The Straight Dope 03/07/2003

The Straight Dope -- By Cecil Adams
http://www.straightdope.com

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 03/07/2003

Dear Cecil:

During coverage of the recent Columbia space shuttle tragedy, the subject of 
the importance of conducting medical experiments in space came up. How does 
performing experiments in zero gravity aid in scientific and medical 
research?--theremin



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Cecil replies:

Good question. But in light of the Columbia disaster, we should broaden it a 
bit: Why the hell are we in space?

People have been asking that since the Eisenhower administration. The answer 
has varied with the times. In the 1960s it was simple: We wanted to get to 
the moon first to prove we were more worthy than the Russians, who'd scared 
everybody with Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite, and Yury Gagarin, 
the first human in orbit.

Since the end of the Apollo moon-launch program in 1972, the answer's gotten 
vaguer. 


For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030307.html

STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

I moved into an apartment building near railroad tracks and I've noticed that 
the typical trains has two or three engines pulling it. I can see where the 
extra engines would give additional power, but the second and third engines 
are nearly always oriented backwards from the lead engine, which (seemingly) 
means that the other two engines are running in reverse. Why not have all 
engines pointed in the same direction? --GM

SDSTAFF bibliophage replies:

Backwards is just a state of mind, G. Who's to say that your "backwards" 
locomotives aren't really facing forwards and that it's the rest of the train 
that's backwards? Okay, so that's stupid. But it's also likely to be true . . 
. for the return trip.



For more, see: 
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmultiloco.html

STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 07/01/1983

Dear Cecil: 

Why do Europe and Asia count as separate continents, when any fool with a map 
can see they're parts of the same landmass? I expect the answer has something 
to do with the historical fact that ancient people in, say, China and France 
would have no way of knowing they were on the same continent, but surely this 
excuse should not stand today. After all, people on the opposite ends of any 
of the other three continents would have said the same thing, but we don't 
let them get away with it. --Terry McC., Dallas

Cecil replies:

Not to be picky, Terry, but there are five other continents, not three. 
You're right about Europe and Asia being parts of one continent, though. 


For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_166a.html

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