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#51 Jokes » Apple Jokes - VI » 2025-10-21 15:38:20
- Jai Ganesh
- Replies: 0
Q: How many grams of protein are in an apple pi?
A: 3.14159265...
* * *
Q: What is red and goes putt, putt, putt?
A: An outboard apple.
* * *
Q: What can a whole apple do that half an apple can't do?
A: It can look round.
* * *
Q: What is worse than finding a worm in your apple?
A: Finding one in your caramel apple, which costs about 35 cents more, on average.
* * *
First apple: You look down in the dumps. What's eating you?
Second apple: Worms, I think.
* * *
#52 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » General Quiz » 2025-10-21 15:09:16
Hi,
#10621. What does the term in Geography Cenote mean?
#10622. What does the term in Geography Census-designated place mean?
#53 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » English language puzzles » 2025-10-21 14:56:01
Hi,
#5817. What does the verb (used without object) deign mean?
#5818. What does the noun deism mean?
#54 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » Doc, Doc! » 2025-10-21 14:40:59
Hi,
#2502. What does the medical term Hemolysis mean?
#55 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » 10 second questions » 2025-10-21 14:18:29
Hi,
#9771.
#56 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » Oral puzzles » 2025-10-21 13:48:15
Hi,
#6277.
#57 Re: Exercises » Compute the solution: » 2025-10-21 13:33:04
Hi,
2622.
#58 Science HQ » Dubnium » 2025-10-20 19:29:57
- Jai Ganesh
- Replies: 0
Dubnium
Gist
Dubnium (Db) is a synthetic, highly radioactive chemical element with atomic number 105. It is a transuranic element, meaning it does not occur naturally and must be produced in a laboratory by bombarding other elements. The most stable known isotope, (268Db), has a half-life of approximately 16 to 28 hours. Due to its radioactivity and extremely short half-life, it has no practical uses and is only used in scientific research.
It has never been found naturally and only a small number of atoms have been produced in laboratories. Its chemistry and appearance are not known with any certainty, although the chemistry is believed to be similar to tantalum. Dubnium is too rare to have any commercial or industrial application.
Summary
Dubnium is a synthetic chemical element; it has symbol Db and atomic number 105. It is highly radioactive: the most stable known isotope, dubnium-268, has a half-life of about 16 hours. This greatly limits extended research on the element.
Dubnium does not occur naturally on Earth and is produced artificially. The Soviet Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) claimed the first discovery of the element in 1968, followed by the American Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in 1970. Both teams proposed their names for the new element and used them without formal approval. The long-standing dispute was resolved in 1993 by an official investigation of the discovery claims by the Transfermium Working Group, formed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, resulting in credit for the discovery being officially shared between both teams. The element was formally named dubnium in 1997 after the town of Dubna, the site of the JINR.
Theoretical research establishes dubnium as a member of group 5 in the 6d series of transition metals, placing it under vanadium, niobium, and tantalum. Dubnium should share most properties, such as its valence electron configuration and having a dominant +5 oxidation state, with the other group 5 elements, with a few anomalies due to relativistic effects. A limited investigation of dubnium chemistry has confirmed this.
Details
Dubnium (Db) is an artificially produced radioactive transuranium element in Group Vb of the periodic table, atomic number 105. The discovery of dubnium (element 105), like that of rutherfordium (element 104), has been a matter of dispute between Soviet and American scientists. The Soviets may have synthesized a few atoms of element 105 in 1967 at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, U.S.S.R., by bombarding americium-243 with neon-22 ions, producing isotopes of element 105 having mass numbers of 260 and 261 and half-lives of 0.1 second and 3 seconds, respectively. Because the Dubna group did not propose a name for the element at the time they announced their preliminary data—a practice that has been customary following the discovery of a new element—it was surmised by American scientists that the Soviets did not have strong experimental evidence to substantiate their claims. Soviet scientists contended, however, that they did not propose a name in 1967 because they preferred to accumulate more data about the chemical and physical properties of the element before doing so. After completing further experiments, they proposed the name nielsbohrium.
