For decades, physicists, who view window glass at the molecular level, have pondered the question of whether or not glass is a solid or merely an extremely slow-moving liquid. An Emory University research team led by physicist Eric Weeks has yielded another clue in the glass puzzle, demonstrating that, unlike liquids, glasses aren’t comfortable in confined spaces.
Scientists fully understand the process of water turning to ice. As the temperature cools, the movement of the water molecules slows. At 32 F, the molecules form crystal lattices, solidifying into ice. In contrast, the molecules of glasses do not crystallize. The movement of the glass molecules slows as temperature cools, but they never lock into crystal patterns. Instead, they jumble up and gradually become glassier, or more viscous. No one understands exactly why.
Previous research has shown groups of particles in dense suspensions move cooperatively. “Our work suggests glasses are solid-like because these groups can’t move when the sample chamber is thinner than the typical size of these groups,” Weeks says.
Yes, my first thought was of Bob Shaw’s short story classic, “Light of Other Days” – about slow glass.
32–Mustard. Did you find this defintion in a book, or craft it yourself?
>>Mustard. Did you find this defintion in a book, or craft it yourself?
I crafted it all by my lonesome, bobbo. Do you like it?
I guess I could have looked it up in a book (or the modern-day equivalent of books, Google), but unlike some here, I have actual things to do in my actual life (like fornicate with my actual genitalia, work at an actual job, etc.).
If you don’t like it (or believe that something superior can be found in a book), feel free to offer your own.
35—Mustard—make up my own words and use them when talking to the general public? No. Not interested in doing that.
>>make up my own words and use them when talking to the
>>general public? No. Not interested in doing that.
No? You seem to be quite skilled in that art.
So. Do YOU have a definition, or are you just trolling? Do you work for John C. Dvorak? Are you trying to up the hits on his blog?
34—Mustard, sorry last sentence got lost.
I find using a standard dictionary to be quite useful (and neutral) in guiding my own thinking. In a way, being objective is my own personal belief system, but not quite a religion.
Wow, what ever happened to the comment posting guidelines for DU? This is only slightly off topic.
Way to start an off topic flame war, OhForTheLoveOf.
I remember a bunch of my fellow Boeing engineers berating me back in the late 80’s for not instinctively knowing that glass was a liquid. I guess I was (partially) correct. IN YOUR FACE, LAZY B! Bwahahaha!
OK, bobbo. Since you think to seem that if it appears in a book, it must be true, here’s a book definition for you:
“Religion—sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system—is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices and institutions associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankind’s relationship with the universe. In the course of the development of religion, it has taken a huge number of forms in various cultures and individuals.”
Seems to me that Atheism fits right in there. Snugly between tribal relgions and Sikhism, according to the Religious Tolerance link I posted earlier.
A little surprising that there are fifteen times as many Atheists as there are Jews, but hey. Some things in this life are just counterintuitive.
36—Well, if I ever stray from dictionary meanings, point it out. I often will google a term before using it and have even changed my posts as a result. The glass entry above at #28 just the most recent example.
Too many arguments dont start by defining the terms. Once anyone realizes you have a personal definition not related to the real world, then they can gain more from engaging you, or not, as they desire.
I always rely on the dictionary for reasoned discourse.
My defintion is from “WordWeb” not be best, but free and easy to use.
Religion: A strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny.
Somehow, “not believing in God” isn’t included. But Words are subject to change?
Did that guy actually say “then don’t go to fucking church”? And isn’t he on the side of the angels? (Uh, not Angel.)
And WTF does all this have to do with GLASS?
>>Somehow, “not believing in God” isn’t included. But
>>Words are subject to change?
Not included in my definition either, bobster. What we’re talking about wrt Atheism is the BELIEF in NON-GOD. My (and the dictionary’s, and Google’s, and everyone else) definition requires that you BELIEVE something related to God for it to be a religion.
And a blind-faith belief that God does not exist fits that to a “T”.
Any other questions? Or may I go have that beer now?
>>Did that guy actually say “then don’t go to fucking church”?
Yep.
39—Actually, I gained from your clever incorporation of the Religious Tolerance link, that makes the engagement worthwhile.
Is atheism included in that defintion?
Only for those few who turn atheism into a religion which can really muddy the water for a few who aren’t dictionary/objectively grounded, but then they are not following the definition of atheism. Again from WebWord: Atheism: The doctrine or belief that there is no God.
So there we have it. Great ambiguity for those who wish to confound religion with belief system. That stems from the reality that there are many different contexts in which words are used and the meanings do change over time. Social and technical contexts often actually define words in opposite ways==”Theory” being the best example I can think of. Religion is not as close, but it is a step or two along the way.
So, words can be used to obfuscate or delineate, as you wish.
No boboli, the Religious Tolerance site did not provide a “definition” of “religion”. It’s clear from their inclusion of Atheism as the 8th most popular religion on earth, though, that people who spend their lives thinking about religion include Atheism as one. Any more questions?
>>Atheism: The doctrine or belief that there is no God.
Id est, a religion.
Come on, lemme go have a fucking beer!
What does glass have to do with religion?
Well, both subjects are very much involved in simply how they are defined. The study of one, has to help even in some little way, to the other.
45—I’m only saying the Religious Tolerance link was interesting as was your incorporation of its information.
I’m having a beer right now, scratch my balls on occasion, and watching TV while recording to my DVR and computer. Thats 5 things including typing this. Of those 5, the beer is most satisfying.
