Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser

The Red-Line Concept

The red-line concept is a construct to provide the justification for impending action. It has been used throughout the ages to demark transgression and reprisal. History is full of such examples. History also shows that, when the expected transgression did not occur in time, provocative incidents were conducted to justify the counter action. Many wars have started that way.

The Rain in Spain…

"The rain in Spain .... stays mainly in the plain" sings Eliza Doolittle in the theme song of My Fair Lady, - but not just in Spain, also in Australia.

Wood for Thought

2,000+ years old and counting, the giant redwood trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in California are having a great time-- they are growing faster than ever before. A new study by UC Berkeley and Humboldt State University researchers finds them in a growth spurt that began about 100 years ago and began to accelerate in recent decades. California's redwood trees are among the oldest living organisms on earth. Some are over 3,000 years old and still going strong. So what's the cause of their recent growth spurt?

Seawater Desalination

A new process, called “Electrochemically Mediated Seawater Desalination” has recently been described. The inventors claim that it could potentially lead to large-scale 99% desalination of seawater at low cost. Some people have dubbed the invention the “water chip.”

The Law of Urgent Requests

Have you heard of the “Law of Unintended Consequences” or “Murphy’s Law” or any of the other unwritten laws of nature you may have experienced? I have another one to add to the collection: The Law of Urgent Requests, also known simply as The Law of Requests.

The Rise and Fall of Cartels

Cartels have been around for millennia. Any group which “banded together” to control the price of certain goods or services is a kind of cartel.

Breaking Ice in the Arctic

For a mere $70,000 per couple, you can break ice at the North Pole. Actually, you can just sit back, sip a drink, and watch the nuclear-powered Russian icebreaker Victory do the work for you. Arctic Cruises There are plenty of Arctic cruises at this time of the year, between mid-June and mid-September.  For example, the ad for the Victory's "North Pole Expedition Cruise" reads:

Need some cleaning?

Ever received any calls for “Windows and Doors Replacement” or “Duct Cleaning?”

Beware of Gasoline Phase Separation!

Phase separation of gasoline -- avoid it if you can! I’ll tell you why and have a simple experiment that lets you measure the ethanol content in your gasoline too.

Push Back on Misinformation!

With his recent address to students at Georgetown University, Washington DC, President Obama has commanded: “Push Back on Misinformation. Speak up for the facts.” What a wise command!

A New Great Wall

There are several Great Walls on earth which were built to counter invasions of one kind or another. The Great Wall in China across its northern frontier, the Roman Limes in Germany and Hadrian's Wall across central England come readily to mind. Wikipedia has a whole List of Walls, of ancient and modern times.

Hydrogen-Powered Cars – A Pipedream

A recent edition of our newspaper had a 24-page insert with the title “Green Agenda.” Actually, it’s a so-called Special Information Feature, AKA an “infomercial” on new car models and technologies.

Asteroids

Asteroids, comparatively small interplanetary bodies anywhere from a hundred yards to a few miles in diameter, are always whizzing around the solar system. Some of those asteroids come close to Earth and other planets. Do you need to worry about them?

Splitting Time

Times were that time used to be steady, sort of one second after another. Now, we are told that time can be split into two components, sort of a fast first part and a slow second part with a “time vacuum” in the center.

A Great Pet

We have a new pet, well sort of. Rather than us adopting it, the skunk adopted us. Mr. or Mrs. Whitestripe is especially fond of our lawn.

By-Laws

Of course the local progressive lawn by-laws prevent you from using anything that would stop the weeds and grubs from taking over. For example, our neighbor’s lawn has turned into a highly productive dandelion patch.

Carbon Dioxide Makes Alkaline Water - Experiment

Anyone can do this experiment and prove that carbon dioxide (CO2) increases the pH of natural water systems.

Knot for You

The Ashley Book of Knots is an interesting tome with detailed descriptions of knots and how to tie them. First published in 1944, it lists close to 4,000 different knots with some 7,000 illustrations. From fancy nautical (or should that be knotical ?) braids to the hangman’s knot , they are all in there. So, which knots are the most important to know? There is only one knot that I think you absolutely need to know: the Bowline knot.

Dyes & Color

Dyes and pigments are everywhere. They make us see things in many colors. The blue of your jeans is just one dye of many.

Your Genes – or Not

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing an interesting case. It’s about your genes or, more accurately, the question as to who owns them.

A Bloomin’ Mess

Once again, Laker Erie is on the verge of choking on too much nutrient. In 2011, its western basin had massive blooms of Microcystis and Cladophora sp. algae. It happened before, in the 1960s, leading to it being declared “dead.” A new paper by AM Michalak and 28 coauthors describes the event in detail.