Are neutrinos and anti neutrinos the same particle? (Again, from Symmetry magazine, how, what's the word I'm looking for?)
I'll offer some commentary on these articles in a future post.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Black holes and neutrinos, but not together
Black holes and their weird properties (from Symmetry magazine)
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Physics for the snowbound
This week marks the fifth time in my 21 years of teaching that I have had an entire week of school cancelled due to weather and snow. We have about 26 inches (66 cm) of snow outside and it has made the roads treacherous and now the sidewalks are impassible. And now I have heard that tomorrow (Friday) will be our fifth day in a row of no school. So that means that our planned snow days are used, and any more days off will have to made up. Hmm.
At least the internet works!
Babylonian mathematics was 1500 years ahead of others.
Archival film footage from CERN from 1961!
And finally, Quantum physics themed short stories. They are actually quite good - check them out.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Quantum magnetic loops???
Perhaps the most fascinating news that I have heard lately is that of scientists using magnetic fields to tie particles in loops. I don't even know what that means yet, but it sounds absurdly interesting. And I do like the absurd.
My son and I have really been into the Mythbusters this season, even as they end their show. I predict that Adam will continue to have a TV presence, and Jamie will disappear into his workshop, never to be heard from again. The Mythbusters, as well as other people at Discovery channel, have been working on content for a virtual reality app for phones. Instead of watching a screen that is the size of you device, you can turn and point your device to view their show in a 360 degree circle. Very cool.
To round it out today, I was dipping into the past this weekend to listen to a lot of David Bowie. I am not poetic enough to really say much about him, other than he was an original and will be missed. Okay, one more thing about Bowie - he was three years ahead of grunge music.
CNN tribute to David Bowie
Ground control to Major Tom...
Success with hyperlinking!
My son and I have really been into the Mythbusters this season, even as they end their show. I predict that Adam will continue to have a TV presence, and Jamie will disappear into his workshop, never to be heard from again. The Mythbusters, as well as other people at Discovery channel, have been working on content for a virtual reality app for phones. Instead of watching a screen that is the size of you device, you can turn and point your device to view their show in a 360 degree circle. Very cool.
To round it out today, I was dipping into the past this weekend to listen to a lot of David Bowie. I am not poetic enough to really say much about him, other than he was an original and will be missed. Okay, one more thing about Bowie - he was three years ahead of grunge music.
CNN tribute to David Bowie
Ground control to Major Tom...
Success with hyperlinking!
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
So much news
I am doing a news blast here with many articles that I have collected, and some that I have yet to read. Enjoy, and send me a message if you really like one of them.
Planetary Exploration Timelines: A Look Ahead to 2016
What could dark matter be?Sunday, November 22, 2015
Different news
What can I do to catch you up with recent events?
Some particle physics news: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/the-particle-physics-of-you
New views of Pluto and Charon: http://www.nasa.gov/feature/a-day-on-pluto-a-day-on-charon
I have made some progress with my telescope. My older one is a 5 inch reflector. It is all metal and has a sturdy stand but it needs attention from time to time. I bought an adapter unit so I could use my iPhone to take astronmical pictures (planets and star trails and things like that). I had to figure a way to balance the telescope when I added the adapter and my iPhone. One of my friends mentioned "why don't you put an extra weight on the other end?" That seemed like an easy change, so I bought some weights, a carabiner and a chain (from an id tag) so I can hang all of those things on when I use the adapter. It works very well.
Now I just need to take some pictures.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Catching up
This has been a difficult time to do a lot of blogging. Last summer was much better. I wonder what accounts for the difference...
Anyway, I don't want this to be a place where I complain a lot, but I will. It has been BUSY. A little bit has been taken off my plate lately, somewhat against my wishes. I will consider sharing more about that later. At least it has diminished my responsibilities for the moment and that is alright with me.
Astronomy class continues to be great. Despite some hiccups (rare ones) my students have been up to the challenge and respond in thoughtful ways. Today we discussed a way to choose people for a fictional trip to another world. The premise is that the Earth is dying and we need to send a group to a new world (sounds like Interstellar). There is no perfect way to choose people, but we made our own lists and then discussed how to make choices. I always like it when they come up with a new idea or new perspective.
Over time, I think I am getting less enthusiastic for teaching subjects in which there is one "correct" answer. Everyone accepts the answer and there is nothing to talk about (unless you can't figure out that answer and that can be frustrating). (I.e. Physics)
I noticed the beautiful alignment of planets earlier in October. I took this photo as I got in my car at home and was about to drive to school. So this is taken at about 6:45 am looking east. The moon is the easiest to see and a small dot to the lower left of the moon is Venus. As time went on in October, you could see Mars and Jupiter there as well. It was quite a sight to see!
Anyway, I don't want this to be a place where I complain a lot, but I will. It has been BUSY. A little bit has been taken off my plate lately, somewhat against my wishes. I will consider sharing more about that later. At least it has diminished my responsibilities for the moment and that is alright with me.
Astronomy class continues to be great. Despite some hiccups (rare ones) my students have been up to the challenge and respond in thoughtful ways. Today we discussed a way to choose people for a fictional trip to another world. The premise is that the Earth is dying and we need to send a group to a new world (sounds like Interstellar). There is no perfect way to choose people, but we made our own lists and then discussed how to make choices. I always like it when they come up with a new idea or new perspective.
Over time, I think I am getting less enthusiastic for teaching subjects in which there is one "correct" answer. Everyone accepts the answer and there is nothing to talk about (unless you can't figure out that answer and that can be frustrating). (I.e. Physics)
I noticed the beautiful alignment of planets earlier in October. I took this photo as I got in my car at home and was about to drive to school. So this is taken at about 6:45 am looking east. The moon is the easiest to see and a small dot to the lower left of the moon is Venus. As time went on in October, you could see Mars and Jupiter there as well. It was quite a sight to see!
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
So much blogging to do, so little time...
This year has been really hectic and busy. I am having a great time teaching astronomy for the first time, but,... the first time with any course means a lot of preparation.
Here are some new things in the news. I have been pleased to see so much news about not just New Horizons, but Mars, comets, exo-planets, black holes and other objects out there.
And while we're at it - take a look at the southern sky in the morning, looking east. You'll see a wonderful alignment of Venus, Jupiter and Mars, in order of brightness. You can't miss them. Here's a link.
Next up: New Horizons published first Pluto paper
Exoplanets! How do you spot an Exo-planet from Earth?
Your moment of Zen: Wonderful video from the ISS of water in space
I have to find some time to go see The Martian...
Here are some new things in the news. I have been pleased to see so much news about not just New Horizons, but Mars, comets, exo-planets, black holes and other objects out there.
And while we're at it - take a look at the southern sky in the morning, looking east. You'll see a wonderful alignment of Venus, Jupiter and Mars, in order of brightness. You can't miss them. Here's a link.
Next up: New Horizons published first Pluto paper
Exoplanets! How do you spot an Exo-planet from Earth?
Your moment of Zen: Wonderful video from the ISS of water in space
I have to find some time to go see The Martian...
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