Finally - an answer to one of life’s bigger questions

The solutions to the global financial crisis, carbon pollution reduction scheme, world food security and peace in the Middle East fall into insignificance when scientists are faced with some of life’s major questions.

And now I know the answer to one of these. Will I stay drier by walking or running in the rain?

OK, now I admit that I will need some data first – but surely knowing the raindrop volume, raindrop density, wind velocity, travel velocity, travel distance, my height and radius (assuming I am a cylinder) and absorbency won’t be too hard.

Not only is the answer available but it comes with a handy little Java applet that does the calculation for me. Not only that, within the applet there is an ‘Optimal Tx’ button which will calculate the optimal travel speed in order to minimise the amount of water absorbed given the set of conditions specified. Basically it solves

for me.

If only all of the world’s problems could be solved and presented as neatly as with the Rain Absorbance Calculator.