Category Archives: Physical sciences
Arts & Science: Dreaming up Science
Beth Venus looks at how thought experiments have explained scientific phenomena. It is a misconception that the poet is more of a dreamer than the scientist. Yet a huge range of crucial and inspired thought experiments—the exquisite dreams of scientists—have signposted scientific progress in almost every field. In particular, insights gleaned from mental laboratories [...]
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Focus: Higher, Faster, Stronger
BlueSci explores the role of science in pushing the boundaries of human physical ability. The revival of the Olympic Games in 1896 marked a new era for modern sports, with hundreds of athletes coming together to compete in Athens. One hundred and sixteen years later, the games have evolved, with thousands of athletes representing [...]
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Cover: Deducing Diffractions
Lindsey Nield explains the science behind this issue’s front cover. The magnetic properties of materials can be thought of as arising from microscopic bar magnets located on each atom of the material. At high temperatures, these magnets are arranged randomly, like atoms or molecules in a gas. By contrast, at low temperatures the magnets usually [...]
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Final flight of Discovery
After a year of decommissioning, NASA’s flagship Space Shuttle Discovery has made its final flight, this time within Earth’s atmosphere to its retirement home at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center, in Chantilly, Virginia. Piggy-backing on one of NASA’s two specially-modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Aircraft Carriers, Discovery made the [...]
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How to detect traces of explosives
Scientists at the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology in Trivandrum, India, have developed a simple method for detecting attogram (10-18 g) quantities of the explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT). TNT is still used in many explosive devices, and the by-products from a TNT explosion can contaminate groundwater and soil for years after detonation. Techniques such as sniffer [...]
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Feature: Powering East Africa from below
Tom Bishop explores the potential of geothermal energy in Africa. What is the solution for nations with increasing energy demands, hindered by frequent power cuts and an inability to compete in the international oil market? For East Africa at least, experts think geothermal energy is the answer. More promising still, the Kenyan government and international [...]
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CUPS Event: Size Matters
Dr Mark Miodownik, University College London Dr Miodownik gave a talk with the same title at the 2010 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture. As this is an outreach talk, it will be free for everyone! For more information, see the Cambridge University Physics Society website.
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‘Great Lake’ on Jupiter’s moon may harbour life
Scientific analysis of the surface of Jupiter’s moon, Europa, suggests that warm water rises from its deep oceans to form shallow nutrient-rich lakes that could support life. Scientists suspect that Jupiter’s icy moon has a salt water ocean 10-30km beneath the ice crust that contains more liquid water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. However, [...]
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CSaP Event: Cambridge Public Policy Series (Seminar 11)
These seminars aim to bring together a diverse range of individuals from the humanities as well as social and natural sciences to discuss the public policy implications of their work and research. They will take place on Fridays between 1-2pm, during the Lent term. Venue to be confirmed. Each talk will last 25-30 minutes and will be [...]
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Away from the Bench: Science on Ice