Letters.Now we're rockin' Thanks for the great article on my Monahans 98 meteorite meteorite, meteor that survives the intense heat of atmospheric friction and reaches the earth's surface. Because of the destructive effects of this friction, only the very largest meteors become meteorites. ("Found: Primordial water Primordial water is water that has recently emerged from deep in the Earth's mantle, having been previously dissolved in magma. Primordial water is allegedly released by hydrothermal vents. ," SN: 10/30/99, p. 284). Therein you say that I do not want to part with any of it. Actually, the meteorite does have additional purple salt crystals, and I would be willing to part with some in the interest of science. So far, no one has asked. Mike Craddock Big Springs, Texas As the article stated, researchers who had studied Monahans 98 told SCIENCE NEWS that the meteorite's new owner--unnamed in our story--had not wanted to give up any of his heavenly treasure. The offer made in this letter should be welcome by all who care about scientific inquiry. --Ed. All dressed up Your article on wearable computers ("Smart outfit," SN: 11/27/99, p. 330) raises an interesting possibility. How do professors detect if a student is wearing something like this? With a telecom link, it could make a mockery of oral exams or any others. Imagine a dissertation defense with 10 of your best friends working behind the scenes. Craig Ewert Crystal Lake, Ill. I have a ready and renewable source of energy for wearable computers overhanging my belt. I see myself in a new wardrobe--eating as I did at age 25 and renting out my middle to run others' programs in my sleep. This might be better than having my cake and eating it too. Mac Walker Madison, Conn. Dim hopes "Extrasolar planets: Out of the shadows" (SN: 11/20/99, p. 324) didn't mention any follow-up search for planets around the star HD 209458. If current theory is correct, there is a good chance that any other planets circling the star are in the same plane as the newly discovered one. Perhaps it would be possible to detect the dimming of the star by these other planets, also. I am sure that idea must have occurred to astronomers already, although I have heard no mention of it. Is such a search going to take place? Bob Phillips Robert Leon (Bob) Phillips (born June 23, 1951) is an American television journalist best known for his long-running program Texas Country Reporter. In 2005 Phillips was inducted into the Silver Circle of the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Stilwell, Kan. Dimming of other planets that lie close to the star would probably already have been detected when the researchers looked for such dimming. The limiting factors are diameter and how close the planet lies to the star. The closer in, the greater the dimming. --R. Cowen Think if he'd bought Apple then "Schroedinger's cash register" (SN: 11/27/99, p. 344) provided a nicely balanced discussion of recent attempts by physicists to make progress in finance. I was amused a·muse tr.v. a·mused, a·mus·ing, a·mus·es 1. To occupy in an agreeable, pleasing, or entertaining fashion. 2. , however, to see my colleague Andrew Lo referred to as an "econometrist e·con·o·met·rics n. (used with a sing. verb) Application of mathematical and statistical techniques to economics in the study of problems, the analysis of data, and the development and testing of theories and models. ." We who practice econometrics econometrics, technique of economic analysis that expresses economic theory in terms of mathematical relationships and then tests it empirically through statistical research. commonly call ourselves "econometricians." By the way, econophysicists are not a new phenomenon. One of the first must have been Sir Isaac Newton, master of the Royal Mint The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Royal Mint originated over one thousand years ago, but it has functioned since 1975 as a 'Government Trading Fund', operating in much . Halbert White San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , Calif. |
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