Facts of the Matter Column | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Facts of the Matter: Minuscule tardigrades show amazing resilience

Richard Brill — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Tardigrades, often referred to as “water bears” due to their bearlike appearance, are among the most remarkable creatures on Earth. Though tiny — measuring between 0.3 to 0.5 millimeter (about .01 to .02 inch) long — they have captured the attention of scientists and enthusiasts alike because of their resilience to extreme environments. These microscopic invertebrates are found in diverse habitats, from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountain peaks. That they can survive conditions that would obliterate most other life forms makes tardigrades truly extraordinary.

Facts of the Matter: Snowball Earth hypothesis: A planet frozen in time

None — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Imagine the entire Earth locked in a deep freeze, covered in ice from the poles to the equator. This is the essence of the Snowball Earth hypothesis, a theory that suggests our planet may have been entirely or nearly entirely frozen over multiple times in its ancient past. It’s an idea that sounds like science fiction, but there is strong evidence to back it up.

Facts of the Matter: Magnetars: Most powerful magnets in the universe

None — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In the expanse of space, where stars burn and galaxies collide, there exists a type of star so strange and powerful that it challenges our understanding of the universe. These are called magnetars. They are the strongest magnets known to exist, with magnetic fields trillions of times stronger than Earth’s. To understand magnetars, we first need to take a closer look at how stars live and die.

Facts of the Matter: Anesthesia affects nerves and brain signal of patient

None — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Anesthesia plays a vital role in modern medicine, allowing patients to undergo surgery and medical procedures pain-free and with minimal discomfort.

Facts of the Matter: Water’s ability to transform makes it a notable substance

None — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Ice: merely solid water, but a wonder substance. Water itself is a miraculous substance, possessing a host of unusual properties, not the least of which is its ability to remain liquid over the range of temperatures and air pressures that occur on planet Earth.

Facts of the Matter: Quantum tunneling is key to technology, life on Earth

None — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Quantum tunneling is a phenomenon where particles can move through a barrier that, according to classical physics, they shouldn’t be able to penetrate. Think of it as a particle performing a magic trick, as it slips through obstacles that seem impossible to penetrate.

Facts of the Matter: Superconductivity: Behind the perfect conductor

None — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Superconductivity is a state in which a material can conduct electricity without resistance. Normally, when electricity flows through a wire, some of it is lost as heat due to resistance. This is why your phone gets warm when you use it for a long time. However, in a superconducting material, this resistance drops to zero. This means electricity can flow through the material indefinitely without losing any energy.

Facts of the Matter: Pauli exclusion principle key to stability of matter

None — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In the world of quantum mechanics, particles behave in ways that can seem almost magical. One of the most fascinating rules governing this realm is the Pauli exclusion principle. Proposed by Austrian physicist Wolfgang Pauli in 1925, this principle is fundamental to understanding the structure of atoms and the behavior of matter itself.

Facts of the Matter: There are many ways to tap brain’s web of information

None — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Everybody has a brain, and nobody knows how it works, although neuroscience researchers are finding some surprising aspects about how we think.

Facts of the Matter: Researchers are solving mysteries of epigenetics

None — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A groundbreaking field has emerged that challenges our understanding of genetics and the intricate dance between nature and nurture. Epigenetics, a term coined in the 1940s, has evolved into a vibrant area of research, unveiling the enigmatic relationship between our genes and our environment. It is a captivating story that delves into the depth of genetics, revealing that our genes are not always our destiny and exploring far-reaching implications for our understanding of life.

Facts of the Matter: The mysterious world of quantum smell challenges our conventional senses

None — Fri, 17 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In the realm of quantum physics, where the laws of classical physics break down and small particles misbehave, a new and intriguing concept has emerged: quantum smell. This perplexing phenomenon challenges our understanding of scent perception and opens up a world of possibilities that transcends our conventional senses.

Facts of the Matter: Hypothesis links language to our thought processes

None — Fri, 03 May 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In the intricate tapestry of human society, language and culture stand as pillars that shape our perceptions, influencing how we view the world around us. The interplay between language and culture is profound, reflecting our beliefs and values but also molding our understanding of reality. This dynamic relationship impacts every aspect of our lives.

Facts of the Matter: Longitude Prize instigated creation of navigation tools

None — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In the annals of maritime history, the quest for determining longitude at sea was a long- standing challenge that captivated the minds of sailors, scientists and governments alike.

Facts of the Matter: Siberian Traps provide pertinent lessons today

None — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In the vast expanse of Siberia lies a geological wonder that has puzzled scientists for decades — the Siberian Traps. The name “traps” originated from the Swedish word for “stairs,” referring to the step-like appearance of the rock formations. These immense volcanic formations hold the key to understanding one of the most catastrophic events in Earth’s history.

Facts of the Matter: Delving into quantum spin can lead to new technologies

None — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In the realm of quantum physics, a fascinating phenomenon known as quantum spin plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of subatomic particles. Despite its name, quantum spin is not related to the physical spinning motion of particles, but rather the fundamental property that defines their intrinsic angular momentum.

Facts of the Matter: Ancient manuscript still an undeciphered mystery

None — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Voynich Manuscript, a cryptic and enigmatic text shrouded in mystery, has baffled scholars, cryptographers and historians for centuries. Discovered in 1912 by Wilfrid Voynich, a rare-book dealer, this ancient manuscript has since become one of the most intriguing and perplexing puzzles in the world of historical texts. It is housed in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Facts of the Matter: Idea of infinity fascinates philosophers, thinkers and mathematicians

None — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Infinity, by definition, is the idea of something that is endless or without boundaries. It is a concept that has perplexed thinkers and philosophers for centuries. Ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks and Egyptians, pondered the nature of infinity, often associating it with the divine or the eternal. However, it was not until the 17th century that mathematicians began to rigorously study the concept.

