Science Beta

Mnemonics?

2008-09-22T16:24:58Z

I'm writing out a backstory for my Traveller: New Era character. She's a Balduri mechanic, specializing in computers, electronics, physics, and generally building things.

What mnemonics did you use to get yourself through university? Anything relating to the above will do, and the weirder, the better. Bonus points for rhyming schemes as well.

Thanks very much!

Leptospirosis, infectious disease

2008-09-21T23:27:01Z

Hi everyone,

this question is about an infectious disease. The place is England, near London, the time is 1748.
I googled Leptospirosis and Morbus Weil.

So, in my story there's a robber who is wounded and tries to escape through the sewer system. However, a policeman catches up with him and, when the robber is lying on the ground, puts his foot on the wound. In the end, the robber can escape, but he's been infected with Leptospirosis through the (very likely) contaminated water.

So, researching Leptospirosis, I found that German sites say there's more than one version of Leptospirosis, some fairly harmless, and one extremely dangerous - that'd be Morbus Weil.
However, in English Leptospirosis and Morbus Weil/Weil's disease seem to be used synonymously.
Now, my problem is, I want the robber to survive and suffer no longterm effects (minor inconveniences would be okay, but nothing serious), and with the hygienic and medical conditions of the 18th century, this seems highly unlikely if he actually gets Weil's disease. Also, he can't really get proper medical attention since that would mean he would have to leave his hiding place. He does have medically untrained friends who try to help him though.

So, do you think there's a way he can get ill and recover without any medical attention?
How much longer would it take for him to recover?

I'd be extremely grateful for any help!

X-posted to science_beta and little_details

US Law question...

2008-09-04T09:15:01Z

I'm not even sure if this falls in the acceptable for this comm, but the information is going in an SGA story and all the other help places have really specific points to cover. Anyway, my question:

What is the prison term in the USA for 2 counts of attempted murder? It's a civillian on Atlantis doing research, but he tried to kill someone very important (twice).

Thanks.

psychology question - suicide

2008-05-14T22:42:20Z

Hi everyone,

I'm planning on writing a story where one of the characters kills himself.
He is a lifelong victim of abuse by his father, hates himself for being gay and was just betrayed by the one person he absolutely trusted.

I've once heard that certain methods of suicide are associated with certain motives... for example Kurt Cobain using a shotgun to his face meant a high level of aggression towards himself, hanging oneself means you're ashamed and so on. Is that true or amateur-psychological BS? (I'm beginning to think it is, because I couldn't find anything on that particular topic.)

If it's true, what would an 'appropriate' method be for the abovementioned case? He doesn't have that many options cause he's in jail (thanks to the betrayal), so I guess all he really can do is slash his wrists or hang himself or maybe OD on drugs.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I'd hate to ruin a scene that's sensitive enough as it is with an unrealistic description-

Bleeding Out

2008-05-07T03:46:32Z

Hi, I'm engaging in some John-whump and have a question.

What does it feel like to a person who is bleeding excessively? There's no otherwise traumatic injury and it isn't fast, just steady. What progression of symptoms might be expected?

Thanks very much!

science_beta @ 2007-11-26T19:09:00

2007-11-26T19:13:21Z

Hi, I'm looking for some visual, rather than written reference material. I want to use DNA strands as a decorative element in a peice of silversmithing, and I was wondering if someone could point me in the direction of a resource to find the pictures want?

The piece I have in mind is a silver beaker with dna strands wound round it in engraving, hopefully as a gift for someone with a phd in genetic engineering who is very keen on gardening - especially palms, angels trumpets and bird of paradise plants, so i need the visual reference to be accurate, any help appreciated.

Medical question: bullet wound

2007-11-09T13:25:55Z

First of all, I just want to say I'm glad this comm is still around! Thanks for not deleting it.
And now, for my question referring - once again - to a bullet wound.

Okay, so I have this guy shot in the back. I haven't been specific about range or caliber, but the exit wound (stomach) is bigger than the entry wound (back). I also wasn't very specific about the wound, all I said was that
a) it's in the stomach area
b) it bleeds a lot
c) the bullet went straight through the body.
d) the shot guy was fading in and out of consciousness, but while conscious, still able to talk.

Now for the questions: As far as I know, the liver is one of the most... "robust" human organs, so does that mean that the patient would recuperate quickly? How quick? Also, there are a lot of important arteries (veins?) running through it, so it would bleed a lot, right?
All in all, some muscle and liver damage would be what I think that shot did to the poor victim. But would there be any other organs in the way? Would his intestines be damaged, too? And does that automatically lead to a sepsis?

I'd be extremely thankful for any help!

