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1.  

   Transparisteel

   

   Anonymous Coward, Oct 18th, 2011 @ 5:07pm

   
   

   I know the formula for it, but if a give it you now I would be altering the future. And that would be against the Temporal Prime Directive

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2.  

   Re: Transparisteel

   

   Anonymous Coward, Oct 18th, 2011 @ 5:22pm

   
   

   That is ok, we want transparent aluminum anwyway

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3.  

   Re: Re: Transparisteel

   

   Michael Ho (profile), Oct 18th, 2011 @ 5:36pm

   
   

   Hmm. I wonder how many metals can be made into nearly transparent thin foils..? Gold films 0.00013 mm thick are see-thru, so maybe there's a metallic glass film that could be made?

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4.  

   Quasicrystals

   

   Anonymous Coward, Oct 18th, 2011 @ 6:35pm

   
   

   There's a nice Math Mutations podcast about these that explain how a substance can have a pattern that repeats in more than 3 dimensions that appears to not repeat in 3 dimensions.
   
   http://www.erikseligman.com/mm/mm133.mp3
   
   Transcript:
   http://www.aracnet.com/~esel igma/mm/mm133.txt

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5.  

   

   fogbugzd, Oct 18th, 2011 @ 8:31pm

   
   

   As the article on quasicrystals notes, implementing practical applications is being hindered by a restrictive patent. I thought patents were supposed to "promote the progress."

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6.  

   All Those Who Think There Is Such A Thing As Non-Magical Technology ...

   

   Lawrence D'Oliveiro, Oct 18th, 2011 @ 11:08pm

   
   

   ... give us an explanation of how a light-bulb works.

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7.  

   Re: All Those Who Think There Is Such A Thing As Non-Magical Technology ...

   

   Anonymous Coward, Oct 19th, 2011 @ 12:15am

   
   

   There's a little wire-type thingy inside the bulb, and when electricity goes through it, it gets so hot that it glows.
   That's for old-style lightbulbs anyway. I think the new ones work the same way, except with some kind of gas instead of a wire.

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8.  

   Re: Re: All Those Who Think There Is Such A Thing As Non-Magical Technology ...

   

   Anonymous Coward, Oct 19th, 2011 @ 6:18am

   
   

   I always thought that the switch on the wall opened up the chute for the little glow bugs to enter the bulb and do their thing.
   
   Color me amazed!

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9.  

   LOL

   

   Josef Anvil (profile), Oct 19th, 2011 @ 6:20am

   
   

   You have to love the article on quasicrystals....
   
   "However, their low tolerance and a restrictive French patent has limited their practical applications," Thiel said.

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10.  

    Even better demonstration of Quantum Levitation

    

    Tim K (profile), Oct 19th, 2011 @ 6:26am

    
    

    Saw this on Gizmodo yesterday. This video is a WAY cooler demonstration of Quantum Levitation.
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ws6AAhTw7RA

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