the rocket—its fuel. To Illustrate Imagine one of those kids’ cherry bombs, a quarter-sized explosive kids set off on various occasions. Imagine a cherry bomb tied with a very sewing thread, suspended from a tree…

07Nov 2016 by Vincent Summers 4 Comments

Aromatic Resonance – What It Is and What It Is Not

Chemistry

[caption id="attachment_19938" align="alignright" width="440"] Prominent resonance structures.[/caption] Sometimes a chemistry or physics concept is misunderstood even by the reader of above-average intelligence and education. Such is the case with the chemist’s use of the term aromatic resonance. There are a small number of recognized rules for aromatic behavior. These include: cyclic geometery planarity 4n + 2 contributing, de-localized, conjugated (π) double bonds An Example of What Aromatic Resonance Is Not The best and oldest known example is benzene, C₆H₆. Benzene is cyclic (one ring), planar (flat), and has 6 delocalized, conjugated double bonds. Frequently, the organic chemist simply renders benzene’s structure… There is a carbon atom at each vertex of the hexagonal ring. Attached to each carbon and pointing outward from it is one hydrogen atom. Now each carbon atom…

23Oct 2016 by Vincent Summers 2 Comments

Memorizing Long Numbers – Two Quick Memory Aids

Health, Mathematics

[caption id="attachment_15687" align="alignright" width="440"] Dice - Image Pixabay[/caption] Memorizing long numbers? How can I do that? I recall being told the average American can repeat quickly only numbers with five or fewer digits. For example, hearing several numbers, say 17, 38294, 584, and 127532, most can only say back the 17, 38294, and 584 – not the 127532. How can such a person improve in memorizing long numbers so he can recall 6, 7, and even more digits? There are two ways. The first involves a kind of 'device'. One definition of mnemonic device is “a memory technique to help your brain better encode and recall important information”. Memory Aid – Grouping Numbers Almost anyone can repeat a string of three. Jill speaks a three-digit number. Bob repeats it back…

22Oct 2016 by Vincent Summers 5 Comments

Fixing VLC Player Gray Pixilated Video in Windows 7

Technology

Software, no matter how conscientious its producer, can at times present issues to a device user. A current Video LAN (VLC) player, with its famous orange safety cone icon, is no exception. Commonly, one sees VLC player gray pixilated video, especially under Windows 7. The Problem Currently at least some users experience interruptions during the playing of videos that often include severe to moderate gray pixilation for a number of seconds, sometimes followed by a clearing with a number of seconds of additional pause, before playing continues normally. Fighting VLC Player Gray Pixilated Video This has particularly been noted for the Windows 7 operating system, though others have had a similar experience using a different O.S. What is the cause? Forums and individuals have made many suggestions, most of which…

14Oct 2016 by Vincent Summers 2 Comments

Dangerous Chemistry of Jimson Weed – Watch Your Children!

Chemistry, Health

[caption id="attachment_15664" align="alignright" width="480"] Jimson Weed CCA Share Alike 3.0 by H. Zell[/caption] During the months of September and October, the reader may discover a disarmingly beautiful flowering weed. White to violet trumpets atop a green herbaceous plant, that after fertilization yields spiny seed pods, characterizes Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium) or Jamestown Weed, also called among other things, Locoweed, Hell’s Bells, and Devil’s Trumpet. All parts of the Jimson Weed contain toxic alkaloids in potentially fatal quantity. These include atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopamine. A dose used for its psychedelic effect is marginally less than a fatal dose. Hence, there have been many hospitalizations and deaths resulting from its use. Jimson Weed - Druggery [caption id="attachment_15667" align="alignleft" width="300"] Seed pod. Image by Nova CCA 3.0 Unported[/caption] Some smoke Jimson Weed thinking…

05Oct 2016 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

Factorials? What are They? A Simple Kind of Mathematics Shorthand

Education, Mathematics

What are factorials? A variable is a symbol, often written as a letter of the alphabet that stands for a number that can vary in value. For example, take your age. That varies every year, doesn’t it? This year your age may be, say 21. If so, in 365 days your age will be 22. Another 365 days after that and your age will be 23. Thus age is a function of time. For you, we can write right now: A = 21 If the number of years that pass equals n, then for next year, n = 1 and An = 21 + n So, A₀ = 21 + 0 = 21 A₁ = 21 + 1 = 22 A₂ = 21 + 2 = 23 A₃ = 21…

01Oct 2016 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Origin Earth: From External Matter or By On Site Fusion?

Astronomy, Education

[caption id="attachment_15593" align="alignright" width="480"] Nuclear fusion in a red giant.[/caption] Origin Earth: As elementary school students, we are taught many subjects, including science. We are taught proven facts, which is a fine thing. Yet some unproven ideas may be included disguised as actual fact. A science theory may be popular yet wrong. Recall the ancient idea that Earth is supported in space by objects such as elephants and turtles, rather than by gravity. Also recall our planet was thought to be the center of the universe, while the sun rotated about it. Finally, remember, recall, realize that some felt the earth was one heck-of-a huge flat pancake. The Big Bang Theory One popular origins theory is the Big Bang. Simply put, a large explosion occurred that propelled matter and energy…