Medical question

2007-11-09T03:30:59Z

I'm writing a fic in which one of the characters has labour induced when their baby is at 36 weeks, due to preeclampsia. What symptoms is the mother likely to have? What are the likely complications for a prem baby? And how long will she and the baby be in hospital?</div>

Scientific Facts to Support "The Crazy"?

2007-11-06T17:58:02Z

All right, so I'm writing this fic and I'm attempting to look through stuff on Google, but I wanted a second opinion on anything I might find.

I need to kill bugs. Not just bugs on the ground, but bugs that burrow into people's brains to lay their eggs.

Now, the bugs I've created have shown to be immune to everything my people have tried thus far and it would almost be better to simply shoot the infected folks now. As the eggs are spread out, they can't simply be cut out. Radiation might be too much, unless someone can explain to me about the different doses of radiation or I find something through Google.

What I was considering was a take on the soap and water will kill bugs approach.

I know that if you squirt bugs with hot water and a bit of soap, they'll die a less chemically intense death. I wanted to know if there was a chemical composition close in nature to soap, that wouldn't harm a human, but would act sort of like an antibotic? Is there something I need to look for in particular, because I'm just shooting blindly here.

If there are any other suggestions on how I can kill these buggers, I'd love to hear them.

I'm glad this comm's still here, by the way. I joined ages ago when it first opened, and haven't had a real need to work through a technical science issue until now. : )

Mod Post Redux

2007-08-26T12:51:13Z

A number of people in the previous mod post expressed their wish for the community to remain as they've found previous links and questions useful. I bow to their interest in the community and their requests and have made a few changes to the way the community works.

More information can be found on the profile page but it boils down to:

1. The community now has open membership so it's up to you if you want to watch, join or do both
2. All posts must be science-related; i.e. either asking a question or providing a link and opinion. That means if you find something cool and want to discuss it, post it!
3. Questions will continue to be tagged
4. When in doubt, put it behind an LJ-cut
5. I'll be moderating with a light hand so, unless you're trolling, anything and everything is fine

That's it. The comm is open. Go crazy!

Mod Post

2007-08-26T07:01:06Z

After much deliberation I've decided to delete this community. It's a great concept but there doesn't seem to be a need for it, and when the moderator is the predominate poster then it's not working.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to be a Science Beta – I'm sorry that your skills weren't fully utilized but the contributions you have made have been very much appreciated.

Sorry to the people that participated in polls and found the links to be interesting. There's plenty of places online that you can find your science fix.

Data Bursts #42

2007-08-19T02:37:21Z

I. Can This Football Helmet Save Lives?
II. Cat gone crazy? It may be senile
III. Empathy makes you 'catch' a yawn
IV. Free Hydrogen-Powered Cars for Good Homes
V. Honey, I shrunk the battery
VI. Mmmm, Space Chips
VII. Talc keeps killer quakes at bay

Video: Why Is It So? – Classic TV episodes starring Professor Julius Sumner Miller

View Poll: #1041517

Data Bursts #41

2007-08-12T02:26:51Z

I. Endeavour carries the first teacher into space
II. Evolution of Homo genus thrown into doubt
III. 'Genius' DVDs can harm babies
IV. Global warming to step up after 2009
V. Nose job turns dancing queen into macho man
VI. Phoenix space probe takes off for icy Mars
VII. Physicists think they can levitate

Video: Face Blindness – Most of us have trouble remembering names, but what if you
can't even remember a face?

View Poll: #1037607

Data Bursts #40

2007-08-05T01:18:01Z

I. Ants use manners to cut through crowds
II. Autonomous Flying Ambulances Could Save Troops
III. Coffee and a run may stave off skin cancer
IV. Ctrl, Alt, Del if you've heard this joke before
V. Electrodes stir man from six-year coma state
VI. In Pictures: The Strangest Sights in Google Earth
VII. Orangutans communicate with charades

Video: Addiction Vaccines – Can science win the war on drug addiction?

View Poll: #1033519

Data Bursts #39

2007-07-29T02:03:45Z

I. 60th Saturn moon discovered, named 'Frank'
II. Baboons use contraceptives
III. Circumcision reduces HIV infections by 60%
IV. Realising the promise of stem cell
V. Science of smooching
VI. Sing to computer to download song
VII. Wafer-thin paper beats bucky tubes

Video: Brain Chaos - Imagine you’re lying on an operating table undergoing surgery but before it’s over, you wake up.

View Poll: #1029624

Data Bursts #38

2007-07-23T06:19:27Z

I apologise for the delay in getting this weeks' Data Burst out. I didn't have net access over the weekend.

