# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785 "2024-07-25T15:06:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/541 "2024-09-28T21:58:13Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > When it comes to obscure units of measurement, I’m partial to the [smoot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot) It’s hard to beat the smoot. It has such historicity and usefulness. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/542 "2024-09-29T02:28:06Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > It’s hard to beat the smoot. It has such historicity and usefulness. I’ve always liked the barn: > **[Barn (unit)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_(unit)#Etymology)** > > A barn (symbol: b) is a metric unit of area equal to 10−28 m2 (100 fm2). Originally used in nuclear physics for expressing the cross sectional area of nuclei and nuclear reactions, today it is also used in all fields of high-energy physics to express the cross sections of any scattering process, and is best understood as a measure of the probability of interaction between small particles. A barn is approximately the cross-sectional area of a uranium nucleus. The barn is also the unit of area used... > During [Manhattan Project](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Project) research on the [atomic bomb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bomb) during [World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II), American physicists [Marshall Holloway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Holloway) and [Charles P. Baker](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_P._Baker&action=edit&redlink=1) were working at [Purdue University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purdue_University) on a project using a particle accelerator to measure the cross sections of certain nuclear reactions. According to an account of theirs from a couple years later, they were dining in a cafeteria in December 1942 and discussing their work. They “lamented” that there was no name for the unit of cross section and challenged themselves to develop one. They initially tried to find the name of “some great man closely associated with the field” that they could name the unit after, but struggled to find one that was appropriate. They considered “[Oppenheimer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Robert_Oppenheimer)” too long (in retrospect, they considered an “Oppy” to perhaps have been allowable), and considered “[Bethe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Bethe)” to be too easily confused with the commonly-used Greek letter [beta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta). They then considered naming it after [John Manley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Manley), another scientist associated with their work, but considered “Manley” too long and “John” too closely associated with [toilets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet). But this latter association, combined with the “rural background” of one of the scientists, suggested to them the term “[barn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn)”, which also worked because the unit was “really as big as a barn.” According to the authors, the first published use of the term was in a (secret) Los Alamos report from late June 1943, on which the two originators were co-authors.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_(unit)#cite_note-2) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/543 "2024-09-29T02:57:57Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I’ve always liked the barn: Oh, that is lovely! ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/544 "2024-09-29T13:58:35Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > > [@dirtball](#): > > > > When it comes to obscure units of measurement, I’m partial to the [smoot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot) > > It’s hard to beat the smoot. It has such historicity and usefulness. How about buttload? > **[Bright Cellars Activation - Winc](https://www.winc.com/pages/bright-cellars-activation)** ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/545 "2024-09-29T14:02:26Z")
Wow. I never would have imagined that buttload was a real thing. I don’t know whether to be amused or disappointed. 🙃 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/546 "2024-09-29T14:05:11Z")
[A unit of measure mentioned in past threads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-a-second-weigh/440214/25). No need to repeat here. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/547 "2024-09-29T14:08:12Z")
I’ve used that one, many years ago when I was a young guy working in a screen printing shop. It would generally be something like pulling the first impression and showing it to the foreman to make sure it looked okay before you actually ran the job. And he might say something like “Move your blue screen up just a (that unit of measurement).” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/548 "2024-09-29T16:29:38Z")
The part that makes the Smoot interesting to me is that, after his graduation from MIT, Smoot eventually ended up as head of the National Institute of Standards. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/549 "2024-09-29T16:39:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The part that makes the Smoot interesting to me is that, after his graduation from MIT, Smoot eventually ended up as head of the National Institute of Standards. I’ve never heard that factoid before, but that is hilarious!! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/550 "2024-09-29T17:10:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Smoot eventually ended up as head of the National Institute of Standards Really. That makes me smile. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/551 "2024-09-29T17:24:08Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I’ve never heard that factoid before, but that is hilarious!! Here’s a fun little fact: while it’s usage has shifted over the years to include true but triviall things, originally “factoid” meant someone that is accepted as true even though it isn’t. The suffix -oid generally means something that resembles a thing, but isn’t that thing: android (man-like), asteroid (star-like), ovoid (egg-like), factoid (fact-like). Some common factoids: you can see the Great Wall of China from space; you only use 10% of your brain; the taste bud map. What I learned recently was that the term was coined by Norman Mailer. He defined them as “facts which have no existence before appearing in a magazine or newspaper”. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/552 "2024-09-29T18:41:36Z")
On the subject of units: It’s been said that Helen of Troy possessed such beauty that it caused the launch of a thousand ships. Some time more recently, I saw a suggestion that a unit called the millihelen should be defined as a unit of beauty sufficient to cause the launch one ship. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/553 "2024-09-29T19:08:22Z")
I still wonder how many millihelens a B quark has. (and yes, damnit, I still call them “Truth” and “Beauty”, not “Top” and “Bottom”) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/554 "2024-09-29T22:42:57Z")
Smoot also has two famous Smoot-relatives. George Smoot, Nobel prize and _Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?_ winner. Reed Smoot, co-author of the Great Depression aggravating Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/555 "2024-09-30T01:10:07Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > and considered “[Bethe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Bethe)” to be too easily confused with the commonly-used Greek letter [beta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta). Also famous for [this iconic scientific paper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpher%E2%80%93Bethe%E2%80%93Gamow_paper) with his colleagues Alpher and Gamow. > [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > It’s been said that Helen of Troy possessed such beauty that it caused the launch of a thousand ships. Some time more recently, I saw a suggestion that a unit called the millihelen should be defined as a unit of beauty sufficient to cause the launch one ship. Which of course leads to the concept of the negative milliHelen, the unit of ugliness necessary to sink one ship. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/556 "2024-09-30T01:51:10Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > and considered “[Bethe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Bethe)” to be too easily confused with the commonly-used Greek letter [beta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta). That seems to me like it might have been a feature, not a bug: In the same way that “ohm” lends itself to \Omega as a symbol, the “bethe” could have \beta as its symbol. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/557 "2024-09-30T02:15:45Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Which of course leads to the concept of the negative milliHelen, the unit of ugliness necessary to sink one ship. Maybe call it an inverse milliHelen? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/558 "2024-09-30T04:00:37Z")
So, the nelehillim ? Sounds like an obscure biblical people, or an unpublished LotR race. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/559 "2024-09-30T04:10:55Z")
There is also [HelenOS](https://www.helenos.org/), an experimental μK/multi-server design project sort of similar to the GNU HURD, wich touts itself as _the operating system that launched a thousand tasks_, or somesuch. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/560 "2024-09-30T23:26:18Z")
October 1, 2024 - former US President Jimmy Carter turns 100 years old. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=29)