In 1970 a group of investigators at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory of the University of California at Berkeley announced that they had synthesized isotope 260 of element 105, whereupon they proposed the name hahnium for the element, in honour of Otto Hahn, the discoverer of nuclear fission. The American team could not duplicate the Soviet experiment; but, when its members bombarded californium-249 with the nuclei of nitrogen-15 atoms, they produced “hahnium-260,” which had a half-life of about 1.6 seconds. As further evidence of their discovery, the scientists at Berkeley measured the amount of energy emitted by “hahnium-260” as it decayed, as well as the elements produced in the process; these characteristics were quite different from those of previously known elements in the periodic system. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ultimately determined that the element be named dubnium.
Element Properties
atomic number : 105
mass of most stable isotope : 260.
Additional Information:
Appearance
A highly radioactive metal, of which only a few atoms have ever been made.
Uses
At present, it is only used in research.
Biological role
Dubnium has no known biological role.
Natural abundance
Dubnium does not occur naturally. It is a transuranium element created by bombarding californium-249 with nitrogen-15 nuclei.
#59 This is Cool » Silica » 2025-10-20 17:17:11
- Jai Ganesh
- Replies: 0
Silica
Gist
Silica is the common name for silicon dioxide (SiO2), a naturally occurring mineral composed of one silicon and two oxygen atoms. It is the most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust, found in sand, granite, and rocks, and is used in a wide array of products including glass, concrete, and electronics. Silica is generally safe but can be a choking hazard, and inhaling fine airborne dust from certain industrial activities can lead to serious lung diseases like silicosis.
Silica is used in a wide range of applications, including glass manufacturing, construction (cement, concrete), electronics (semiconductors, microchips), and industrial processes like water filtration and chemical manufacturing. It also functions as a common food additive, a desiccant in moisture-absorbing packets, and a component in products like pottery, ceramics, and even some cosmetics and supplements.
Summary
Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO2, commonly found in nature as quartz. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one of the most complex and abundant families of materials, existing as a compound of several minerals and as a synthetic product. Examples include fused quartz, fumed silica, opal, and aerogels. It is used in structural materials, microelectronics, and as components in the food and pharmaceutical industries. All forms are white or colorless, although impure samples can be colored.
Silicon dioxide is a common fundamental constituent of glass.
Natural occurrence:
Geology
SiO2 is most commonly encountered in nature as quartz, which comprises more than 10% by mass of the Earth's crust. Quartz is the only polymorph of silica stable at the Earth's surface. Metastable occurrences of the high-pressure forms coesite and stishovite have been found around impact structures and associated with eclogites formed during ultra-high-pressure metamorphism. The high-temperature forms of tridymite and cristobalite are known from silica-rich volcanic rocks. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand.
Biology
Even though it is poorly soluble, silica occurs in many plants such as rice. Plant materials with high silica phytolith content appear to be of importance to grazing animals, from chewing insects to ungulates. Silica accelerates tooth wear, and high levels of silica in plants frequently eaten by insects may have developed as a defense mechanism against predation.
Silica is also the primary component of rice husk ash, which is used, for example, in filtration and as supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in cement and concrete manufacturing.
Silicification in and by cells has been common in the biological world and it occurs in bacteria, protists, plants, and animals (invertebrates and vertebrates).
Prominent examples include:
* Tests or frustules (i.e. shells) of diatoms, Radiolaria, and testate amoebae.
* Silica phytoliths in the cells of many plants including Equisetaceae, many grasses, and a wide range of dicotyledons.
* The spicules forming the skeleton of many sponges.
Details
Also called silica sand or quartz sand, silica is silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon compounds are the most significant component of the Earth’s crust. Since sand is plentiful, easy to mine and relatively easy to process, it is the primary ore source of silicon. The metamorphic rock, quartzite, is another source.
