"Fantastically Wrong: The Legendary Scientist Who Swore Our Planet Is Hollow" details the eccentric theories of John Cleves Symmes Jr., a 19th-century American army officer. Symmes fervently believed Earth was hollow, containing multiple concentric spheres with openings at the poles, and dedicated his life to promoting this idea. He lectured extensively, lobbied Congress for an expedition to the North Pole, and inspired a devoted following. While his "Hollow Earth" theory lacked any scientific basis and was ultimately proven false, it captured the public imagination and left a lasting legacy in science fiction and popular culture.
A recent paper claims Earth's rotation could be harnessed for power using a "gravity engine," theoretically generating terawatts of energy by raising and lowering massive weights as the Earth rotates. This concept, building on decades-old physics, hinges on the Coriolis effect. However, many physicists are skeptical, arguing that the proposed mechanism violates fundamental laws of physics, particularly conservation of angular momentum. They contend that any energy gained would be offset by a minuscule slowing of Earth's rotation, effectively transferring rotational energy rather than creating it. The debate highlights the complex interplay between gravity, rotation, and energy, with the practicality and feasibility of such a gravity engine remaining highly contested.
Hacker News users discuss a Nature article about a controversial claim that Earth's rotation could be harnessed for power. Several commenters express skepticism, pointing to the immense scale and impracticality of such a project, even if theoretically possible. Some highlight the conservation of angular momentum, arguing that extracting energy from Earth's rotation would necessarily slow it down, albeit imperceptibly. Others debate the interpretation of the original research, with some suggesting it's more about subtle gravitational effects than a large-scale power source. A few commenters mention existing technologies that indirectly utilize Earth's rotation, such as tidal power. The overall sentiment seems to be one of cautious curiosity mixed with doubt about the feasibility and significance of the proposed concept. A few users engage in more playful speculation, imagining the distant future where such technology might be relevant.
Seismic wave analysis suggests Earth's inner core isn't uniformly spherical. Researchers found that waves traveling through the eastern hemisphere of the inner core differ from those passing through the western hemisphere, indicating variations in its structure. This asymmetry may be caused by "localized deformation" potentially driven by differences in heat flow between the core and mantle, suggesting dynamic processes are shaping the inner core over time rather than uniform crystallization.
HN commenters discuss the difficulty of studying Earth's deep interior and the limitations of current models. Some express skepticism about the certainty of the findings, highlighting the indirect nature of the measurements and the potential for alternative explanations. Others point out the vast timescale involved in geological processes and the challenges of extrapolating short-term observations to long-term trends. The idea of the inner core rotating at a different speed than the mantle is mentioned, along with its potential implications for Earth's magnetic field. A few commenters speculate on the composition and behavior of the inner core, mentioning iron crystals and the possibility of non-uniform growth. One user questions the significance of a slightly deformed inner core and suggests it's not as dramatic as the title implies.
UNC researchers have demonstrated how loggerhead sea turtles use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate. By manipulating the magnetic field around hatchlings in a special tank, they showed that the turtles use a "magnetic map" to orient themselves towards their natal beach. This map allows them to identify their location relative to their target destination, enabling them to adjust their swimming direction even when displaced from their original course. The study provides strong evidence for the long-hypothesized magnetic navigation abilities of sea turtles and sheds light on their remarkable open-ocean migrations.
Hacker News users discussed the methodology and implications of the turtle navigation study. Several commenters questioned the sample size of the study (seven turtles) and whether it's enough to draw broad conclusions. Some debated the ethics of attaching GPS trackers to the turtles, expressing concern about potential harm. Others pointed out that the Earth's magnetic field fluctuates, wondering how the turtles adapt to these changes and how the researchers accounted for that variability in their analysis. A few users drew parallels to other animals that use magnetic fields for navigation, speculating on the common mechanisms involved. The lack of open access to the full study was also lamented, limiting deeper discussion of the findings.
A newly discovered, rapidly growing magma chamber beneath Kolumbo, a submarine volcano near Santorini, Greece, raises concerns about a potential future eruption. Researchers using a novel imaging technique detected a melt reservoir accumulating at a rate of 4 million cubic meters per year, suggesting a significant eruption could occur within the next 150 years, though the exact timing is unpredictable. This discovery underscores the need for real-time monitoring of submarine volcanoes, as current methods often fail to detect magma build-up until shortly before an eruption.
HN commenters discussed the potential implications of a growing magma chamber under the Kolumbo volcano near Santorini. Some expressed concern about the possibility of a large, tsunami-generating eruption, recalling the devastating Minoan eruption of Thera. Others highlighted the limitations of the study, noting the difficulty in predicting volcanic eruptions and the uncertainty surrounding the timeframe and magnitude of any potential event. A few commenters focused on the scientific aspects, discussing the methods used to detect the magma chamber and the significance of the findings for understanding volcanic processes. One compelling comment mentioned the relative silence of the volcano before the 1650 eruption, contrasting it with the current detectable activity and emphasizing the importance of continued monitoring. Another highlighted the potential impact of a large eruption on global climate, drawing parallels to the 1815 Tambora eruption and the subsequent "year without a summer".
Scientists studying seismic waves traveling through the Earth's core have found evidence suggesting the inner core's growth isn't uniform. Analysis indicates the eastern hemisphere of the inner core under Indonesia's Banda Sea is growing faster than the western hemisphere under Brazil. This asymmetrical growth may be influencing the Earth's magnetic field, as the inner core's crystallization releases heat that drives the churning motion of the outer core, responsible for generating the field. While the exact mechanisms and implications remain uncertain, this research offers new insights into the complex dynamics deep within our planet.
