World’s smallest video
To all my past and present Physics students and any reader interested in scientific developments:
A video produced by IBM using individual atoms.
Something totally unthinkable 40 years ago when I first started teaching.
Amazing stuff.
Read the full story and watch the video: here
Groundhog charged with misrepresentation
In case you don’t know, in the US state of Ohio they have a quaint ceremony of “using” an animal to predict the weather for the coming year.
When Punxsutawney Phil, a local wild groundhog (also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver) predicted an early spring when he didn’t see his shadow after emerging from his lair in western Pennsylvania on February 2.
I know, I know; it makes English Morris dancers seem quite normal.
Anyway, since the local inhabitants don’t seem to be having any better weather than most of us in the UK, Phil is in trouble.
“So the heat is on against Phil, and the furry rodent has been charged with misrepresentation of spring, a felony “against the peace and dignity of the state of Ohio,” wrote prosecutor Mike Gmoser in an official-looking indictment.
“Punxsutawney Phil did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the people to believe that spring would come early,” Gmoser declared.
So what’s the penalty?
‘Death’, Gmoser said, tongue firmly in cheek.“
Good luck, Phil. Read the full story: here
New Pope wanted. Apply here
I’m sorry if this offends anyone. If it offends you – get a better sense of humour.
[I have no idea where it originated, by the way, but it has appeared on some blogs, photo-hosting sites and social networking sites already]
Horse meat and “bute”
Many discussions on the possible effects of this equine medicine (phenylbutazone (bute), an anti-inflammatory painkiller used to treat horses) in the media recently.
Unsurprisingly, there has been some panic expressed from certain individuals since, when this was used as a medicine for humans, some patients experienced unpleasant side-effects.
However, to set the record scientifically straight, data this morning from the FSA (I think) was expressed in easy to understand terms. At the level of contamination of ‘bute’ found in those samples of horsemeat (usually ex-racehorses) tested to date, a person would have to eat 500-600 large pure horsemeat burgers every day to reach the same dose as was used on humans.
Does that make you feel better?
Recycled mirror wins my son a prize
Horse meat fiasco in the UK
I just thought I’d add my own feelings about this: nothing outrageous, there seem to be plenty thinking along the same lines.
We are too used to cheap food.
Supermarkets can be too concerned with cheap food and not enough with its quality or origin.
There are plenty of unscrupulous suppliers willing to lie about their product to get a good contract.
Horse meat is widely eaten in many countries. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with it but the current checks on the history of horse meat in no way match those on lamb, beef etc.
I’ve eaten crocodile, emu, pike and a few other meats you won’t find in, say, Tesco and I’d willing eat horse (or whale/bear/seal …) if it was known to be free of dangerous chemicals, not endangered and either wild or humanely reared.
How about you?
Kerry now likes water
And she can swim!
After a sprint around the pond on the Green yesterday included slipping off the bank she has now decided it’s actually good fun: collecting floating objects and trying to catch the ducks, even when she went a bit out of her depth. Chasing around on the muddy grass afterwards ensured she now needs a bath again!
Sue has been doing all this with her while I’ve been marking exam papers. Check out some video: here
