#practical applications

[ilikeit-art]

Putting out fire using Bernoulli's principle.

[pratchettquotes]

"Can you believe it? They 'ad it in their hands. They could've built a working steam engine, and steamboats that didn't explode. That's academics for you. All that knowing and they went back to discussing t'beauty and truth of numbers and missed the fact that they'd discovered something important. Me? If I want beauty and truth I look at Iron Girder."

Terry Pratchett, Raising Steam

[0xjuro]

Two things to add:

Yes, absolutely this. 100% in spirit. And add to this that chances are the math in some of those studies is bullshit, even apart from the fact that the study is being applied to things it has nothing to do with. The more studies in the chain/group, the higher the chance is that one of them is done badly/wrongly, and then your whole house of cards breaks completely anyways (because it doesn't matter how great and osha-compliant every other level of your tower is: if one of them is made of paper mache, then the whole thing will fall. logic works the same way).

The one thing I can't sign is "And any one of these steps individually would be fine and totally unavoidable" Because no, they are not. If every single one of them were then the result would actually be fine. The problem with the 'steps' ist that all of them have something wrong with them: very specific circumstances/constraints, certain errors they are introducing, bc that 'step' only 'works kinda', etc, etc. And those things add up; worse: they're multiplicative. You end up in summary with a result that applies to spherical apple trees in a vacuum that are simultaneously on swiss and american soil, and the chance that even then the result is wrong (*) is, if you're very lucky, 95%, and otherwise 99.99999998%.

(*) this does not mean that the opposite is true, but that you cannot say anything either way

data about where carbon emissions are coming from is so frustrating cause there's all kinds of huge, sprawling, just fucking vast breakdowns of What Causes The Most Carbon Emissions Out Of All Everything In The Entire World, but those are aggregations of numerous smaller but still vast aggregations of data, which are processed and polished from various aggregations of crunched numbers, which are patched and pieced together from various studies, estimates and calculations, which are sieved out of numbers crunched from various measurements, estimates and records, which have been collected, estimated or otherwise conceived through an unspeakably huge variety of methodologies with unspeakably huge variety in limitations, reliability and margins of error.

Even if some of the data was very fine-grained at the beginning, it was filtered through some very coarse number-crunching techniques for the sake of the coarse data, so the results are only as good as the wrongest thing you did in any part of this process, but the plans of action are getting thought up from the top down, which makes the whole thing a hot fucking mess.

For example. And I just made this example up. Say you want to know whether apples or potatoes have a worse impact on climate change. So you look at one of these huge ass infographic things. And it says that potatoes are bad, whereas apples are REALLY good, the BEST crop actually. So it's better to eat apples than potatoes, you think to yourself. Actually we should find a way to replace potatoes with apples! We should fund genetic engineering of apples so they have more starch and can replace potatoes. Great idea. Time to get some investors to put $5 billion towards it.

But actually. Where'd they get that conclusion about apples? Well there's this review right here of the carbon footprint of all different fruits, seems legit. Where'd that data come from? Well it's citing this study right here saying that tree-grown crops are better because they sequester carbon, and this study right here about the distance that different fruits get transported, and this study right here where different fertilization systems are compared in terms of their carbon footprint, and this study over here that sampled 300 apple, peach, and orange farmers comparing their irrigation practices and rates of tree mortality, and this study...wow, okay, seems really reliable...

...what's the first study citing? oh, okay, here's a study about mycorrhizal networks in orchards in Oregon, saying that there's a super high density of fungal mycelium in the 16 orchards that they sampled. And here's a study about leaf litter decay rates in Switzerland under different pesticide regimes, and...okay...relationship of tree spacing to below ground vs. aboveground biomass...a review of above and below-ground biomass in semi-intensively managed orchard plots...

...That one cites "Relationship between biomass and CO2 requirements...carbon immobilization in soil of various tree species...mycorrhizal fungi impact on carbon storage...

...wait a second, none of these are talking about apples, they're about boreal forests...and orange trees...and peanut farms! They're just speculating on roughly applying the non-apple data to apples. You have to go backwards...

