# Wtf/wtg science **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [January 1, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672 "2021-01-01T15:48:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/stevegrondin/32/3257_2.png) [@SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/u/SteveGrondin)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/323 "2025-07-21T19:12:38Z")
> **[Revolution in medicine: A molecule produced by gut bacteria causes...](https://english.elpais.com/health/2025-07-17/revolution-in-medicine-a-molecule-produced-by-gut-bacteria-causes-atherosclerosis-responsible-for-millions-of-deaths.html)** > > The discovery, made thanks to an experiment involving hundreds of bank employees in Spain, opens the door to new treatments beyond reducing cholesterol This could be big. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/324 "2025-07-22T00:51:04Z")
But, only in bank employees, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![ArthurItas](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/arthuritas/32/63_2.png) [@ArthurItas](https://community.goactuary.com/u/ArthurItas)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/325 "2025-07-29T13:38:44Z")
Maybe we’ll all be tripping > **[Psilocybin delays aging, extends lifespan, new Emory study suggests -...](https://saportareport.com/psilocybin-delays-aging-extends-lifespan-new-emory-study-suggests/thought-leadership/higher-education/emory-university/?mc_cid=5cab51fcee&mc_eid=61579d6a15)** > > Read Psilocybin delays aging, extends lifespan, new Emory study suggests by Emory University for SaportaReport here. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousGeorge](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/curiousgeorge/32/28457_2.png) [@CuriousGeorge](https://community.goactuary.com/u/CuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/326 "2025-08-13T17:37:10Z")
This came up in my feed today. An interesting approach to factoring quadratic equations. It claimed to be simpler than usual methods and remove “guess and check”. It actually ended up being pretty clever. 4 minute video, first half is “inspiration”, second half shows the method: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZBalWWHYFQc/maxresdefault.jpg "A Different Way to Solve Quadratic Equations") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBalWWHYFQc&t=1s) ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/327 "2025-08-13T18:14:11Z")
It doesn’t seem any easier than using the formula. More steps, actually. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousGeorge](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/curiousgeorge/32/28457_2.png) [@CuriousGeorge](https://community.goactuary.com/u/CuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/328 "2025-08-13T18:22:31Z")
The point is, you don’t need to memorize a formula for it. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/329 "2025-08-13T18:41:13Z")
> [@CuriousGeorge](#): > > The point is, you don’t need to memorize a formula for it . True, but one needs to memorize the process. And, one can always solve the formula if one forgets. Solve it enough times, one will remember the formula. Also, this method only works when A = 1. Is there an “easy way” to solve when A \<\> 1? I WANT MY 2 MINUTES BACK! ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/330 "2025-08-13T18:54:34Z")
Nice that B was an even number in his example. Suppose it is 7 (keep C = 12). Now, step 1: let a = factor 1 = 3.5 - u; let b = factor 2 = 3.5 + u step 2: multiply a and b; ok, 3.5^2 - u^2 = 12. Great, this isn’t difficult at all! Lucky me that squared factors of 5 make this 3.0 \* 4.0 + 0.25 = 12.25. So u^2 = 0.25. and u = ± 0.5. So, a = 3, b = 4. Easier to list the factors of C, see which ones add to B. One will note that starting from {1, C} and increasing the first factor, the sums get smaller. If you go past B, there are no rational solutions. The YT video did say it was a “different way” not easier, so, this belongs in the “ho-hum science” thread. Proof of odd squared factors of 5: Let natural number A = 10 \* B + 5. A^2 = 100 \* B ^ 2 + 100 \* B + 25. = 100 \* (B) \* (B + 1) + 25 = (10 \* B) \* ((10 \* (B + 1)) + 25. 10 \* B is the factor of 10 below A, ((10 \* (B + 1)) is the factor of 10 above A. QED ---
**Author:** ![CuriousGeorge](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/curiousgeorge/32/28457_2.png) [@CuriousGeorge](https://community.goactuary.com/u/CuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/331 "2025-08-13T22:07:59Z")
Divide by A first? ---
**Author:** ![CuriousGeorge](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/curiousgeorge/32/28457_2.png) [@CuriousGeorge](https://community.goactuary.com/u/CuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/332 "2025-08-13T22:12:27Z")
One nice thing about his method is that it also finds irrational solutions, unlike guess and check. I’m not claiming its groundbreaking or anything, but I can certainly see it making intuitive sense to kids, as opposed to memorizing the quadratic formula or completing the square. ---
**Author:** ![Breadmaker](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/breadmaker/32/83065_2.png) [@Breadmaker](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Breadmaker)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/333 "2025-08-13T22:17:57Z")
Factoring quadratics is for math students . ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2025, 4:56am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/334 "2025-08-14T04:56:30Z")
