Why There Will Never Be Another Einstein

Albert Einstein may be the most famous and beloved scientist of all time. He is revered not only as a scientific genius but also as a moral and even spiritual sage, called by Abraham Pais, Einstein's friend and biographer, "the divine man of the 20th century."

This week, a look at why Albert Einstein may be one of a kind...but then, aren't we all?

TTFN, Fred. 

Quote of the week: "In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them." - Johann von Neumann (US (Hungarian-born) computer scientist and mathematician, 1903 - 1957)

   Why There Will Never Be Another Einstein by fredwine on Scribd

Finding Direction

My first compass was likely from a box of Cracker Jack. My most recent on is in my phone. In-between were various versions of directional assistants, from directions provided by the guy at the service station to maps to Global Positioning System (GPS) units.

Somedays I am still lost, but it isn't due to a lack of assistance in trying to find my way.

This week, a look at the compass.

TTFN, Fred. 

Quote of the week: "Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how…We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark." - Agnes de Mille (US choreographer and dancer, 1909 - 1993)

   Finding Direction by fredwine on Scribd

The Magic Materializer

Engineers and designers have been using three dimensional (3D) printers for more close to two decades, mostly to make prototypes quickly and cheaply before they embark on the expensive business of tooling up a factory to produce the real thing.

As 3D printers have become more capable and able to work with a broader range of materials, including production-grade plastics and metals, the machines are increasingly being used to make final products too.

As Arthur C. Clarke has stated, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

This week, a look at 3D printers.

TTFN, Fred. 

Quote of the week: "There must be more to life than having everything." - Maurice Sendak (American illustrator and writer of children's books, 1928 - 2012)

   The Magic Materializer by fredwine on Scribd

Microwave Ovens

I remember the day our first microwave oven came into my parent's household. It was big (by today's standards) with a faux wood exterior, dials (no digital displays) and a bell that went "ding" when the cycle was completed. We read the instructions and cookbook that came with it and the first thing we made was scrambled eggs. It was like magic.

Hard to imagine a kitchen without the power contained in a microwave oven. In 1971, about 1% of all households in the US had one; by 1997, that number was 90%.

This week, a look at microwave ovens.

TTFN, Fred. 

Quote of the week: "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." - F. Scott Fitzgerald (US novelist, 1896 - 1940)

   Zap It! by fredwine on Scribd

Pure Pasteur

We've talked about pasteurization before, and before that, and even before that. But did you know that old Louis Pasteur himself saved the French wine industry in the 1860's?

Gotta love science. And wine, of course.

This week, another look at pasteurization.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur (French biologist amd bacteriologist, 1822 - 1895)

   Pure Pasteur by fredwine on Scribd

Hitting the Mark

The origins of rifling are difficult to trace, but some of the earliest practical experiments seem to have occurred in Europe during the 15th century. Archers had long realized that a twist added to the tail feathers of their arrows gave them greater accuracy. 

Rifles were created as an improvement in the accuracy of smooth bore muskets. In the early 18th century, Benjamin Robins, an English mathematician, realized that an elongated bullet would retain the momentum and kinetic energy of a musket ball, but would slice through the air with greater ease. Science!

This week, a look at rifles.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." - Og Mandino (American author, 1923 - 1996)

   Hitting the Mark by fredwine on Scribd

An Overreaction to Food Allergies

The cause of food allergies is unknown. Symptoms of a reaction can include digestive problems, hives, or swollen airways. Severe reactions can be life-threatening.

But what if you're diagnosed incorrectly and you don't have food allergies? How can that happen, you say? Read on, faithful reader, read on.

This week, a look at an overreaction to food allergies.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "When in doubt, tell the truth." - Mark Twain (American humorist, novelist, short story author and wit, 1835 - 1910)

   An Overreaction to Food Allergies by fredwine on Scribd