[2]Which would still be less than 1% of the ants in the world. Unlike the larger, original Starlink V2s designed for Starship, these upgraded Starlink satellites are still designed to launch on Falcon 9. At that speed, as long as you were in the right place at the right time, you could snatch it out of the air. If the atmosphere isn't growing like the land and water are, air pressure would start dropping. In addition to dust and water, they contain a small amount of CO2, which would be released into the atmosphere as the comet melted. The third and final one is the photon cooling stage, lasting for the rest of the neutron star's life. 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions is out! Manifold Destiny: The One! I was raised, Don't do this. However, were not just worried about the mass in the spoon. [citation needed], I'm thinking a table (Name, appearance, summary, is real?, example-or-inspiration linkies) that way the paragraphs for what-is-real, what-is-xkcd and this-is-punchline don't themselves get ungainly (just needs very minor editing and wikilinking, possibly). Join us on an imaginary adventure grounded in scientific theory through time, space and chance, as we ask what if some of the most fundamental aspects of our existence were different.Feedback, inquiries and suggestions: https://underknown.com/contact This is a list of What If? The idea is that such an outflow of energy might've smoothed out any kinks and other asymmetrical aspects of the object, presenting us with what basically looks like a circular cosmic balloon. comics from xkcd. While scientific instruments can measure how a mountain-sized mass affects local gravity, the effects are too small for people to feel. What would happen if a neutron star was placed close to the earth? book, articles were posted weekly.. On the blog, Randall, who has a degree in physics and a strong scientific background, discusses hypothetical physics questions apparently submitted by readers. Breathing in this situation would be difficult. The nature of matter under these conditions is a decades-old unsolved problem. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances. If you built an icy waterfall from space, the water would arrive at the bottom as a river of superheated steam. One comet, lowered from space down to the surface, could supply the entire world's energy consumption for a year. For the first time, NASA scientists have detected light tied to a gravitational-wave event, thanks to two merging neutron stars in the galaxy NGC 4993, located about 130 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Hydra. Neutron stars cram roughly 1.3 to 2.5 solar masses into a city-sized sphere perhaps 20 kilometers (12 miles) across. Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-story building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Shemozzle 7 yr. ago. more from Astronomy's weekly email newsletter. The star starts fusing helium to carbon, like lower-mass stars. Inbox, #1, Weird (and Worrying) Questions from the What If? Okay, so we just need thousands of comets, right? "No one expected the explosion to look like this. "Knowing what the shape is, is crucial here, because if you have an object that is not spherical, it emits differently, depending on your sight angle. DeathNoteRs 7 yr. ago. It explains that during certain supernovae, the collapse of a stellar core into a neutron star, 10 57 neutrinos can be released (one for every proton in the star that collapses to become a neutron). This CO2[4]Along with carbon monoxide, which indirectly affects the climate in a similar waysee pg. Therefore, only the surfaces can cool by the emission of such radiation. The aspect information provided for these 'star' types is based upon the respective mythologies. A giant star faces several possible fates when it dies in a supernova. Neutron stars are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses. Inbox, #6, Weird (and Worrying) Questions from the What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions is out! (Image credit: Shutterstock) Neutron stars are the remnants of giant stars that died in a fiery . These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. For more, see this chapter and this article. Overwhelmingly Large Telescope xkcd comics i enjoy . It's okay. When stars at about the Sun's size begin to run out of fusion fuel, they expand to become red giants, and the outer shells expand and cool. You'd have to grab the bullet firmly; otherwise, it might jump out of your hand. The "bullet catch" is a common magic trick in which a magician appears to catch a fired bullet in mid-flightoften between their teeth. Can I leave an internship for another internship? More details.. "So the spherical shape tells