Silicon (Si) is a semi-metallic or metalloid, because it has several of the metallic characteristics. Silicon is never found in its natural state, but rather in combination with oxygen as the silicate ion in silica-rich rocks such as obsidian, granite, diorite, and sandstone. Feldspar and quartz are the most significant silicate minerals. Silicon alloys include a variety of metals, including iron, aluminum, copper, nickel, manganese and ferrochromium.
Description
Also called silica sand or quartz sand, silica is made of silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon compounds are the most significant component of the Earth’s crust. Since sand is plentiful, easy to mine and relatively easy to process, it is the primary ore source of silicon. The metamorphic rock, quartzite, is another source.
Silicon (Si) is a semi-metallic or metalloid, because it has several of the metallic characteristics. Silicon is never found in its natural state, but rather in combination with oxygen as the silicate ion - in silica-rich rocks such as obsidian, granite, diorite, and sandstone. Feldspar and quartz are the most significant silicate minerals. Silicon alloys include a variety of metals, including iron, aluminum, copper, nickel, manganese and ferrochromium.
Relation to Mining
In almost all cases, silica mining uses open pit or dredging mining methods with standard mining equipment. Except for temporarily disturbing the immediate area while mining operations are active, sand and gravel mining usually has limited environmental impact.
Uses
Ferrosilicon alloys are used to improve the strength and quality of iron and steel products. Tools, for instance, are made of steel and ferrosilicon.
In addition to tool steels, an example of “alloy steels,” ferrosilicon is used in the manufacture of stainless steels, carbon steels, and other alloy steels. An alloy steel refers to all finished steels other than stainless and carbon steels. Stainless steels are used when superior corrosion resistance, hygiene, aesthetic, and wear-resistance qualities are needed.
Carbon steels are used extensively in suspension bridges and other structural support material, and in automotive bodies, to name a few.
Silicon is used in the aluminum industry to improve castability and weldability. Silicon-aluminum alloys tend to have relatively low strength and ductility, so other metals, especially magnesium and copper, are often added to improve strength.
In the chemicals industry, silicon metal is the starting point for the production of silianes, silicones, fumed silica, and semiconductor-grade silicon. Silanes are the used to make silicone resins, lubricants, anti-foaming agents, and water-repellent compounds. Silicones are used as lubricants, hydraulic fluids, electrical insulators, and moisture-proof treatments.
Semiconductor-grade silicon is used in the manufacture of silicon chips and solar cells. Fumed silica is used as a filler in the cement and refractory materials industries, as well as in heat insulation and filling material for synthetic rubbers, polymers and grouts.
Silica is used in ceramics and in making glass.
Silicon is considered a semiconductor. This means that it conducts electricity, but not as well as a metal such as copper or silver. This physical property makes silicon an important commodity in the computer manufacturing business.
Additional Information
Silica is a compound of the two most abundant elements in Earth’s crust, silicon and oxygen, SiO2. The mass of Earth’s crust is 59 percent silica, the main constituent of more than 95 percent of the known rocks. Silica has three main crystalline varieties: quartz (by far the most abundant), tridymite, and cristobalite. Other varieties include coesite, keatite, and lechatelierite. Silica sand is used in buildings and roads in the form of portland cement, concrete, and mortar, as well as sandstone. Silica also is used in grinding and polishing glass and stone; in foundry molds; in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, silicon carbide, ferrosilicon, and silicones; as a refractory material; and as gemstones. Silica gel is often used as a desiccant to remove moisture.
#60 Re: Dark Discussions at Cafe Infinity » crème de la crème » 2025-10-20 16:41:20
2369) Bernard Katz
Gist:
Work
The nervous systems of people and animals consist of many nerve cells with long extensions, or nerve fibers. Signals are conveyed between cells by small electrical currents and by special substances known as signal substances. The transfers occur via contacts, or synapses. In the 1950s Bernard Katz studied how impulses in motor neurons activate muscular activity by measuring variations in electrical charges. For example, he showed how the signal substance acetylcholine in synapses is released in certain amounts.
