Good Math, Bad Math : Credit Default Swaps: Gambling as Insurance "Credit default swaps are interesting – in the same way that a Rube Goldberg device is interesting. They are in a fundamental sense very simple, but the structure that’s built up around them is so bizarre, so ridiculous on the face of it, that… Continue reading links for 2008-10-24
Author: Chad Orzel
Thursday Baby Blogging 102308
Your weekly picture of SteelyKid with Appa: She’s getting big enough that it’s starting to be difficult to keep them both in the frame, at least in the porta-crib bassinet thing. I may need to change the way I’m taking these. On the developmental front, Kate reports hearing SteelyKid laugh on several occasions. I still… Continue reading Thursday Baby Blogging 102308
DonorsChoose: Young Scientist on the Move
As part of my intermittent series of posts highlighting particular individual projects, here’s a request for basic scientific equipment for a school in Manhattan: You will make it possible for my students to develop a greater understanding of the nature and the process of science by contributing these basic materials for my science class. The… Continue reading DonorsChoose: Young Scientist on the Move
God’s Atom
Doug Natelson is thinking about fortuitous physics, inspired by some solid state examples: Every now and then you stumble across a piece of physics, some detail about how the universe works, that is extremely lucky in some sense. For example, it’s very convenient that Si is a great semiconductor, and at the same time SiO2… Continue reading God’s Atom
DonorsChoose Payoff: “Favorite” Book
Another question from a generous donor, in this case Natalie, who asks: As for my question, how about “who is your favorite author, and why?” or, if you’d rather, “what’s your favorite book, and why?” This is a difficult question, because it’s subject to a sort of quantum projection noise. That is, my “favorite book”… Continue reading DonorsChoose Payoff: “Favorite” Book
Quantum Computing Candidates: Ion Traps
Some time back, I wrote about what you need to make a quantum computer. Given that it’s election season, I thought I’d revisit the topic by looking in detail at the candidate technologies for quantum computing. The first up is Ion Trap Quantum Computing, probably the most well-established of any of the candidates. The field… Continue reading Quantum Computing Candidates: Ion Traps
No Mock Trials Without Preconditions
Inside Higher Ed this morning has a story about a mock trial to be held at Northern Kentucky University: The trial centers around the termination of fictitious biology teacher Susan Scott (a traditionally trained evolution adherent), who according to her complaint, encouraged students to “explore creation theories.” Scott, who will be played by Simon Kenton… Continue reading No Mock Trials Without Preconditions
links for 2008-10-22
Introduction to the work energy theorem | Dot Physics "I think it is interesting to look at how most textbooks define energy: Energy is the ability to do work This is really a stupid definition. Kind of circular logic, if you ask me. " (tags: physics education science energy academia) Powell Endorses Obama | The… Continue reading links for 2008-10-22
Questions for Chris Mooney?
Chris Mooney will be visiting Union tomorrow (I’m picking him up at the airport in a couple of hours). He’ll be speaking to a couple of classes and then giving a presentation about science and politics in the evening. If you have any questions that you’ve been dying to ask Chris, and haven’t been able… Continue reading Questions for Chris Mooney?
Cheaper Than Graduate Students
Lots of people talk about “Science 2.0” and “crowdsourcing” and the like. EurekAlert provides a story about taking it to the next level: Nalini Nadkarni of Evergreen State College currently advises a team of researchers who sport shaved heads, tattooed biceps and prison-issued garb rather than the lab coats and khakis typically worn by researchers.… Continue reading Cheaper Than Graduate Students