AAARRRGGGHHH! Half-life and that stuff and astrophysics are two things I just canNOT understand, no matter how much I read or try. The other three panels are no sweat. . .understand THEM perfectly, unfortunately!
You hear people fretting over nuclear waste expressing their concerns with phrases like “This stuff will be radiating for the next 10,000 years.” No, that’s the half life. Half of it will continue radiating for another 10,000 years, then half of that will radiate for another 10,000 years beyond that.
“But doesn’t that make it even more dangerous?”, you might ask. Au contraire, Pierre, that 10,000 figure means it’s among the safest radioactive materials, because its damaging radiation “leaks out” very, very slowly. The stuff you really have to worry about are the things with half-lives measured in weeks or days; they emit radiation like crazy in their race to zero.
Gent over 4 years ago
It’s celebration time!
Geophyzz over 4 years ago
This year, the family never got around to eating any of my wife’s Christmas baking. Yesterday I had brownies for supper.
InTraining over 4 years ago
Well, it’s now 12 days into the new year… you are behind the curve boys, as usual…!
enigmamz over 4 years ago
“If you brought some cake, we could have cake and ice cream, if you brought some ice cream!”
1953Baby over 4 years ago
AAARRRGGGHHH! Half-life and that stuff and astrophysics are two things I just canNOT understand, no matter how much I read or try. The other three panels are no sweat. . .understand THEM perfectly, unfortunately!
tomtrow44 over 4 years ago
It is called a horizontal asymptote.
comixbomix over 4 years ago
Way ahead of you – MY resolution was to have cake and ice cream every day!
the lost wizard over 4 years ago
I like ice cream and cake.
sandpiper over 4 years ago
Hilarious today and right in line with my personal choices, but then I would have been in the last panel a week ago.
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 4 years ago
You hear people fretting over nuclear waste expressing their concerns with phrases like “This stuff will be radiating for the next 10,000 years.” No, that’s the half life. Half of it will continue radiating for another 10,000 years, then half of that will radiate for another 10,000 years beyond that.
“But doesn’t that make it even more dangerous?”, you might ask. Au contraire, Pierre, that 10,000 figure means it’s among the safest radioactive materials, because its damaging radiation “leaks out” very, very slowly. The stuff you really have to worry about are the things with half-lives measured in weeks or days; they emit radiation like crazy in their race to zero.
Ukko wilko over 4 years ago
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.If it’s gonna get broke, don’t make it.
Isaac Chen over 4 years ago
That’s where the observer effect comes in.
Zen-of-Zinfandel over 4 years ago
Their research is never rock salad.
STACEY MARSHALL Premium Member over 4 years ago
You can use the financial interest formulas, with interest being -50%.