I suppose giving the fusion reactor to the homicidal zombie counters the bizzare common-sense of not running the city off a machine that’s been “tweaked” by mad scientists….
A perpetual motion machine that can output as much power as a nuclear reactor? You won’t have to deal with the eventual decay, and it probably has no radioactivity issues… yeah, I’ll take it over a man-portable fusion reactor any day, broken or not.
Wait. If it’s a machine that can keep going at a constant speed forever *while outputting mechanical energy*..wouldn’t that potentially mean that turning off the output would cause a catastrophic energy buildup?
Suppose it’s only an issue if you screw up the “Off” switch, mind. Smart Unity is probably smart enough to link the “turn it off” and “disconnect from power generator” controls.
It could be a ZPM type device (Stargate SG-1). I didn’t watch all the shows but basically it seemed to tap Entropy – which to non-physics people, is the energy LOST to the universe in any interaction. “entropy always increases” is after all the 2nd law of thermodynamics.
I don’t remember the exact power source… but it was limited. They eventually run out (hence part of the point that Atlantis is constantly searching for more).
ZPM devices don’t tap entropy. They hold an artificial pocket dimension that they drain the background energy level from until the pocket dimension reaches maximum entropy and therefore became useless. It is entirely possible and plausible that they were more of giant batteries than generators.
By definition, and machine that produced over unity (more out than in) can produce any amount of energy by feeding into sufficient machines of the same type. (As long as it doesn’t feed back to itself you don’t have a runaway issue either).
I’m with Ysabet – given that perpetual motion machines can’t work I’m thinking smart Unity just drew up some complex jibberish with an eye toward underhanded horse trading in the future, knowing there’d be a XX% chance the St Charlie folks would fall for it.
Then again, we don’t have economically viable fusion reactors, let alone portable ones, dogs can’t talk, there aren’t any sapient swamps and the dead don’t walk, talk and occasionally make sense (fun fact: your traditional Hollywood zombie is already a perpetual motion device).
Another fun fact: it’s only in the last 10 years that we’ve had fusion reactors that can reliably produce barely more power for a sustained period (1 second) than that required to run them (which is a massive amount). ITER, The first one that’s projected to produce decent amount of excess power for a longrer time (500KW for up to 1000 seconds, IIRCC) has only just started construction in the South of France, and will cost at least 15 Billion dollars.
The Wikipedia article on fusion power (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power ) claims that so far, JET has peaked at output equal to 65% input power (for a value of “output” that overstates the usable fraction of output energy by a factor of 5). Do you have a more up-to-date source?
In a recent New Scientist reader’s competition, someone suggested harnessing the coming Zombie Apocalypse to produce limitless green (or grey-green) energy. That wasn’t you, by any chance?
Nope, I read Twenty Sided and they did a Spoiler Warning series on The Walking Dead and one of the many points brought up by them or in the discussion was that a traditional Hollywood zombie is effectively a perpetual motion machine.
None of the things you mentioned above violate basic, fundamental physical laws of the universe like perpetual motion machines do. Anyway – wasn’t the sapient swamp voodoo related? That pretty much lets science off the hook. Neither the swamp Zombies in Louisiana nor Unity are true “Zombies” in the traditional sense and we don’t know enough about the St. Charlie variety to speculate.
Awww, how cute, “perpetual motion machines can’t work”. In Walske’s words, “Euclid called! He wants his geometry back!” Seriously, Unity has displayed a Mad Genius level of inventive when under the effect of brains before, why decide now that something she does can’t work?
Condescending tone aside, because the difference between mad science and junk science is knowing what only seems impossible. Try looking up the first law of thermodynamics.
Skin Horse went and saved this train of trains …
And Unity just ate a barrel of brains!
Intelligence, she tem-po-ra-ri-ly gains,
It’s mostly gone, but just a bit … remains!
Did she invent perpetual mo-tion?
From a nuclear reactor, that is … quite a promotion!
And it now will power … their locomotion!
Yes, it now will power … their locomotion!
Now she’ll gloat!
She thinks that she’s all that!
Now she’ll gloat!
She’ll next get a new hat!
Now she’ll glo-o-o-oat …
Yep, that’s the way it works.
And when the Sequester hits Skinhorse it will be Unity’s furlough and not Sweetheart’s.
It happens in every government agency at any level. Sacrifice the essential services (fire protection, police, teachers) _before_ the admin takes the hit.
Remember, in the opinion of the Aparatchicks, the purpose of government is to expand and perpetuate government.
I suppose giving the fusion reactor to the homicidal zombie counters the bizzare common-sense of not running the city off a machine that’s been “tweaked” by mad scientists….
I really hope nothing related to Unity goes “Grey Goo” on us. Can you imagine what that would be like?
Unity is more of a black goo anyway. 😉
Unity based grey goo would at least have a sense of humor, even if it’s sort of childish.
I wonder if Unity grey goo could be used as a photography reference card for tricky light situations.
I think Unity has earned a souvenir or two.
FINALLY, Unity gets herself some Fusion Pie!
That’s….. quite a trade there. I’m not so certain that Unity’s not STILL smart. >_>
A perpetual motion machine that can output as much power as a nuclear reactor? You won’t have to deal with the eventual decay, and it probably has no radioactivity issues… yeah, I’ll take it over a man-portable fusion reactor any day, broken or not.
