Mutant Reviews of the 1981 movie “Excalibur,” with the caption to this photo: “Yes, Merlin got struck by lightning a lot.“ Topics: Applied Physics, Astrophysics, Chemistry, Civics, Civilization, Computer Modeling “Who is STEM for?”: a fairy tale. The title of this post is from a question Dr. Fatima Abdurrahman raised on her YouTube channel regardingContinue reading “Who is STEM for…”
Author Archives: reginaldgoodwin
Driven to Caveat Emptor…
Meinzahn/Getty Images Topics: Applied Physics, Atmospheric Science, Chemistry, Climate Change, Global Warming Note: It’s disheartening that geoengineering, made popular by science fiction novels and plots in Star Trek, is being considered because we’re too selfish to change our behavior. More and more climate scientists are supporting experiments to cool Earth by altering the stratosphere orContinue reading “Driven to Caveat Emptor…”
Lasers and Plasma…
A researcher holds the scaffolding with tiny copper foils attached. These copper pieces will be struck with lasers, heating them to thousands of degrees Fahrenheit. Credit: Hiroshi Sawada Topics: Applied Physics, Lasers, Materials Science, Plasma, Radiation, Thermodynamics For the first time, researchers monitor the heat progression in laser-created plasma that occurs in only a fewContinue reading “Lasers and Plasma…”
Running on Air…
Running on air Close-up of the air-powered sensing device. (Courtesy: William Grover/UCR) Topics: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Microfluidics A device containing a pneumatic logic circuit made from 21 microfluidic valves could be used as a new type of air-powered computer that does not require any electronic components. The device could help make aContinue reading “Running on Air…”
Amber, Candi, and Eugenics…
Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Democracy, Diaspora, Existentialism, Fascism Eugenics is the scientifically inaccurate theory that humans can be improved through selective breeding of populations. Eugenicists believed in a prejudiced and incorrect understanding of Mendelian genetics, which claimed abstract human qualities (e.g., intelligence, and social behaviors) were inherited in a simple fashion. Similarly, they believedContinue reading “Amber, Candi, and Eugenics…”
Nano Over Nukes…
Heat trap The proposed nanoparticle warming method. (Courtesy: Aaron M. Geller, Northwestern Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics) Topics: Aerogels, Exoplanets, Mars, Materials Science, Nanomaterials, NASA, Planetary Science. Thermodynamics Suffice it to say, Mr. Musk’s nuking the Martian planet idea is impractical, and a nonstarter, but to show that he’s mature about it,Continue reading “Nano Over Nukes…”
Faith and Misconduct…
Congresswoman Barbara Jordan Statue, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Democracy, Democratic Republic, Existentialism Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I join my colleague Mr. Rangel in thanking you for giving the junior members of this committee the glorious opportunity of sharing the pain of this inquiry. Mr. Chairman, you are a strongContinue reading “Faith and Misconduct…”
Willie Hobbs Moore…
Willie Hobbs Moore (left) with her daughter, Dorian, in the 1980s. (Courtesy of the Ronald E. Mickens Collection on African-American Physicists, AIP Niels Bohr Library and Archives.) Topics: African Americans, Civil Rights, Diversity in Science, Education, History, Theoretical Physics, Women in Science The first African American woman to earn a PhD in physics remains littleContinue reading “Willie Hobbs Moore…”
The First…
Portrait of Edward Bouchet and lithograph of early Yale College campus. Courtesy of Yale University. Via uniquecoloring.com Topics: African Americans, Civil Rights, Diversity in Science, Education, History, Physics Authors: Bryan A. Wilson, Ph.D., M.B.A & Sierra A. Nance, B.S. (PhD Candidate – Univ. Michigan) AbstractEdward Alexander Bouchet was born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA inContinue reading “The First…”
Joy…
Amy (“Mother Dear”) and Horace Dickerson Sr. (“Paw-Paw”). Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Democracy, Existentialism I read the poem “Seeds” at my wife’s family reunion. For African Americans, reunions are a chance to connect with family members without associating it with a casket. Black life in general has always been dangerous and treacherousContinue reading “Joy…”
Physics and Nano 