Summary
Sir Bernard Katz (born March 26, 1911, Leipzig, Germany—died April 20, 2003, London, England) was a German-born British physiologist who investigated the functioning of nerves and muscles. His studies on the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine—which carries impulses from nerve fibre to muscle fibre or from one nerve ending to another—won him a share (with Julius Axelrod and Ulf von Euler) of the 1970 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.
After receiving a medical degree from the University of Leipzig in 1934, Katz immigrated to England, where he pursued advanced studies at University College in London, taking a Ph.D. in 1938. Upon receiving a Carnegie fellowship, he studied in Australia (1939–42) and then served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. He returned to University College in 1946 and from 1952 to 1978 was professor and head of the biophysics department. Katz was knighted in 1969.
Katz wrote Electric Excitation of Nerve (1939), Nerve, Muscle and Synapse (1966), and The Release of Neural Transmitter Substances (1969). He and his associates made numerous discoveries concerning the chemistry of nerve transmission, including the role of calcium ions in promoting the release of neurotransmitter substances and the fact that quanta of these substances are being released constantly at random intervals.
Details
Sir Bernard Katz (26 March 1911 – 20 April 2003)[2] was a German-born British physician and biophysicist, noted for his work on nerve physiology; specifically, for his work on synaptic transmission at the nerve-muscle junction. He shared the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 1970 with Julius Axelrod and Ulf von Euler. He was made a Knight Bachelor in 1969.
Life and career
Katz was born in Leipzig, Germany, to a Jewish family originally from Russia, the son of Eugenie (Rabinowitz) and Max Katz, a fur merchant. He was educated at the Albert Gymnasium in that city from 1921 to 1929 and went on to study medicine at the University of Leipzig. He graduated in 1934 and fled to Britain in February 1935.
Katz went to work at University College London, initially under the tutelage of Archibald Vivian Hill. He finished his PhD in 1938 and won a Carnegie Fellowship to study with John Carew Eccles at the Kanematsu Institute of Sydney Medical School. During this time, both he and Eccles gave research lectures at the University of Sydney. He obtained British nationality in 1941and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942. He spent the war in the Pacific as a radar officer and in 1946 was invited back to UCL as an assistant director by Hill. For three years until 1949, the Katz family lived with Hill and his wife Margaret in the top flat of their house in Highgate.
Back in England he also worked with the 1963 Nobel prize winners Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley. Katz was made a professor at UCL in 1952 and head of the Biophysics Department; he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1952. He stayed as head of Biophysics until 1978 when he became emeritus professor.
Katz married Marguerite Penly in 1945. He died in London on 20 April 2003, at the age of 92. His son Jonathan is Public Orator of the University of Oxford.
Research
His research uncovered fundamental properties of synapses, the junctions across which nerve cells signal to each other and to other types of cells. By the 1950s, he was studying the biochemistry and action of acetylcholine, a signalling molecule found in synapses linking motor neurons to muscles, used to stimulate contraction. Katz won the Nobel for his discovery with Paul Fatt that neurotransmitter release at synapses is "quantal", meaning that at any particular synapse, the amount of neurotransmitter released is never less than a certain amount, and if more is always an integral number times this amount. Scientists now understand that this circumstance arises because, prior to their release into the synaptic gap, transmitter molecules reside in like-sized subcellular packages known as synaptic vesicles, released in a similar way to any other vesicle during exocytosis.
Katz's work had immediate influence on the study of organophosphates and organochlorines, the basis of new post-war study for nerve agents and pesticides, as he determined that the complex enzyme cycle was easily disrupted.
Collections
Katz's son Jonathan presented the personal archive of his father to University College London in 2003. The collection includes biographical documents, correspondence, notes on lectures, publications, and research material.
