[ExI] trust the fake science?

[Keith Henson]

" The idea's been around since the 1600s but no one's found structure
and materials that can quite pull it off.  It was once widely thought
impossible, but there've been studies recently getting close.  I think
I have the answer - or at least, an answer."

A long time ago I saw an analysis of this which used concrete for the
shell.  As I recall, the concrete was 6 inches thick and the whole
thing was a mile in diameter.

Keith

Best wishes,

Keith

On Sat, Jun 8, 2024 at 8:10 PM Adrian Tymes via extropy-chat
<extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
> On Sat, Jun 8, 2024 at 4:36 PM efc--- via extropy-chat <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>>
>> What is your vacuum balloon idea and how can it be commericalized?
>
>
> A vacuum balloon is a stiff balloon, strong enough to contain vacuum against 1 atmosphere, l9ght enough to float from the mass of the air displaced.  The idea's been around since the 1600s but no one's found structure and materials that can quite pull it off.  It was once widely thought impossible, but there've been studies recently getting close.  I think I have the answer - or at least, an answer.
>
> If it works, it would be a far less expensive and better performing alternative to helium balloons, so it would make airships less costly - both to build and to operate - and give advantages, such as ability to repair in the air without carrying spare lifting gas (since one can manufacture vacuum on the spot) and better tying down in the face of windstorms (they can dismiss the vacuum and be in no danger of floating away, then remanufacture the vacuum afterward).  Commercialization is straightforward if I can get an airship manufacturer interested...which is the step I've not been able to do yet.  I'm more of an engineer than a salesperson.
>
>> Is it possible to do a Ph.D. in only 3 years?
>
>
> Heh.  This takes some finangling.  It's usually supposed to take at least 4-5 years (and I've heard that some have taken over a decade), but I did my BS in 3 years and my MS in 9 months.  I'm looking to apply the same tricks here; see below.
>
> I have reason to believe that certain others have done a PhD in 3 years before, even without a relevant MS (done before the PhD and not counted as part of the PhD) shaving a year or two off the program.
>
>>
>> In sweden it will take you
>> at least 5 due to demands of having to teach a certain amount of hours
>> as well.
>
>
> How many hours can you teach, maximum, per quarter or semester?  Can you teach some over summer?  Can you get credit reducing this requirement from other things you have done, particularly previous academic work?  Is the length set by anything other than literally just the teaching hours?  Will you be spending a significant amount of time on anything else during your program, such as a job to pay the bills?
>
> As I understand it - I have to research this a little more - the university I am considering, North Carolina State University (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), has three primary requirements:
> 1) A PhD dissertation and defense.  No specific time requirement; it's merely uncommon to write fast.  I have decades of experience in writing fast.  I'm also starting from a basic writeup of the math, which I suspect will give me a significant head start on the dissertation.
> 2) 72 credit hours.  No apparent maximum credit hours per semester.  9 credit hours per semester (including summer) times 8 semesters comes to 72.  Most classes appear to be 3 credit hours, meaning I would be taking 3 classes per semester, which I should easily be able to handle.  There are some further requirements as to the exact distribution, for instance a certain number must come from the "class" (MAE 895) that represents working on the dissertation and defense.  It is not yet known if I can transfer in any from my MS or BS work; I am planning for the case that I can't, but any that I can will reduce this.
> 3) At least 8 semesters.  This is normally intended to be Fall-Spring-Fall-Spring-Fall-Spring-Fall-Spring, but I asked and Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall-Spring is allowed.  I may tack on another Summer to the start or end, if it turns out I can only take 6 credit hours during a Summer semester (so the credit hours, rather than 9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9, would be 6+9+9+6+9+9+6+9+9).
>
> Whatever university you might consider doing it at, apply this same analysis.  There is no teaching requirement in my case, but I suspect that might be accelerated and/or reduced in your case in the same manner as #2 above.  It will not always be possible at every program at every university, but regardless of university and program, it is not possible save by accident if you do not investigate and plan in advance.
>
> If you have ever written some long work, such as a book or a long article, you probably know the importance of starting with an outline before you start writing.  The same principle applies here.  (Doubly so: outline your intended path before applying to the program, and outline your dissertation before writing it.)
>
>>
>> If 3 years is possible, that might make it possible given the right
>> arrangements and a flexible school.
>
>
> Indeed.  Start by reading what the university and department you are looking at, publish online about their requirements.  Then, talk to some faculty and staff there.
>
> When you do so, ask about suitable dissertation topics.  As I understand it, usually any PhD topic has to be something the university already has funding to let you pursue - or something that it doesn't take much funding to pursue, often something along the lines of what your dissertation advisor is investigating anyway.  Constructing a vacuum balloon (which is not something anyone at NCSU appears to be pursuing at this time) will take money for a prototype - possibly more than the tuition, thus why getting grants to fund everything is more critical in my case, but if I can supply that funding to the university then I just have to make a case for academic suitability.  (In NCSU's case, their criteria is that it "advances the research".  Building something once thought impossible and still not yet accomplished, and publishing exactly how I did it along with rigorous math showing how it all works, should hopefully qualify.  Even if my theory turns out to be wrong, publishing proof that the particular approach I am investigating can not work - with emphasis on the proof - should also qualify.)  Whether you're bringing the funding to let you pick a topic (within bounds of what the university finds acceptable), or you find some agreeable topic that a faculty member is willing to advise you on, knowing what you want to focus on can help lay out your coursework and let you start your research before you even formally apply to a PhD program.
>
>>
>> Ahh... this was my follow up question you anticipated. If any meaningful
>> contributions in the 21st century have been made by amateurs?
>
>
> For this, I defer to https://www.google.com/search?q=amateur+science+breakthrough+21st+century .  The answer appears to be "yes".
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