Conspiracy Theories

I remember growing up there was a lot of conspiracy theories. One was that "they" had invented a permanent light bulb but they kept it off the market because the money was to be made replacing them. Well now the LED lights for traffic last over 100,000 hours! Another popular theory was "they" had invented an engine which could run off water, but the oil companies bought off the inventors so it never made it to market. Well now the next generation of "plug and play" micro nuclear reactors are nothing more than steam turbines, running water!

The H20 engine inventor wasn't bought off by big oil, he was "offed"
I can't reveal sources until .....
gm

The Tucker automobile did indeed run on water. There was a movie made about it called "Tucker". Did not know he was offed.    

barbicheesecake wrote:The Tucker automobile did indeed run on water. There was a movie made about it called "Tucker". Did not know he was offed.      

You're kidding right?

Whaaaaat???? I don't think so. You better watch that movie again.....jajaja.

For all you need to know about the Tucker check here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_automobile

The Tucker was a gasoline engine. The venture failed because he could not get parts, primarily iron/steel due to the pressures by GM,Ford,Chrysler.

Kaiser also failed for the same reason

The Tucker ran ON water in the sense that it didn't sink!
gm

The tucker engine was based on a horizontal opposed six cylinder helicopter engine and
burned gas.

Z

I remember a rumor growing up that there was a carberator invented that got (guessing) 100 miles per gallon but that oil companies had paid to keep it off the market. Anyone else here that one?

simpsca wrote:I remember a rumor growing up that there was a carberator invented that got (guessing) 100 miles per gallon but that oil companies had paid to keep it off the market. Anyone else here that one?

yup, and then there was the special spark plug sold at country fairs that performed miracles.

I was told by assorted people - including some in Colorado Renewable Energy Society - that Big Oil bought many of the early solar energy patents but the technology was developed too fast by too many people in too many countries for them to keep up.

Some of these conspiracies turn out to be true, especially in the U.S. Portland cement was pushed through as a building material, bullying out magnesium cement, a vastly superior material. If our cities had used magnesium, there would be no global warming (it absorbs C02). Electricity too, we came very close to adopting DC power, instead of AC - again bullying by the Edison backers. Another one, I had to look it up. I thought it was the trains buying up and closing bus lines - but it may have been automotive companies buying up and closing electric streetcars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy

All are examples of unregulated free market capitalism. Regulations can be a good thing when coupled with a government capable of governing beyond the next election... and an informed electorate. IMO.

CHILLIN wrote: Another one, I had to look it up. I thought it was the trains buying up and closing bus lines -

I don't know about bus lines, but the railroads paid for a helluva lot of scales on the federal and state highway systems.    

CHILLIN wrote:Some of these conspiracies turn out to be true, especially in the U.S. Portland cement was pushed through as a building material, bullying out magnesium cement, a vastly superior material. If our cities had used magnesium, there would be no global warming (it absorbs C02). Electricity too, we came very close to adopting DC power, instead of AC - again bullying by the Edison backers. Another one, I had to look it up. I thought it was the trains buying up and closing bus lines - but it may have been automotive companies buying up and closing electric streetcars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy

No DC can't be transmitted very far over wires. AC won for that reason. NOW we could actually push DC over longer distances but in Edisons
time we could not. DC in the old days meant we would only have electricity close to the generating plant and no Tie lines connecting cities.

Never heard of the magnesium cement. It does have a big problem with buildings. Quote from Wikopedia below.

Sorel cement (also known as magnesia cement) is a non-hydraulic cement first produced by Frenchman Stanislas Sorel in 1867.
The cement is a mixture of magnesium oxide (burnt magnesia) with magnesium chloride with the approximate chemical formula Mg4Cl2(OH)6(H2O)8, corresponding to a weight ratio of 2.5–3.5 parts MgO to one part MgCl2.[1] A variant uses zinc oxide with zinc chloride instead of the magnesium compounds.
In use it is usually combined with filler materials such as sand or crushed stone. It is used for grindstones, tiles, artificial stone, and even artificial ivory (e.g. for billiard balls). It can withstand 10,000 – 12,000 psi (69 - 83 MPa) of compressive force whereas standard Portland cement can typically only withstand 7,000 - 8,000 psi.
Its chief drawback is its poor water resistance, making it unsuitable for construction applications. In addition, it is relatively expensive compared to standard concrete and gypsum.

Z