#61 Dark Discussions at Cafe Infinity » Co-operation Quotes » 2025-10-20 16:16:10
- Jai Ganesh
- Replies: 0
Co-operation Quotes
1. If you will work in co-operation, forgetting the past, burying the hatchet, you are bound to succeed. - Muhammad Ali Jinnah
2. Stop-and-search has the potential to cause immense resentment and honesty to the police, with all the implications that has for generating distrust and ending co-operation from the public, if it is not used fairly. - Theresa May
3. A sincere and steadfast co-operation in promoting such a reconstruction of our political system as would provide for the permanent liberty and happiness of the United States. - James Madison
4. There is no doubt that this government and this country are benefiting from the reforms that we brought in the 1980s, and that couldn't have been done without the co-operation of the trade union movement. - Bob Hawke
5. I want Infosys to be a company which is globally respected and in where people belonging to different nationalities, races and religious beliefs will work with intense competition but utmost courtesy, dignity and co-operation in adding greater value to our stakeholders day after day. - N. R. Narayana Murthy
6. We are ready to engage in international co-operation against terrorism with a view to safeguarding national interests and regional security and stability. - Li Peng
7. Europe has found itself confronted with fresh challenges - challenges of a global character, the nature of which is directly connected with changes in the international climate and the difficulties of seeking new models for co-operation. - Boris Yeltsin
8. We can realise a lasting peace and transform the East-West relationship to one of enduring co-operation. - George H. W. Bush
9. If co-operation is a duty, I hold that non-co-operation also under certain conditions is equally a duty. - Mahatma Gandhi.
#62 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » General Quiz » 2025-10-20 15:51:30
Hi,
#10619. What does the term in Geography Cay mean?
#10620. What does the term in Geography Celestial pole mean?
#63 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » English language puzzles » 2025-10-20 15:39:39
Hi,
#5815. What does the adverb de jure mean?
#5816. What does the noun deliberation mean?
#64 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » Doc, Doc! » 2025-10-20 15:07:21
Hi,
#2501. What does the medical term Fatty liver disease (FLD) mean?
#65 Jokes » Apple Jokes - V » 2025-10-20 14:33:51
- Jai Ganesh
- Replies: 0
Q: What kind of apple has a short temper?
A: A crab apple.
* * *
Q: What do you get when you cross an apple with a Christmas tree?
A: Pineapple.
* * *
Q: What is the left side of an apple?
A: The part that you don't eat.
* * *
Q: How do you make an apple puff?
Chase it round the garden.
* * *
Q: What do you get if you cross a jogger with an apple pie ?
A: Puff pastry !
* * *
#66 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » 10 second questions » 2025-10-20 14:23:19
Hi,
#9770.
#67 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » Oral puzzles » 2025-10-20 14:09:46
Hi,
#6276.
#68 Re: Exercises » Compute the solution: » 2025-10-20 13:54:12
Hi,
2621.
#69 Re: This is Cool » Miscellany » 2025-10-20 00:01:25
2421) Elevator phobia
Gist
Elevator phobia, or elevatophobia, is an intense, irrational fear of elevators that can stem from claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), acrophobia (fear of heights), or fear of malfunctions. Symptoms include intense anxiety and panic attacks, and it can lead to avoiding elevators by taking the stairs, even in high-rise buildings. Overcoming it often involves techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or exposure therapy, along with relaxation methods and breathing exercises.
Summary:
Where Elevator Phobias Might Originate
It’s different for each person, but there are some common elevator phobia origins. They include the following.
Agoraphobia – This is when someone fears being stuck somewhere that is nearly impossible to escape from. Individuals with agoraphobia could fear the elevator because it closes them in and they begin to panic that they won’t be able to get out again.
Claustrophobia – This is when someone fears being in enclosed spaces. Elevators are typically small in size, making people feel tightly enclosed when they are in them.
Previous Experiences – Whether someone had a previous experience with an actual elevator, or the enclosed space of the elevator makes him or her relive a past trauma, previous experiences could cause fear in someone when riding an elevator.
Hollywood – Even though everyone understands a movie is just a movie, those that include frightening elevator scenes can tell the subconscious that elevators are scary, leading someone to avoid riding in them.
How to Overcome an Elevator Phobia
One of the best ways to overcome many phobias is to understand the thing or situation one is afraid of. Someone might speak with an elevator maintenance worker to learn how the elevator works, then observe it for a time or two before trying to take a ride. If you have tenants who have anxiety surrounding elevators, it may be helpful to call in your elevator maintenance company.
