Archive of Writings
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Lost in the vastness of space
Tonight I co-gave the opening address at the Templeton Foundation supported Q3 conference on Cosmology and Theology. It was perhaps the most nerve wracking talk I've ever given. While I am a Christian, I must admit to being terrified of conservative Christians. I've...
LPSC: NASA Night
Live blogging will begin here at 5:30pm 5:10pm A presentation will be by Dr Laurie Leshin, Deputy Associate administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Title : "New Oppurtunities in the President's FY2011 Budget" 5:12pm Speaker is not dressed in back....
Two Views on Gravity Part 2: Geometry
Sometimes analogies just feel right. For instance, "as hard to find as a needle in a hay stack" is often a good way to describe trying to find a needed quote in a half-remembered book. The mental image and the actual task just fit. In physics, I sometimes feel like...
Monday Must Haves 1: Must Haves for the Rabid Traveler
Okay, so this is a bit off topic, but ... There are a series of questions I keep getting, "How do you stay connected while you travel?" "What is your recording set up?" "What books do you...?" "How do you...?" So, I'm going to (in a desperate attempt to force myself...
An academic life punctuated by bullets, part 2
There are some titles that should never be reused. This is part 2 of this post I wrote in 2007. This older post is better than this one. Please read the older post here. Earlier this evening I got an IM from a friend alerting me that this afternoon there had been a...
Come here & hear Steve Squyres at SIUE?
If you're like me, you've been following NASA's desperate attempt to free Spirit, and the ongoing roving of the rugged little Opportunity. These two rovers, with Captain Jack like habits of not dying, are in part the creation of Steven Squyres. Next week, on Wednesday...
Two views on gravity Part 1: Particle Zoo
For the past couple of weeks I've been busy teaching particle physics to two very different populations. First I work with working with little kids through the Davidson Institute, going over the ins and outs of making atoms. Then I took on particles again with my...
The End of IYA (Part 2)
Sometimes it takes a bit longer than planned to get around to writing than expected. The second day of the IYA Closing ceremonies was filled with talks on history & vision - Who was Galileo and what was the real relationship between him and the Chrutch? How do we...
The End of IYA (Part 1)
It is January 10, 2010, and IYA is coming to a close. I'm am currently sitting in the Palazzo Bo in Padau (Padova), Italy. I am here for the IYA2009 closing ceremony. It has been a long journey getting here. The idea of the IYA2009 originated form Franco Pacini in...
Charlie Bolden’s NASA Policy Talk: First Coverage
NASA Director Charlie Bolden is a grandfather (he talks about his grand kids all the time), an astronaut, a communicator who brings laughter, and a person willing to admit with humility that he’s not the smartest person in the room, and to admit with pride that he likes working with all the smart -icists in the room. As he speaks, he is looking forward to a great year of new launches and new science. […]