According to an article on physorg.com, a 13 year old schoolboy has recalculated NASA's estimates of astroid Aphopis hitting earth. Instead of 1/45,000 it is now 1/450:
http://www.physorg.com/news127499715.html
Newbie
According to an article on physorg.com, a 13 year old schoolboy has recalculated NASA's estimates of astroid Aphopis hitting earth. Instead of 1/45,000 it is now 1/450:
http://www.physorg.com/news127499715.html
Established Member
Physorg jumped the gun a bit.
Administrator
Fraser has picked it up in his blog
He originally had the incorrect story and then the correct version. I made the comment there that only the original incorrect version will be repeated on GLP and as questions here by newbies for the next 11 years.
Order of Kilopi
Nah, only 5. Somehow it will get twisted in to us getting smacked by it in 2012, thus making Aphopis the real name of Niribu, which will no doubt be confirmed bu some psychic or lost Babylonian tablet scratchings.Originally Posted by Swift
I'm Not Evil.
An evil person would do the things that pop into my head.
Honored Member
I just love the 'boffins' stuff, though.
Perhaps they could introduce him to the other young boffin who found the mistake at the Smithsonian.
Although I would appreciate it if the boffins would invent a device that would make half-clever copywriters disappear.
Order of Kilopi
I saw that story. They not only jumped the gun, they ran headlong into the starter and got themselves shot in the foot with the powder charge in the ensuing tangle.
What a mess of a story that was.
Moderator
Order of Kilopi
And so it goes ...
Order of Kilopi
Maybe these boffins would steer it to France?
Order of Kilopi
From something I wrote:
Alex: What's a boffin?
Martin: It's British for "nerd".
Alex: I thought that was "Martin".
Established Member
Aww, I wanted to be doomed, dagnabbit!
Established Member
Well, no. "Boffin" is simply slang for a research scientist or other technical expert; it has no pejorative aspect, unlike "nerd".
Order of Kilopi
I know, but I needed something new for them to fight about.Well, no. "Boffin" is simply slang for a research scientist or other technical expert; it has no pejorative aspect, unlike "nerd".
Order of Kilopi
Given the current state of affairs, so do I.
Established Member
Given the current state of affairs, I think we are. But it's gonna be a long, slow, painful doom, and not a sudden megadeath catastrophe.
What, me cynical?
Fred
"For shame, gentlemen, pack your evidence a little better against another time."
-- John Dryden, "The Vindication of The Duke of Guise" 1684
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