Project Babylon is an ambitious concept proposed by the theoretical physicist Dr. Gerald Bull in the 1980s. It aimed to create a massive supergun—also referred to as a "space gun"—that could be used to launch payloads into space using a series of large cannons instead of rockets. The project envisioned the construction of a gigantic cannon in Iraq, which would be able to propel projectiles at high velocities, potentially allowing for cost-effective access to space. Dr.
Dielectric complex reluctance is a concept that stems from the analysis of materials in the context of electromagnetic theory, particularly when dealing with dielectric materials in alternating electric fields. In electrical engineering and physics, reluctance is a measure of the opposition that a material offers to the flow of magnetic flux, analogous to resistance in electric circuits.
The Fermi surface is a concept in solid-state physics that describes the collection of energy states occupied by electrons in a metal or a semiconductor at absolute zero temperature. It is a critical concept in understanding the electronic properties of materials, particularly in relation to their conductivity and other physical behaviors. In more detail, the Fermi surface is defined in the context of the Fermi energy, which is the highest energy level occupied by electrons at absolute zero.
The Matteucci effect is a phenomenon in which an electric current is generated in a conductor when it is subjected to a non-uniform temperature gradient. This effect is observed in materials that exhibit thermoelectric properties, where heat gradients can lead to the movement of charge carriers, resulting in an electrical potential difference.
The Quantum Heisenberg model is a theoretical framework in quantum mechanics used to describe and analyze magnetic interactions in systems composed of spins. It is particularly relevant in the study of quantum magnetism and condensed matter physics. The model is named after physicist Werner Heisenberg, who contributed significantly to the understanding of quantum mechanics.
Grain boundary sliding is a mechanism of deformation that occurs in polycrystalline materials, particularly at elevated temperatures or under high stress conditions. In a polycrystalline material, which consists of many small grains or crystals, the interfaces between these grains are called grain boundaries. During deformation, especially at high temperatures (e.g., during processes like creep), the grains can slide past one another at these boundaries.
A Superlens is a type of lens that has the ability to image objects with a resolution finer than the diffraction limit of conventional lenses. Traditional lenses are limited by the diffraction of light, which imposes a fundamental limit on the smallest detail that can be resolved. This limit is typically on the order of half the wavelength of light used. Superlenses take advantage of phenomena such as metamaterials or plasmonics.
Paleostress inversion is a geological technique used to interpret the stress field that existed in the Earth's crust at a specific point in Earth's history, based on the analysis of structures such as faults, folds, and fractures. This method is particularly useful for understanding the tectonic history of a region, as it allows scientists to reconstruct the historical stress conditions that have influenced rock formations over time.
A **slip line field** is a concept used in the field of continuum mechanics, particularly in the analysis of plasticity and soil mechanics. It is a graphical and mathematical representation of the stress distribution and flow patterns in materials that behave plastically under applied loads. The concept of slip line fields is primarily used to analyze the behavior of materials that yield under stress and exhibit plastic deformation.
HTR3D, or High-Throughput RNA-Seq 3D, typically refers to a specialized method or tool used in molecular biology and bioinformatics for analyzing RNA sequencing data in a three-dimensional context. While the specifics can vary based on the particular research context or tool being referenced, it generally involves techniques that enhance the understanding of gene expression patterns and their spatial organization within tissues or cells.
Intergranular fracture is a type of failure that occurs along the grain boundaries of a material, rather than through the grains themselves. This type of fracture is often associated with certain conditions such as: 1. **Material Structure**: Intergranular fractures are typically seen in crystalline materials where the failure occurs at the interfaces between individual grains.
Concrete degradation refers to the deterioration of concrete structures or materials over time due to various environmental, chemical, physical, and mechanical factors. This process can lead to a reduction in the strength, durability, and overall performance of concrete, compromising its integrity and potentially leading to structural failures.
Polymer degradation refers to the deterioration of the physical and chemical properties of a polymer as a result of exposure to various environmental factors or internal stresses. This process can lead to the breakdown of the polymer's structure, which can impact its performance, durability, and functionality.
The Charles Goodyear Medal is a prestigious award given by the American Chemical Society (ACS) in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of rubber chemistry or technology. Established in 1941, the award honors the contributions and legacy of Charles Goodyear, who is best known for his invention of the vulcanization process, which revolutionized rubber production and usage.
Nature Materials is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes research articles in the field of materials science. It is part of the Nature Portfolio, which includes a range of high-impact scientific journals. Established in 2002, Nature Materials covers a wide array of topics related to the development, characterization, and application of materials, spanning areas such as nanomaterials, biomaterials, electronic materials, and more.
Bainite is a metallurgical microstructure that forms in steels during specific heat treatment processes, particularly under conditions of moderate cooling rates from the austenitic phase. It is named after the metallurgist Sir Alfred bainite. The formation of bainite occurs when austenite (the high-temperature phase of steel) transforms into a mixture of ferrite and cementite (iron carbide).
The Journal of Alloys and Compounds is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that focuses on the study of alloys and compounds, including their properties, synthesis, and applications. It covers a wide range of topics related to materials science, particularly those involving metallic and inorganic compounds, including physical, chemical, and mechanical aspects. This journal publishes original research articles, reviews, and short communications, making it a platform for researchers to share advancements in the field.
The Journal of Coatings Technology and Research is a scientific publication that focuses on the field of coatings, including their formulation, application, and performance. It serves as a platform for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to share findings related to the development and improvement of coatings in various industries, such as automotive, aerospace, construction, and more.
The Journal of Fire Sciences is a peer-reviewed academic publication that focuses on various aspects of fire science, including fire behavior, fire protection engineering, fire safety, combustion science, and related fields. It publishes original research articles, review papers, and technical notes that contribute to the understanding of fire dynamics, prevention, suppression, and the effects of fire on materials and the environment.
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 4. Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation.Figure 5. Web editor. You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.Video 4. OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo. Source. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact





