Science
Exploring "Why" questions about Science
483 articles
why certain isotopes of chemical elements become radioactive, and why they have varying half-lives
All things want to be stable. A nucleus is generally stable when it has the same number of neutrons and protons. If a nucleus isn't stable it will get rid of particles until it reaches a stable state.
why can’t heat be converted to electricity in a closed system?
Because in any closed system, entropy always increases. Assume a uniformly warm room. Turning some of the heat to electricity would now give you a warm area and a cold area, thus *decreasing* entropy
Why do you feel like you’re burning when in contact with something extremely cold?
The extreme cold is sending your pain receptors into overdrive. At the end of the day tissue death feels horrible whether by heat or cold. Fire is generally much hot than the cold we feel is cold.
Why are we so worried about a plane that has gone missing? Couldn’t it be assumed that it’s in the ocean as no one on that flight has spoken out?
It's a fairly new plane and they have no idea why it went down. If it was a design flaw it could happen again. If they don't know what the design flaw is, how can we be sure that in the next planes we
Why do people on reality survivalist shows bring firestarters instead of a lighter? It seams that a disposable lighter would work much easier and last more than the 30 or so days that they are in t…
Because if they wanted to do things the easy way they wouldn't be on a survivalist show in the first place.
Why are chairs slightly incurved instead of the other way around ?
Some busses and trains in sweden actually have chairs that make you sit with a straight back, but i think It's cause people find those types of chairs more comfortable
Why are gas cans so expensive?
Long story short, it seems to be caused by different types of plastic being used due to government regulations. _URL_0_ _URL_1_
Why didn’t the U.S. include the release of prisoners in the new nuclear deal with Iran
Because that would have given leverage to Iran. By taking more prisoners and negotiating for their release too, they could have tried to extract more favorable terms in other parts of the agreement. B
Why does electricity conduct better through different materials?
In a metal the electrons 'float' in a sea around the nuclei, they are not bound to a specific atom. In wood each electron is mostly bound to a specific nuclei. The flow of electricity depends on how f
Why doesn’t the US or any other country use napalm/chemical warfare in modern day wars like in Vietnam?
188 countries have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention which is an arms control agreement that outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons.