Monday, August 8, 2011
First New Show
The first episode of the new joint podcast, "Questioning the Cosmos" is online. Check it out and stuff!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Greetings, friends!
By now I'm sure your skeletons have blown away in the wind in anticipation of an update. The Thought Experiment will live on in the Internet's bowels for weeks to come, but a new contender has arisen. The "Question the Cosmos" podcast is its spiritual successor and we've launched a new blog to support it. Indeed, a new youtube page and twitter account for those so inclined.
So go and check it out before I take another 2 years to add an update here!
So go and check it out before I take another 2 years to add an update here!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Upcoming interviews
Ok I've been too lazy for too long. This weekend before I head off to CERN I'll post the first of a few interviews I did at the American Physical Society. Up first? How about Phil Plait?
edit: I will have to upload them when I return to the US on the 15th, since I don't have the software on my laptop to do so. In other news,
Hawking says hi!
edit: I will have to upload them when I return to the US on the 15th, since I don't have the software on my laptop to do so. In other news,
Hawking says hi!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (supplement)
Shedding Light on Dark Matter Powerpoint
I've added as supplementary material here, my actual printed powerpoint presentation slides for the 4-part 50-minute lecture. Although the incredible animation effects that went into the Barry Bonds segment aren't alive on the .pdf document, the images provide backup to all those times that I say, "search this or that." It may also be helpful to scroll through it while listening.
Also, I may as well attach my paper, Dark Matter Versus Modified Newtonian Dynamics, for those who are interested in my segment in the series that covered it. I went over the topic briskly and may have skipped some things, so the paper is also in this post for everyone to gawk over.
I've added as supplementary material here, my actual printed powerpoint presentation slides for the 4-part 50-minute lecture. Although the incredible animation effects that went into the Barry Bonds segment aren't alive on the .pdf document, the images provide backup to all those times that I say, "search this or that." It may also be helpful to scroll through it while listening.
Also, I may as well attach my paper, Dark Matter Versus Modified Newtonian Dynamics, for those who are interested in my segment in the series that covered it. I went over the topic briskly and may have skipped some things, so the paper is also in this post for everyone to gawk over.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (part 4)
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (part 4)
In the fall I'm giving a lecture series on topics ranging from the history of the universe to time travel. Dark Matter is one of those topics.
In this final part of the series, we go over a very brief history of Dark Matter and some of its competitor theories, such as Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) and Massive Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs).
In the fall I'm giving a lecture series on topics ranging from the history of the universe to time travel. Dark Matter is one of those topics.
In this final part of the series, we go over a very brief history of Dark Matter and some of its competitor theories, such as Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) and Massive Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs).
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (part 3)
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (part 3)
In the fall I'm giving a lecture series on topics ranging from the history of the universe to time travel. Dark Matter is one of those topics.
In this third of 4 part series, we go over candidates for dark matter particles and detection techniques.
Next installment goes over the history of Dark Matter and its competitors.
In the fall I'm giving a lecture series on topics ranging from the history of the universe to time travel. Dark Matter is one of those topics.
In this third of 4 part series, we go over candidates for dark matter particles and detection techniques.
Next installment goes over the history of Dark Matter and its competitors.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (part 2)
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (part 2)
In the fall I'm giving a lecture series on topics ranging from the history of the universe to time travel. Dark Matter is one of those topics.
In this second of 4 part series, I do a thought experiment involving Barry Bonds and detail the origin and nature of matter.
Next installment deals with detecting candidates of Dark Matter.
In the fall I'm giving a lecture series on topics ranging from the history of the universe to time travel. Dark Matter is one of those topics.
In this second of 4 part series, I do a thought experiment involving Barry Bonds and detail the origin and nature of matter.
Next installment deals with detecting candidates of Dark Matter.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (part 1)
Shedding Light on Dark Matter (part 1)
In the fall I'm giving a lecture series on topics ranging from the history of the universe to time travel. Dark Matter is one of those topics.
In this first of 4 part series, I give a brief introduction and go over distinguishing Dark Matter from what isn't Dark Matter.
Next installment deals with properties of matter and Dark Matter and how they apply to baseball.
In the fall I'm giving a lecture series on topics ranging from the history of the universe to time travel. Dark Matter is one of those topics.
In this first of 4 part series, I give a brief introduction and go over distinguishing Dark Matter from what isn't Dark Matter.
