I was Googling for “How to Teach Physics to Your Dog” last night, to check whether a review of said book that I know is coming has been posted yet (side question: Does anybody know a good way to exclude the umpty-zillion versions of Amazon and other sellers from this sort of search? Most of… Continue reading Great Moments in Vanity Searching -or- The Hotness of Physics
Category: Publicity
Physics for Math Students
I gave a talk last night to the Albany Area Math Circle, a group of high-schoolers who are interested in science and math, and enter and do very well in national math competitions. I think there were 48 kids there last night, which was pretty impressive. I gave basically the same talk I gave at… Continue reading Physics for Math Students
Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 4: Lasers
How to Teach Physics to Your Dog is now listed as “In Stock” at Amazon, so it’s the perfect time to order a dozen or so copies for your last-minute holiday gift needs. “But, wait,” you say, “why do I want to teach my dog physics? Particularly quantum physics– why does anyone need to know… Continue reading Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 4: Lasers
Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 3: Computers
Quantum physics can sometimes seem so arcane that even humans don’t need to worry about it, let alone dogs. It’s actually tremendously important to our modern world. In fact, if you’re reading this on a computer (and how else would you be getting it?), you have quantum physics to thank for it. Computers are based… Continue reading Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 3: Computers
That’s More Like It
Checking in to see whether the Amazon page for How to Teach Physics to Your Dog has been updated (it had an older version of the cover copy yesterday morning, but that’s been fixed), I see that the “Buy Together” box has been updated. It now says: Customers buy this book with The God Engines… Continue reading That’s More Like It
Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 2: Solar Panels
Yesterday’s reason to love quantum was the CCD sensor, which relies on the photoelectric effect to take digital pictures. Sticking with the photoelectric theme, today’s first quantum-enabled technology is the photovoltaic cell, the basis for solar panels. Photovoltaic cells convert light into electricity, essentially via the same photoelectric effect used in CCD’s. A photon of… Continue reading Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 2: Solar Panels
Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 1: Digital Cameras
I’ve been writing a bunch of publicity copy for the book the last few weeks, and one of those things is a list of reasons why every dog should know about quantum physics. I’ve been planning to chop that up into a bunch of individual blog posts in the run-up to the book, but the… Continue reading Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 1: Digital Cameras
Quantum Mechanics Is Not Magic, No Matter What Amazon Says
While I’m thrilled to see How to Teach Physics to Your Dog listed on Amazon, I am distressed to see it offered as a pair with something called The Intention Experiment by Lynne McTaggart. I’m not linking to the Amazon page for that book, because it’s a giant pile of crap, and I wouldn’t want… Continue reading Quantum Mechanics Is Not Magic, No Matter What Amazon Says
Quantum Zeno Effect: The Movie
It’s exactly one week to the release date for How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, and to celebrate, I’m setting off on an expedition to the local mall(s) in search of Christmas presents. May God have mercy on my soul… Anyway, I wouldn’t want you to be without entertainment while I’m off helping the… Continue reading Quantum Zeno Effect: The Movie
Quantization of Books
In response to my post about Amazon sales-rank tracking, Matthew Beckler created just such a tracker: That’s the last few days’ worth of hourly rankings of How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, as of 10am Eastern. Enormous dork that I am, I find this really fascinating, and not just in an absolute-number sense (because,… Continue reading Quantization of Books