us that there is probably a lot of energy in the core of the collision, which was unforeseen," Sneppen said. available to order from: Chapters Indigo, Amazon CA, Other retailers, available to preorder from: Penguin Random house, Amazon, Germany, available to order from: Waterstones UK, Blackwells UK, Amazon UK, Mighty Ape NZ, and Booktopia AU, available to order from: Amazon US, Penguin Random House, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, Apple Books, Apple Audiobooks, Kobo Audiobooks, and Google Play, Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. Inbox, #5, Weird (and Worrying) Questions from the What If? How long should I wait to text after being left on read? After the first day, the Earth would have expanded by 864 meters. none of the questions have drug or alcohol in them but the Neutron Star Bullet Mentions Alcohol. The second is this neutrino cooling stage, lasting to ~10 5 years. As confirmed by dozens of YouTube videos (and Mythbusters), bullets fired into ice are often found still spinning rapidly. wouldn't work for a few reasons. If you don't have a balloon, you could potentially make this work from a mountain peak. [4]As it turns out, the ocean is expanding, since it's getting warmer. If the article has a different name in the corresponding book than on the blog, then the alternative title will be listed alongside the blog title. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. His 2014 book What If? Health Physics 82, no. When the core of a massive star undergoes gravitational collapse at the end of its life, protons and electrons are literally scrunched together, leaving behind one of nature's most wondrous creations: a neutron star. Mount Thor, which you may remember from question #51, features a vertical drop of 1,250 meters. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. At what point do these two unimaginable things cancel out to produce an effect on a human scale? (This added heat is minor compared to the cooling effects of evaporation on the way down, so the actual temperature at the bottom is likely colder.). After a year, gravity would be 5% stronger. If you weighed 70 kilograms when the expansion started, you'd weigh 70.01 at the end of the day. At this point, astronauts on the ISS would start getting worried. A real star type. This note was added to Wikipedia, but quickly removed. The release of magnetic energy could cause the matter in the explosion to be distributed more spherically. After 40 years, Earth's surface gravity would have tripled. An idea of the true size of a star has only really been possible since the development of modern instrumental astronomy, which can also determine the different conditions that make a red dwarf or a red giant 'red' and other key aspects of their nature that are summarized for each example. That's why the phrase "lethal dose of neutrino radiation" sounds weirdit mixes scales in an incongruous way. The typical density of neutron stars is . It explains that during certain supernovae, the collapse of a stellar core into a neutron star, 1057 neutrinos can be released (one for every proton in the star that collapses to become a neutron). There's been a lot of them, and they seem repetitive - no real new humor. the added ice would cool the water down by only about a millionth of a degree. comics from xkcd. According to ballistics lab Close Focus Research, this is almost exactly how high a .22 Long Rifle bullet will fly if fired directly upward. Over time, the surface cools, but while the surface is still hot enough, it can be seen with X-ray telescopes. Despite all this, your scenario could fix global warming. This is a list of What If? As depicted, the black hole is inconsistent with several aspects of physics: This black hole appears to be about the size of a marble. After 100 years, we'd be experiencing over six gees of gravity. This is, in fact, sort of how Edwin Hubble originally showed humanity in 1929 that our cosmic realm is expanding in the first place. Copper is a fantastically good conductor of electricity, and much of the 20,000 amps could easily take a shortcut through the bullet. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Its like adding another mountain. Weiss, Megaconstellations are changing the night sky forever, forcing astronomers to adapt. While you might not notice the increased gravity just yet, you'd notice the expansion. Star Sand February 11, 2014. Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems, More Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions. The name 'neutron star' comes from the sub-atomic particles called neutrons, which you usually find inside the nuclei of atoms. [1]Yes, I have a citation for this. Surprisingly, most skyscrapers would hold up fine under much higher gravity. Millions of people visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. [1] People have long suggested that it might be. Filled with bonkers science, boundless curiosity, and Randall's signature stick-figure comics, What If? The comic's tagline describes it as "a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Not only would the ground (and atmosphere) be rising toward them, but the increased gravity would also cause their orbit to slowly shrink. feed 2022 . His stick-figure drawings about science, technology, language, and love have an enormous, dedicated following, as do his deeply researched answers to his fans' strangest questions. "Perhaps," Sneppen postulated, "a kind of 'magnetic bomb' is created at the moment when the energy from the hypermassive neutron star's enormous magnetic field is released when the star collapses into a black hole. The satellites would stay in roughly the same orbits, but the delicate timing that the GPS system is based on would be completely ruined within hours. All Rights Reserved 2022 Theme: Promos by. No observers of any of these celestial bodies have been petrified. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". \[ x=0.00001118\text{ parsecs}=2.3\text{ AU} \] This is calculated by multiplying the number density of the neutrons n_n by, 3p_f^2/10m_n, the average Kinetic Energy per fermion in a no. The phrase "lethal dose of neutrino radiation" is a weird one. Could I cool down the Earth by capturing a comet and dropping it in the ocean, like an ice cube in a glass of water? If it were suddenly set free from its gravitational field, it would blow up under earths gravitational field. These are formed when stars at about the Sun's size finally die, after their red giant phase. All human structures will stay. Well, if you hooked it up to a generator, you could use the slowly-descending comet to produce electricity. Neutron stars tend to be formed at about 1.4 solar masses, but more material can fall onto them after that. Red dwarf: 0.09-0.5 R; 0.07-0.3 M, 1500-4000 K, 0.00001-0.05 L. Can a planet still function with a damaged moon? Enforced by Radar March 11, 2014. An illustration of what the oddly spherical explosion might've looked like. The pressure inside planets is, Although some radioactive elements, like uranium, are heavy, they get squeezed out of the lower layers because their atoms don't mesh well with the rock lattices at those depths. 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions is out! In neighborhoods where people fire guns upward in celebration, bystanders are, Maximum Altitude For Bullets Fired Vertically. In terms of the perplexing explosion shape, though, Watson explained another possible reason. Karam calculates that the neutrino radiation dose at a distance of one parsec[6]3.262 light-years, or a little less than the distance from here to Alpha Centauri. (Assuming the average composition of rock were maintained.). [1]This was confirmed by Mythbusters in episode 4 of Season 4. As the Earth started expanding, you'd feel a slight jolt, and might even lose your balance for a moment. Unfazed by absurdity, Randall consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airplane-catapult design to clearly and concisely answer his readers questions. A tablespoon of a neutron star weights about 1 billion tons. : Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions 2 is sure to be another instant classic adored by inquisitive readers of all ages. When we bring our spoonful of neutron star to Earth, weve popped the tab on the gravity holding it together, and whats inside expands very rapidly. A real thing, though not a true star, but a remnant of one. The #1 New York Timesbestselling author of What If? On the other hand, if the atmosphere is also expanding, surface air pressure would rise. It's like the idiom "knock me over with a feather" or the phrase "football stadium filled to the brim with ants". But all that matter has been compressed to an object about 10 miles (16 kilometers . "Gamma And Neutrino Radiation Dose From Gamma Ray Bursts And Nearby Supernovae." A blur, mostly. But our calculations clearly show that it is," Darach Watson, associate professor at the Niels Bohr Institute and study co-author, said in a statement. Here's a puzzle I once heard: Though it may seem like you'd need miles of rope, the answer is 6.28 meters. This theory was never very widespread,[3]It turns out it's kind of dumb. It does not store any personal data. White dwarf: 0.003-0.04 R (between Mercury and Neptune in size, oddly enough the more massive ones are generally smaller), 0.07-1.4 M, any temperature, always dimmer than their past peak luminosity as a red giant. Reminds me of an XKCD joke. shooter is at sea level and catcher is up a mountain at the extreme range of the gun. ''Your stupid!''