Tag Archives: physics

Quantum proposition

Monday 16th February 2026, 9.15am (day 5,289)

Quantum theory, 16/2/25

Whomever stencilled this on Cross Street, Manchester, is obviously referring to the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum theory — the idea that whenever a decision is taken, both possibilities play out, and so all possible worlds exist as parallel universes. Which is all very well but if, somewhere, I am the King of Norway — or banged up in a concentration camp for some perceived felony or other — or having great sex with Natalie Portman on a regular basis — the “I” that exists in this reality still had to go to work on this Monday morning. Another proposition then — it is what it is.

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Bubble magnet

Tuesday 20th May 2025, 5.50pm (day 5,017)

Bubbles on straw, 20/5/25

I do not know exactly what principle of physics this straw is demonstrating, but I will take a stab at it: whether because it is black or not, it has absorbed and retained a certain amount of heat. Enough, anyway, to keep the liquid around it just that little bit warmer and thus precipitate out the bubbles. Sounds plausible, right? But I am guessing.

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Ripples

Wednesday 9th January 2019, 12.40pm (day 2,694)

Ripples on Ullswater, 9/1/19

Another nice visual illustration of a) physics and b) that it was far too nice a day to be sat in an office. I like also the little ‘V’ to the right which, if you look closely, seems to be caused by a swan, maybe mimicking that bigger metal brother. I bet its wake won’t end up spreading across the whole width of the lake though: which the boat’s did manage.

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Professor Schuster

Tuesday 4th April 2017, 10.45am (day 2,049)

Schuster bust, 4/4/17

Found myself in the Physics and Astronomy building on Manchester today, named for Arthur Schuster, physicist and coiner of the term ‘antimatter’ whose bust in the foyer currently sports a rather fetching pink bow tie and fluffy rabbit ears. And why not.

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Ripples

Friday 22nd July 2016, 3.10pm (day 1,793)

Duck ripples, 22/7/16

An inaugural picture in a new series: “Animals illustrate physics”…

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