Well, it is a way for kids to think, “Yeah, that formula works every time; I think I’ll use that instead.” ---
**Author:** ![now\_samantha](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/now_samantha/32/24815_2.png) [@now\_samantha](https://community.goactuary.com/u/now_samantha)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2025, 10:43am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/335 "2025-08-14T10:43:46Z")
This method is completing the square. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/336 "2025-08-14T16:53:52Z")
> [@now\_samantha](#): > > This method is completing the square . Agree. It is. ---
**Author:** ![ArthurItas](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/arthuritas/32/63_2.png) [@ArthurItas](https://community.goactuary.com/u/ArthurItas)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/337 "2025-09-06T18:12:21Z")
> **[Why Is Ice Slippery? New Study Overturns 200-Year-Old Physics Theory](https://scitechdaily.com/why-is-ice-slippery-new-study-overturns-200-year-old-physics-theory/)** ---
**Author:** ![tommie.frazier](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@tommie.frazier](https://community.goactuary.com/u/tommie.frazier)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/338 "2025-09-07T19:41:30Z")
interesting. do they offer anything to do differently to avoid slips/falls? ---
**Author:** ![Actuary321](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Actuary321](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Actuary321)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/339 "2025-09-15T19:10:54Z")
That tooth in eye transplant. > **[Rare ‘tooth-in-eye’ surgery restores man’s vision after two decades - East...](https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/09/rare-tooth-in-eye-surgery-restores-mans-vision-after-two-decades/)** > > (CNN) — When Brent Chapman was 13, he took ibuprofen during a Christmas basketball game. It was a drug he had taken before, but what happened next was anything but routine: He had a severe reaction that caused burns all over his body, including on... ---
**Author:** ![SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/stevegrondin/32/3257_2.png) [@SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/u/SteveGrondin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/340 "2025-10-08T13:59:40Z")
Nobel time! Found some cool explainers on the [nobelprize.org](http://nobelprize.org) site: [https://www.nobelprize.org/all-nobel-prizes-2025/](https://www.nobelprize.org/all-nobel-prizes-2025/) Check out the popular information links. ---
**Author:** ![Triweasel](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/triweasel/32/159_2.png) [@Triweasel](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Triweasel)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/341 "2025-10-08T14:50:07Z")
Congrats to my colleagues here at UCSB! > **[UCSB physics professors John Martinis and Michel Devoret win 2025 Nobel Prize...](https://news.ucsb.edu/2025/022111/ucsb-physics-professors-john-martinis-and-michel-devoret-win-2025-nobel-prize-physics)** > > UCSB physics professors John Martinis and Michel Devoret win 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics ---
**Author:** ![now\_samantha](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/now_samantha/32/24815_2.png) [@now\_samantha](https://community.goactuary.com/u/now_samantha)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/342 "2025-10-08T16:43:57Z")
> # Why Is This Lake ‘Burping’? > > For hundreds of years, people who have lived near Seneca Lake in upstate New York have reported hearing loud booms coming from the water. No one is exactly sure why. > > By David Andreatta > Jim Mead was fishing 30 years ago on Seneca Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes of central New York, when he experienced what he believes was the phenomenon that has confounded the region for hundreds of years. > > He recalled leaning over the side of his boat and seeing something in the water about 20 feet away. A large bubble, which he described as three feet in diameter, shot up from the water’s depths and exploded at the surface with a loud bang. > > “It made this really deep boom sound,” said Mr. Mead, 66, who captains pontoon boat cruises to Finger Lakes wineries. “It didn’t make much of a water splash, strangely, but it was a big boom!” > The mystery may now finally be solved by researchers who last month plumbed the depths of Seneca Lake to test for methane and other geological gases that might prove once and for all what has long been suspected: The lake is burping. > > “It’s a longstanding mysterious phenomenon that no one knows the answer to,” said Tim Morin, an associate professor at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry and one of three principal investigators of the sounds. “We think we know what explains it. Now we’ve got to prove it.” [https://archive.ph/ls9DC](https://archive.ph/ls9DC) [Previous page](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672.md?page=16) [Next page](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672.md?page=18)