Comments on: Scientist needs to Just Say No to huffing http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: kenahoo http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963863 kenahoo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963863 My acoustics professor in college (Dr. Carr Everbach) did the exact same demonstration. I had to hold his feet up while he was standing on his head. =) My acoustics professor in college (Dr. Carr Everbach) did the exact same demonstration. I had to hold his feet up while he was standing on his head. =)

]]> By: knoxblox http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963880 knoxblox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963880 My aunt used to rail on me about how huffing helium was going to kill me. I kind of wish I'd had some sulfur hexafluoride on hand, 'cause that sure would have killed her (not literally). My aunt used to rail on me about how huffing helium was going to kill me. I kind of wish I’d had some sulfur hexafluoride on hand, ’cause that sure would have killed her (not literally).

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-964650 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-964650 My new T-shirt: "The molecules are so heavy..." :D My new T-shirt: “The molecules are so heavy…”

:D

]]> By: agraham999 http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963634 agraham999 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963634 Where was this man when I was failing chemistry class? Where was this man when I was failing chemistry class?

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963636 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963636 NERD ALERT Awesome! NERD ALERT

Awesome!

]]> By: Fred Bush http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963897 Fred Bush Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963897 Please don't plug sulfur hexafluoride. It's an extremely potent greenhouse gas, 23000 times as potent as CO2. Please don’t plug sulfur hexafluoride. It’s an extremely potent greenhouse gas, 23000 times as potent as CO2.

]]> By: GeekMan http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963644 GeekMan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963644 He was getting pretty goofy there, I was kind of expecting him to pass out from lack of oxygen. He was getting pretty goofy there, I was kind of expecting him to pass out from lack of oxygen.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963647 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963647 FYI - downward facing dog would be the easy and efficient way to purge your lungs. FYI – downward facing dog would be the easy and efficient way to purge your lungs.

]]> By: putty http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-964421 putty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-964421 Forgive my ignorance but I have an honest question. How does this potent greenhouse gas ever get up into the atmosphere to do its dirty work if it is heavier than air? Forgive my ignorance but I have an honest question. How does this potent greenhouse gas ever get up into the atmosphere to do its dirty work if it is heavier than air?

]]> By: Doomstalk http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963660 Doomstalk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963660 Much better. I think you've atoned for your sins. Thanks. :) Much better. I think you’ve atoned for your sins. Thanks. :)

]]> By: Boondocker http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963668 Boondocker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963668 That had me howling. Awesome stuff. That had me howling. Awesome stuff.

]]> By: Rich Keller http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963927 Rich Keller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963927 Sulfur hexafluoride? Put it on the pizza! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wusGIl3v044 Sulfur hexafluoride?
Put it on the pizza!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wusGIl3v044

]]> By: thebelgianpanda http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963679 thebelgianpanda Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963679 thank you, i needed that :D thank you, i needed that :D

]]> By: MarkM http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963691 MarkM Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963691 goofy professor is goofy! goofy professor is goofy!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963697 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963697 Oh man, Video Toast wipe at the end brought back some memories. Oh man, Video Toast wipe at the end brought back some memories.

]]> By: irksome http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963704 irksome Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963704 Methinks the good professor has huffed a few too many times. Methinks the good professor has huffed a few too many times.

]]> By: murray http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-965241 murray Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-965241 Yeah but down dog wouldn't have been nearly as comical. Yeah but down dog wouldn’t have been nearly as comical.

]]> By: thelibrarian http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963715 thelibrarian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963715 And here is a video of Adam Savage doing much the same demonstration (although his sulphur hexaflouride voice is much more demonic): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-XbjFn3aqE And here is a video of Adam Savage doing much the same demonstration (although his sulphur hexaflouride voice is much more demonic):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-XbjFn3aqE

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963717 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963717 Yeah, same here. When he started just talking about the "second swig," I was visibly cringing. Yeah, same here. When he started just talking about the “second swig,” I was visibly cringing.

]]> By: Jaan http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-964741 Jaan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-964741 I used to work in public access back in those days...I love the Video Toaster glass cracking effect. That was always the most popular wipe. I used to work in public access back in those days…I love the Video Toaster glass cracking effect. That was always the most popular wipe.