Next installment deals with properties of matter and Dark Matter and how they apply to baseball.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The Strong Nuclear Force (video)
The Strong Nuclear Force
The Thought Experiment podcast has been kind of stagnant lately. Largely because I've been so busy here on campus with Dark Matter research and so on and hopefully this video, a talk I gave recently on the strong nuclear force that holds atomic nuclei together, can shed some light on just how jam packed my schedule has been these last few days.
The recording quality is rather lacking, yes, but my placement of the microphone in the lecture hall I guess was less than strategic. Plus it has more buttons to confuse an astronaut!
Enjoy!
The Thought Experiment podcast has been kind of stagnant lately. Largely because I've been so busy here on campus with Dark Matter research and so on and hopefully this video, a talk I gave recently on the strong nuclear force that holds atomic nuclei together, can shed some light on just how jam packed my schedule has been these last few days.
The recording quality is rather lacking, yes, but my placement of the microphone in the lecture hall I guess was less than strategic. Plus it has more buttons to confuse an astronaut!
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Quantum Tunneling
Quantum Tunneling
Tunneling is a very, very mathematical process by which a particle can 'leak' out into its surroundings. This has to do with all sorts of things called wave functions, probability densities, and so on, but the real aspect behind them is: how can we use this for our macroscopic advantage?
Tunneling is a very, very mathematical process by which a particle can 'leak' out into its surroundings. This has to do with all sorts of things called wave functions, probability densities, and so on, but the real aspect behind them is: how can we use this for our macroscopic advantage?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Intro to Quantum Mechanics
Intro to Quantum Mechanics
Ironically, the delay for this week's quantum mechanics podcast was brought on by quantum mechanics homework. In any case, this week I delve into the beginnings of what quantum mechanics is, opening up the playing field into the zany world of the small.
Ironically, the delay for this week's quantum mechanics podcast was brought on by quantum mechanics homework. In any case, this week I delve into the beginnings of what quantum mechanics is, opening up the playing field into the zany world of the small.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Link to Old Shows
I realize I haven't put up any new thought experiments quite yet (don't worry, the supply is virtually bottomless), due to exams and other college-related business. Not to worry, more shows are coming and I don't mean the old "tell-them-now-so-they'll-still-be-waiting-6-months-from-now" gag. New shows this weekend or before for sure.
With that in mind, I've been getting a lot of requests to link to the old podcast. The Thought-Provoking Discussion podcast was the one we did before this and I still believe the links are active if those who requested it are up for some old timey downloading.
With that in mind, I've been getting a lot of requests to link to the old podcast. The Thought-Provoking Discussion podcast was the one we did before this and I still believe the links are active if those who requested it are up for some old timey downloading.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Borel's Infinite Monkeys
Borel's Infinite Monkeys
Returning triumphant for a second season of thought experimenting, we continue on our history of thought experiments into the later 1920s with Borel's mathematical analysis of what happens when you get a ton of monkeys in a room with a ton of typewriters. A Borel of monkeys for sure!
Baxiden is by Liquid Tension Experiment
Returning triumphant for a second season of thought experimenting, we continue on our history of thought experiments into the later 1920s with Borel's mathematical analysis of what happens when you get a ton of monkeys in a room with a ton of typewriters. A Borel of monkeys for sure!
Baxiden is by Liquid Tension Experiment
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Q&A With Brian Greene
Q&A With Brian Greene
Last week string theorist and physicist at Columbia University, Brian Greene came to my university as a part of a lecture series featuring distinguished lecturers. He did a question and answer session for a small group of us (about 20 or so people), as well as a planned lecture event. This week is the Q&A session.
Theme music by Liquid Tension Experiment
Last week string theorist and physicist at Columbia University, Brian Greene came to my university as a part of a lecture series featuring distinguished lecturers. He did a question and answer session for a small group of us (about 20 or so people), as well as a planned lecture event. This week is the Q&A session.
Theme music by Liquid Tension Experiment
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Heisenburg's Uncertainty Principle
Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle
What can a retired basketball player and a cannon full of paintballs teach us about quantum uncertainty? A lot, actually. Have a listen in on why we can't tell where a proton is at the same time when we know its momentum: the quintessential uncertainty principle. For a link to the blog post I mouth off about, see the exposé on Ramtha and What the Bleep Were They Thinking?
New and permenant theme music: Baxiden by Liquid Tension Experiment
What can a retired basketball player and a cannon full of paintballs teach us about quantum uncertainty? A lot, actually. Have a listen in on why we can't tell where a proton is at the same time when we know its momentum: the quintessential uncertainty principle. For a link to the blog post I mouth off about, see the exposé on Ramtha and What the Bleep Were They Thinking?
