Comments on: Shopping, Sightseeing, Science

By: More Future Scientists Revealed! - Asymptotia

More Future Scientists Revealed! - Asymptotia — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:41:03 +0000

[...] This year I was unable to do so due to a trip across the Atlantic concerning the birth of my sister’s son (details of the london trip here, here, here and here; Last link has a fun trip to Harrods and to the Science Museum). But my USC colleague Chris Gould -the chief organisational engine behind the fair- has prepared hundreds of photographs again, and you can go and have a look here, and see some of the project descriptions also. [...]

By: Big Ears | Cosmic Variance

Big Ears | Cosmic Variance — Sat, 27 May 2006 00:15:07 +0000

[...] I was put in mind of it last week when I popped over to London to play the role of uncle, wander the streets for a bit, do a bit of sightseeing, and hemorrhage a bit of money. I was all prepared to be annoyed by the Guardian, which was once my favourite newspapers, since I had not seen it very often since they (lamentably) made major modifications to the format. As it turned out, I did not get annoyed too much, although I would prefer it if they took it back to the correct size for a respectable newspaper. It still has a lot of news and good writing in it, and I am led to understand that the huge amount of football-related stuff in it is a passing phase because there is some sort of contest going on in Germany of some relevance. (Um… that would be “soccer”, you folks over on the extreme left hand side with the funny shaped ball.) [...]

By: Danger in London’s Science Museum | Cosmic Variance

Danger in London’s Science Museum | Cosmic Variance — Thu, 25 May 2006 16:59:15 +0000

[...] This was spotted on my very enjoyable visit to the Science Muesum on Sunday, described earlier. I am disturbed by this picture for several reasons. Click on it and read the text surrounding the picture. I am not even complaining about the fact that this picture -in prominent display in the spaceflight part of the London Science Museum- contains a lot of silly science fiction nonsense about warp drive (it is right next to a model of the Starship Enterprize) – this stuff has no place in an otherwise excellent display of real science, in my opinion. [...]

By: cynic

cynic — Wed, 24 May 2006 06:47:04 +0000

Lovely photos, Clifford. Have you checked out the Museo di Storia della Scienza, in the Piazza de’ Giudici, Florence? And the neighbouring shops are way cool, too. Retail therapy for the discerning dilettante; Galileo and Gucci within spitting distance of each other.

By: Travis

Travis — Tue, 23 May 2006 22:37:49 +0000

IrrationalPoint,
I really enjoyed the the History of Science Museum as well. I can’t say it brought me back to anything, but maybe in the future it will be responsible for giving me that kind of feeling.

The best part of the museum was my complete surprise in finding it. Earlier this month, while visiting CERN for the first time I went into Geneva and walked around pretty randomly, and while making my way along Rue de Lausanne I simply stumbled upon it.
It was also a nice surprise finding the AntiquitÃ©s Scientifiques shop in the old town. Lots of nice brass things to look at.

By: Science

Science — Tue, 23 May 2006 22:28:24 +0000

Mike and IP,

See the physics paper http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~kovar/hall.html

“Conclusion

“Going into physics was the biggest mistake of my life. I should’ve declared CS. I still wouldn’t have any women, but at least I’d be rolling in cash.”

So don’t try to do new physics for money, fame and women. There are deeper reasons: searching for the meaning of everything, the missing pieces of the mathematical jigsaw between classical physics (GR and Maxwell) and quantum field theory.

Even if nobody wants your ideas, at least you get a fulfilment from the enthusiasm when you think you have an advance. The excitement inspires you to try to learn more and that can’t be a bad thing.

By: adam

adam — Tue, 23 May 2006 22:09:12 +0000

Hey, I met my wife in the physics department.

By: IrrationalPoint

IrrationalPoint — Tue, 23 May 2006 21:35:07 +0000

I love the History of Science Museum in Geneva …takes me back to many fond memories of the days when I was just a little geeklet….

‘What about the fame? The fame associated with being the next Einstein? What about the fortune? What about the girls?!? ‘

I think if you decide that your calling in life is to search for girls, the physics department may not be your best bet, lol.

–IP

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 23 May 2006 21:13:53 +0000

What about the fame? The fame associated with being the next Einstein? What about the fortune? What about the girls?!?

By: Clifford

Clifford — Tue, 23 May 2006 21:01:02 +0000

Sigh.

Hi Mike,

(1) There is way more to life than solving problems in physics.

(2) Also, looking at other aspects of life brings fresh insight into physics (and other science) problems.

(3) Also, learning about the history of physics (and other science) teaches a lot about physics problems today.

Best,

-cvj