In completely different news…

This Higgsdependence Day, there has been Higgsteria of Higgstravagant proportions as us Bo-lievers embraced the making of Higgstory. Too much? I blame my friends who provided the ammunition for the above sentence. (Bo-lievers: geek out!) Of course, some mourn the now slightly less likely prospect of non-Standard Model physics, and personally, of all the videos I found of today’s events, my favourite was probably the one of Prof Stephen Hawking stating that the Higgs has lost him 100 USD.

If you want to be rid of all the Higgsperimental news – and bearing in mind it is nearly 2200 hours where I am, and you probably just want to relax – may I personally recommend the following?

Nikola Tesla in Sound and Light from Marco Tempest on Vimeo – is basically what it says on the tin. Only even better than you think.

Also, Dr Alice Bell spends a thrifty 15 minutes discussing scientific literacy vs better engagement by scientists on R4’s Four Thought – she’s a good speaker; it’s an interesting topic… this is also pretty much what it says on the tin. Would you actually like it better if I did little blurbs when I recommend things?

And another thing, if I may: I was at the dentist earlier in the week for a check-up, and is it just me (it probably is), but does anybody else want to know what the dentist and the dental nurse actually mean when they literally communicate in numbers? “Zero… one…zero… zero…” What does it mean? Do I have cavities? *Hypochondria!*

(I am not really a hypochondriac. Usually.)

Perhaps this is what we are talking about when we group all “experts” and “professionals” into one pot? Experts in one field are – very, dare I say – usually not experts in many fields beyond their own. Not everybody is a Stephen Fry. Of course, I have been out of the pure science loop for a while, but I do feel that I understand certain areas of science better than others. This dental stuff however, I might just have to ask about in person.

Food Diary – June 27, 2011 – and… science on the radio

Well, radio and podcasts too I suppose. Considering I need a form of official licence if I wish to survey people on a large scale for my current project, I was hoping that those who read this little blog are willing to provide snapshot versions of opinions. Personally, I seem to get most of my audio-science fix via podcasts, as the usual science time-slots seem to be scheduled when I am either at work or too tired after work to fully absorb the goodness.

Do people still listen to radio? Do people listen to the science programmes on radio? If you are already listening, and a science programme comes on, will your ears perk up? Do you actually hone in on the science programmes, and select your listening times per se? Do you follow any science podcasts? What do you like to hear about? How long should the programmes be? Should they be funny or serious? Ought they contain music? … I hope these questions can stimulate some thoughts that you are willing to write about in the comments.

Buttered toast with ham, banana, coffee.

Soon enough, it became very hot. Especially after I cleaned the house.

Skinny chocolate brownie ice cream.

Ice cream and sunny weather. I have learnt from the previous day’s escapades. (Decking on my bed at 2230 hours from headachiness and being out cold until my alarm went at 0830 hours the next day, to be precise.)

Orange juice, cinnamon and raisin bagel (buttered), fish fingers and two plums.

Mid-afternoon snack.

Honey not shredded wheat. No milk.

Upon realising I had not used my lazy girl’s dinner “tickets” much in the past week…

Prunes (about 8, not the whole box), pizza with fresh tomatoes and olives.

Then, silly as I am, I decided to bake late at night.

Chocolate brownie muffin.

Just right and chewy. Water count: ~2l. I know what to do when it is hot. Hope you are enjoying some good weather too.