Sherlock Holmes: Chemist

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
James O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
Organic Chemistry ◽  
Solar System ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Sherlock Holmes ◽  
Interest In Research ◽  
Working Out ◽  
The Brain

The previous chapter discussed Sherlock Holmes as a scientifically oriented detective. He was also knowledgeable about science in general. Practically every story contains at least some mention of one of the sciences. Having explored how Holmes used science in his detective work, we now look at his interest in research and his love of things scientific. In The “Gloria Scott” (GLOR), one of just two of the sixty stories narrated by Holmes instead of Watson, he says, “during the first month of the long vacation. I went up to my London rooms where I spent seven weeks working out a few experiments in organic chemistry.” Watson tells us in The Three Students (3STU) that without his chemicals, Holmes was “an uncomfortable man.” So there are clear indications that Holmes was devoted to science and that his first love was chemistry (see figure 4.1).Commentators disagree about Holmes’s chemistry abilities. Most praise Holmes as a chemist (see Cooper 1976; Gillard 1976; Graham 1945; Holstein1954; Michell and Michell 1946). The most notable critic of Holmes’s chemistry is Isaac Asimov. His objections are discussed in section 4.4. Dr. Watson even disagrees with himself about Holmes the chemist! Before Watson even meets Holmes, at the very outset of A Study in Scarlet (STUD), he is told by Young Stamford that Holmes is “a first-class chemist.” Stamford then performs the historic role of introducing Holmes and Watson. It doesn’t take Watson long to realize that his new roommate is a unique mixture of knowledge and ignorance. When he learns in STUD that Holmes is unfamiliar with the Copernican theory and the composition of the solar system, Watson is stunned. . . . Holmes: you say we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work. Watson: But the Solar System. Holmes: What the deuce is it to me?. . . Holmes believes the brain has a limited capacity. Therefore useless facts like the nature of the solar system should be forgotten, lest they crowd out important things.

scholarly journals Remotely distinguishing and mapping endogenic water on the Moon

2017 ◽  
Vol 375 (2094) ◽  
pp. 20150391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L. Klima ◽  
Noah E. Petro
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Solar System ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Testing Hypotheses ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Lunar Interior ◽  
Geological Features ◽  
Insight Into

Water and/or hydroxyl detected remotely on the lunar surface originates from several sources: (i) comets and other exogenous debris; (ii) solar-wind implantation; (iii) the lunar interior. While each of these sources is interesting in its own right, distinguishing among them is critical for testing hypotheses for the origin and evolution of the Moon and our Solar System. Existing spacecraft observations are not of high enough spectral resolution to uniquely characterize the bonding energies of the hydroxyl molecules that have been detected. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution and associations of H, OH − or H 2 O with specific lunar lithologies provide some insight into the origin of lunar hydrous materials. The global distribution of OH − /H 2 O as detected using infrared spectroscopic measurements from orbit is here examined, with particular focus on regional geological features that exhibit OH − /H 2 O absorption band strengths that differ from their immediate surroundings. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The origin, history and role of water in the evolution of the inner Solar System’.

scholarly journals Possible role of biochemiluminescent photons for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-induced phosphenes and visual hallucinations

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gábor Kapócs ◽  
Felix Scholkmann ◽  
Vahid Salari ◽  
Noémi Császár ◽  
Henrik Szőke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual System ◽  
Lysergic Acid ◽  
Healthy People ◽  
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide ◽  
Visual Hallucinations ◽  
Interest In Research ◽  
The Brain

AbstractToday, there is an increased interest in research on lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) because it may offer new opportunities in psychotherapy under controlled settings. The more we know about how a drug works in the brain, the more opportunities there will be to exploit it in medicine. Here, based on our previously published papers and investigations, we suggest that LSD-induced visual hallucinations/phosphenes may be due to the transient enhancement of bioluminescent photons in the early retinotopic visual system in blind as well as healthy people.

scholarly journals 11. The Role of Protoplanets in the Formation of the Solar System

1977 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 569-571
Author(s):  
I. P. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Refractory Material ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Resisting Medium ◽  
Solar Composition ◽  
Roche Limit ◽  
Natural Outcome