New and permenant theme music: Baxiden by Liquid Tension Experiment
Monday, September 3, 2007
The Banach-Tarski Paradox
The Banach-Tarski Paradox
A mouthful no doubt! This week we go over just how a mathematical universe differs from a physical one on the basis of the Axiom of Choice. More interestingly, if we exploit this paradox, we can clone anything we want with the exact same properties as the original. As per Andrew's note, you can see an example of a fractal here. Really amazing stuff to say the least.
Barbarian Horde is by Hans Zimmer
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Rachel Cooper's Overview on Thought Experiments (guest)
Rachel Cooper's Overview
Rachel Cooper, a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, provides for us an overview as to what thought experiments are and what they are used for. As a side note, she refers to Lucretius' Spear, an earlier podcast.
Debussy Reverie is by David DeLucia
Rachel Cooper, a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, provides for us an overview as to what thought experiments are and what they are used for. As a side note, she refers to Lucretius' Spear, an earlier podcast.
Debussy Reverie is by David DeLucia
Monday, August 6, 2007
Einstein's Relativity
Einstein's Relativity
So many topics to cover in so little of time! Time dilation, spacetime continuums, all the sorts of fun stuff you learn in upper-level cosmology courses. Alas, we can't do justice to Einstein's theories or results here, but we can take a sure enough stab at it. The book I keep referring to is Einstein, His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson. It's really a great read and I don't want to sound like I'm just telling you to buy a book just for the sake of buying it. If you want to learn about relativity, but are too intimidated by Einstein's own book that he wrote on the subject, Isaacson covers it in depth as well as more than you ever bargained for.
A New Hope is by John Williams
So many topics to cover in so little of time! Time dilation, spacetime continuums, all the sorts of fun stuff you learn in upper-level cosmology courses. Alas, we can't do justice to Einstein's theories or results here, but we can take a sure enough stab at it. The book I keep referring to is Einstein, His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson. It's really a great read and I don't want to sound like I'm just telling you to buy a book just for the sake of buying it. If you want to learn about relativity, but are too intimidated by Einstein's own book that he wrote on the subject, Isaacson covers it in depth as well as more than you ever bargained for.
A New Hope is by John Williams
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Poincare's Conjecture
Poincare's Conjecture
Amidst more recording troubles, I had to do solo again this week. Alas, the show must go on and this week I talk about how extra dimensions can be rooted out of lower dimensional fields. A great book to check out on this topic is Edwin A. Abbott's Flatland. Specifically on the Poincare Conjecture, there are tons of math books abounding on the subject, since it was only just recently solved. It's worth a look and is on the cutting edge of the fascinating world of topology!
We Want a Rock is by They Might Be Giants
Amidst more recording troubles, I had to do solo again this week. Alas, the show must go on and this week I talk about how extra dimensions can be rooted out of lower dimensional fields. A great book to check out on this topic is Edwin A. Abbott's Flatland. Specifically on the Poincare Conjecture, there are tons of math books abounding on the subject, since it was only just recently solved. It's worth a look and is on the cutting edge of the fascinating world of topology!
We Want a Rock is by They Might Be Giants
Monday, July 23, 2007
Kent Hovind's Last Debate
Kent Hovind's Last Debate
Well, this week we had originally planned to go over Maxwell's Demon, but a screwup in the recording prompted us to ditch the file. Perhaps it was for the better, given that it is the 1 year anniversary of our debate with famed creationist Kent Hovind. Perhaps one of our few PDFcasts, the debate is about 20 some odd pages in length, but filled with comedic gold. As a toast to the convicted tax evasionist and 'scientist', we are putting up for free download a transcript from our debate with an intro included.
The feed has now been updated. Hopefully it should work at this point. If any other podcasts are not up and running, please alert me and I'll fix 'em.
Well, this week we had originally planned to go over Maxwell's Demon, but a screwup in the recording prompted us to ditch the file. Perhaps it was for the better, given that it is the 1 year anniversary of our debate with famed creationist Kent Hovind. Perhaps one of our few PDFcasts, the debate is about 20 some odd pages in length, but filled with comedic gold. As a toast to the convicted tax evasionist and 'scientist', we are putting up for free download a transcript from our debate with an intro included.
The feed has now been updated. Hopefully it should work at this point. If any other podcasts are not up and running, please alert me and I'll fix 'em.
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