I. Blueprint for a Green Laptop
II. Catastrophic flood split Britain from Europe
III. Draughts computer game can't be beaten
IV. Ever-expanding universe nets top prize
V. Galaxy hoax claims we're aliens
VI. Genes leave a sour taste in your mouth
VII. Moebius strip riddle solved at last

Video: Hypnosis - We find out if and how hypnosis works

View Poll: #1026200

Data Bursts #37

2007-07-15T02:04:15Z

I. Australian study hints at infection link for many cancers
II. Colourful birds hardest hit at Chernobyl
III. Fasting women strain to talk
IV. Magnets change the colour of a liquid
V. Maths shows the silliness of 'silly walks'
VI. New Mars lander will dig below surface
VII. Signs of water beyond solar system

Video: Lost in space - DARPA video taken by a camera mounted on the robotic arm

View Poll: #1021584

Data Bursts #36

2007-07-08T08:23:31Z

I. Blood Simple
II. DNA testing IVF embryos can be risky
III. Earth is smaller than we thought
IV. Flight secrets of largest bird ever revealed
V. Man-eating piranhas a myth, study says
VI. Saturn moon is massive sponge
VII. Sugary breakfast cereals may boost memory

Video: Corporate Psychopaths - Is your boss one?

View Poll: #1017380

Stitching head wounds

2007-07-07T04:23:49Z

This is a question for the medics among us:

If someone were stitching a superficial head wound (about an inch long, on the back of the head) on a female with long hair, would it be necessary to shave the hair around the wound?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Data Bursts #35

2007-07-01T03:06:31Z

I. A liquid mirror telescope for the Moon
II. First borns are first in intelligence too
III. Giant penguins once roamed Peru
IV. Molecular torch sheds light on cells
V. Now for my next trick, water from air
VI. Ride a rocket into space and then abandon ship?
VII. Theory of how HIV attacks is wrong

Video: The Time of Our Lives (Part 2 of 2) - Catalyst exposes the enigma of age

View Poll: #1013260

Data Bursts #34

2007-06-24T02:26:54Z

I. China named as world's top CO2 polluter
II. Internet is spherical with a dense core
III. Newton: world will end in 2060
IV. Some people really do feel your pain
V. Space, the final frontier ... in funerals
VI. Stem cells without killing embryos?
VII. Wanted: volunteers for 520-day Mars experiment

Video: The Time of Our Lives (Part 1 of 2) - Catalyst exposes the enigma of age

View Poll: #1008941

Biology/Health Science Question: Genetics Beta

2007-06-23T14:38:44Z

Would someone be willing to do a mini-beta on a section of a fic I'm writing where the characters blather about genetics? I'd appreciate it if someone with actual training and knowhow could look at it and tell me if it's absolutely abhorrent and turns her stomach to read (in terms of "the psuedo-science! my eyes! my eyes! it hurts us, precious!"), or if it's just the typical technobabble that's not necessarily accurate, per se, but doesn't actively offend the sensibilities.

BTW, the fandom is Stargate: Atlantis. (yes, that means you'll get to read about Carson Beckett and his gene therapies!)

If you'd be willing to help, I'd be incredibly grateful!
just let me know where to e-mail the fic!

Note: the list mod has been checked with & she says this request is okay...

Data Bursts #33

2007-06-17T01:07:54Z

I. Cow bling stops them straying
II. Gigantic dinosaur looked like a chicken
III. Hello, from the car in front
IV. Oldest black hole ever found
V. Talking Jewelry
VI. The Worst Jobs in Science 2007
VII. Three Gorges: Then and Now

Audio: Mummies reveal ancient diseases

View Poll: #1004508

Effects immediately following a hanging

2007-06-13T16:59:41Z

Okay, kind of a morbid question here, and probably a stupid one as well.

In the script I am writing I have a grown man of 50 who is hanged using a belt, but released when he is unconcious but not dead. He is found maybe five or six hours later.

Is it concievable that the human body would still be quite weak and/or injured following such treatment within this timeframe, or do the effects of hanging actually wear of quickly once a person can breath again?

I'm guessing that it is the former, but I have a nagging doubt that it might be the latter. I don't know enough about biology and human medical science to decide and understandably it is not something I want to experiment with *LOL*

Data Bursts #32

2007-06-10T02:11:13Z

I. The 2007 PopSci Invention Awards
II. Antarctic glaciers picking up speed
III. Arrow wound killed Otzi the iceman
IV. The Body Bank
V. Cane toads cannibalise their young
VI. Is America Headed for a Food Shortage?
VII. What gladiators were really like

Video: When Lions, Buffaloes and Crocodiles Attack—At the Same Time

View Poll: #1000446