A likely origin of the asteroids (and possibly, of the comets?) is the natural outcome of the following scenario that we propose for the formation of the planets. Protoplanets of similar mass and solar composition will segregate in three different ways: For those far enough from the sun (like Uranus and Neptune), the segregation of icy grains releases enough energy to drive the remaining gases to infinity. For all other planets, the segregation of refractory material only does not release enough energy to disrupt the protoplanet; however, while spiraling inwards in a resisting medium, the terrestrial protoplanets cross their Roche limit and lose their gaseous outer layers. Asteroids (or comets) could therefore originate from the disruption of protoplanets before the settling of their refractory (or icy) grains is completed.

scholarly journals Encounters involving planetary systems in birth environments: the significant role of binaries

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (1) ◽  
pp. 1212-1225
Author(s):  
Daohai Li ◽  
Alexander J Mustill ◽  
Melvyn B Davies
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Binary Stars ◽  
Open Cluster ◽  
Planetary Systems ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Crowded Environments ◽  
Stellar Density

ABSTRACT Most stars form in a clustered environment. Both single and binary stars will sometimes encounter planetary systems in such crowded environments. Encounter rates for binaries may be larger than for single stars, even for binary fractions as low as 10–20 per cent. In this work, we investigate scatterings between a Sun–Jupiter pair and both binary and single stars as in young clusters. We first perform a set of simulations of encounters involving wide ranges of binaries and single stars, finding that wider binaries have larger cross-sections for the planet’s ejection. Secondly, we consider such scatterings in a realistic population, drawing parameters for the binaries and single stars from the observed population. The scattering outcomes are diverse, including ejection, capture/exchange, and collision. The binaries are more effective than single stars by a factor of several or more in causing the planet’s ejection and collision. Hence, in a cluster, as long as the binary fraction is larger than about 10 per cent, the binaries will dominate the scatterings in terms of these two outcomes. For an open cluster of a stellar density 50 pc−3, a lifetime 100 Myr, and a binary fraction 0.5, we estimate that Jupiters of the order of 1 per cent are ejected, 0.1 per cent collide with a star, 0.1 per cent change ownership, and 10 per cent of the Sun–Jupiter pairs acquire a stellar companion during scatterings. These companions are typically thousands of au distant and in half of the cases (so 5 per cent of all Sun–Jupiter pairs), they can excite the planet’s orbit through Kozai–Lidov mechanism before being stripped by later encounters. Our result suggests that the Solar system may have once had a companion in its birth cluster.

scholarly journals The solar gravitational redshift from HARPS-LFC Moon spectra

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A146
Author(s):  
J. I. González Hernández ◽  
R. Rebolo ◽  
L. Pasquini ◽  
G. Lo Curto ◽  
P. Molaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Spectral Range ◽  
Frequency Comb ◽  
Line Shift ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
Gravitational Redshift ◽  
Solar Photosphere ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Solar System Bodies

Context. The general theory of relativity predicts the redshift of spectral lines in the solar photosphere as a consequence of the gravitational potential of the Sun. This effect can be measured from a solar disk-integrated flux spectrum of the Sun’s reflected light on Solar System bodies. Aims. The laser frequency comb (LFC) calibration system attached to the HARPS spectrograph offers the possibility of performing an accurate measurement of the solar gravitational redshift (GRS) by observing the Moon or other Solar System bodies. Here, we analyse the line shift observed in Fe absorption lines from five high-quality HARPS-LFC spectra of the Moon. Methods. We selected an initial sample of 326 photospheric Fe lines in the spectral range between 476–585 nm and measured their line positions and equivalent widths (EWs). Accurate line shifts were derived from the wavelength position of the core of the lines compared with the laboratory wavelengths of Fe lines. We also used a CO5BOLD 3D hydrodynamical model atmosphere of the Sun to compute 3D synthetic line profiles of a subsample of about 200 spectral Fe lines centred at their laboratory wavelengths. We fit the observed relatively weak spectral Fe lines (with EW< 180 mÅ) with the 3D synthetic profiles. Results. Convective motions in the solar photosphere do not affect the line cores of Fe lines stronger than about ∼150 mÅ. In our sample, only 15 Fe I lines have EWs in the range 150< EW(mÅ) < 550, providing a measurement of the solar GRS at 639 ± 14 m s−1, which is consistent with the expected theoretical value on Earth of ∼633.1 m s−1. A final sample of about 97 weak Fe lines with EW < 180 mÅ allows us to derive a mean global line shift of 638 ± 6 m s−1, which is in agreement with the theoretical solar GRS. Conclusions. These are the most accurate measurements of the solar GRS obtained thus far. Ultrastable spectrographs calibrated with the LFC over a larger spectral range, such as HARPS or ESPRESSO, together with a further improvement on the laboratory wavelengths, could provide a more robust measurement of the solar GRS and further testing of 3D hydrodynamical models.