Wait. If it’s a machine that can keep going at a constant speed forever *while outputting mechanical energy*..wouldn’t that potentially mean that turning off the output would cause a catastrophic energy buildup?
Suppose it’s only an issue if you screw up the “Off” switch, mind. Smart Unity is probably smart enough to link the “turn it off” and “disconnect from power generator” controls.
It could be a ZPM type device (Stargate SG-1). I didn’t watch all the shows but basically it seemed to tap Entropy – which to non-physics people, is the energy LOST to the universe in any interaction. “entropy always increases” is after all the 2nd law of thermodynamics.
If that’s true, my butt is entropy.
I don’t remember the exact power source… but it was limited. They eventually run out (hence part of the point that Atlantis is constantly searching for more).
ZPM devices don’t tap entropy. They hold an artificial pocket dimension that they drain the background energy level from until the pocket dimension reaches maximum entropy and therefore became useless. It is entirely possible and plausible that they were more of giant batteries than generators.
Off switch? There is no off switch! Ther train will keep moving forever.
Don’t you understand what the phrase ‘perpetual motion’ means?
(Thanks to Charlie Stross for pointing that out.)
Unless it’s a type one PPM machine, that will run forever but cannot output energy.
By definition, and machine that produced over unity (more out than in) can produce any amount of energy by feeding into sufficient machines of the same type. (As long as it doesn’t feed back to itself you don’t have a runaway issue either).
I’m with Ysabet – given that perpetual motion machines can’t work I’m thinking smart Unity just drew up some complex jibberish with an eye toward underhanded horse trading in the future, knowing there’d be a XX% chance the St Charlie folks would fall for it.
Then again, we don’t have economically viable fusion reactors, let alone portable ones, dogs can’t talk, there aren’t any sapient swamps and the dead don’t walk, talk and occasionally make sense (fun fact: your traditional Hollywood zombie is already a perpetual motion device).
Another fun fact: it’s only in the last 10 years that we’ve had fusion reactors that can reliably produce barely more power for a sustained period (1 second) than that required to run them (which is a massive amount). ITER, The first one that’s projected to produce decent amount of excess power for a longrer time (500KW for up to 1000 seconds, IIRCC) has only just started construction in the South of France, and will cost at least 15 Billion dollars.
Got my figures wrong. that should be 500MW not 500KW, (for 50 Mw input power)
The Wikipedia article on fusion power (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power ) claims that so far, JET has peaked at output equal to 65% input power (for a value of “output” that overstates the usable fraction of output energy by a factor of 5). Do you have a more up-to-date source?
In a recent New Scientist reader’s competition, someone suggested harnessing the coming Zombie Apocalypse to produce limitless green (or grey-green) energy. That wasn’t you, by any chance?
Nope, I read Twenty Sided and they did a Spoiler Warning series on The Walking Dead and one of the many points brought up by them or in the discussion was that a traditional Hollywood zombie is effectively a perpetual motion machine.
None of the things you mentioned above violate basic, fundamental physical laws of the universe like perpetual motion machines do. Anyway – wasn’t the sapient swamp voodoo related? That pretty much lets science off the hook. Neither the swamp Zombies in Louisiana nor Unity are true “Zombies” in the traditional sense and we don’t know enough about the St. Charlie variety to speculate.
Awww, how cute, “perpetual motion machines can’t work”. In Walske’s words, “Euclid called! He wants his geometry back!” Seriously, Unity has displayed a Mad Genius level of inventive when under the effect of brains before, why decide now that something she does can’t work?
Condescending tone aside, because the difference between mad science and junk science is knowing what only seems impossible. Try looking up the first law of thermodynamics.
Ah, yes, that thing that prevents Artie from gaining or losing 90 kg instantly at a mere hiccup.
Nope, you’re wrong. Quoting Dave this time: “we’re not limited to the possible“.
But… but… hat!
(TUNE: “Rock The Boat”, The Hues Corporation)
Skin Horse went and saved this train of trains …
And Unity just ate a barrel of brains!
Intelligence, she tem-po-ra-ri-ly gains,
It’s mostly gone, but just a bit … remains!
Did she invent perpetual mo-tion?
From a nuclear reactor, that is … quite a promotion!
And it now will power … their locomotion!
Yes, it now will power … their locomotion!
Now she’ll gloat!
She thinks that she’s all that!
Now she’ll gloat!
She’ll next get a new hat!
Now she’ll glo-o-o-oat …
Never deprive someone of a well-deserved new hat, Sweetheart. It’s just not a good idea.
So, Unity has not only deactivated GODOT, but recovered the Victor Device and Goldbug’s drone. Guess who’s getting the bonus when they get home?
Sweetheart, for her superior personnel management skills?
Yep, that’s the way it works.
And when the Sequester hits Skinhorse it will be Unity’s furlough and not Sweetheart’s.
It happens in every government agency at any level. Sacrifice the essential services (fire protection, police, teachers) _before_ the admin takes the hit.
Remember, in the opinion of the Aparatchicks, the purpose of government is to expand and perpetuate government.
I’m wondering who she’d make into the hat?
There are a number of possiblities down there. Some of them even dead first.
Did I miss a comic where they came back to life? Or is that just assumed to have happened in the background?
It’s assumed; that’s why they comment on how quickly they revived in the first panel.