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New Horizons Photographs Earth Sized Storm
Matthew Sparkes writes "The New Horizons spacecraft has taken the closest ever photos of Jupiter's Little Red Spot, which is actually a storm the size of Earth which has been raging since 2005. New Horizons targeted the storm when it passed Jupiter to gain speed for its journey to Pluto. The source of the red hue remains an open question. Some scientists believe hurricane-like winds lift material from beneath Jupiter's cloud-tops up to an altitude where radiation from the Sun can chemically alter it, producing the red colour. Scientists have estimated that winds in the storm were whipping around the atmosphere at 180 metres per second."
I find it slightly disconcerting that someone who calculated m/s into mpg get's modded insightful rather than informative :-D
Shamelessly ripped from the internet oracle digest #365
Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to determine the United States
measurement challenge once and for all.
In the blue corner we have our current US champion for many years,
weighing in at 220.4623 pounds, our hero: Igor Imperial.
In the red corner we have, weighing in at 100kg all the way from
France, and currently storming the world wherever he goes, our
challenger: Mean Mr Metric.
It will be a great fight today and one that may change the course of
history. Can Mean Mr Metric defeat Igor Imperial and change US life
forever, or will Igor outwit the classy opponent and maintain his place
in history. We are about to find out.
Gentlemen, I want a clean fight. Shake hands and come out fighting on
the bell.
Round 1: "DONG"
They both approach each other and meet in the middle of the ring.
Metric has trained well and opens with the first punch:
How many feet in a mile?
Imperial answers after a moments hesitation with:
5280
"Good exchange there Bob, hasn't worried either of them."
"No Bill, it's still neck and neck, although Imperial took a fraction
of a second to divert that question."
Imperial decides to attack with a similar strategy:
How many metres in a kilometre?
Instantly, Metric flashes back with:
1000
"Wasn't that a great counter by Metric eh Bob - so quick. He's looking
good tonight"
"Sure is Bill"
Imperial goes on the attack again with a curly one:
How much does a litre of water weigh?
Metric comes back quickly with:
1 kilogram
"Great offense from Imperial there Bob. Combining both measurement of
mass and volume - well thought out."
"Sure thing Bill, but I think he may have left himself a bit vulnerable
here. If I can guess, Metric should follow up with..."
How much does a pint of water weigh?
Imperial reels back with such a tough one. He hesitates.
"Thought he'd do that Bill, he's looking shaky. I wonder how he's
trained for this?"
Suddenly, Imperial's eyes light up and he comes back with:
1.0431758 pounds
"Well Bob, our champ got out of that one but it was a bit messy eh?"
"It was Bill. I think he was lucky there. Metric should come back with
a tough one here if he's got it in him."
As Metric prepares for an offense, the champ Imperial slips in a sneaky
one:
If 1mm of rain falls on 1 square metre of roof, how much water
is collected?
"What a shot Bob! That'll hurt him."
Metric defends without a flinch:
1 litre
"No Bill, Metric has trained too well and has got too much ability.
That reply was instananeous. You know, I think he should follow the
same strategy as before and follow up with..."
If 1 point of rain falls on 1 square foot of roof, how much water is
collected?
"Imperial is down!"
1 2 3 4 5 6 7...
7.97922 fl oz
"What an answer! Our boy's still got guts!"
"DONG"
End of Round 1.
"Bill, that bell came just at the right time. This fight shouldn't last
the next round."
"You're rig