science

Iron, Cobalt and Nickel

Iron, Cobalt and Nickel

Bruce Ediger

I bought a couple of 10mm cubes, one of Nickel, one of Cobalt, because I read that cobalt and nickel are ferromagnetic, strongly attracted to magnets. I could not distinguish the two cubes based on density. I’m documenting my effort to distinguish them based on magnetic attraction.

My son, Everett, helped me with experiment design and execution.

Micro Steam Engine

Micro Steam Engine

Bruce Ediger

I’ve got what Amazon sells as Sunnytech Mini Hot Live Steam Engine Model Education Toy DIY (BJ001)

Some very simple assembly is required.

Density Cubes

Density Cubes

Bruce Ediger

It turns out you can buy little cubes of various elements from sketchy Amazon marketplace vendors.

Naturally, I wanted some Tungsten, because of its incredible density.

A Smurf Based Approach to Placeholder Expressions

A Smurf Based Approach to Placeholder Expressions

Bruce Ediger

I read an interesting paper:

A Smurf-based Approach to Placeholder Expressions, July 2021, by Manfred Sailer and Annika Dörner

which apparently appeared in:

Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar, Online (Berlin/Seattle), 2020.

Compound Steam Locomotive

Compound Steam Locomotive

Bruce Ediger

This summer, we rode the 1880 Train, from Keystone SD to Hill City SD, and back. Easily worth the price of tickets, lots of fun, and you get to see South Dakota’s Black Hills in a way you won’t otherwise.