Category: Funometer

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World’s largest cargo ship docks in UK port

Largest cargo ship

The world’s joint-largest cargo ship, the MSC Loreto, recently docked at Britain’s biggest and busiest container port.

  • Ship Name: MSC Loreto
  • Sister Vessel: The MSC Loreto shares the title of the world’s largest cargo ship with its sister vessel, the MSC Irina.
  • Length: 400 metres (approximately 1,312 feet)
  • Gross Tonnage: More than 238,000 tonnes.
  • Container Capacity: Capable of holding 24,346 standard containers, which is currently the record number.
  • Port of Arrival: The MSC Loreto arrived at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk from Le Havre, France.
  • Operator: The vessel is operated by the Swiss-headquartered Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
  • Next Destination: The ship is due to set sail for the Algerian capital of Algiers on the country’s Mediterranean coast.

Image 400 metres for just a moment – that’s 4 trips for Usain Bolt up and down 100 metre athletics track or, about 40 double decker buses parked end to end.

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A single speck of dust is halfway between the size of an atom and the size of the entire planet. How can this be possible?

Atoms and dust

The statement that a single speck of dust is halfway between the size of an atom and the entire planet Earth is a fascinating way to think about scale, and it’s based on a logarithmic, not linear, scale.

A fun fact

On a linear scale, the size of a dust speck is nowhere near the midpoint between an atom and Earth. However, if we consider a logarithmic scale, which compares things in terms of orders of magnitude rather than absolute size, the idea becomes more meaningful.

Midpoint equals 30g

  • The mass of a carbon atom is approximately 1.67377×10 to the power of −24 kilograms.
  • The mass of Earth is about 5.9736×10 to the power of 24 kilograms.
  • On a logarithmic scale, the midpoint of these two masses would be around 10 to the power of −1.5, which is roughly 30 grams.

While 30 grams is heavier than what we’d typically consider a speck of dust, it’s not too far off when we’re looking at the vast difference in scale between an atom and the Earth.

So, proportionally speaking, a speck of dust’s mass is closer to the midpoint on a logarithmic scale, even though it’s not exactly halfway.

It’s a way to visualize and understand the immense range of scales in our universe, from the very small to the very large. It’s not meant to be a precise measurement but rather an illustration of the concept of scale.

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Fun fact: metals stick together in space

Metal stick together in space

Cold welding is a fascinating phenomenon that allows metals to bond in space

Cold Welding: In the vacuum of space, two metal pieces can fuse without heat or flame when they come into contact. This occurs because:

Metallic Bonds: Metals consist of positively charged ions immersed in a sea of free-moving electrons, which are essential for bonding atoms within the metal.

Oxide Layer: On Earth, metals typically develop an oxide layer on their surfaces due to exposure to air, preventing them from bonding directly.

In Space: Without oxygen in space to create an oxide layer, touching metal pieces can merge through their metallic bonds, forming one solid piece.

Practical Implications

In practice, such occurrences are rare on Earth due to irregularities and the presence of a protective oxide layer.

Even in space, this oxide layer persists unless it is intentionally removed. If it were to be polished away, the metals could indeed weld together.

Designers of satellites and spacecraft must take this into account when selecting metal components for space missions.

Designers of satellites and spacecraft must consider this when selecting metal parts for space missions.

Although it’s not as straightforward as magnets sticking together, cold welding in space is truly possible!

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Fact or fiction? Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire

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Fact or Fiction?

Oxford University, founded in the 12th century, stands as a beacon of scholarship and tradition. Its roots trace back to 1096 during William II’s reign. The university is approximately 230 years older than the Aztec Empire.

Teaching would have likely existed in some form within its hallowed halls. Imagine those early scholars, their minds ablaze with curiosity, gathering under the ancient spires.

Now, let’s compare this age to another remarkable entity: the Aztec civilization. The Aztecs flourished around the 14th century. Their vibrant culture, intricate temples, and awe-inspiring pyramids came some 230 years after the university was established.

Imagine the scene: while Oxford’s dons debated philosophy, the Aztecs were constructing Tenochtitlan, their magnificent capital. As Oxford’s colleges took shape, the Aztecs were creating intricate codices and performing sacred rituals.

Oxford University, with its nine centuries of continuous existence, predates the Aztec Empire by several lifetimes: a testament to the enduring quest for knowledge across civilizations.

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Fact or fiction: More Japanese people have a pet than they do children?

Shiba Inu

It’s true. 2012 statistics show that citizens of Japan registered 21 million or so pets against 16.5 million children (under 15 years).

This is a problem for Japan as it has a growing elderly population. It means Japan has one older person for every three citizens. 33% of the population is elderly and not part of its workforce.

If this trend continues Japan is on course to lose around 40% of its workforce and that is a massive problem for Japan’s economy.

According to a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in 2023, dogs were the most popular pets in Japan, followed by cats and fish. 

The most popular dog breeds in Japan were toy poodle, chihuahua, and Shiba Inu. Many Japanese people love their pets and treat them as part of their family.

Shiba Inu
More Japanese people have a pet than they do children?
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‘Congratulations, as you’re the only one able to spell ‘gover ‘n’ ment’ correctly – you’ve got the job. Would you like education or something a little less taxing like… the treasury?’

Government job interview

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THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT JOB DISTRIBUTION AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT

‘Congratulations, you’re the only one to spell ‘gover ‘n’ ment’ correctly – you’ve got the job. Would you like education or something a little less taxing like… the treasury?’
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‘What on EARTH is that smell – was it you?’ ‘No, it’s just the smell of space.’

Space smell

Space smells – fact or fiction?

It’s true, space has a smell. Space is a vacuum, so no one can smell it directly. But astronauts can smell the things that have been in space, such as their suits or tools. 

They report that space smells like hot metal, diesel fumes, barbecue, or burning hydrocarbons. These smells are believed to be caused by the by-products of dying stars, such as hydrocarbons.

Space smell
‘What on EARTH is that smell – was it you?’ ‘No, it’s just the smell of space.’