Oh my gosh I love it here,

Shadowprophet

Truthiness
I went to a random science chat room, Now mind you, This was a random chat room, labeled for science discussion at some live chat web site.

I didn't realize the world at large had a hate boner for science. There are so many people out there who just simply detest science and empirical study... It's like some people want to force willful ignorance upon themselves, Or even just argue against higher education. What the hell is wrong with the world :(
 

Kchoo

At Peace.
Perpetuation of stupidity prevails in a no child left behind mentality, and smart people are put in ‘advanced placement’ classes which are designed to burn them out on being smart by frying them with extra work and theoretical overload, but no fun stuff... They might as well be called ‘dummy mills’

Our educational system is political overkill and pathetic.

The vent hoods and safety precautions in classrooms along with hours of safety protocol have resulted in making science look dangerous and spooky.

So the message is, “$cience is dangerous and might kill you. Besides, if you are good at it, you will be put in advanced placement... nooooo!”
 

Shadowprophet

Truthiness
Perpetuation of stupidity prevails in a no child left behind mentality, and smart people are put in ‘advanced placement’ classes which are designed to burn them out on being smart by frying them with extra work and theoretical overload, but no fun stuff... They might as well be called ‘dummy mills’

Our educational system is political overkill and pathetic.

The vent hoods and safety precautions in classrooms along with hours of safety protocol have resulted in making science look dangerous and spooky.

So the message is, “$cience is dangerous and might kill you. Besides, if you are good at it, you will be put in advanced placement... nooooo!”
I agree The way people raise their children has changed, Everything has changed. we won't live to see the day, But I bet in another two hundred years, Pc culture and Being spoiled and treated like royalty will lead to adults having tantrums like children. when that Becomes the norm for society, That will be a world I wouldn't want to live in.
 
I'm amazed at the number of people who, when parroting some myth like hot water freezes faster than cold, respond with bafflement when I ask if they have ever tested that idea. It's not like it's difficult or expensive to put two cups of water in the freezer and check on them every half hour or so. The cold water will freeze first. Every time. Right there in your own freezer.
 

Kchoo

At Peace.
I'm amazed at the number of people who, when parroting some myth like hot water freezes faster than cold, respond with bafflement when I ask if they have ever tested that idea. It's not like it's difficult or expensive to put two cups of water in the freezer and check on them every half hour or so. The cold water will freeze first. Every time. Right there in your own freezer.
I agree.
There is soooooooo muuuuuuch science that is perfectly safe to do in your own home.
Little things... oil and water don’t mix....

Dad used to give us a pair of safety goggles and a lab coat to make us feel like scientists, and to ‘Protect eyes. Always protect the eyes. Safety first.’

He would boil water in an old olive oil can, and then put the lid on it, and let it cool, and we watch it crush itself from the heat loss and contraction of the gas and steam inside...

My favorite, put a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a 1/8 cup of vinegar, and watch it react.
Or more fancy, put the vinegar in a balloon. Roll up the baking soda in a tissue, put the tissue in the neck, tie the end, shake, and watch the balloon expand.

This stuff is safe... and it is simple Chemistry and physics.

Dad was cool that way. I wish all parents would do these kind of things for their kids.

He made being a geek so much fun, and taught us to think about things.... and to be safe... all in a few little experiments like that...

Making rock sugar on a stick is fun... all you need is a lot of sugar, water, and a wooden skewer, and time in the fridge... great science in this simple and fun to eat experiment....
Method 1 Making the Sugar Solution
  1. Heat 2 cups (473 ml) water in a pot, bringing it to a boil. ...
  2. Stir in the 4 cups (946 g) of sugar in 1/2 cup (118 g) increments. ...
  3. Remove the solution from the heat and allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes. ...
  4. Add food coloring and/or flavoring if you don't want plain rock candy.
  5. Pour it in a glass jar,
  6. Roll a wet stick in granulated sugar, let it dry
  7. Prop the stick in the jar, and let it rest in a cool dry undisturbed place.
    • It will take a day or so but it depends on how big you want the rock candy to be. The larger you want it to become, the longer you will need to wait. To form the biggest rock candy, wait a week. After a week, it will come to the end of its growth.
 
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baleeber

Adept
For years, the media has spoonfed people a distrust of science. BUT ... I'll admit that current trends in science ARE partly to blame. A hundred years ago, science was mostly the domain of academics, pursuing basic questions about the world: "What is that?" "Why does it do that?" Today, science is the domain of corporations who give money to universities to pursue science ... but only that science which they can patent and market. And while the science of 100 years ago was all about enlightening the world, today's scientists are all under non-disclosure agreements to protect their patents.

As well, so many people in the scientific community are misrepresenting science in order to sell products, push agendas and legislation, etc.

So while there's a tremendous amount of good science being done in the world today, there's a lot more snake-oil sales going on.
 
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