Science & Technology Study Group

Physics

These are some links to Physics topics:

In Classical physics the main proponents are Galileo, Newton and Maxwell; useful summaries of their work are in Wikipedia

Galileo: Newton : Maxwell

A starting point to explore the realm of Classical Physics is here and try some Java applets here

Modern physics, radioactivity, relativity and quantum mechanics are difficult but the following are of interest:

Radioactivity and for something mind- challenging try this Antimatter

This is a series of animations and links from NSW University Relativity Animations

This is the YouTube site for the BBC video Quantum Mechanics

Brian Cox's talk about the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is here

You can read more about the LHC here and here and see how your money's being spent

and if you're concerned that you'll be swallowed by a black hole read this

If you want to go further and learn about String and Superstring Theory this website from PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is very interesting and quite accessible.

What is Thought?

The discussion about Language and Absract Thought is covered in 'Mapping the Mind' and the following reference in 'Seeing Voices' by Oliver Sacks where he describes a deaf boy who was reared without access to sign language.

'Joseph saw, categorized, distinguished, used ... but it seemed he could not , it seemed, go much beyond this, hold abstract ideas in mind, reflect, play, plan. He seemd completely literal - unable to juggle images or hypotheses or possibilities, unable to enter an imaginative or figurative realm.'

The important point is Abstract Thought read about this here

For a discussion of common-sense go here

These Reith Lectures from 2003 are interesting and quite accessible

Science & The Detection of Crime

Buck Ruxton Case and information on Prof. John Glaister here

Forensic Science for Beginners

History of Fingerprinting

Arsenic

Genetic Modification

Science Aid - School level science covering some of the issues from the talk

Royal Society GM Plants - Royal Society Page discussing numerous GM issues

BBC Action Network - BBC Page covering the ethical issues

Bad Science - Interesting item from Ben Goldacre's Bad Science Blog illustrating a mixture of sloppy science and bad journalism, but even he gets trapped by the politics

Tame Silver Foxes - I didn't discuss this but it shows how quickly selective breeding can change a species with unexpected results.

Risk & Chance

Some links from the latest talk here:

Home & Leisure Safety Statistics

Deal or No Deal

Birthday Problem

Mass Screening Problems

John Conway's Game of Life

Various versions of Prisoners' Dilemma

The Weather

Photo from Joe Rotherham showing Ice Crystals in Cloud Formation

Some links following Joe's talk:

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ - UK MetOffice Site

Latest Maps of the Jet Stream

Official Spanish Weather Centre

Chaos & Beauty

Some links and papers on the latest talk:

Langton's Ant - This is a link to a website about Langton's Ant but there are others to explore

Golden Ratio - The Wikipedia page on the Golden Ratio is a good starting point, though some may want to skip the maths and go down to the Aesthetics section

Memory

The information that I drew on for the talk on 'Memory' was drawn from a number of sources mainly literary. The wikipedia website has some general material of interest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory

You might also consider that I remembered my previous telephone number as 952 93 73 31 but my new one as 952 494 172.

Optical Illusions

Optical Illusions Link to site with most of the illusions that I showed along with some explanations

Here are some links to papers and websites that you may find interesting:

General Science

Sense about Science Promoting good science and evidence for the public

Open 2 Open University & BBC Co-Productions

Improbable Science Investigations of dubious and dishonest science (UK Professor of Pharmacology)

Science Cartoons Cartoons of Sidney Harris

Physics and Astronomy

World of Physics Just what it says

MathWorld The web's most extensive mathematical resource

Plus Magazine Bringing mathematics to life (UK resource)

Heavens Above Observational astronomy

Ken Campbell's website

Health, Diet & Nutrition

Bad Science UK GP and Journalist Debunking Nonsense in the Media

HealthWatch for treatment that works (UK resource)