Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2021 June 8

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June 8

The highest point in Buffalo, New York

Where can I find a source that states the highest point in a city—specifically, Buffalo, New York? I already know where that particular point is, but I need to find a published source. Thank you. Buffaboy (talk) 07:23, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

https://www.google.com/search?q=highest+point+in+buffalo+new+york 67.165.185.178 (talk) 07:27, 8 June 2021 (UTC).

Some meagre results. Reportedly, the tower of the D. S. Morgan building was the highest point in 1896. (Paul's Dictionary of Buffalo Niagara Falls Tonawanda & Vicinity). In 1948, WBEN-TV was transmitting from "the highest point in Buffalo", but the source does not identify its location (Broadcasting, May 17, 1948). It may help to focus the search for a source if you reveal what you know to be the highest point.  --Lambiam 08:45, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

In 1917, Hotel Lenox, North St. at Delaware Ave., claimed to be the highest point.^[1]  --Lambiam 09:15, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

List of tallest buildings in Buffalo notes Seneca One Tower as the tallest building in the city. I have no idea what the tallest natural point would be, or if there is a taller structure, such as a radio tower. The building itself has several radio antennas on it. --Jayron32 11:14, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

I'll bet it is the 688 ft on the University of Buffalo south campus. Abductive (reasoning) 16:50, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

The answers above mostly assume that Buffaboy was asking about the highest point on a (hu)man-made structure. This may be the case, but my most natural reading of his wording would refer to a ground elevation. Perhaps he could confirm which was meant? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.121.163.176 (talk) 19:12, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

The OP claims to already know the answer, but wants confirmation. It would be nice if he actually posted what he thinks the answer is. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:19, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

• @Baseball Bugs: @Lambiam: @Abductive: I posted this as I was going to bed, it's my understanding that the highest point in the city is in the vicinity of High Street and Ellicott Street, hence the name "Hospital Hill". At the same time, Abductive may also be correct (from personal knowledge), but how do we verify this? I'm trying to figure out why this is the case though, for the Buffalo article's Topography section. Buffaboy (talk) 19:27, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

So you're talking about the geographical high point, not to do with buildings? King of like with Hilltop Park in Manhattan? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:32, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

That's right. There's this USGS mapping website, I guess I can approximate? Buffaboy (talk) 19:34, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

I see 688 ft at 42.95312 N 78.81900 W on the World Topo map available by clicking on the coords on the Wikipedia page and selecting Acme. The high point of Hospital Hill is 682 ft. Abductive (reasoning) 19:51, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

@Abductive: Hmm. I think I'll try and use that as a reference. Thanks. Buffaboy (talk) 21:33, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

Hot Bodies

The average human body temperature is around 98.6°F; yet at that ambient temperature it is uncomfortable. Why would a person sweat at that temperature in order to cool off, while the thermoregulatory system works to maintain that internal temperature? And, why does it need to be that high? Warm-blooded animals need to maintain above-freezing temperature, of course; but wouldn't 40~50°F be sufficient and less energy taxing? —2603:6081:1C00:1187:EC40:B2AE:BE0E:8875 (talk) 19:00, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

Read Hypothermia. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:07, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

More generally, the body is always producing "waste heat", and needs to shed it into the environment. If the environment is too warm to do this via convection, it needs to do it via evaporation. If the wet-bulb temperature is to high for that to work, humans overheat and eventually die. As for lower temperatures: The human body is, to a rough approximation, a mass of chemical reactions in a bag of rather dirty water. As a rule of thumb, many "normal" chemical reactions double in speed when the temperature increases by 10℃. Or, in other words, it halves if the temperature decreases by 10℃. This would throw the whole system out of whack. That's why the body is so good at thermoregulation... --Stephan Schulz (talk) 20:36, 8 June 2021 (UTC)

We have an article on Human body temperature which may help your understanding. BTW, 98.6°F is a textbook example of false precision - see here for the details. Matt Deres (talk) 14:42, 10 June 2021 (UTC)

A lot of animals will be killed by freezing, including a lot of "cold-blooded" animals. Maintaining a higher body temperature gives benefits like faster movement. The tradeoff, as you note, is this requires more energy to maintain the temperature. You will want to read thermoregulation. It's quite a detailed subject. --47.155.96.47 (talk) 16:12, 14 June 2021 (UTC)