Category Archives: Physics

Quarks, Gluons and Jets

Posted on 18/07/2010 by Jon Butterworth

An updated version of this post is now on The Guardian. See also the glossary section after Chapter 1.5 of Smashing Physics. Yesterday we (ATLAS) released our first (preliminary) jet cross section measurement. “Cross section” in this context is basically … Continue reading →

Posted in Particle Physics, Physics, Science | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Engineering a Decline?

Posted on 13/07/2010 by Jon Butterworth

See also Chapter 3.3 of Smashing Physics. In a way, I am quite impressed by the Royal Academy of Engineering. They have managed to speak very clearly in response to some difficult questions from our new political masters. What they … Continue reading →

Posted in Particle Physics, Politics, Science, Science Policy | Tagged , | 27 Comments

Money (That’s What I Want)

Posted on 29/06/2010 by Jon Butterworth

Once you pay someone enough to allow them to live comfortably, bunging more money at them is not a terribly effective motivator. In Britain, or England at least, we seem to have great trouble really accepting this. The banks crashed despite the … Continue reading →

Posted in Particle Physics, Physics, Science, Science Policy, Travel | Tagged | 5 Comments

Fun with data

Posted on 22/06/2010 by Jon Butterworth

Quick one, rather than my usual finely-honed prose. I am very busy and am having lots of fun. We are writing papers on jet data from ATLAS. I love this, and as I tweeted I am just so impressed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Particle Physics, Physics, Science | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments