Tag: Science

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Mars Perseverance Rover Explorer

I’ve been following the progress of the Mars Perseverance Explorer which landed on Mars on 18th February. Its primary mission is to search for signs of past life on this arid world. There have been some marvellous images beamed back since the spectacular landing in February. Watch the 4K video below which was cleverly stitched together from many high resolution photos.

The landing alone was a technological wonder. Here is video filmed during the descent showing how complex the landing procedure was.

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/videos/?v=461

Keep up to date on developments with Nasa’s website.

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/overview/

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The science of camouflage.

In this video, an artist paints people to make them appear two dimensional. Art is being used as camouflage. Animals in the wild do this too of course. Zebras have their stripes, leopards have spots and some animals like the chameleon can even change the patterning on their body to fit the environment. The argument for how zebras’ stripes benefit them is that the hunter finds it difficult to distinguish an individual animal from the herd. In some cases, camouflage works differently, helping animals to blend into their surroundings when viewed from a distance.

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Single use plastics are a scourge

At current estimates, only 9% of the world’s plastic production is recycled.

Just imagine – sixty years ago, there was hardly any plastic production and of the estimated 40 million tonnes produced annually, a tiny proportion is recycled. The only true solution to the plastics problem is to stop using non-biodegradable plastic altogether. There are many interesting and novel approaches to cleaning up our planet from plastic waste but the most obvious way is to avoid putting plastic waste out there in the first place.

This Yorkshire scientist is looking at ways to help dentists cut down on single use plastics.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-south-yorkshire-49528007

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I have been listening to physics podcasts

Physics World Magazine of the UK Physics community

Physics has a plethora of applications and that is what fascinates me. From the way sparrows fly in flocks (murmurations) to the explanation for how liquids behave in thin films just to give two examples. I like listening to stories about the people involved and the human aspects too, for example what motivates people in their research. I attach below some links from the American Physical Society for you to find out for yourself.

Who was Enrico Fermi?

Supernova neutrinos

Radioisotopes in medicine

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Museums near London for kids who like science

For any kids into their science, the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park in Bedfordshire is a must. It has a replica of the Bombe built by Alan Turing during the war years to crack the Enigma Code. It also hosts a rebuilt Colossus, the first electronic computer. It also has a vast range of computer memory devices from car readers to one of the first disc drives. You can call and arrange a guided tour – which is recommended.

The National Maritime Museum has some of John Harrison’s prototype clocks used to solve the longitude problem. This is well worth a visit and is free.ย Harrison H1 blog.jpg

The Observatory Science Centre at Herstmonceux Castle, the former site of the Greenwich Observatory, hosts courses on astronomy, permanent exhibits on science themes and much more.

Dungeness B Visitor Centre is where you can arrange a visit to a nuclear reactor. What’s more, it is free.

Dungeness B Reactor

 

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People I admire

Some of these people are known for their academic brilliance and others for their bravery in standing up for what they believe is right. There is no particular order to the list that I present below. It is just as it comes.

Paul Erdล‘s was a brilliant and eccentric Hungarian mathematician who had a long and productive career. He spent most of his adult life living out of a suitcase and worked ceaselessly. He was truly single-minded in his devotion to the subject.

Paul Erdรถs Paul Erdรถs

Albert Einstein revolutionised physics in the twentieth century. He was responsible for shaking up its foundations and introducing relativity. The idea behind special relativity theory is very simple. The laws of physics must be the same as seen by any observer in the universe.  He was also a respected social commentator. He believed in compromise as the best approach to any problem.

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein

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