Category Archives: physics

The Strangest Man – the Hidden life of Paul Dirac

Posted on October 9, 2022 by tkflor

The equation was “achingly beautiful”, as theoretical physicist Frank Wilczek later described it: like Einstein’s equation of general relativity, the Dirac equation was universal yet fundamentally simple; nothing in it could be changed without destroying its power. The Strangest Man, … Continue reading →

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Did Thomas Young perform his most famous experiment?

Posted on June 28, 2021 by tkflor

“phenomena of nature resemble the scattered leaves of the Sibylline prophecies; a word only, or a single syllable, is written on each leaf, which, when separately considered, conveys no instruction to the mind; but when, by the labor of patient … Continue reading →

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Moving the needle – 200 years since Ørsted experiment

Posted on April 21, 2020 by tkflor

The first connection between electricity and magnetism was found by Ørsted on 21 April 1820. Hans Christian Ørsted (14 August 1777 – 9 March 1851) was a Danish scientist. He became a professor at the University of Copenhagen in 1806. His … Continue reading →

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Lighthearted takes on fiction and physics

Posted on June 17, 2018 by tkflor

Two comics by John Atkinson, thirst-editions and simplified-physics.

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Richard Feynman’s 100th birthday

Posted on May 11, 2018 by tkflor

“There are two types of genius. Ordinary geniuses do great things, but they leave you room to believe that you could do the same if only you worked hard enough. Then there are magicians, and you can have no idea … Continue reading →

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2017 is drawing to a close

Posted on December 30, 2017 by tkflor

Finally, 2017 is drawing to a close. I can’t say that it was one of the better years to look back at. This is why I’m not going to do any “2017 in …”, but just post a few pictures … Continue reading →

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An anniversary of an experiment that transformed the world

Posted on August 29, 2017 by tkflor

Two hundred years ago, the relationship between magnetism and electricity was not an established fact. It had been known that thunderbolts created certain magnetic effects, but there was no proof that magnetism and electricity were related, until 1820, when Hans … Continue reading →

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Stars, Leaves, and speculations about Dark Matter

Posted on December 4, 2016 by tkflor

“Topmost branches stretched in all directions, arched over the road, merging into a lush green canopy, dappled with yellow, saffron and vermillion. Bright-blue patches of sky peeked through the dome. A kingdom to itself, Danielle thought. Each tree was a … Continue reading →

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George Green’s birthday

Posted on July 13, 2016 by tkflor

When one is asked to name prominent English scientists who forged our understanding of electricity and magnetism, the two giants that immediately pop to mind: Michael Faraday (1791– 1867), who established the basis for the concept of the electromagnetic field, … Continue reading →

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Why does the Moon have phases?

Posted on June 10, 2016 by tkflor

“Moonspinners. They’re naiads – you know, water-nymphs. Sometimes, when you’re deep in countryside, you meet three girls, walking along the hill tracks in the dusk, spinning. They each have a spindle, and onto these they are spinning their wool, milk-white, … Continue reading →

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