Yes! "A review of belowground carbon storage in orchard cropping systems!" Seems like overall the studies find potentially high carbon storage in orchard environments! Walnuts...pears...oranges... intercropping walnuts and wheat... intercropping apples and wheat... wait a second, what about orchards with only apples?

Time for you to go back again...

"New method of mulching in apple orchards can lower irrigation and pesticide needs..." okay but if it's new, most farmers aren't doing it. "Orchards with high density interplanted with annual crops show way more mycorrhizal fungus activity..." "Mycorrhizal associations with trees in the genus Malus..."

...And pretty soon you've spent Five Fucking Hours investigating apples and you've got yourself in this tangled web of citations that demonstrate that some orchard crops (not necessarily apples) store a lot of long-lasting biomass in their trunks and roots really well—and some apple orchards (not necessarily typical ones) have high amounts of mycorrhizal fungi—and some techniques of mulching in orchards (not necessarily the ones apple farmers use) experience less erosion—and some apple trees (not necessarily productive agricultural apples) have really deep root systems—

—and some environments with trees, compared with some conventional agricultural fields, store more carbon and experience less erosion, but not apple orchards because that data wasn't collected in apple orchards.

And you figure out eventually that there is no direct evidence anywhere in the inputs that singles out apples as The Best Crop For Fighting Climate Change, or suggests that conventional apple farming has a much smaller carbon footprint than anything else.

The data just spit out "apples" after an unholy writhing mass of Processes that involved 1) observing some tree-grown crops and deciding it applies closely enough to all tree grown crops 2) observing some apple orchards and deciding its applicable enough to all apple orchards 3) observing some tree-including environments and deciding its close enough to all tree-including environments 4) observing some farming methods and deciding it applies closely enough to all farming methods

And any one of these steps individually would be fine and totally unavoidable, but when strung together repeatedly they distort the original data into A Puddle of Goo.

And it wouldn't be that bad even to string them together, if trees didn't vary that much, and farming didn't vary that much, and soil didn't vary that much, and mycorrhizal networks didn't vary that much, and regions that grow apples didn't vary that much, and pre-conversion-to-apple-orchard states of apple orchards didn't vary that much, and economic incentives controlling apple farming didn't vary that much, but all of these things DO vary, a Fuck Ton, and if the full range of variation were taken into account—nay, intentionally optimized—the distinction between apples and potatoes might turn out to be be MEANINGLESS GOO.

anyway big size piles of data about Farming, In General, make me so bitchy

[tenth-sentence]

This demonstration by the Easton group that work output can be harnessed and quantified in such molecular machines takes researchers one step closer to the practical application of nanotechnology.

"Chemistry" 2e - Blackman, A., Bottle, S., Schmid, S., Mocerino, M., Wille, U.

[fanciedfacts]

Learn about perception and how to change it for the better

[jacobsolomon045]

Guidance for choose right topic for Your MBA course Based on Specialization

Choosing the right topic for your MBA course is a pivotal decision that can significantly impact your academic journey and future career prospects.

The first step is to identify your MBA specialization, whether it's in Finance, Marketing, Operations, Human Resources, or Entrepreneurship. Understanding the nuances of each specialization is crucial to tailoring your research focus.

As you delve into the selection process, take time for self-reflection. Consider your personal interests, career aspirations, and the specific skills you aim to develop through your MBA program. Simultaneously, stay attuned to industry trends within your chosen specialization. Explore current challenges and opportunities by immersing yourself in industry reports, articles, and case studies. This exploration will provide valuable insights that can guide your research topic selection.

Practical applications should be at the forefront of your decision-making process. Opt for a topic that not only aligns with your specialization but also has real-world relevance. Assess how your chosen subject can contribute to solving tangible business problems and positively impact your industry. It's essential to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry needs.

Adhering to academic guidelines is crucial. Review your program's requirements and seek out faculty expertise. Consider topics where your program's faculty members have knowledge, as their guidance can prove invaluable throughout your research journey. Moreover, explore potential topics that align with your program's academic standards while offering room for originality and depth.

After this preliminary groundwork, brainstorm a list of potential topics. Narrow down your options by assessing their feasibility, research depth, and potential impact. Seek advice from academic advisors, faculty members, and even peers. Engage in discussions to gain diverse perspectives, ultimately helping you refine and solidify your chosen topic. Finally, choose a topic that not only aligns with your academic and career goals but also ignites your passion and motivation, ensuring a fulfilling and engaging research experience.

