Category Archives: Particle Physics

Murray Gell-Mann on ditching what ‘everybody knows’

Posted on 24/10/2010 by Jon Butterworth

He started from the patterns of particles created by cosmic rays, took a name from James Joyce, and changed the way we see fundamental physics. Video at The Guardian.

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String theory and colour-field splash

Posted on 16/10/2010 by Jon Butterworth

Using images and art to try and understand science can be helpful, misleading, flaky or fun. But it seems to be inescapable. So on a relaxing Saturday morning, where the fact that my daughter and I are recuperating from colds … Continue reading →

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Doing it for the thrill

Posted on 15/10/2010 by lilyasquith

This week I have been trying in vain to garner an interest in frequentist confidence levels. To be honest, I’m doing it (high energy physics) for the thrill. We just got two picobarns of data in a day, which has … Continue reading →

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Intellectual poverty

Posted on 06/10/2010 by lilyasquith

There’s a lot of kerfuffle at the moment about the “brain drain” – UK scientists leaving for America or Europe because they can’t get a job in the UK any more. This is undoubtedly a real effect, but perhaps doesn’t seem that relevant to the average UK tax payer. Or MP. Continue reading →

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