How do anti-static sprays work? Where do the electrons go to or come from to neutralise a charged surface?

John Chapman, Perth, Western Australia

What is it in a fountain that allows the water to come surging back up through the tube? What technical device (or natural device) enables the water to be forced upwards and how does it work?

Anyone with a magnifying glass or a shaving mirror can light a fire by focussing sunlight into a spot on a piece of paper and burn a hole.

Can the same trick be done with starlight? If so what diameter of mirror or lens will be needed? And which star would be the best choice?

Is there a light coloured ash which could be used to cover fields after they have been sown in order to reflect sunlight for a period of time, fertilise the crop while also effecting large scale carbonation and a form of sequestrationat the same time?. If not could one be developed?.

I can't find the thread relating to the "vibrating, humming" sensation around laptop computers and similar, when touching another object of metal construction.

Having just purchased a new electric blanket I noticed at the first attempt that night a strong "vibrating" or "humming" sensation when turning of my bedside lamp.

First thought was "there's a fault with the 'blanket."

Second thought "is the metal lampstand earthed?"

I found the sensation only happened when lying on the working electric blanket and the strength varied in line with the power rating on the control.

The two items are both connected to the same outlet and so I thought there was a cross interference because of this.

From what I read earlier from others on here, that probably is not the case.

Is this overnight exposure to this electrical field damaging to one's cell structure or heart rythmns do you think?

Thanks,

TeaAitch

Iron will attract magnetic lines of force by making their path through the space easier.  Is there any material which will prevent or block the passage of those lines of force?

Not sure if this is a scientefic question but i am sure there must be a formula of some sort.Who is buying all the shares when the stock market crashes?

So there are 100 shares in total (the whole stock exchange) and they are worth $10 each, sudenly some sells there 50% steak at $9 the market panics and the value drops to $6 then someone sells there 30% and the price drops to $2 and the last 20% is sold for $1 and the market collapses.........who buys all these shares?

My laptop has a lithium ion battery, which has served me well for a year or so. Lasting rougly 3 hours at 100%. But a few days ago, when my battery was removed from the laptop for half an hour or so, the capactiy dropped to 15 minutes. 

I know how these batteries "wear down" over time, due to corrotion of the lithium cathode and whatnot. But I would've expected a steady decline, rather than a sudden and extreme fall in capacity. 

Actual question: Why did the capacity of my lithium-ion battery suddenly drop from 3 hours to 15 minutes? And was it related to the fact that the battery was removed from the laptop.

During the relatively short period of time when credit was much easier to come by for the everyday person did it generate increased competition forcing companies to improve their products more often and in imaginative ways and as a result fastrack R&D and are we benefiting from this in an measurable economic way at present or are continuing improvements in technological development basically exponential and would have happened anyway.