A New Spin On Physical Phenomena

f00Dave writes "Researchers have discovered "a new physical phenomenon, electrostatic rotation, that, in the absence of friction, leads to spin". I'm a bit skeptical about the implied relationship between physical "spin" (as in rotation) and quantum "spin", however. Still, this is the sort of scientific advance that renews my faith in the system. Go nerds! =]"

already done?

[EvilStein]

Hey, isn't that where they stick a piece of buttered toast to the back of a cat and let it rip?

I never could get that working. My damn cat always ate the toast.. the fat bastard.

Right...

[WegianWarrior]

...now my head is spinning too.

Re:already done?

[Syncroswitch]

After you tape the toast to the cat, you have to seal it in a blackbox, flip the box over, the cat will be suspended by the conflicted laws of phsics. unfortunetly you cannot observe it, as soon as you open the box, the cat will have eaten the toast. an interesting note, while the cat is in the box, and unobserved, he knows the correct keys to all possible encryptions. Dont tell the humane society OK...

Equipment used

[Hayzeus]

The cool thing about all of this was the relatively simple equipment used: three metal balls (I'm guessing Christmas tree ornaments), and a little thin wire.

This gives me renewed hope for my latest project, a hyperdrive engine built of old Spaghetti-Os cans and dental floss.

sPIN

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd spin too if I were hung from a wire and electrocuted

So the guy accidentaly

[Anonymous Coward]

Plugged his C cell batteries into his ben wa balls instead of his vibrating butt plug.

Re:Sponataneous Spinning?

[feepness]

Where is the energy coming from?

It said the experiment taps the unlimited potential energy source of those who have the ability to post within seconds of a headline appearing without actually reading the article.

By their estimates, this should be enough to power mankind for the foreseeable future.

Obligatory Simpsons Reference

[drachenfyre]

Lisa, you will obey the laws of thermodynamics in my house.

Re:Right...

[TopShelf]

...then let go of those live wires!

Re:lovely

[Anonymous Coward]

Cheater!

You read the article before commenting!
--
iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -o eth1 -s slashdot.org -j UP_MY_ASS
Better yours than mine.

I can explain this...

[alchemist68]

It's Magic!

Oh wait, no, it's due to the Earth's rotation!

Um, no, wait, it's due to a combination of the Earth's rotation and its orbit around the Sun.

Yeah! That's it!, Yeah, I got it! Woohoo!

Actually, Stephen Hawking is expected to say "it's the spooky force at close proximity."

Honestly, between you and me, I think this will turn out to be as real as cold fusion.

Strangely enough

[CommieLib]

A newly discovered substance dubbed Oreillium seems to nullify this effect, creating what scientists called a "No Spin Zone".

Nothing new

[shadowbearer]

... the Founding Fathers are already spinning frictionlessly at high rpms.

SB

Spin

[arvindn]

I'm a bit skeptical about the implied relationship between physical "spin" (as in rotation) and quantum "spin", however.

I understand. The article's spin on the news has resulted in your confusion.

*ducks*

Re:Equipment used

[AntiGenX]

Oh my God... I had the same idea! Did yours come to you in a dream of a burning president? Though I don't think I've put the parts together right. All I keep getting is a cool new alternative to the telephone. I can't wait to take out a patent before Jeff Bozo at Amazon.com beats me to it!

Re:Friday /. Poetry

[Anonymous Coward]

you are one sick fuck

Re:Equipment used

[JonnyElvis42]

This gives me renewed hope for my latest project, a hyperdrive engine built of old Spaghetti-Os cans and dental floss.

Let me know how that goes for you. I gave up after my dental floss repeatedly broke when the ship started to approach relativistic speeds.

Re:Cool, but what is the practical application?

[f00Dave]

Aprocryphal story related to me by my academic advisor:

William Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was invited to witness a demonstration of Faraday's electrical equipment. Gladstone asked, "This is quite interesting, Faraday, but of what practical worth is it?" Faraday replied, "One day, sir, you may tax it."

Hard to believe...

[RealErmine]

that this is the first time anyone has applied electricity to some metal balls. How come this hasn't been discovered until now? Is this phenomenon confined to metal balls only?

It makes one wonder what undiscovered physical properties can be found by applying a DC current to other objects!

:sniff sniff::

I smell hot dogs!