/r/SmarterEveryDay

Photograph via snooOG

Welcome to the Smarter Every Day subreddit! It’s a place for those addicted to learning and to look at the world differently each and every day.

Our goal here is simple: To encourage an atmosphere of learning.

You should want to become "Smarter Every Day" and I hope our fascination with science, the world around us, and its governing physical laws somehow motivates you to do this.


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/r/SmarterEveryDay

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46

Fire Department Episode

I work at a department and was just thinking a fire department episode could be awesome! Just some of the ideas:

  • Fluid dynamics with our pumps, and head pressures for long wildland hose lines

  • Fire dynamics with modern fuel loads

  • Technology that we use inside burning structures, FLIR cameras, some departments using augmented reality masks

  • Lithium ion battery fires

  • weather and the impact it has on wildfires

  • The medical side with cardiac monitors, capnography, even simple things like IVs and the safety mechanisms in them now

  • City water systems, and the contrast of rural water systems

  • Radio communications

  • etc

I know my department loves doing these types of events, so let me know if it’s something you think would be enjoyable.

5 Comments
2024/10/15
03:46 UTC

6

Does anyone has any favorite background soundtracks?

I recently became curious to know if anyone had any particular favorite soundtracks from Destin's main YouTube channel videos. I recently watched his video on hiking up Kilimanjaro, and I always seem to feel captivated whenever I hear Chupacabra playing in the background. It started during the segment where they were on the north side of the mountain (timestamp 7:31). I didn't actually know that was the soundtrack at the time of watching the video, but I heard it often enough at this point that I wanted to know what is was. So, I skimmed through the Bandcamp page to find the title.

4 Comments
2024/10/04
02:44 UTC

11

200th birthday for the oldest engineering institution in the English Speaking World!

Hello everyone and Destin!

my name is Alex and I am a junior Mechanical Engineering student from South Korea currently studying at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute! I just wanted to share the news that this year is the 200th birthday of the oldest technological school in the English-speaking world and in the western hemisphere!

RPI was established in 1824, and it would be a great honor if you are able to share some of the stories of great alumnus and the school that I love. As a fan of your engineering videos, I figured it would be worth sharing the place where this crazy discipline of engineering started.

It's kinda crazy that I am just straight promoting my school lol, but I think it's fitting for us as people who have common passion for engineering. We are celebrating with Bicentennial events and looking back on great achievements of our alumni! Hope you get this message and I don't know what I can offer to you as a student but looking forward to hearing from you!

Love your videos and keep up the great work!

3 Comments
2024/10/03
14:44 UTC

6

Why doesn't the empty Starship booster float?

I understand that if it sinks that means it is still too dense. What I am wondering is what is the density of this spacecraft? u/spacex went through the trouble of recovering a portion of the booster from Startship4 - would deployable air bladders have worked?

3 Comments
2024/09/30
20:06 UTC

88

I Did An Experiment On Kilimanjaro - Smarter Every Day 302

25 Comments
2024/09/30
16:01 UTC

12

Is there Thermodynamics Simulator "game"?

Hi Guys!

Is there a game created in Unirty or Unreal Engine that can simulate some basic Thermodynamics?

4 Comments
2024/09/29
21:22 UTC

10

Dustin's two favorite things: Laminar Flow and Rocket Engines

9 Comments
2024/09/14
02:24 UTC

17

Thanks to you today I recognised......

....a float!

Destin,

I was watching a video on Youtube yesterday in which an Australian takes stuff apart and melts down the metal to make into treasure for his vault (bigstackD Casting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCIBTwasw2g)

and thanks to one of my favourite videos of yours with your dad talking and learning about carburetors i was able to see a part being dismantled and I recognised that it was part of the carburetor (the float etc.).

Might not seem like much but for me that was exciting to be able to say - I know what that is and I know what it does and how it works

So - thank you, keep doing what you're doing

1 Comment
2024/09/09
10:30 UTC

7

Tix clock obtainment idea?

Im sure im not the only here wishing we could make/buy the tix clock destin has. i just had a thought while watching a tech video. would it be possible to use this clock and like idk program it or make a setting in the app to make it function as a tix clock. i feel like it should work but idk how i feel about spending 120 - 180 to try it out. buuuuuut, in the off chance i can, can i?

link to the clock

3 Comments
2024/09/07
18:43 UTC

0

Unequivocally, the plane on the treadmill CANNOT take off.

Let me begin by saying that there are possible interpretations to the classic question, but only one interpretation makes sense: The treadmill always matches the speed of the wheels.

Given this fact, very plainly worded in the question, here’s why the plane cannot take off:

Setup:

  • The treadmill matches the wheel speed at all times.
  • The plane's engines are trying to move the plane forward, generating thrust relative to the air.

