[3096] in Humor
Chemical Analysis of Y2K Molecule
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Andrew B. Greytak)
Mon Feb 7 13:51:54 2000
To: humor@MIT.EDU
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2000 13:40:08 -0500
From: "Andrew B. Greytak" <agreytak@MIT.EDU>
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>Chemical Analysis Of Y2K Molecule
>
><http://unisci.com/stories/19994/1222996.htm>http://unisci.com/stories/1999
4/1222996.htm
>
>Quantum Chemical Analysis Of Y2K Molecule
>
>Noting that 1999 has been flooded with reports on Y2K, University of
Minnesota associate chemistry professors Jeffrey Roberts and Christopher
Cramer were shocked to learn that the chemical literature contained no
mention of this timely molecule, which could conceivably form when two atoms
of yttrium (abbreviated Y on the periodic chart) combine with one atom of
potassium (abbreviated K).
>
>(In the same manner, water -- H2O -- forms from two atoms of hydrogen plus
one atom of oxygen.) The researchers promptly performed an in-depth quantum
chemical analysis of diyttrium potassium, or Y2K, which was reported in the
Dec. 17 issue of Science.
>
>"Our computers encountered no problems in analyzing Y2K," said Roberts. He
said he and Cramer are mulling over the possibility of analyzing two other
yttrium-containing compounds, YOY (two yttriums, one oxygen) and YNOT
(yttrium, nitrogen, oxygen and tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen).
>
>"We could have studied Y3K too, but we thought we could put it off," the
researchers said.
>
>The chemists used the resources of the university's Minnesota Supercomputer
Institute to determine that two yttriums and a potassium could indeed come
together chemically, at least as a single molecule. Their analysis indicated
that the molecule could adopt either of two shapes with roughly equal
facility -- linear, as Y-Y-K, or T-shaped, they said.
>
>They did not try to predict its solid-state properties, leaving open the
possibility that Y2K might someday be used in computer chips. Roberts and
Cramer said that should solid Y2K get into a computer, it should pose no
problem, provided coffee has not been spilled in the keyboard. (The danger
stems from the tendency of potassium to react violently with water.)
>
>Nevertheless, "We suspect that solid Y2K could be the material of the
millennium," the researchers said.
>
>The researchers wish to point out to their dean and department head that
only 12 hours of supercomputer time were spent on the analysis. - By Deane
Morrison
>
>22-Dec-1999
>
>
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