#physics

[anarchistfrogposting]

The whole “scientists use big words on purpose to be exclusive” is such a bunch of anti-intellectual bullshit. Specific and concise language exists for a reason; you need the right words to convey the right meaning, and explaining stuff right is a hugely important part of science. Cultures that live around loads of snow have loads of words to describe different types of snow; cultures that live in deserts have loads of words to describe different types of sand. Complex language is needed for complex meaning.

[cynicalclassicist]

I feel like that with information too!

I FUCKING LOVE INFORMATION!!! I WANT TO LEARN EVERY THING AND KNOW EVERYTHING!!!!! I WANT TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING!!!!!! I AM UTTERLY CONSUMED BY MY THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[abiwaif]

The physics of balancing toys 🙃

[theonion]

Blowing dust off a scientific breakthrough that could fundamentally alter human perception of the universe, physicists at Boston University reportedly discovered a never-before-seen elementary particle in the back of an old cupboard Wednesday. “In what constitutes a giant leap forward in the field of quantum mechanics, one of our researchers was rooting around in a cabinet and came across this thing, just lying there behind a long-forgotten bag of dried lentils,” said physics professor Garrett Percy, confirming the hitherto unknown boson particle must have been there for decades and might have even belonged to the previous tenant.

Full Story

[per-asperaa-ad-astra]

When a physicist falls in love :)

Richard Feynman's love letter to his deceased wife, 1946.

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Stunning Interstellar Turbulence

The space between stars, known as the interstellar medium, may be sparse, but it is far from empty. Gas, dust, and plasma in this region forms compressible magnetized turbulence, with some pockets moving supersonically and others moving slower than sound.  (Image and research credit: J. Beattie et al.; via Gizmodo) Read the full article

[cant-afford-lobotomy]

[scienceisdope]

The long wavelengths of the light spectrum—red, yellow, and orange—can penetrate to approximately 15, 30, and 50 meters (49, 98, and 164 feet), respectively, while the short wavelengths of the light spectrum—violet, blue and green—can penetrate further, to the lower limits of the euphotic zone. Blue penetrates the deepest, which is why deep, clear ocean water and some tropical water appear to be blue most of the time. Moreover, clearer waters have fewer particles to affect the transmission of light, and scattering by the water itself controls color. Water in shallow coastal areas tends to contain a greater amount of particles that scatter or absorb light wavelengths differently, which is why sea water close to shore may appear more green or brown in color.

Follow @scienceisdope for more science and daily facts.

Video credit: Kendall Roberg

[scrmnviking]

That's fascinating. Is it two wave sets perfectly perpendicular to each other? Inquiring minds want to know!

Square waves

[scienceisbeauty]

😎

Via

[thoughtportal]

general relativity for babies

[dndspellgifs]

look, I know I've talked about this essay (?) before but like,

If you ever needed a good demonstration of the quote "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", have I got an exercise for you.

Somebody made a small article explaining the basics of atomic theory but it's written in Anglish. Anglish is basically a made-up version of English where they remove any elements (words, prefixes, etc) that were originally borrowed from romance languages like french and latin, as well as greek and other foreign loanwords, keeping only those of germanic origin.

What happens is an english which is for the most part intelligible, but since a lot everyday english, and especially the scientific vocabulary, has has heavy latin and greek influence, they have to make up new words from the existing germanic-english vocabulary. For me it kind of reads super viking-ey.

Anyway when you read this article on atomic theory, in Anglish called Uncleftish Beholding, you get this text which kind of reads like a fantasy novel. Like in my mind it feels like it recontextualizes advanced scientific concepts to explain it to a viking audience from ancient times.

Even though you're familiar with the scientific ideas, because it bypasses the normal language we use for these concepts, you get a chance to examine these ideas as if you were a visitor from another civilization - and guess what, it does feel like it's about magic. It has a mythical quality to it, like it feels like a book about magic written during viking times. For me this has the same vibe as reading deep magic lore from a Robert Jordan book.

[occultclassicalart]

BW Edit after Maurice Boudet de Paris (Elektrische stroom tussen zes munten, c. 1876 - in or before 1886) (2) (Rijksmuseum)

[shadowseductress]

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

"C R Y S T A L S"

In "C R Y S T A L S," filmmaker Thomas Blanchard captures the slow, inexorable growth of potassium phosphate crystals. He took over 150,000 images -- one per minute -- to document the way crystals formed as the originally transparent liquid evaporated.  (Video and image credit: T. Blanchard) Read the full article