HN commenters discuss the study's methodology and implications. Several express skepticism about the ability to accurately measure such deep Earth phenomena, questioning the certainty of the "paused" or reversed rotation claims. Some suggest alternative explanations for the observed data, like changes in the mantle's electromagnetic field influencing measurements. Others find the research fascinating, speculating about potential effects on Earth's magnetic field and the length of a day, albeit minor ones. A few highlight the limitations of current understanding of the Earth's interior and the need for further research. The overall tone is one of cautious interest mixed with scientific scrutiny.
Scientists have discovered unexpectedly large magma reservoirs beneath seemingly dormant volcanoes in the Andes mountains. These reservoirs, significantly larger than previously thought, challenge existing models of volcanic systems. While not indicating imminent eruptions, the findings suggest these volcanoes might awaken faster than predicted, highlighting the need for improved monitoring and hazard assessment techniques. The discovery was made using a novel method analyzing full-waveform seismic data, revealing a mush zone—a mixture of liquid magma and crystals—feeding the shallower magma chambers. This deeper understanding of magma storage could lead to better eruption forecasting in the future.
Hacker News users discussed the potential implications of large magma reservoirs under seemingly dormant volcanoes. Some questioned the novelty of the findings, pointing out that the existence of such reservoirs isn't entirely unexpected, and that the research primarily refines our understanding of their size and location. Others expressed concern about the potential for unexpected eruptions from these volcanoes, while some downplayed the risk, emphasizing the long timescales involved in geological processes. A few comments delved into the technical aspects of the research, such as the use of muon tomography and its limitations. Some users also discussed the broader implications for geothermal energy and volcanic hazard assessment.
Researchers have demonstrated a method for using smartphones' GPS receivers to map disturbances in the Earth's ionosphere. By analyzing data from a dense network of GPS-equipped phones during a solar storm, they successfully imaged ionospheric variations and travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), particularly over San Francisco. This crowdsourced approach, leveraging the ubiquitous nature of smartphones, offers a cost-effective and globally distributed sensor network for monitoring space weather events and improving the accuracy of ionospheric models, which are crucial for technologies like navigation and communication.
HN users discuss the potential impact and feasibility of using smartphones to map the ionosphere. Some express skepticism about the accuracy and coverage achievable with consumer-grade hardware, particularly regarding the ability to measure electron density effectively. Others are more optimistic, highlighting the potential for a vast, distributed sensor network, particularly for studying transient ionospheric phenomena and improving GPS accuracy. Concerns about battery drain and data usage are raised, along with questions about the calibration and validation of the smartphone measurements. The discussion also touches on the technical challenges of separating ionospheric effects from other signal variations and the need for robust signal processing techniques. Several commenters express interest in participating in such a project, while others point to existing research in this area, including the use of software-defined radios.
Summary of Comments ( 1 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43555728
HN commenters generally found the linked Wired article about Edmond Halley's hollow Earth theory an interesting piece of scientific history. Several pointed out that Halley wasn't entirely crazy, as his ideas were attempts to explain observable phenomena like compass variations, and that his model, while incorrect, was a legitimate scientific hypothesis for its time. Some noted that the concept of a hollow Earth persists even today, highlighting the human tendency to embrace unconventional or fringe theories. A few commenters also discussed other historical scientific misconceptions and the evolution of scientific understanding. One popular comment pointed to Halley's other accomplishments, notably predicting the return of the comet now bearing his name, to illustrate that even brilliant minds can sometimes be wrong.
The Hacker News comments section for the Wired article "Fantastically Wrong: The Legendary Scientist Who Swore Our Planet Is Hollow" contains a moderate number of comments, mostly focusing on the historical fascination with the hollow Earth theory and its proponents, rather than seriously entertaining the idea itself.
Several commenters delve into the historical context of Symmes's belief and the surprisingly widespread acceptance it garnered. One points out the remarkable fact that Symmes almost secured government funding for an expedition to the supposed polar openings. Another highlights the powerful allure of such theories, especially in times with less scientific understanding, mentioning that even some educated individuals took it seriously.
A few commenters discuss the psychological aspects that might draw people to believe in hollow Earth theories, suggesting it might be tied to a desire for hidden knowledge or a more exciting reality. One commenter humorously notes that there's even a present-day organization promoting the idea and expresses amusement at its existence.
Some of the most compelling comments analyze the scientific flaws in the hollow Earth theory. One commenter explains how seismology definitively disproves the concept, describing how seismic waves' behavior allows scientists to understand the Earth's internal structure. Another points out the density problem, explaining that if Earth were hollow, its gravitational pull would be drastically different.
A couple of comments branch off into related topics, such as the connection between fringe theories and societal anxieties or the prevalence of similar hollow planet ideas in fiction. One user mentions other now-debunked scientific concepts that were popular in the past, illustrating how scientific understanding evolves over time.
While nobody in the comments section genuinely defends the hollow Earth theory, the discussion provides an interesting glimpse into the historical context of the idea, the psychology of belief, and the scientific evidence that refutes it. The comments are primarily focused on dissecting the historical and societal factors surrounding the theory, rather than the specifics of Symmes's claims themselves.