Friday, March 15, 2013
New idea? Not exactly.
Seismologists in Los Angeles have set up a sort of early warning system. It's not predictive, doesn't use any ionospheric indications. It just senses an actual quake at some distance from LA, and sends the signal to LA. In theory this could give as much as 30 seconds advance warning. But it's basically useless because a quake at that distance isn't going to do real damage in LA. A damaging quake will be too close for the 'advance' warning.
The announcement is appropriately modest and honest, doesn't make any unwarranted claims. Refreshing. No complaints on that score!
But is it a new idea? Not quite. From a report by the British Assoc for Advancement of Science, 1850:
Well, at least we've got the battery problem solved. Heh heh heh.
Face it: we're still running on the vapors of the 1840's. Only a few fresh ideas since then; mostly we're developing new implementations of 1840's ideas through gradual improvements in manufacturing methods and materials.
¶ 5:43 AM 
Well, at least we've got the battery problem solved. Heh heh heh.
Face it: we're still running on the vapors of the 1840's. Only a few fresh ideas since then; mostly we're developing new implementations of 1840's ideas through gradual improvements in manufacturing methods and materials.
¶ 5:43 AM
