One of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics is the origin of high energy cosmic rays. These were first discovered using an electrometer at the top of the Eiffel Tower in 1909 by Theodor Wulf. He showed that the radiation measured at the top of the tower (then the World’s tallest building) was greater than at [...]
Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
Ice Ice Baby
Posted in Astronomy, History, Science, Technology, tagged Cosmic Rays, Gamma Ray Bursters, Ice Cube, Ice Ice Baby, Neutrinos, Supernova, Vanilla Ice on 10/05/2012 | Leave a Comment »
Losing My Religion
Posted in Science, Technology, tagged Apple, Cuba, GPS, Havana, IPhone, iPhone4, iPhone4S, Malecon, R.E.M. on 24/04/2012 | 1 Comment »
This post is only peripherally about the wonderful R.E.M. song “Losing My Religion“, it is mainly about losing my iPhone4 whilst abroad. [In fact, it is barely about the song at all.] At the end of March I went to Cuba. Unfortunately during my stay there I managed to leave my iPhone in a taxicab [...]
Terra-forming
Posted in Environment, Science, Technology on 02/11/2011 | 3 Comments »
Last night I was part of a panel of 4 people discussing various aspects of the 1972 Sci-fi film “Silent Running“. Silent Running trailer This event was organised by BRASS, the Cardiff University centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society. It was run as part of Cardiff University’s sustainability week. The [...]
The Antikythera Mechanism Decoded
Posted in Physics, Technology, tagged Cardiff University, Fraud, Mark Brake, public lectures on 20/10/2011 | Leave a Comment »
A very brief post-ette to mention that this evening I am going to a public lecture on the Antikythera Mechanism, presented by Cardiff University’s very own Professor Mike Edmunds (the same Mike Edmunds who was the erstwhile supervisor of the disgraced ex-professor (but now just Mr.) Mark Brake). I will write up a report on [...]
A bitter Apple to swallow
Posted in Technology, tagged Apple Inc, magician, Steve Jobs, Technology on 09/10/2011 | 4 Comments »
This week, on 5th October 2011, the World learnt the sad news of the death of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. I found myself feeling surprisingly saddened to hear of his death, even though I did not know him and his death had long been anticipated. I think this was for two reasons; firstly [...]
