Lookin' Good, Physics!

Let me start out by saying that I am a very hip and very in-touch young person. I live in the information and and I ----HOLD ON. Got to answer this TEXT on my iPHONE.As I was saying, as a hip and in-touch young person, I am fully aware that information must be conveyed through multimedia if you hope to ---- HOLD ON. Have to watch the latest VIRAL VIDEO on my MACBOOK PRO.Where was I? Oh yes; in order to get the attention of insanely hip and unbelievably in-touch young people like myself, you simp.. Read more »

New Unit of Energy from a "Godfather"

Watch out, Joule: theres a new unit of energy measurement on the block that is oh so green.The Rosenfeld, named after physicist and energy savings pioneer Arthur Rosenfeld, is defined as the electricity savings of 3 billion kilowatt-hours per year, the amount needed to replace the annual generation of a 500 megawatt coal-fired power plant, according to the press release from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).There are 54 co-authors on the referred paper in Environmental Research Lett.. Read more »

Okay, Einstein, we get it. You were right.

As we've reviewed over the past few posts, Einstein's theory of relativity can be demonstrated by messing with the wavefunction of atoms, during an eclipse or when you are looking for super-far-away galaxies. In 1919, scientists held what I can only imagine was one of the most grand experiments ever - trying to observe the gravitational bending of light. The story surrounding it was so romantic: the expedition to South America, the ominous setting created by a full eclipse, searching for a signa.. Read more »

Physics Party Tricks

Depending on the sort of parties you go to, here are two tricks to entertain your friends.I prefer parties where this trick would be a hit.This one isn't my cupa tea (or glassa wine), but I'd probably resort to it if the conversations were dull enough... Read more »

I Heart Particle Accelerators!

Theres great news, nay stupendous news, that should be tweeted and facebooked immediately. Turns out, physics can actually benefit society.Hows that for a page-turner?I learned this at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in San Diego a few weeks ago. And yes, I sat on the news for all this time. Please dont hate me.The session where this bulletin was revealed was curiously not a press conference. Rather, it was a group of symposia entitled Particles and People: How.. Read more »

Right the first time, Einstein

Following up from Wednesday's post, I wanted to take you all back to 1919 when Einstein's theory of relativity was demonstrated through experiment for the first time. It's an interesting story, and a more detailed account is given here.The theory of relativity basically states that everything is relative to the observer. Even time. There is no absolute frame of reference where we can find out what time it is according to the universe. While time is a very important part of the universe, it can c.. Read more »

Much Ado about Dolphins, even if they don't wear physics t-shirts

Given the fact that there were hundreds of sessions at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Diego last month, it should come as no surprise that I am still reporting on my experiences there. It was a seemingly endless science smörgåsbord. Hurra!Of interesting note:Are dolphins non-human people? According to Thomas White of Loyola Marymount University in Redondo Beach, CA, those cute, cuddly, ever-smiling sea creatures are basically like you .. Read more »