DAMOP Day One

Technically, the meeting started Tuesday, but all that happened was a welcome reception, which I missed due to travel. The real beginning of the meeting was Wednesday morning, with the traditional unscheduled half-hour welcome from local dignitaries. That was followed by the Prize Session, featuring the frighteningly smart Misha Lukin, who was awarded the I.I.… Continue reading DAMOP Day One

Good Talks Are Bosons

I’m leaving this afternoon for Charlottesville, VA and the 40th annual DAMOP conference. At this meeting, we will once again be confirming the prediction of the bosonic character of interesting talks. Bosons, as you know, are quantum particles that happily occupy the same state as other bosons, and as you can see from the meeting… Continue reading Good Talks Are Bosons

links for 2009-05-19

Solar charging an electric motorcycle – how long? | Dot Physics "Questions to be answered: How much energy would the bike need to go 50 miles? How much power (average) could you expect to get from the solar panels? And…how long would it take to charge this sucker. I am sure you can store enough… Continue reading links for 2009-05-19

Shhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Confessions of a Science Librarian has joined ScienceBlogs. So, no more eating Chinese food in the stacks, and try to keep the noise down.

Sciences vs. Humanities, Primary vs. Secondary

Thoreau offers without qualification some observations about the different approach to books taken by sciences vs. humanities. Specifically, he notes that despite frequent claims that it is the Most Important Book Ever, nobody actually reads Newton’s Principia Mathematica This is totally different from humanities. In humanities, people make a point of reading the original thinkers.… Continue reading Sciences vs. Humanities, Primary vs. Secondary

Grammar Nerd Poll

This has nothing to do with the substance of Steve Benen’s post about conservative preparations for judicial confirmation hearings, but the quote he used from a New York Times article is the proximate cause for this Grammar Nerd Poll: What is the plural of “memorandum”? A) “Memorandums” B) “Memoranda” C) “More than one memorandum” D)… Continue reading Grammar Nerd Poll