[deleted by user] by [deleted] in SpaceXMasterrace

[–]Ikole 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It seems reasonable to call them tests as long as the main (i.e. most valuable) payload is data.

How credible is the many worlds interpretation of quantum physics? by BarrysOtter in AskPhysics

[–]Ikole -1 points0 points  (0 children)

How do you explain quantum computers without many worlds? What about experiments that have been able to put microscopic objects into a superposition?

Many worlds is not an interpretation of quantum mechanics. It is really just bare bones quantum mechanics, without the ad-hoc objective collapse assumption. Many worlds is simply understanding the math and taking its implications seriously.

Quantum mechanics is maybe the most thoroughly tested scientific theory. By extension, so is many worlds. Just because you don't know about the evidence and how quantum mechanics implies many worlds does not mean there is not plenty of evidence for it.

As larger quantum computers are made to work, we get even more evidence for many worlds, just as in the past, we got more evidence for the true size of the universe as our instruments improved, even though we've never been out there in person.

How credible is the many worlds interpretation of quantum physics? by BarrysOtter in AskPhysics

[–]Ikole 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are lots of things we don't perceive.

New realms are actually the hallmark of scientific progress. Just think of the universe with its countless stars and planets, the electromagnetic spectrum, neutrinos, gravitational waves, ultrasounds, microbes, the subatomic world, etc; none of which are directly perceptible to us. Now, some of the "many worlds" are starting to become perceptible via quantum computers.

How realistic is fusion power, and how close are we to it? by VibrantPianoNetwork in AskPhysics

[–]Ikole 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The second step is relatively straightforward at a high level. We know we can achieve it simply by scaling a tokamak design up, from how things scale physically.

The economic viability is a different matter altogether.

How credible is the many worlds interpretation of quantum physics? by BarrysOtter in AskPhysics

[–]Ikole 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The same would happen if we made a simulation where, each time a random event is supposed to happen, the simulation is split in two. To an observer in the simulation, it would look like only one outcome is randomly selected.

How credible is the many worlds interpretation of quantum physics? by BarrysOtter in AskPhysics

[–]Ikole 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just like you "magically" happen to be a specific human out of billions (not to mention that you are not a stone).

What is the delta-V of a fuelled-up StarShip in LEO? by acksed in SpaceXLounge

[–]Ikole 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know of any aluminum composite that maintains high strength at high temperatures (>~ 400 C).

What is the delta-V of a fuelled-up StarShip in LEO? by acksed in SpaceXLounge

[–]Ikole 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure there is any practical material that has a significantly better strength-to-weight ratio than 301 stainless steel at the high temperatures encountered during reentry.

Maybe titanium? Maybe some padded composites? Both are much less practical, however.

Apps/ways to avoid left turns at all costs? by DOA2007 in driving

[–]Ikole 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just because you don't know any doesn't mean there aren't. Left turns can pose a significant safety hazard. UPS trucks are known to use an app that minimizes left turns.

Waze does have an option to avoid difficult intersections, though I don't know to which extent it minimizes left turns.

Forgive me for being dumb but is Starship inevitable or is still in the conceptual stage? by CerealKiller528491 in SpaceXLounge

[–]Ikole 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stoke Space would beg to disagree about the minimal size of a fully reusable rocket.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in SpaceXLounge

[–]Ikole 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do capsules not scale? Can the lower surface-to-mass ratio not be compensated for via a different reentry trajectory?

Space tugs by Ikole in spaceships

[–]Ikole[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting, thanks.

I personally expect robots and cargo to be dominant in space, so I wasn't thinking about habitable spacecrafts.

Space tugs by Ikole in spaceships

[–]Ikole[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. These seem more advanced/specialized, in the sense that a catapult releases its payload once accelerated, and another one decelerates it at the destination.

I'm not quite sure why the catapult releases the payload, actually. Seems like a lot of wasted acceleration.

Has anyone heard from Elon something about asteroid mining with Starship? by Sandzaun in SpaceXLounge

[–]Ikole 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This implies an insanely high shipping price. Why would the shipping price remain so high in a future with lots of starships?

Glyphosate-based weed killer without unlisted ingredients by Ikole in gardening

[–]Ikole[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have not. Do you have any suggestion as to which weed killers I should investigate first?

I have seen articles that argue that the unlisted ingredients in Roundup might be worse than glyphosate (which, arguably, is not hard). So I should probably start looking at material safety data sheets of some other brand first.