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Popular Natural Science

Proposed Q&A site for everyone interested in natural science but afraid of complicated formulae. Also intended for interdisciplinary questions and small-scale experiments (e.g. at home)
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13  
Then who will answer the questions? – Blorgbeard Jun 9 at 9:14
6  
@Blorgbeard: good question but I think that such a forum (1) can play an important role in science popularisation, especially as a counter-pole to the constant misrepresentation in the media, and (2) experts might still be drawn to it, because of (1). Popularising science is a quite important (and interesting!) part of science, and unfortunately one that gets a raw deal. – Konrad Rudolph Jun 15 at 8:27
6  
I used to get annoyed at the extremely basic questions I'd find on Stack Overflow sometimes thinking "Why couldn't he have found this information in the first chapter of a book on X, or in the first hit from a google search on X". Then I realized that part of the draw of the experts is being able to act as teachers to even the most beginning students. I submit that if there were a 'SO for beginners' it would be almost deserted. I think this should be folded in with another science topic, instead of being a poor cousin where newbies are sent for asking 'dumb' questions. – Jherico Jun 23 at 17:05
2  
@Jherico: that would be a pity. I think there should be a SO for beginners, and it should be heavily sponsored by enterprises such as Google and Microsoft, to draw people into programming. This would pay more return than their stupid “evangelists”. Now that I think of it, I actually think that this is an excellent site suggestion. – Konrad Rudolph Jun 30 at 13:09
2  
@all: there's a SE-1.0 site, ScienceStack, which might be merged into this proposal when it reaches beta. There are some nice questions already, but also lots of spam, which is why we need your help. Simply follow these instructions to minimize this spam list. Thank you – Tobias Kienzler Aug 24 at 7:48
show 11 more comments

45 Example Questions

newest all votes on-topic off-topic
20 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
Why do we always see the same side of the moon?
added by Philippe Leybaert Jun 16 at 9:11
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0 great on-topic example
16 great off-topic example
1 not a good example
How can I solve [extremely complicated math problem]?
added by Juan Manuel Jun 10 at 17:28
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1  
Of course this generalized example is off-topic, but could it be edited to be a little more specific? – Vortico Jun 15 at 18:09
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0 great on-topic example
16 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How does a computer run my program?
added by Konrad Rudolph Jun 15 at 8:23
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show 1 more comment
15 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How does a rainbow work?
added by Tobias Kienzler Jun 9 at 8:17
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14 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
Would clothing that is white on the outside and black on the inside keep me cooler than clothing that is either purely white, or purely black?
added by Vortico Jun 13 at 18:49
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0 great on-topic example
14 great off-topic example
1 not a good example
Which healing crystal is best for <throat infections> and why?
added by Blorgbeard Jun 15 at 10:35
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show 4 more comments
12 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
1 not a good example
Will that LHC thing create a black hole to suck us all in?
added by Tobias Kienzler Jun 9 at 9:55
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1  
It might cause discussion/flame, but I'd prefer it here than on Physics area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/1908/physics – Tobias Kienzler Jun 10 at 8:06
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11 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How can a plane fly being so heavy?
added by Juan Manuel Jun 10 at 12:44
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0 great on-topic example
11 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How warp drive works?
added by Michał Piaskowski Jun 17 at 13:45
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0 great on-topic example
11 great off-topic example
1 not a good example
What is the best way to treat [medical-condition]?
added by DonnyD Jun 22 at 17:03
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3  
"go see a doctor instead of asking the internet" – Tobias Kienzler Jun 23 at 10:28
8 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
What evidence is there to support evolution?
added by Konrad Rudolph Jun 15 at 8:17
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show 5 more comments
0 great on-topic example
6 great off-topic example
5 not a good example
Why did the creator charge electrons so negative?
added by Tobias Kienzler Jun 15 at 11:43
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show 2 more comments
6 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
Atoms are drawn in a certain way in science books, but how can an atom be drawn when nobody has ever seen one?
added by Philippe Leybaert Jun 18 at 10:40
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6 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How would the universe be affected if [physical constant, i.e. speed of light] had a different value?
added by sgeek Jun 26 at 4:08
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1  
I like it. This would probably be on the more complicated side of this category since even string theory studies this question, but it could have a relatively simple answer. If this was asked on the Physics proposal, I would consider it on-topic as well, but with higher expectations. – Vortico Jun 26 at 4:32
2 great on-topic example
3 great off-topic example
1 not a good example
To what extent does DNA deterministically control [property/disease/susceptibility]?
added by Konrad Rudolph Jun 15 at 8:20
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1  
@Konrad Maybe "To what extend does out DNA influence certain [diseases]?" (separate comment so "great comment" votes can be used to indicate liking) – Tobias Kienzler Jun 22 at 11:43
show 8 more comments
5 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How come the Fibonacci numbers are seen so often in nature?
added by nik Jun 19 at 9:59
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show 1 more comment
0 great on-topic example
4 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How to calculate the colour distribution of a rainbow?
added by Tobias Kienzler Jun 9 at 8:17
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1  
I'd say this one is off-topic and belongs to Physics area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/1908/physics – Tobias Kienzler Jun 10 at 8:05
4 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
Why is the sky blue?
added by Philippe Leybaert Jun 16 at 9:09
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4 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How does a microwave work?
added by Philippe Leybaert Jun 16 at 9:10
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show 1 more comment
4 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
Why planes make vapour trails?
added by Michał Piaskowski Jun 17 at 13:53
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4 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
What is a non-Newtonian fluid?
added by Stefano Borini, edited by Peter Mortensen Jul 10 at 1:24
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3 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
1 not a good example
What is dark matter (good for)?
added by Tobias Kienzler Jun 9 at 8:15
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3 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
Did humans and dinosaurs ever walk the earth together?
added by nik Jun 17 at 16:39
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3 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How do they bend glass without breaking it?
added by nik Jun 17 at 16:41
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3 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
Why are microbes so important?
added by Kyra Jun 18 at 20:25
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3 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How to measure the speed of light in practice ?
added by Stefano Borini Jun 22 at 16:59
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show 2 more comments
3 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
How are scientists so sure about cosmology (ie. the big bang) when nobody has ever seen it?
added by Vortico Jun 22 at 23:39
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2 great on-topic example
1 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
What is an electron?
added by Wolkenmacher Jun 28 at 23:23
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show 2 more comments
2 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
0 not a good example
Fire needs oxygen, but how can explosives explode without oxygen?
added by Philippe Leybaert Jun 18 at 10:34
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2 great on-topic example
0 great off-topic example
1 not a good example
Why is it said that taking antibiotics during a flu does nothing ?
added by Stefano Borini Jun 22 at 17:18
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This proposal is in:

Definition

The topic and audience are still being decided. It needs:

  • 21 followers
  • 4 on-topic questions
  • 5 off-topic questions

to move to the next phase.

proposed by

Tobias Kienzler
9,197●1●8●124

3 months ago (edited 2 months ago)

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latest activity

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