Category: Physics

Advent Calendar of Science Stories 10: Anagrams. Oy.

Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler. From Judge Starling Tumblr post linked in text.

The final step of the scientific process is to share your results with others, and that’s the step where things are most prone to breaking down. Countless great discoveries have been delayed or temporarily lost because the people who made them were more concerned with protecting “their” secrets than with sharing new knowledge with the… Continue reading Advent Calendar of Science Stories 10: Anagrams. Oy.

Advent Calendar of Science Stories 9: Newton’s Bodkin

The page from Isaac Newton's journal where he described using a needly to poke the back of his eyeball. From the Cambridge University library.

I tooke a bodkine gh & put it betwixt my eye & [the] bone as neare to [the] backside of my eye as I could: & pressing my eye [with the] end of it (soe as to make [the] curvature a, bcdef in my eye) there appeared severall white darke & coloured circles r, s,… Continue reading Advent Calendar of Science Stories 9: Newton’s Bodkin

Advent Calendar of Science Stories 5: Philosophers in the Sun

Portrait of Eratosthenes, from Wikimedia.

“More wine?” “Hmm? Oh, yes, thank you. Sorry, I was–” “Thinking about mathematics, I wager. Prime numbers was it?” “No, just distracted. It’s this blasted heat.” “It is the longest day of the year.” “Yes, but normally not so hot.” “Especially here. You think this is hot, visit me in Syene sometime. You think it… Continue reading Advent Calendar of Science Stories 5: Philosophers in the Sun

PNAS: Benoit Hamelin, Computer Security Developer

I’ve decided to do a new round of profiles in the Project for Non-Academic Science (acronym deliberately chosen to coincide with a journal), as a way of getting a little more information out there to students studying in STEM fields who will likely end up with jobs off the “standard” academic science track. The eleventh… Continue reading PNAS: Benoit Hamelin, Computer Security Developer

Advent Calendar of Science Stories 4: Solstice

The passage tomb at Newgrange, in Ireland. Inset: some dude in front of the entrance to Newgrange.

The southeastern sky had been lightening for some time, stars slowly fading away. Off to the west, a band of clouds was moving in, obscuring stars as it came, but they wouldn’t make it in time to block the sunrise. A good thing, as the last two dawns had been cloudy. There would be maybe… Continue reading Advent Calendar of Science Stories 4: Solstice

PNAS: Hamish Johnston, Physicsworld.com Editor

Hamish Johnston at work on Physics World.

I’ve decided to do a new round of profiles in the Project for Non-Academic Science (acronym deliberately chosen to coincide with a journal), as a way of getting a little more information out there to students studying in STEM fields who will likely end up with jobs off the “standard” academic science track. The tenth… Continue reading PNAS: Hamish Johnston, Physicsworld.com Editor

PNAS: Steven Olson, Semiconductor Engineer

Steven Olson, under a big tree.

I’ve decided to do a new round of profiles in the Project for Non-Academic Science (acronym deliberately chosen to coincide with a journal), as a way of getting a little more information out there to students studying in STEM fields who will likely end up with jobs off the “standard” academic science track. Ninth in… Continue reading PNAS: Steven Olson, Semiconductor Engineer

PNAS: Grant Goodyear, Oil Industry Nuclear Physicist

Grant Goodyear, theoretical chemist turned nuclear oil explorer.

I’ve decided to do a new round of profiles in the Project for Non-Academic Science (acronym deliberately chosen to coincide with a journal), as a way of getting a little more information out there to students studying in STEM fields who will likely end up with jobs off the “standard” academic science track. Eighth in… Continue reading PNAS: Grant Goodyear, Oil Industry Nuclear Physicist

Advent Calendar of Science Stories 1: Famous Exclamation

“…and unless the King comes here himself, I’m not to be disturbed.” “Yes, of course.” The servant bowed out, leaving him alone with the bath. He stepped in, gingerly at first, the water almost too hot to stand. Slowly, he lowered himself down to a sitting position, feeling the heat soak into his tired legs.… Continue reading Advent Calendar of Science Stories 1: Famous Exclamation

PNAS: Asad Aboobaker, Thermal Engineer

I’ve decided to do a new round of profiles in the Project for Non-Academic Science (acronym deliberately chosen to coincide with a journal), as a way of getting a little more information out there to students studying in STEM fields who will likely end up with jobs off the “standard” academic science track. Sixth in… Continue reading PNAS: Asad Aboobaker, Thermal Engineer