If the phobia is quite extreme, a psychologist may be able to provide more insight on getting over a fear of elevators. If someone lives or works somewhere that an elevator is necessary on a regular basis, this might be a great option.
Details
If you get anxious or panicky while on an elevator, or you go out of your way to avoid taking elevators altogether, you are not alone! Many people have a fear of elevators. If this is you, read on to learn more about this problem and how you can overcome it.
Different Phobias Related to Elevators
A fear of elevators can stem from what’s known technically as a “specific phobia.” About 12.5% of adults in the United States will have a specific phobia in their lifetime. There are different types of specific phobias that can be associated with elevators, as you’ll see described below.
If you have a specific phobia, you’ll experience anxiety symptoms when in the presence of the feared object or situation. These include increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea.
The phobias related to elevators are:
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of small, confined spaces. It can be triggered by many different places ranging from trains to tunnels to elevators. For many people, being in a small elevator, particularly if it is crowded, might trigger feelings of panic related to claustrophobia.
Cleithrophobia
Cleithrophobia is the fear of being trapped. It is a fear of a situation, rather than a specific place. This phobia is not specific to elevators but is commonly triggered by them. In an elevator, you might feel trapped if you think you might not be able to open the doors or get out. The lack of control over escaping is the defining feature of this phobia.
Acrophobia
Acrophobia is the fear of heights. This might be activated by elevators in tall buildings or skyscrapers. People with acrophobia might have trouble working or living in tall buildings with elevators because of the fear of being high off the ground. If you have acrophobia and live in an area like New York City, where you frequently encounter tall buildings with elevators, you might find it difficult to navigate your daily life.
Basophobia
Basophobia is the fear of falling. While an aversion to falling is a natural human instinct, people with basophobia have an intense fear of falling that is out of proportion to the situation. You might have trouble riding in elevators if you are afraid of the elevator suddenly falling, despite the safety features built into elevators.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is a fear of being in places or situations that might cause feelings of helplessness, anxiety, or panic. You might have trouble leaving your home or other places that feel safe if you have agoraphobia. Going into public or riding an elevator might trigger feelings of panic for someone with this phobia.
Causes of a Fear of Elevators
Previous negative experiences:
You might have a fear of elevators because of a previous scary experience riding in one. For example, you might have been stuck in an elevator for a prolonged period of time. Or maybe you were in an elevator that stalled between floors or felt like it suddenly dropped. Any of these types of experiences could potentially trigger a fear of elevators.
Misconceptions about elevator safety:
Many myths or misunderstandings about elevators and their safety can worsen a fear of elevators. Here are some common misconceptions about elevators:
Running out of air:
A common myth is that elevators only hold a certain amount of air. You might therefore fear that if you get stuck you will have trouble breathing. However, elevators are not air-tight and do not have a limited supply of oxygen! Feelings of breathlessness on elevators are more likely related to panic attack symptoms rather than actually running out of air.
Elevator cable safety:
Some people believe that elevators are suspended by a single rope. This is false. Elevators are constructed with multiple steel cables that allow for safe movement up and down. Learn more about elevator cables here.
Elevators can free-fall:
Many people with a fear of elevators might believe that elevators can free-fall if something goes wrong. This is not the case. Elevators have safety features, both electronic and mechanical, that prevent this type of occurrence.
Safety Tips for Riding in Elevators
When riding in an elevator, it is important to take general safety precautions to ensure a smooth ride. Here are some tips to follow:
* Never hold a door open with your hand or an object. If you need to keep a door open, press and hold the “Door Open” button.
* If you are trying to catch the elevator and the door is closing, don’t stop it. Keeping the doors from closing could result in you getting injured.
* Don’t step onto an elevator if it seems overcrowded. Wait for the next one!
* If the door doesn’t open when the elevator stops at your floor, press the “Door Open” button. If the door doesn’t open after a few seconds, press the “Help” or “Emergency” button and wait for assistance.