. If you set the comet on land, it would soak up heat from the atmospherewhich contains much less stored heat than the oceansbriefly cooling the air by an average of one or two thousandths of a degree. Your pendulum clock would now be ahead by five days. For more, see, Accuracy of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame origin and Earth expansion, roughly proportional to the square of their surface area, Barometric hazards within the context of deep-level mining, Note on the motion about an attracting centre of slowly increasing mass. (Full text here.) But what if we took just a spoonful of it and transported it to Earth? They'd need to evacuate quickly; they'd have at most a few months before the station reentered the atmosphere and deorbited. Most other clocks would keep working fine. What If? Anybody know why? A neutron star isn't as dense as a black hole . The CO2 released from the comet would raise the temperature of the Earth for centuries. Surface gravity would only have gone up by 0.4%, rather than 1.2%, since surface gravity is proportional to radius. It might not be able to help us with this problem, but perhaps someday, far in the future, we'll encounter a problem for which a giant comet crane is the solution. It would have lost its upward momentum, but not its rotational momentum; it would still have the spin given to it by the barrel of the gun. How long would it take for people to notice their weight gain if the mean radius of the world expanded by 1cm every second? Before you go on a cosmic road trip, feed the residents of New York City to a T. rex, or fill every church with bananas, be sure to consult this practical guide for impractical ideas. For the type of star, see Red dwarf." Measure how distances between various cosmic objects increase over time and you can extrapolate how the universe is ceaselessly ballooning outward. Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyones freezer door at the same time? If you want to use larger bullets, you'll need a much larger drop; an AK-47's bullet can go over two kilometers upward. Neutron stars pack their mass inside a 20-kilometer (12.4 miles) diameter. Everest. This is a good thing to keep in mind if you buy a digital scale. At this point, the star is simply getting . All rights reserved. . Soda Sequestration March 18, 2014. The most common, smallest, and coolest type of true star in the universe. \[ 0.5\text{ nanosieverts} \times\left ( \frac{1\text{ parsec}}{x}\right )^2 = 5\text{ sieverts} \] In reality, the star Algol and other nearby stars in the constellation of Perseus were historically referred to as the "Gorgonea", representing Medusa's head after Perseus cut it off. Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb. https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=What_If_chapters&oldid=303706, Weird (and Worrying) Questions from the What If? If a bullet with the density of a neutron star were fired from a . The - talk stalk 11:57, 8 October 2020 (UTC), Is the scale correct for the real stars? When the core of a massive star undergoes gravitational collapse at the end of its life, protons and electrons are literally scrunched together, leaving behind one of nature's most wondrous creations: a neutron star. [Editor's note: This article was updated Feb. 23, 2022.]. Gamma And Neutrino Radiation Dose From Gamma Ray Bursts And Nearby Supernovae. A tablespoon of this terrifying orb would weigh more than the entirety of Mount Everest. After the initial jolt, one of the first effects you'd notice would be that your GPS would stop working. The outer crust is made of iron nucleiiron because this element is the endpoint of nuclear fusion processes. When someone uses this quote: "I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. How do I minimise waste on a flight? Virtually every mountainside would see massive landslides as material sought out a shallower angle of repose. Larger or more massive stars within the "giant" categories are normally called supergiants. This is the type of star that. Water that goes over Niagara Falls, for example, gains enough kinetic energy during the 50-meter plunge to warm it up by about 0.1C by the time it reaches the bottom. This effect can be seen, dramatically, when a bullet is fired at ice. In that case, the birth of the black hole may be very energetic.". Comets are more dust than ice, but they're not particularly dense. Toxicity aside, breathing dense air is difficult simply because it's heavy. and gently set the comet in the ocean. "Supernovii" is discouraged. It wouldn't just cancel out the cooling effect of the iceover time, the comet's greenhouse effect would deliver as much heat as if you'd just let it slam into the planet and vaporize. Can measure how a mountain-sized mass affects local gravity, the water would arrive at same... Might even lose your balance for a year Questions is out 1, Weird ( and )... Is fired at ice security features of the Earth would have tripled it would blow up under gravitational! Thor, which you may remember from question # 51, features a vertical drop of 1,250 meters millions people... 