If the treadmill is designed to adjust its speed to always exactly match the speed of the plane’s wheels, then:

  • When the engines generate thrust, the plane tries to move forward.
  • The wheels, which are free-rolling, would normally spin faster as the plane moves forward.
  • However, if the treadmill continually matches the wheel speed, the treadmill would continuously adjust its speed to match the spinning of the wheels.

What Does This Mean for the Plane's Motion?

  1. Initially, as the plane’s engines produce thrust, the plane starts to move forward.
  2. As the plane moves, the wheels begin to spin. But since the treadmill constantly matches their speed, it accelerates exactly to match the wheel rotation. 3. The treadmill now counteracts the increase in wheel speed by speeding up. This means that every time the wheels try to spin faster because of the plane’s forward motion, the treadmill increases its speed to match the wheel speed, forcing the wheels to stay stationary relative to the ground. (Now yes, this means that the treadmill and the wheels will very quickly reach an infinite speed. But this is what must happen if the question is read plainly.)

Realisation:

  • If the treadmill perfectly matches the wheel speed, the wheels would be prevented from ever spinning faster than the treadmill.
  • The wheels (and plane) would remain stationary relative to the ground, as the treadmill constantly cancels out any forward motion the wheels would otherwise have. In this scenario, the plane remains stationary relative to the air.

What Does This Mean for Takeoff? Since the plane remains stationary relative to the air:

  • No air moves over the wings, so the plane cannot generate lift.
  • Without lift, the plane cannot take off.
134 Comments
2024/09/07
14:44 UTC

105

How Disc Golf Discs are Made - Smarter Every Day 301

17 Comments
2024/09/01
15:30 UTC

13

Have you seen this Lego Submarine?!

4 Comments
2024/08/28
15:29 UTC

12

Video topic idea

Hey Destin,

First off I want to tell you thank you for everything you do.

Please forgive the mildly blue nature of this question but as I'm sure you've learned over the years you're not able to predict when these questions strike your brain.

I was in the restroom at work enjoying a slightly overdue number 1 and noticed that their was a bright colored I'm guessing vinyl grid in the urinal, it was upside down and under neither it was covered in little spikes and points which were doing the job of breaking the stream up and (I'm assuming) minimizing splashback. A thought occurred. Is there an ideal shape or profile that a surface should have if the goal is to disrupt or breakup the laminar flow of a liquid? Is this a question that's being or has been researched? Does the viscosity or other characteristics of the liquid change the answer to this question? If the goal is to reduce splashback, what shape should a surface have to best achieve that end.

Anyhow I thought it would be a fun (and funny?) question for you to explore...maybe...

Keep up the good work friend, my daughter's and I love your channel.

Edit: autocorrected to destiny and BOY is my face red.

8 Comments
2024/08/22
19:55 UTC

119

Something amusing just happened when I googled Smarter Every Day

I was watching the Integza video from a couple years ago where he makes a Transparent Combustion Engine (tomatos were harmed in the making of that video) and he referenced Destin's video about the transparent carburetor (that's a hard one to spell) which I somehow missed. I popped over to Google to search for it and midway through typing it in Google suggested "Smarter Every Day Controversy." You can imagine what thoughts went through my head in today's climate. Honestly my heart sank a little bit.

So I ran with it and searched it (I felt like I had to; my daughters watch the videos with me) and what it brought me to was a thread on /r/atheism from 4 years ago titled: Discussion- “Smarter Everyday” YouTube star Destin Sandlin is now one of the internet’s top self-proclaimed adherents of science, but is also an unapologetic bible-believing christian who gives bible verses with each episode.

What amused me most about this whole "controversy" is that the top comment of the post is Destin himself writing one of the most respectful and articulate responses to that person's concerns which could have been written by uber-diplomat/statesmen Benjamin Franklin himself.

That's it, that's the controversy. In one of the most virulent, angry and confrontational subs on Reddit, he engaged that person and their concerns AND remained unapologetic. Mostly because he had nothing to apologize for. While I can't speak for the OP I get the feeling he left the interaction feeling a lot less cynical about Destin's and Smarter Every Day's motives.

I went from not caring Destin was a Christian to...well, not caring he was a Christian even more. Less. You know what I mean. Good science and good education are good. I can handle the bible verses I think.

This guy, can't even be controversial in his own damn controversy!

66 Comments
2024/08/19
04:44 UTC

9

Episode 300: Biomechanical motors

Hi Destin! Really enjoyed this episode about how the biologic motors that power the flagella that bacteria use for locomotion.

There are 2 other types of incredible adaptation of biology for specialized applications that i thought you might want to look into.

Another utterly fascinating biologic adaptation is the organic mechanism that the electric eel uses to dramatically amplify voltage potential (essentially an organic transistor amp) up to 600V that it can strike with.

Another utterly amazing thing is the function of the multispectral multiaxis polarization optical system (eyes) of the mantis shrimp. The most incredibly specialized vision system ive ever seen. Destin please look these up, its fascinating!