* If a problem arises, try not to panic! Take a few deep breaths and press the “Emergency” button.
Additional Information
As a more modern invention, it has no official Greek "phobia" name; however, the fear of elevators is relatively common. According to the National Elevator Industry, Inc., elevators provide 18 billion passenger trips in the U.S. each year with millions of passengers repeatedly arriving safely at their destination. Yet, many people feel at least a slight nervousness when contemplating an elevator ride.
In some people, the fear of elevators is triggered by an existing phobia, but the fear often appears alone. Like any phobia, the fear of elevators ranges from mild to severe.
Fear of Elevators: Are Elevators Safe?
For those of us who work in the elevator industry, it’s hard to imagine anyone having a fear of elevators. Seeing these machines at work and knowing the evolution of elevators, we wouldn’t think twice when stepping into the cab. Yet, we know that elevator phobias are very real, and media is partially to blame for that. Films will often portray elevators in a way that is not accurate in the slightest. Thankfully, we are here to assure you that none of the extreme scenarios you see on the big screen are possible.
In movies, hoistway doors will open when they shouldn’t, characters will get stuck in elevators for days and a superhero will need to save the cab from free falling down the shaft. It may seem like a harmless way to move the plot along, but myths like these contribute to the fear of elevators that a number of commuters suffer from. Elevators are a part of daily life, so being afraid of them can inhibit many from experiencing the ease that they bring to tenants.
So how do you overcome your fear? Perhaps learning more about the many safety features that elevators have is a good place to start.
Are Elevators Safe?
Over the course of one day, elevators will globally carry 325 million people to their destinations. The worldwide popularity of the passenger elevator can be traced directly to its roots in safety. Before the 1800s, elevators were seen as a convenient way to move heavy items or as an attraction.
This all changed at the World’s Fair in 1853 when an inventor showcased his newest idea in front of a crowd. He stood in an elevator and had his assistant cut the cable that was holding him up. To their amazement, he only dropped a couple of feet — his new safety device caught the cab. This revolutionary invention is what we now call a “safety” activated by a governor. It is a component in every elevator you’ve ever ridden in.
Since the debut of the mechanical safety and overspeed governor, elevators have constantly evolved to become the safest form of vertical transportation — even better than stairs. Next time you are debating whether or not to take the stairs, take these safety features into account!
#70 Dark Discussions at Cafe Infinity » Clue Quotes » 2025-10-19 15:20:06
- Jai Ganesh
- Replies: 0
Clue Quotes
1. My theory is that if you look confident you can pull off anything - even if you have no clue what you're doing. - Jessica Alba
2. My parents were simpletons. Everyday living was a big thing in that small village where I was born. They had no clue about music. - Ilaiyaraaja
3. There's too many people in seats of power who just haven't got a clue what they're doing. They're bean counters, and it just pisses me off because consequently our kids go to see math movies. - Pierce Brosnan
4. I have no clue why, but maybe sometimes when there's someone you don't hear from, it's the person you want to hear from the most. - Janet Jackson
5. That idea of URL was the basic clue to the universality of the Web. That was the only thing I insisted upon. - Tim Berners-Lee
6. I wasn't trained as an actor at all. I had studied painting in America and had no clue about acting when I came back. - Deepti Naval.
#71 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » General Quiz » 2025-10-19 14:55:23
Hi,
#10617. What does the term in Geography Causeway mean?
#10618. What does the term in Geography Cave mean?
#72 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » English language puzzles » 2025-10-19 14:30:43
Hi,
#5813. What does the noun delegate mean?
#5814. What does the noun discretion mean?
#73 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » Doc, Doc! » 2025-10-19 14:09:23
Hi,
#2500. What does the medical term Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease mean?
#74 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » 10 second questions » 2025-10-19 14:00:07
Hi,
#9769.
#75 Re: Jai Ganesh's Puzzles » Oral puzzles » 2025-10-19 13:50:27
Hi,
#6275.