I gave a talk today for a group of local home-school students and parents, on the essential elements of quantum physics. The idea was to give them a sense of what sets quantum mechanics apart from other theories of physics, and why it’s a weird and wonderful thing. The title is, of course, a reference… Continue reading What Every Dog Should Know About Quantum Physics
Category: Physics
Sketchy March Meeting Notes: Monday
I’m terrible about taking notes on conference talks, especially when I’m jet-lagged and was sleep deprived even before I got on the plane. I do jot down the occasional paper reference, though, so here are the things I wrote down, and the talks they were associated with. This should give you some vague idea of… Continue reading Sketchy March Meeting Notes: Monday
What Should I Go to at the March Meeting?
Lots of good suggestions as to Portland activities for my trip to the March Meeting next week. There’s a second, related problem that I also need help with: What should I do at the meeting itself? My usual conference is DAMOP, which I’ll be going to in May, so while DAMOP is a participating division,… Continue reading What Should I Go to at the March Meeting?
What Should I Do in Portland, Oregon?
I’m going to be attending the March Meeting of the American Physical Society next week, in Portland, OR. This will be held at the Oregon Convention Center, which is apparently on the opposite side of the river from every hotel in the city. I have never been to Portland (or, indeed, anything in the Pacific… Continue reading What Should I Do in Portland, Oregon?
Many Worlds, Many Treats: The Movie
Another dramatic reading of a chapter from How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, just because. This is Chapter 4, which is based on the original Many Worlds, Many Treats post that kick-started the whole thing: I’m sitting at the computer typing, when Emmy bumps up against my legs. I look down, and she’s sniffing… Continue reading Many Worlds, Many Treats: The Movie
How to Teach Physics to Your Dog in Broome County
I’ve been buried in work, so I haven’t had time to do any real blogging, but I do want to post a quick reminder of this week’s signing: — This FRIDAY, March 5 (that is, the day after tomorrow), I will be signing books at the Vestal, NY Barnes and Noble at 7pm. I’m not… Continue reading How to Teach Physics to Your Dog in Broome County
Upcoming Appearances for How to Teach Physics to Your Dog
A couple of upcomign events related to How to Teach Physics to Your Dog: — Next FRIDAY, March 5, I will be signing books at the Vestal, NY Barnes and Noble at 7pm. This is the big-box chain store closest to my hometown, and my parents report already getting calls about it, which is weird… Continue reading Upcoming Appearances for How to Teach Physics to Your Dog
The Edge of Physics by Anil Ananthaswamy
One of the weird-but-cool things about being C-list famous on the Internet is that some publishers now send me unsolicited review copies of forthcoming books about science. These aren’t always the books I would really like to get free copies of, but, hey, free books. Among the books I’ve received in the last year or… Continue reading The Edge of Physics by Anil Ananthaswamy
Amazing Laser Application 5: Optical Data Storage!
What’s the application? CD and DVD players use lasers to read (and in some cases write) digital information from convenient plastic disks. What problem(s) is it the solution to? 1) “How do we store a large amount of digital information in a convenient and stable fashion?” 2) “How do we make everybody buy the White… Continue reading Amazing Laser Application 5: Optical Data Storage!
Laser Smackdown Update
A couple of weeks ago, I announced a contest to determine the Most Amazing Laser Application. What with one thing and another, this didn’t get posted last week, but I don’t intend to drop it completely, and will be finishing the series up in the next week or so. Here’s the list of finalists, with… Continue reading Laser Smackdown Update