The Effects of Hyperbolic Meteoroids from Parker Solar Probe to the Moon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamey Szalay ◽  
Petr Pokorny ◽  
Mihaly Horanyi ◽  
Stuart Bale ◽  
Eric Christian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Radiation Pressure ◽  
Solar Radiation Pressure ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Zodiacal Cloud ◽  
Impact Ejecta ◽  
Density Enhancement ◽  
Small Grains

&lt;p&gt;The zodiacal cloud in the inner solar system undergoes continual evolution, as its dust grains are collisionally ground and sublimated into smaller and smaller sizes. Sufficiently small (~&lt;500 nm) grains known as beta-meteoroids are ejected from the inner solar system on hyperbolic orbits under the influence of solar radiation pressure. These small grains can reach significantly larger speeds than those in the nominal zodiacal cloud and impact the surfaces of airless bodies. Since the discovery of the Moon's asymmetric ejecta cloud, the origin of its sunward-canted density enhancement has not been well understood. We propose impact ejecta from beta-meteoroids that hit the Moon's sunward side could explain this unresolved asymmetry. The proposed hypothesis rests on the fact that beta-meteoroids are one of the few truly asymmetric meteoroid sources in the solar system, as unbound grains always travel away from the Sun and lack a symmetric inbound counterpart. This finding suggests beta-meteoroids may also contribute to the evolution of other airless surfaces in the inner solar system as well as within other exo-zodiacal disks. We will also highlight recent observations from the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) spacecraft, which suggest it is being bombarded by the very same beta-meteoroids. We discuss how observations by PSP, which lacks a dedicated dust detector, can be used to inform the structure and variability of beta-meteoroids in the inner solar system closer to the Sun than ever before.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Some Aspects of Constructing Long Ephemerides of the Sun, Major Planets and the Moon: Ephemeris AE95

1997 ◽  
Vol 165 ◽  
pp. 245-250
Author(s):  
G.I. Eroshkin ◽  
N.I. Glebova ◽  
M.A. Fursenko ◽  
A. A. Trubitsina
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Numerical Integration ◽  
High Precision ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Specific Character ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Special Edition ◽  
Polynomial Representation

The construction of long-term numerical ephemerides of the Sun, major planets and the Moon is based essentially on the high-precision numerical solution of the problem of the motion of these bodies and polynomial representation of the data. The basis of each ephemeris is a mathematical model describing all the main features of the motions of the Sun, major planets, and Moon. Such mathematical model was first formulated for the ephemerides DE/LE and was widely applied with some variations for several national ephemeris construction. The model of the AE95 ephemeris is based on the DE200/LE200 ephemeris mathematical model. Being an ephemeris of a specific character, the AE95 ephemeris is a basis for a special edition “Supplement to the Astronomical Yearbook for 1996–2000”, issued by the Institute of the Theoretical Astronomy (ITA) (Glebova et al., 1995). This ephemeris covering the years 1960–2010 is not a long ephemeris in itself but the main principles of its construction allow one to elaborate the long-term ephemeris on an IBM PC-compatible computer. A high-precision long-term numerical integration of the motion of major bodies of the Solar System demands a choice of convenient variables and a high-precision method of the numerical integration, taking into consideration the specific features of both the problem to be solved and the computer to be utilized.

scholarly journals ROLE OF HEMANT RITU (EARLY WINTER) FOR MAINTEINANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF BALA (STRENGTH)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 829-832
Author(s):  
Shilpa Kachhawaha ◽  
Rajesh Kumar Sharma ◽  
Dinesh Chandra Sharma
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Heating Effect ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
The World

