I’ve thought about this question for years. A FAQ. Imagine you’re traveling at the speed of light. Well, physics says that’s impossible. Mass’ gotcha. So, what can travel at the speed of light? Photons (not just the visible ones). So, imagine … does a photon “experience” space and time? Some weeks ago I recall reading… Continue reading A photon’s frame of spacetime — no rest for the massless
This Scientific American post “A Thanksgiving Meditation in the Face of a Changing Climate” (November 21, 2018) is an interesting take on gratitude — from a cosmic perspective. And ESA’s video “Space Station 20th: longest continuous timelapse from space” is the type of thing which makes for interesting meditation as well. Here’s an excerpt from “A… Continue reading Holiday meditation – part of a cosmic perspective
Reference: The 2018-2019 Watson Lecture Series, Caltech, Beckman Auditorium World’s Deepest-Penetration and Fastest Optical Cameras by Lihong Wang Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM Lihong Wang will discuss the development of photoacoustic tomography, which allows scientists to peer deep into biological tissue. He will also talk about his lab’s development of compressed ultrafast… Continue reading Imaging a light pulse?
Today’s post is somewhat different than usual. I’m highlighting a YouTube channel. Communicating science to a general audience has a long history. The bibliography for my physics blog contains some books by authors to this purpose. Modern physics has many great stories, and the just plain strangeness of quantum physics lends itself to great storytelling.… Continue reading Communicating what physics says — Domain of Science YouTube channel
I’ve written elsewhere about neutrinos (aka “ghost particles”). The latest news is about a particular discovery — a major team effort — as to the source of some of the most energetic ones. Many articles. Some contain illustrations. High-Energy ‘Ghost Particle’ Traced to Distant Galaxy in Astronomy Breakthrough Most of these neutrinos come from the… Continue reading Blazar neutrinos
As I’ve written elsewhere, I sometimes think that generations of scientists raised in space might help advance physics, having lived in a world dominated by inertia (rather than friction). Especially in regard to a visceral understanding of microgravity. Like characters in the TV series The Expanse. So, this Space.com article (June 18, 2018) “Relativity: The… Continue reading Acceleration causes gravity, gravity causes acceleration
Space.com May 30, 2018, “World Science Festival Kicks Off in NYC with Black Holes, Aliens and More.” Science fans from around the globe will converge in New York City this week for the 11th annual World Science Festival, a celebration of scientific discoveries with more than 70 live events. The festival kicked off Tuesday (May… Continue reading World Science Festival — black holes, aliens, etc
I’ve been following this topic for years. Just some notes before I post something more complete — prompted by Stephen Hawking’s final research paper, much in the news. Multiverse: infinite or countable verses? • Prof Stephen Hawking’s multiverse finale (May 2, 2018), BBC News, includes a video. The study was submitted to the Journal of High-Energy… Continue reading Multiverse paradox — potpourri of universes
I didn’t realize that pulsars can glitch. But some do. As Wiki notes: “Certain types of pulsars rival atomic clocks in their accuracy in keeping time.” So, there are different types of pulsars, eh. This Space.com article (April 30, 2018), “Captured! Radio Telescope Records a Rare ‘Glitch’ in a Pulsar’s Pulsing Beat,” notes that: Pulsars… Continue reading Pulsars can glitch?
As I continue to ponder the mind boggling character of quantum physics (the 10^-n reality), I’m fascinated by articles about novel experiments which routinely explore infinitesimal time scales and distances. Nanoscale (10^-9) is amazing! But now there’s the attosecond. This Space.com article (April 30, 2018), “The ‘Attoclock’ Shows How Fast Electrons Move in a Millionth of a Billionth… Continue reading What’s an attosecond?