Cripes! You guys are still at it.
#28 – try reading through the 10-year old math articles you post – before you post them. There are contradictions and exceptions to your understanding of the facts in that article.
I did find it worth a chuckle. Cross-discipline study is fun, I recommend it – especially in areas that can benefit from computational analysis; but – mathematicians are really capable of not getting what another scientist is talking about.
>>Comment by god
Hey! I thought you were dead!
Was this about glass????????????
48—What did I miss?
Glass–liquid, solid, supercooled solid etc==all definitional. Concrete sags (course it has water in it?)
The roman glassware 2000 years old did not sag. Evidently, old time glass was made with a thick edge and it was installed thick edge down.
What did I miss?
Who cares?
“I’m having a beer right now, scratch my balls on occasion, and watching TV while recording to my DVR and computer. Thats 5 things including typing this. Of those 5, the beer is most satisfying.”
From this statement Bobo I deduce that your balls aren’t very itchy ^^
“Give it a rest, honey. You believe what you wish to believe (or not not not believe), let me believe what I believe.”
Unfortunately, Mustard, we can’t let religious folk believe what they want to believe, because THEY do not let US believe what WE want to believe. When your religious beliefs are no longer being forced down my throat, I, and probably most atheists, will let the fight go.
The overwhelming majority of atheists don’t care if you believe in a god. But when your beliefs affect our lives (stem cell research is a good example, I won’t even get into governmental issues) then there is a problem.
Anyway, everybody is an atheist. Some just believe in one less god.
>>because THEY do not let US believe what WE want to believe.
Well, take it up with THEM, then. As I have pointed out several times in these threads, whatever you wish to believe is just fine and dandy with me. Never once have I suggested that your beliefs are less valid than mine, or that you should give up what you believe and do things my way. I am a strong supporter of stem cell research, keeping religion out of public schools, scientific research (I’m a die-hard evolutionist), freedom of reproductive choice, and many other inclincations you might be partial to.
I’ll tell you what: If you stop lumping me in with Dumbya and Ted Haggard and Jerry Falwell and the Pope, I won’t lump you in with Stalin and Mao.
B I G difference between y’all and us, MM.
We come up with facts that you evade – like your glaringly conspicuous avoidance of my post #19. You keep repeating the falsehood that nonbelief is a religion. I showed, clearly, that nonbelievers have scientific evidence that “God” is a human invention. And that means WE base our statements about “God” on EVIDENCE. YOU have ZERO EVIDENCE. YOU are therefore the ones operating on BLIND FAITH.
Our assertions regarding “God are based on ALL the available evidence. That is RATIONALITY.
Your assertions regarding “God” are CONTRARY to ALL the available evidence. That is BLIND FAITH.
AND – as usual, since your argument has been totally blown out of the water and shown, irrefutably to be WRONG, you will continue your Gregory Hines impersonation, dancing madly around your LOSS, pretending you can’t read.
That is called DENIAL.
That’s how religious people cope with the bits of reality that don’t match up with their comforting, mob-approved fairytales.
Let the dancing begin! 🙂
Well, one thing I did miss about glass, but have not gone back to doublecheck is the inconsistency of the “fact” that the very sharp edge of broken glass evidently gets dull after a day of two, indicating it sags==but then glassware in a roman tomb has not sagged.
Maybe the physics at play are different at the edge of sharp glass than a bigger blob, who knows?
Well Mustard==I still don’t get it. Even if you want to call Atheism a religion–it would be a religion that does not believe in the supernatural and changes the details of its position based on reproduceable testable experiments? It certainly would not mean things are taken “on faith” or without proof if that is what you are trying to get to by calling it a religion.
In the end, as a person’s definitional briar patch is understood for what it is, the underlying disputes/positions don’t change.
FACT,
Christianity is based on the Life and times of Christ??
THEN who in hell added the OLD testament and bible stories which is the history and LAWS of the Jewish religion…
DOEs this mean we are ALL Jewish??(mostly anyway)
Interesting? Are we a Sect of the Jewish faith??
do we live by the Old testament that has roots about 6000 years OLD, or by the teaching of Christ that are 2000 years old…
If you wish to debate the OLD, then go look at the Talmud, and find out what it says…Go talk to your Hebrew historians, and so forth.
If you like the OLD stories WHICH have little to DO with Christians, Go ask the Hebrew, and SEe how your people did in the past.
Otherwise, AS CHRISTIANS…Learn from those that WENT to the Lions den, and SHUT UP.
OK Fish.
You win. I just don’t have the time, energy, or interest to perseverate in discussing with you whether your belief is a belief or not. Being the logic-master that you proclaim yourself to be, perhaps you recognize a tautology when you see one.
You and bobbo may continue scratching your balls. I believe that I have better things to do. And hey, how about that stock market? Now that the Dow has dipped below 12,000, you may have to start dipping into the trust fund, eh?
#38 – Way to start an off topic flame war, OhForTheLoveOf.
You realize it was a joke… right?
Although I am actually rather pleased with the ensuing chaos. Mustard seems to have lost it though…
I love the way you confound belief based on all the available evidence with belief 100% contrary to all the available evidence. It’s a hoot.
ª ª ª ª ª ª
I trade in only two stocks. I don’t concern myself with the rest of the market. And as the phrase goes, “Works for me!”
>>I trade in only two stocks.
I guess that’s why you have so much free time.
“Buy”. “Sell”. “OK, time for dvorak dot org slash blog!”