Seasons (Ritus) are the inherent global earth clock and the rhythm of the world. As per Ayurveda year is divided into six seasons, in which three season Shishira, Vasanta and Greeshma are known as Aadanakala . Other three seasons Varsha, Sharad and Hemanta are said to be Visargakala. In Visarga kala, as the Sun is located in southwards position, its heat reduces or slows down due to the effect of time and its position with respect to the Earth, wind, cloud and rain. The power of the Moon is predominant. Rainwater decreases the heating effect of nature. All of these lead to the predominance of non- dryunctuous, amla (sour), lavana (salty), and madhura (sweet) rasa respectively and step by step rise of body strength in human beings during these three seasons. Out of all the Ritus, Hemanta Ritu is a unique Ritu in terms of having uttam bala. Falling in Dakshinayana, moon is very powerful than sun, Madhur rasa is predominant in this Ritu, so the strength (Bala) of person enhances during this period. This article focuses to disclose thorough review of literature of Hemant ritucharya and its implication towards maintenance and enhancement of Uttam Bala. In Ayurveda oja, veerya, prana, kapha etc terms are considered as synonyms of Bala. Besides prakruti(genetic), sara(physiological) and aahar(diet), kala (season) is one of the prime factors to govern the Bala of the person. Bala stands for the strength of the body in terms of physical, mental, immunological and resistance to the body, the word Bala is being used in different contexts to denote various aspects accordingly. Keywords: Visarga kala, Hemant ritu, Bala

scholarly journals Everything Is A Circle: A New Universal Orbital Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
AslıPınar Tan
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Ecliptic Plane ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Circular Orbits ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Angular Velocities

Based on measured astronomical position data of heavenly objects in the Solar System and other planetary systems, all bodies in space seem to move in some kind of elliptical motion with respect to each other. According to Kepler&rsquo;s 1st Law, &ldquo;orbit of a planet with respect to the Sun is an ellipse, with the Sun at one of the two foci.&rdquo; Orbit of the Moon with respect to Earth is also distinctly elliptical, but this ellipse has a varying eccentricity as the Moon comes closer to and goes farther away from the Earth in a harmonic style along a full cycle of this ellipse. In this paper, our research results are summarized, where it is first mathematically shown that the &ldquo;distance between points around any two different circles in three dimensional space&rdquo; is equivalent to the &ldquo;distance of points around a vector ellipse to another fixed or moving point, as in two dimensional space&rdquo;. What is done is equivalent to showing that bodies moving on two different circular orbits in space vector wise behave as if moving on an elliptical path with respect to each other, and virtually seeing each other as positioned at an instantaneously stationary point in space on their relative ecliptic plane, whether they are moving with the same angular velocity, or different but fixed angular velocities, or even with different and changing angular velocities with respect to their own centers of revolution. This mathematical revelation has the potential to lead to far reaching discoveries in physics, enabling more insight into forces of nature, with a formulation of a new fundamental model regarding the motions of bodies in the Universe, including the Sun, Planets, and Satellites in the Solar System and elsewhere, as well as at particle and subatomic level. Based on the demonstrated mathematical analysis, as they exhibit almost fixed elliptic orbits relative to one another over time, the assertion is made that the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon must each be revolving in their individual circular orbits of revolution in space. With this expectation, individual orbital parameters of the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon are calculated based on observed Earth to Sun and Earth to Moon distance data, also using analytical methods developed as part of this research to an approximation. This calculation and analysis process have revealed additional results aligned with observation, and this also supports our assertion that the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon must actually be revolving in individual circular orbits.

A New Scientist

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David D. Nolte
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Scientific Method ◽  
Free Time ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Galileo Galilei ◽  
House Arrest ◽  
University Of Padua ◽  
The University

Galileo Galilei was the first modern scientist, launching a new scientific method that superseded, after one and a half millennia, Aristotle’s physics. This chapter describes the trajectory of Galileo’s career, beginning with his studies of motion at the University of Pisa that were interrupted after his move to the University of Padua by his telescopic discoveries of mountains on the Moon and the moons of Jupiter. Galileo became the first rock star of science, and he used his fame to promote the ideas of Copernicus and the Sun-centered model of the solar system. But he pushed too far when he lampooned the Pope. Ironically, Galileo’s conviction for heresy and his sentence to house arrest for the remainder of his life gave him the free time to finally finish his work on the physics of motion, which he published in Two New Sciences in 1638.

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