[hellpuppetswithfleshymembers]

[epicstoriestime]

Practical Applications of Cosmic Certainties: Unveiling the Impact

🌌 Exploring the practical impact of cosmic certainties! Join us on a captivating journey as we unveil the profound applications of fundamental truths that illuminate the wonders of the cosmos. From astrophysics to technological innovations, discover how these certainties have shaped our world and deepened our connection with the universe. #CosmicCertainties #ScienceExploration #CosmicImpact

Introduction Embark on a captivating journey as we explore the practical applications and far-reaching implications of the certainties that illuminate the wonders of the cosmos. These fundamental truths have shaped scientific advancements, technological innovations, and our perspective on the universe. Join us as we delve into the tangible impact of these certainties across various fields of…

[callipraxia]

Been working on a language for a few months now, and during a grocery run today, I thought about it and concluded that I could have, if necessary, correctly said, “excuse me, please, where is the tomato juice? I have to have tomato juice for my grandmother” in said language. I also just formulated “my cat wants my Parmesan cheese” in response to my cat, well, attempting to get into the Parmesan. Minor wins, but I’ll take ‘em, as one of my lifelong struggles with language learning has involved coming up with new sentences.

[thatgaywizardoverthere]

Arthur “Disaster Bi” Pendragon learning about true loves kiss as a cure like:

Gwaine: For fuck’s sake, he’s not enchanted every time he smiles at someone else, Arthur! He was literally just laughing at my joke!

Arthur, aggressively frenching Merlin on the council room floor: YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL OKAY-

[rathonk]

serpentine!

[dravencore]

philosophical debates and fights to the death won't fix him but @carrionkid and I agree that gardening would

[tenth-sentence]

And the award in physiology or medicine already seemed to promise some practical application for these seemingly esoteric studies.

"Frankenstein's Footsteps: Science, Genetics and Popular Culture" - Jon Turney

[handweavers]

Have you ever dyed with irises? My mom and I were tending our flowers and the irises stained our hands purple 😂

unfortunately the primary pigments in irises that cause the lovely purple colour are anthocyanins, which aren't capable of undergoing the dyeing process (dyeing referring to a specific chemical reaction that bonds certain pigments with fiber) they can 'stain' fiber but they can't properly form bonds to it. further, anthocyanins are unstable when exposed to light and air so the pigments fade and discolour quickly. this is why beets, berries, black rice, and purple-blue flowers aren't used in dyeing cloth. they work well as food dyes and can be used to make interesting (although fugitive, ie. unstable) inks and paints, but they aren't suited to being used to dye materials

hibiscus flowers contain strong anthocyanins that make a beautiful, pH sensitive ink that is really fun to experiment with. by combining anthocyanin pigments with soya milk and thickeners i've been able to apply the pigments to cloth in a way that resembles dyeing but is more like paint (tiny particles attached to the surface by the soya milk binder, rather than dye colourants forming molecular bonds that alter the fiber, and the cloth feels more stiff as a result) and that has been fun too. but even those experiments fade heavily when exposed to natural light and just a couple washings

[fanciedfacts]

How to Alter Your Perception for the Better

Control of negative thought patterns is necessary to prevent the development of fear, paranoia, or hatred. Perception is the key to understanding and interpreting the world around us. Learn how to alter your perception for a better outcome.

[petrodragonicapocalypse]

i love it when a film has its guts out. when the practical effects are visceral and slimy and slightly janky and clearly made by human hands, when green screen is used as a canvas for art rather than a substitute for reality, when the sets look like theatre pieces, when the lighting is unashamedly unrealistic because fuck it - it comes from the same place as the music, when the acting is messy and unfettered by irony, when you can feel the presence of the crew just offscreen pouring in months of hard work and late nights and sweat and love. when a film stops trying to be realistic and lets itself be raw and weird and INTERESTING

edit: glad people are enjoying this post! I originally wrote it about Bunny and the Bull (2009), which is my favourite film ever and you can watch it for free on youtube and in this google drive. enjoy! :)