Fun with facts

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Iguanas have a semi-functional 3rd eye on the top of their heads that helps them spot possible predators.

[Griffin NoName]

Napolean used homeopathy for his pubic lice.

[Griffin NoName]

From the bbc QI fact for the Day:

A cockroach can live for several weeks without its head. Some insects can live headlessly for a whole year.

<shame some governments* can't >

*possible UK interest only

[beagle]

A cockroach can live for several weeks without its head. Some insects can live headlessly for a whole year.

But how long could a famous French chemist's head live on after he was guillotined?
Not long enough to benefit from the pardon he was later given, that's for sure.

[Swatopluk]

A cockroach can live for several weeks without its head. Some insects can live headlessly for a whole year.

But how long could a famous French chemist's head live on after he was guillotined?
Not long enough to benefit from the pardon he was later given, that's for sure.

It was discussed at the time, what the last thing would be for the beheaded to see. Would he see his or her own torso, if the head fell the right way into the basket? And also, would (s)he feel pain?

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

In an quick accident you rarely feel the pain while it's happening but after a few seconds later, the problem is that you are completely unaware.

Even if cutting through bone doesn't hurt immediately the anguish of the whole spectacle plus the sound of the blade falling has to be a very, very, veeeeery unpleasant experience.

[Swatopluk]

Admittedly the first thought that went through my head (no pun intended) was that earplugs should be provided.
Just demonstrates my dirty mind once again. The next thought was about the pro and contra of playing muzac during beheadings and whether that counts as extra torture.
Seriously, the common procedure in 'civilized' times was to keep the guillotine behind a curtain up to the end and then have the whole heads-off business over within seconds. As far as I know the beheading by machine was abandoned less because of its (alleged by some) cruelty but becasue of the mess it creates and the stress for the executioners. Otherwise it is today considered (after some nasty facts became known about the 'humane' lethal injection) as the least error-prone and fastest method. The 15-ton weight never catched on as an acceptable method. What makes any method in some way inhumane is the iron rule that the person to be executed must be awake and at least formally aware of what's happening (for that reason alcohol has been a taboo in the last meal for centuries). If that condition could be dropped (and capital punishment could not be abandoned), I'd prefer a strong sleeping drug in the last meal (which might not be announced as such) followed by e.g. asphyxia (by inert gas or vacuum). Thinking about some certain individuals though (you can guess who), boiling oil, mustard gas, four oxen, rogue elephants and the like have a certain kind of appeal.

[Griffin NoName]

Despite this enjoyable discussion, not knowing what is the usual method for cockroach beheadings is bothering me. Also, what occurs after several weeks that ends their ability to survive without their heads?

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Also, what occurs after several weeks that ends their ability to survive without their heads?

Not being able to ingest any food.
----
Boiling oil sounds right but only if it's done slowly (can you tell I heard certain dick talking in the radio?).

[Griffin NoName]

Also, what occurs after several weeks that ends their ability to survive without their heads?

Not being able to ingest any food.

I assumed that was taken care of - else what would be the point of having this trait

Boiling oil sounds right but only if it's done slowly (can you tell I heard certain dick talking in the radio?).

We just had him on our main evening BBC news....... I suspect he could survive without his head.

[Swatopluk]

Something completely different:

The robocup football (that's 'soccer' for our US dwellers) goes to new extremes with the nano-league.
The playing field is 2X2 mm (a silicon chip) and the maximum size for players 300 µm.
The latter looks a bit large to me, it's a sixth of the whole field.
Training is conducted on a 2X2 cm field (sounds more realistic).

[Griffin NoName]

Where is the nano-thread on this forum?

[Swatopluk]

Where is the nano-thread on this forum?

It hides behind the dot of your question mark

[beagle]

Training is conducted on a 2X2 cm field (sounds more realistic).

Finally, an exercise regime I can cope with.

[Griffin NoName]

Training is conducted on a 2X2 cm field (sounds more realistic).

Finally, an exercise regime I can cope with.