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 means I am excused swimming, I finally got around to watching this video I was sent some time ago by Mike Bernstein.

Continued on The Guardian.

Posted in Particle Physics, Physics, Physics Stories, Rambling, Science | Tagged | Comments Off on String theory and colour-field splash

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 excited me immensely. I have only just realised that I have been standing in the same position in my kitchen for two hours submitting jobs to the grid and my feet are completely numb. When I have finished writing this I will simply allow myself to fall to the floor and then drag my lifeless body to the bedroom for a couple of hours sleep.

Continued on The Guardian.

Posted in Particle Physics, Physics, Physics Stories, Rambling, Science, Travel | Tagged | Comments Off on Doing it for the thrill

Science is Vital

Posted on 10/10/2010 by Jon Butterworth

It’s not a threat, it’s not whining. We’re scientists and we are reporting the facts

The last time I went on a demo was more than twenty years ago. It was either poll tax or student grants (remember those?). Probably there should have been others. Oh well.

Continued on The Guardian. See also Chapter 4.1 of Smashing Physics.

Posted in Politics, Science, Science Policy | Tagged | Comments Off on Science is Vital

Intellectual poverty

Posted on 06/10/2010 by lilyasquith

Scientific research is not a luxury, without it we wouldn’t have anything, not even hope. Those who think the world is moving too fast for them, it’s not going to slow down if UK science is blown out of the water, it’s going to keep on going while we sit there and descend.

Continued on The Guardian.

Posted in Particle Physics, Politics, Science Policy | Comments Off on Intellectual poverty