Donald Trump says factories are closing all over China because we aren’t taking their goods. Is this true?
Most people are wrong answering this. Yes, factories* are closing in China because American businesses have stopped buying stuff from them. China’s exports are quite a big chunk…
How are aircraft carriers launched into the water?
It is very rare, unheard of in fact, that I have to contradict my Quora mate Jonathan Reiter about anything maritime. but in this case he is wrong….
Is everything made on Earth made up of things from Earth?
Nope! There’s actually a really good historical example of this. Before humans knew how to extract iron from iron ore (which occurred around 1,200 BCE) a few groups…
What is the largest structure discovered so far in the known universe?
The largest known structure in the Universe is called the ‘Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall‘, discovered in November 2013. This object is a galactic filament, a vast group of…
Since humans can’t eat raw meat, how did we ever survive before we learned to control fire?
Quite a few people seem confused by when humans mastered fire. One group of vegans I occasionally stalk for meme content is convinced humans began using fire around…
Why was the concrete made by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago stronger than the one used today?
Roman’s were lucky. Roman concrete is amazingly strong because of its chemistry. Modern-day concrete is typically made of ‘Portland cement’ that is then mixed with water and aggregate…
How accurate is the science in ‘The Martian’? Could a man really survive on Mars for so long as shown in the film?
I saw the movie. It was really good. A lot of the science was pretty good, but not all of it. The soil of Mars can grow food…
What did the Apollo 11 astronauts see on the moon that had them so shaken up?
I had the good fortune of having a very long dinner with Gene Cernan about 15 years ago. He was the last man to walk on the moon….
What are Japanese jails like?
Since I spent 35 days in Japanese jail, I believe I’m qualified to answer this question! The day started at 7am, when the harsh fluorescent lights would flicker…
What ancient construction technique has particularly fascinated you?
Not an ancient technique, but related. The great chain of Constantinople’s harbor. It was a marvel of medieval engineering. Illustration by Georgios Anapniotis. For seven centuries, it was one of…