Facts of the Matter: Scientists still stymied by matter-antimatter asymmetry conundrum

Richard Brill — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The concept of matter-antimatter asymmetry has captivated the scientific community for decades. This phenomenon refers to the unequal amounts of matter and antimatter present in the universe. While matter dominates our observable universe, antimatter seems to be almost entirely absent.

Facts of the Matter: Latitude helps determine how we see sunrise, sunset

Richard Brill — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A word from Captain Obvious: The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Facts of the Matter: Gemstones’ color relies on interaction with light

Richard Brill — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Some minerals have color because of what they do to light that passes through them or reflects from their surfaces. There are thousands of different minerals of which certain varieties of about 15 different ones are prized as gemstones. A small percentage of these are well-formed, colorful, transparent crystals.

Facts of the Matter: Earth’s timeline is marked by several mass extinctions

Richard Brill — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:05:00 +0000

When speaking of mass extinctions, we evoke a seriousness that transcends anything that we have experienced in human history.

Facts of the Matter: Benefits of popular painkiller, blood thinner balance risks

Richard Brill — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:05:00 +0000

For more than 100 years the safest, most effective, least expensive and widest-ranging drug known to man has been available to ease headaches, stop inflammation and lower fever.

Facts of the Matter: Ocean-atmosphere interplay affects weather and climate

Richard Brill — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:05:00 +0000

We have understood for a long time that the oceans play a significant role in transferring heat from the equator to the poles, but only in recent years have we begun to understand the importance of the link between ocean and atmosphere.

Facts of the Matter: Earth’s unique atmosphere lets water exist in all 3 phases

Richard Brill — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Earth is the water planet, but perhaps it is equally appropriate to call Earth the water cloud planet. Although liquid water is a distinctive feature of planet Earth, water clouds are even more so.

Facts of the Matter: Mitochondria hard at work creating energy within cells

Richard Brill — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Feeling tired today? Most of us grow more weary as the day goes on and as the years pass. We say we are out of energy or getting low on energy, which is a fact. The energy we expend is generated inside our cells by symbiotic organelles called mitochondria.

Facts of the Matter: Systems in nature never reach equilibrium, but can get close

Richard Brill — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Equilibrium is a state of balance of opposing actions that is central in virtually everything that happens, from basic physics to dance and the arts, economics and social ideologies.

Facts of the Matter: MRI machines seek hydrogen atoms to analyze soft tissue

Richard Brill — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Before the development of magnetic resonance imaging, X-rays were the only way to image inside the body. But X-rays are too energetic and show hard structures such as bones while they penetrate connective tissue and organs that show only as ghostly images.

Facts of the Matter: Search for superconductor that doesn’t require frigid conditions continues

Richard Brill — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:05:00 +0000

There are two ways that a substance can respond to an electric field.

Facts of the Matter: Input-output system is key to beaches’ sand quantity

Richard Brill — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 10:05:00 +0000

A beach seems constant from day to day, yet it is an ever-changing river of sand. On a geologic time scale the life of a beach is like a fruit fly in our human time.

Facts of the Matter: Silicon atoms better suited for creating rocks, not life

Richard Brill — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Searching for water on Mars and looking for other distant planets that may be Earth-like recalls that it is not only water, but also carbon that is necessary for life.

Facts of the Matter: Arsenic’s well-known dangers are felt through water and crops

Richard Brill — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Today’s chemical measurements are 1,000 times more sensitive than in the 1970s. Analyses at the parts per billion range — about one drop in a swimming pool — are commonplace.

Facts of the Matter: Sugar remains unregulated despite well-known dangers

Richard Brill — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Folk wisdom has recognized the role of empty calories in weight gain and obesity for years, but there has not been much public discussion about the addictive qualities of sugar.

Facts of the Matter: During summer solstice, sun appears to pause in the sky

Richard Brill — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Just in case you might miss it, take note that the summer solstice will occur on Wednesday at 4:57 a.m. as the sun reaches its northernmost point of 23.26 degrees latitude in its annual journey through the sky.

Facts of the Matter: Understanding role of zero makes modern world possible

Richard Brill — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Zero, nothing, zilch, nada? The number zero is a misunderstood enigma. Its place in our number system is relatively recent, appearing much later than the Arabic numerals we use to display number digits.

Facts of the Matter: Geckos’ sticky feet are due to atomic-level phenomenon

Richard Brill — Fri, 19 May 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Behold the ubiquitous gecko climbing a vertical wall in the blink of an eye or scurrying across the ceiling in gravity- defying dashes.

Facts of the Matter: Humans’ glassmaking ability has evolved over millennia

Richard Brill — Fri, 05 May 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Glass is one of our most common and often overlooked technologies because it is so common, but that has not always been the case. Glassmaking technology has a history longer than history itself.

Facts of the Matter: Theories abound for humans’ inability to find intelligent life

Richard Brill — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Where is ET? After nearly 50 years of searching for intelligent signals from space, astronomers have yet to receive a single verifiable signal of intelligent origin.

Facts of the Matter: Rare earth elements, essential for electronics, are in demand

Richard Brill — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 10:05:00 +0000

The rare earths are a relatively abundant group of 17 elements that are so chemically similar that 15 of them occupy a single row and column in the periodic table.

Facts of the Matter: Most electromagnetic waves are undetectable to humans

Richard Brill — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 10:05:00 +0000

We are immersed in a dense sea of electromagnetism, or EM.

Facts of the Matter: Caffeine’s allure is powerful despite potential for toxicity

Richard Brill — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Got to have that morning rush, whether it is from coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, energy drinks or some other form of caffeine?