]]> By: murray http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-965256 murray Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-965256 That's an awesome question. I don't know but I'm thinking maybe it's just because the atmosphere is quite turbulent, so all the gases in it are being mixed around. If the air didn't move at all, maybe then the SF6 would sink to the ground. And if there's enough of it, we'd all suffocate... That’s an awesome question. I don’t know but I’m thinking maybe it’s just because the atmosphere is quite turbulent, so all the gases in it are being mixed around. If the air didn’t move at all, maybe then the SF6 would sink to the ground. And if there’s enough of it, we’d all suffocate…

]]> By: Ted8305 http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-964255 Ted8305 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-964255 Demonic? Nah, Adam Savage + SF6 = Penn Jilette. Somebody needs to convince Penn to inhale helium to see if he sounds like Adam. Demonic? Nah, Adam Savage + SF6 = Penn Jilette. Somebody needs to convince Penn to inhale helium to see if he sounds like Adam.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-964769 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-964769 Back in the day when dinosaurs roamed the earth, we at NASA investigated using SF6 to achieve higher Reynolds number testing capability in the Ames Reseach Center 12' pressurized windtunnel. We found that filling the tunnel (660,000 cu ft) would use up the entire years production of SF6. There is a problem with SF6, it is too squishy so really doesn't model air too well. There were some other problems like emergency blowdown where we could asphyxiate everyone on the center. Ah! the wonderful days of thinking outside the box. Back in the day when dinosaurs roamed the earth, we at NASA investigated using SF6 to achieve higher Reynolds number testing capability in the Ames Reseach Center 12′ pressurized windtunnel. We found that filling the tunnel (660,000 cu ft) would use up the entire years production of SF6. There is a problem with SF6, it is too squishy so really doesn’t model air too well. There were some other problems like emergency blowdown where we could asphyxiate everyone on the center. Ah! the wonderful days of thinking outside the box.

]]> By: mellowknees http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963754 mellowknees Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963754 That was awesomely hilarious, and I thank you for it That was awesomely hilarious, and I thank you for it

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-964784 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-964784 He lost me when he said "helium molecules". Helium is inert, it doesn't form molecules! Ok, the headstand won me back. He lost me when he said “helium molecules”. Helium is inert, it doesn’t form molecules!

Ok, the headstand won me back.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-964274 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-964274 Science fail. Sound speed and density are two different things. While sound speed depends on density, it also depends on the compressibility of the gas. In fact, they are inversely proportional: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound Science fail. Sound speed and density are two different things. While sound speed depends on density, it also depends on the compressibility of the gas. In fact, they are inversely proportional:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound

]]> By: Sekino http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963764 Sekino Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963764 Sulfur hexafluoride chaser accepted!! :D Sulfur hexafluoride chaser accepted!! :D

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-964278 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-964278 Xenon will give a similar effect and it's not a greenhouse gas. Xenon will give a similar effect and it’s not a greenhouse gas.

]]> By: Paco http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963767 Paco Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963767 I was at a music festival two years ago where there was a lot of nitrous oxide around and one of the bands said 'What's with all the balloons, is somebody having a birthday party?' I can't help but remember that every time somebody mentions inhalants. The event cracked down on it this past year; shit's dangerous. People forget they might black out and crack their heads off the ground. Or think it's a good idea to do a handstand and break their necks. However, there usually are not any tables to lean on when you're at a concert :p I was at a music festival two years ago where there was a lot of nitrous oxide around and one of the bands said ‘What’s with all the balloons, is somebody having a birthday party?’

I can’t help but remember that every time somebody mentions inhalants.

The event cracked down on it this past year; shit’s dangerous. People forget they might black out and crack their heads off the ground. Or think it’s a good idea to do a handstand and break their necks. However, there usually are not any tables to lean on when you’re at a concert :p

]]> By: yochris http://boingboing.net/2010/12/09/scientist-needs-to-j.html#comment-963769 yochris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-963769 i think i partied with that guy in college i think i partied with that guy in college

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