From Newsgroup: alt.tv.star-trek.tos   
   From Address: SalmonEgg@sbcglobal.net   
   Subject: Re: necessity is the mother of invention   
      
   In article    
   <6aaf2415-d5d0-4809-8545-2dafdab68ec0@g14g2000pre.googlegroups.com>,   
    SparkoHeaps  wrote:   
      
   > On Sep 12, 5:31apm, Frank  wrote:   
   > > On 9/12/2011 6:45 PM, RichD wrote:   
   > >   
   > > > So I was watching an old Star Trek, Kirk is marooned   
   > > > in a desert (looks like New Mexico), battling a gnarly   
   > > > alien. aHe jerry rigs a howitzer, then gathers up   
   > > > minerals, and mixes them to manufacture   
   > > > gunpowder. aOf course. he flattens the alien on   
   > > > his first shot, and the galaxy is saved.   
   > >   
   > > > Anyhoo, is that plausible, could one make   
   > > > gunpowder in a survival situation like that?   
   > > > With no chem lab equipment?   
   > >   
   > > > --   
   > > > Rich   
   > >   
   > > Probably.   
   > > I think you can find sulfur in pure form.   
   > > Don't know if Chilean salt peter (sodium nitrate) is pure enough to use   
   > > without recrystallizing, but I suspect it is.   
   > > Charred, i.e. partially burnt, wood could serve as the charcoal source.   
   > > Crude mix would not make the best gun powder but it should work.   
   >    
   > Mythbusters tried it   
   >    
   > http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-gorn-cannon-high-speed.html   
      
   Just what does "tried it" mean. I see the fireworks but that gives me no    
   cluesas to the planning.   
      
   --    
      
   Sam   
      
   Conservatives are against Darwinism but for natural selection.   
   Liberals are for Darwinism but totally against any selection.   
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