0 Comments
2024/07/28
19:29 UTC

4

Anyone else have trouble with getting Patron stickers?

I've been a member for about 1.5 years not yet I still have not gotten the stickers. Don't get me wrong I would pay anyway but I still would like to get them.

4 Comments
2024/07/28
19:09 UTC

290

Nature's Incredible ROTATING MOTOR (It’s Electric!) - Smarter Every Day 300

178 Comments
2024/07/28
15:09 UTC

14

Hello mr. Destin

Hello mr. Destin.

I am curious about how I can support physicsgirl without being a patron. I am not in a financial position to support physicsgirl but I want to do everything I can. Any help is appreciated.

6 Comments
2024/07/27
02:52 UTC

4

Eclipse photo data

Hey folks,

I have a lovely copy of the eclipse photo that I intend to frame.

Ideally I'd like to add an explanatory panel about the photo - probably a basic one on the front, but a fuller data set on the back of the frame.

I am wondering if the following information (in no particular order) is available.

  1. location data - where was the photo taken - geographic information - town, state, country and/or GPS lat long coordinates

  2. time information - UTS and local time for totality

  3. exposure details - timing between shots, camera settings for each exposure, exposure length.

  4. camera details - Film, camera make and model, components used (I got that there was a bit of help selecting parts from Camera Rescue! don't forget the tripod.

  5. People - titles, names, contribution - who took the shots, who designed the sequence, who picked the gear...

  6. Post processing method and credits.

0 Comments
2024/07/09
01:44 UTC

36

Destin Asks Questions At A Big Video Game Convention (PAX West) - Smarter Every Day 291B

3 Comments
2024/07/07
21:17 UTC

44

Is Destin still working towards his PhD?

I remember at least a couple of years ago now that Destin was working or about to work on obtaining his PhD. His thesis was going to be on the development of vortexes in water (or something of the sort). Has there been any update?

5 Comments
2024/07/03
04:48 UTC

13

Cicadas hide acoustically

Counterintuitive I know. Discovered on the Outer Banks years ago. A small tree was full of noisy cicadas and I tried to get a closer look at some. I found that as I approached the tree the sound changed and it became impossible to localize where exactly it was coming from. I got closer and they stopped chirping entirely. My impression was that they were doing some fancy signal processing designed to jam mammalian ears and maybe doing it cooperatively. I never did see one.

1 Comment
2024/06/23
18:30 UTC

23

True Facts: Exploding Seed Pods

In light of the SED video on exploding weeds, I thought I'd point out that Ze Frank has a new "True Facts: Plants That Explode" video.

Given that True Facts is not appropriate for children, nor for adults who don't act like children, I'll not hotlink it here. You've been warned. But a simple search will pop it up.

12 Comments
2024/06/20
17:34 UTC

20

Be careful with your Eclipse Pics

Basic handling while attempting unpackage, flatten, and prep for framing has pretty much ruined my print.

So be warned all you people looking to do the same.

10 Comments
2024/06/15
02:43 UTC

33

The eclipses have been framed

They are now ready to be hung in my office at work. Thanks Destin for making them available to everyone. Eclipse

9 Comments
2024/06/10
20:07 UTC

0

Things to do, see and eat in Huntsville, AL?

My son is in Space Camp starting Sunday. Gimme some good eats ideas and things to do?

10 Comments
2024/06/06
23:56 UTC

4

Where to Purchase Cropped Eclipse Photo?

Is there a place I can buy a cropped copy of Destin's multi-exposure eclipse photo? The only ones I see on the SED website are non-cropped 1:1 images.

1 Comment
2024/06/03
17:46 UTC

18

I Have a Guess as to the Lower Cicada Frequency.

u/MrPennywhistle

That cicada video is really cool! Thanks for making me smarter today. :) I'm thinking that the lower frequency the cicadas were making may be the sound of their wings as they fly from tree to tree and whatnot. That would make sense to me as I can imagine the sound would be relatively loud and deep like a bumblebee. What does everyone else think about this?

6 Comments
2024/06/03
02:07 UTC

3

Tapered nozzles and laminar flow

I bought a brass nozzle with a smoothly tapering interior. I was amazed to see a 50' stream came out of the short tapered nozzle (Taper only ~1.25 long). Previous best was ~14' stream from gardening nozzle. The 'ol thumb over the end trick was good for ~6'. Can you explain this tapered nozzle magic?
Steve Mould showed a short clip of water draining from a tapered chamber (In "2D water magic video") The taper appeared to allow the water to accelerate smoothly without turbulence. I remember your (non?)laminar flow video. The one where you poked a hole in a wading pool? Looked like you got laminar flow only after you added a straw inside the opening. I'd love to see a video that explained laminar flow.

0 Comments
2024/06/02
19:41 UTC

102

How Cicadas Make Noise (In Ultra Slow Motion) - Smarter Every Day 299

33 Comments
2024/06/02
14:24 UTC

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