# 6 Short Videos about the Philosophy of Maths and Science

The Open University has created a series of 6 short animated iTunes videos about the Philosophy behind Maths and Science.   Continue reading 60-Second Adventures in Thought

# A Boy and His Atom

IBM researchers currently hold the Guinness World Record for the ‘World Smallest Stop-Motion Film’ after creating a short film about a boy and his ball, by manipulating single atoms. Continue reading A Boy and His Atom

# One of a Rare Status Update

Apparently, the phrase “once in a blue moon”, in the sense of something that occurs very rarely, dates back to 1824.  I will check this out as soon as I have time… Continue reading Once in a Blue Moon…

# Hunting For The God Particle

Today, Thursday 14th March 2013.  Only last year, the world of Particle Physics research was getting excited among rumours and speculation that the hunt for the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was finally over, following the news that a Higgs-like particle had been identified in July. Continue reading It’s a Higgs!

# Planet Earth

Our planet is surrounded by layers of gas, the ‘atmosphere’, maintained around it by the very gravitational attraction of the Earth.  An important part of the atmosphere that we use to breathe and that plants use in photosynthesis is the ‘air’.  Continue reading Earth’s Atmosphere

# 12 Short Videos about the Physics of the Cosmos

The Open University has teamed up with “geek chic” comedian David Mitchell to release a series of 12 short animated YouTube videos about the Physics of the Cosmos: “60-Second Adventures in Astronomy”.  A real treat.  And it’s educational!  If you have only 60 seconds, you can now learn everything we know about matter, energy, life, the Universe and everything…

# 20th Century World View

The Standard Model of Particle Physics is a theory about the electromagnetic, weak and strong nuclear interactions, developed throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, as a worldwide collaborative effort.  Continue reading The Standard Model

# Record-Breaking Space Dive

14th October 2012.  During his ultimate high-altitude parachute jump, Felix Baumgartner spends approximately 4 minutes and 22 seconds in freefall, at the maximum speed of 1,342 kilometres per hour.  Continue reading Fallen from Outer Space…

# Physical Constants (SI Units)

Avogadro Constant $N_{A} = 6.022 \times 10^{23} mol^{-1}$

Bohr Radius $a_0 = 5.29 \times 10^{-11} m$

Boltzmann Constant $k = 1.381 \times 10^{-23} JK^{-1}$

Charge on an Electron $e = - 1.602 \times 10^{-19} C$

Gravitational Constant $G = 6.673 \times 10^{-11} Nm^{2} kg^{-2}$

Magnitude of Acceleration due to Gravity $g = 9.81 m s^{-2}$

Permeability of Free Space $\mu_{0} = 4 \pi \times 10^{-7} T m A^{-1}$

Permittivity of Free Space $\epsilon_{0} = 8.854 \times 10^{-12} C^{2} N^{-1} m^{-2}$

Speed of Light in a vacuum $c = 2.998 \times 10^{8} m s^{-1}$

# Astronomical Beginnings

Early astronomers already make the distinction between stars and planets, as the former remain relatively fixed for centuries, while the latter wander an appreciable amount in a comparatively short time.  But that’s not all!