Tag: science

Aerogel, The Coolest Of Matter

Carl Setzer
person holding laboratory flask

Ok, I have to be honest, I’ve never heard of aerogel until today. YouTube, in all its glory, recommended this video to me. And, well, I’m enthralled.

I’m sure YouTube offered me this since I’m a fan of both Neil deGrasse Tyson and Adam Savage. I feel gratitude for this video, so offer thanks to the great algorithm!

Anyway, aerogel is simply beautiful it’s appearance, and amazing in it’s properties. I really want to explore this further…in my spare time…*ahem*

Anyway, are you familiar with aerogel? With any applications?

Oppenheimer: The Movie

Carl Setzer

So, Dr. Oppenheimer has long been a scientific hero of mine. Besides his expertise in nuclear science, he had an amazing breadth and depth of knowledge that was truly breathtaking. Hence, how he could rattle off a quote from the Bhagavad Gita at the Trinity Detonation (“I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds”), which certainly isn’t standard reading for most of us in the West.

Thus, this film deeply interests me. This trailer, as trailers are wont to do, peaked my interest. I look forward to seeing reviews and all that. Though, perhaps, I seek it out regardless of the critics opinions.

What about you? Are you interested in this film?

Quote of the Day by Richard Feynman

Carl Setzer

I’ve long admired the wit and wisdom of Dr. Feynman. This quote took me a bit, though, to fully embrace. For so much of my life, being “wrong” was embarrassing, something to be avoided at all costs. Generally by avoiding speaking out, by avoiding risk. I’m pleased to have passed through that, worked to embrace humility, and to risk being wrong in order to learn. That is what’s most critical.!

Grace Hopper, Lord of Cobol

Carl Setzer

Grace Hopper, Lord of Cobol
Grace Hopper, Lord of Cobol

I’m a fan of Dr. Admiral Hopper. Funny, with all my years of enjoying Battlestar Galactica and Dr. Hopper, I’m surprised that I never connected “Cobol”, Dr. Hopper and the Lords of Cobol.

So, here’s a bit of fun whipped out in Photoshop.

Below is a brief history of Cobol. A critically important programming language.