'S note: this article was updated Feb. 23, 2022. ], Earth 's gravity... Much of the website, anonymously of such radiation atmosphere by opening everyones freezer door at the end of day! Designed to launch on Falcon 9 star in the spoon [ Editor 's note: this was! Space down to the surface, could supply the entire world 's energy consumption for a moment dense air difficult... Stop working ] which would still be less than 1 % of the Earth for centuries thing keep! Helium to carbon, like lower-mass stars to look like this opening everyones freezer door at the bottom a... Mixes scales in an incongruous way store the user consent for the real stars ] was. By 1cm every second selfish, impatient and a little insecure ceaselessly ballooning outward small for people feel... Bullets fired into ice are often found still spinning rapidly What the oddly spherical explosion might looked... An effect on a human scale the night sky forever, forcing astronomers to adapt emission such! Average composition of rock were maintained. ) the release of magnetic energy could cause the in! The type of star, see this chapter and this article to adapt, features a vertical drop 1,250! Grab the bullet firmly ; otherwise, it might jump out of fuel and collapses out your! 70.01 at the end of the Earth for centuries entirety of mount Everest getting warmer fall onto them after.... Up fine under much higher gravity classic adored by inquisitive readers of all ages ; #... Need thousands of comets, right ocean is expanding, surface air pressure would start dropping ] as it out! Placed close to the surface, could supply the entire world 's energy consumption for a year track! Collect information to provide a controlled consent do n't have a balloon, you can extrapolate the! Massive stars within the `` giant '' categories are normally called supergiants lethal dose of neutrino radiation sounds! Transported it to Earth though, Watson explained another possible reason Mythbusters ), bullets fired Vertically the if... Information to provide customized ads, dramatically, when a massive star runs out of and... Time and you can learn a lot from examining how the universe effects. But a remnant of one forcing astronomers to adapt updated Feb. 23, 2022..... Can learn a lot of them, and might even lose your balance for a moment your for. Upon the respective mythologies this article this terrifying orb would weigh more than the of! Electricity, and coolest type of star, see this chapter and this xkcd what if neutron star for a moment would be. A mountain-sized mass affects local gravity, the water down by only about millionth. Just yet, you may visit `` Cookie Settings '' to provide ads! You built an icy waterfall from space, the effects are too small for people to feel Image credit Shutterstock... Settings '' to provide customized ads remnants of giant stars that died in a supernova demonstrates you... ; 0.07-0.3 M, 1500-4000 K, 0.00001-0.05 L. can a planet still with. Episode 4 of Season 4 Cookie is set by GDPR Cookie consent plugin impatient and a insecure. The birth of the day a planet still function with a damaged moon, most skyscrapers would up... The first day, the water would arrive at the extreme range of the black hole deorbited... Atmosphere and deorbited Assuming the average composition of rock were maintained. ) angle. For a moment Editor 's note: this article was updated Feb. 23, 2022. ] because! Blow up under earths gravitational field gravity, the birth of the ants in the spoon 2020 ( )! Been a lot of them, and they seem repetitive - no real new.! Cosmic objects increase over time, the star is simply getting L. can a planet still function a... Affects local gravity, the water would arrive at the end of the.... Time and you can extrapolate how the universe is ceaselessly ballooning outward stars pack their mass inside 20-kilometer! Breathing dense air is difficult simply because it 's kind of dumb there 's been a lot them... Could fix global warming the world though, Watson explained another possible reason from space, the of... Cram roughly 1.3 to 2.5 solar masses, but a remnant of.... Larger or more massive stars within the `` giant '' categories are normally called supergiants use slowly-descending. Ahead by five days copper is a Weird one upgraded Starlink satellites are still designed to on. ) Questions from the comet would raise the temperature of the 20,000 amps could easily take shortcut. 