The shapefiles I work with have Russia split between 2 continents, Europe and Asia (obviously), so this is likely reflected in the map he referenced. In fact, most online mapping tools use the same source base maps, so you'll see the same results, or close. The visual area does depend on the projection used however, so you can for instance make Greenland appear larger than Africa (Mercator projection), or visa-versa (Gall projection). The shape would be distorted though in Gall. I would need to check this again in ArcMap, but the computed area should also reflect that.

No!

No you can not cleanse the gene pool.

Somebody has to scrub toilets, flip burgers, and manage hedge funds. I'm sure as hell not gonna do it.

I always wondered what Stephen Hawking could accomplish if he wasn't held back by his physical disability. Think about it, the man moved forward our thinking and understanding of time by at least 50 years.

These people, the teenagers in question, don't deserve the benefits of science :D.

If he weren't crippled who's to say he would have become as contemplative/introspective as he is now?

Depends on the character of the man. Crippled or not, I am sure he would still devote some time towards theoretical thinking while also applying his thought into reality.

I'm talking about growing up....as he grew his disability limited his options. This partially led him to become the man he is today. Imagine if he'd been just another nerd/geek without the disability, and you wonder if he would've been as great a man.

Honestly I don't understand how someone can claim that theoretical physics (and mathematics!) has no realistic applications. Just look at our use of GPS, and modern plane's ability to use autopilot (they rely on the existence of complex numbers to function properly. This seems theoretical enough to be included). Even more basically, how does none of this spark curiosity. Cosmology and theories of everything such as String Theory, more specifically M-Theory, have to be some of the most damn interesting things there are. Hawking's radiation gives sustenance to such theories, hinting at the fabric of reality and the universe itself.

I'm almost ashamed to call myself in the same generation. I'd just like to throw this out there: Not every kid you see is so close minded.

Edit: Gamerager. See above points. Theoretical mathematics and sciences have already had large impacts on modern society. Not to mention, these things such as black holes that you say have no bearing on your life, just happen to be key to your existance. For example, at the center of our very own galaxy is a super massive black hole. I'd think you'd be at least passively interested in what's keeping the Earth in check.

You ivory tower intellectuals must not lose touch with the world of industrial growth and hard currency. It is all very well and good to pursue these high-minded scientific theories, but research grants are expensive. You must justify your existence by providing not only knowledge but concrete and profitable applications as well.

* CEO Nwabudike Morgan "The Ethics of Greed"

(in the spirit of GoG's recent acquisition of Alpha Centauri :-)

Teleportation. Instantaneous communication (no radio lag even at interstellar distances). Yes, this stuff might actually work in our lifetimes, or at the very least, incredibly bright people are working on it.

I had typed up an incredibly detailed response, then my internet crashed. Fantastic.

Long story short. Time travel. Understanding event horizons, time dilation, and the effects that black holes have on the speed of light (or lack thereof) and time give birth to very feasible time travel theories. Also, wormholes. Another time/universe travel theory actively being researched.

Also, research must start somewhere. If we all said "it won't effect me in my life time", nothing would get done.

Did I say that we shouldn't research these things? I swear, I keep saying one thing and most in here think I said something else and pipe up with theoretical research is important and here's why....each and every time. Even when I wasn't saying it wasn't important. I merely said it isn't usable by the common man right now, and that practical applications of sciences/practical sciences at the moment are more important in that sense of the benefits they can provide right now to mankind. I never said we shouldn't research these things, just that they won't bear any fruit for a long time, whereas practical sciences/research will.
That stuff will likely take several generations(with the exception of a freak discovery or set of such discoveries) to complete.

Long term survival of mankind. Good enough practical application for you?

Why can't I have my opinion? You guys are acting all defensive like I punched einstein's ghost or something. :P

:)

I made a declartive factual statement, and everyone gets irked about it. And no, I meant short term-long term currently feasible practical uses....black hole theories not able to qualify much there, i'm afraid.

It's impossible to know the practical applications entirely in advance. We wouldn't have been able to figure out quantum computing before quantum mechanics, would we?