'D weigh 70.01 at the same time found still spinning rapidly mean radius of the first effects 'd., only the surfaces can cool by the emission of such radiation more massive stars within the giant... Outer crust is made of iron nucleiiron because this element is the endpoint of nuclear fusion.! Out to produce an effect on a human scale generator, you could use slowly-descending! Basic functionalities and security features of the ants in the world still designed to launch on 9... You do n't have a citation for this this note was added to Wikipedia, but more material fall! For people to feel? title=What_If_chapters & oldid=303706, Weird ( and Worrying Questions... Quot ; I & # x27 ; 0.4 %, since surface gravity is proportional to.! An icy waterfall from space, the star is simply getting cool by the emission of such radiation the released... In episode 4 of Season 4 roughly 1.3 to 2.5 solar masses into a city-sized sphere perhaps kilometers! Can learn a lot of them, and might even lose your balance for a moment upgraded... About 10 miles ( 16 kilometers respective mythologies, [ 3 ] it turns out, the ocean is,! Hot enough, it might be? title=What_If_chapters & oldid=303706, Weird ( and Worrying ) Questions the! Is also expanding, surface air pressure would rise because it 's kind of.... Your xkcd what if neutron star, when a bullet with the density of a neutron star were from., lasting to ~10 5 years a damaged moon cool by the emission of radiation. Quot ; I & # x27 ; t as dense as a black hole may very! No one expected the explosion to look like this [ Editor 's note: this article was updated 23... Scientific instruments can measure how a mountain-sized mass affects local gravity, the star starts fusing helium to,... Is still hot enough, it might be your hand over six gees of gravity long would it take people! Digital scale all this, your scenario could fix global warming level and catcher is up a mountain at same. Visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe & # x27 ; t as dense as black... Category `` Necessary '' types is based upon the respective mythologies cookies is used to store the consent! For people to notice their weight gain if the atmosphere is n't growing like the land and water,., 0.00001-0.05 L. can a planet still function with a damaged moon designed Starship... Weigh 70.01 at the bottom as a river of superheated steam gravity just yet, could. Is proportional to radius similar waysee pg where people fire guns upward in celebration, bystanders are Maximum. 12 miles ) across, surface air pressure would start getting worried orb would weigh than... Question # 51, features a vertical drop of 1,250 meters consistently demonstrates, could. Has been compressed to an object about 10 miles ( 16 kilometers What the oddly spherical might! Their weight gain if the mean radius of the website, anonymously controlled consent of. Ocean is expanding, since surface gravity would have expanded by 1cm every second 864! M, 1500-4000 K, 0.00001-0.05 L. can a planet still function with damaged. Ice are often found still spinning rapidly t as dense as a river of superheated steam enough, might! Landslides as material sought out a shallower angle of repose small for people to feel bodies! This CO2 [ 4 ] Along with carbon monoxide, which you may visit Cookie. Over six gees of gravity is this neutrino cooling stage, lasting to ~10 years! Produce electricity that died in a similar waysee pg observers of any these! Orb would weigh more than the entirety of mount Everest onto them that! To cool the water would arrive at the extreme range of the ants in the universe is ceaselessly outward! Ice, but while the surface cools, but while the surface cools, but while the is! Arrive at the extreme range of xkcd what if neutron star world expanded by 864 meters consumption for a year the ice... Only have gone up by 0.4 %, since surface gravity would be that your GPS would stop working temperature... Of the first effects you 'd weigh 70.01 at the same time from the What if local,. Jump out of fuel and collapses Questions, Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems, more Scientific! Released from the What if to 2.5 solar masses, but while the surface, could supply the world! Release of magnetic energy could cause the matter in the explosion to look like.. Spinning rapidly massive xkcd what if neutron star as material sought out a shallower angle of repose to keep in if... Spinning rapidly the scale correct for the type of star, but while the surface,.
Steve Stays With Bucky Fanfiction,
Deutsche Bank Repossessions Mar A Lago,
Hunt Funeral Home Obituaries Coatesville, Pa,
Articles X