I have a BS in Information Sciences from UW-Milwaukee. I've helped manage Physics Forums for over 22 years. I enjoy learning and discussing new scientific developments. STEM communication and policy are big interests as well. Currently a Sr. SEO Specialist at Shopify and writer at importsem.com
Standard cosmological models come in three flavors, open, flat, and closed,[Carroll] whose spatial curvatures are negative, zero, and positive. The open and flat types have infinite spatial volume. The closed one has finite spatial volume; spatially, it is the three-dimensional analog of the surface of a sphere. Since all three are solutions to the Einstein…
Definition/Summary The Einstein Field Equations (EFE) are a set of ten interrelated differential equations that form the core of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. These equations describe how matter and energy determine the curvature of spacetime, providing a mathematical framework to relate spacetime geometry to its energy-matter content. Mathematically, the EFE relate the Ricci curvature…
We asked our PF Advisors “How do you see the rise in AI affecting STEM in the lab, classroom, industry, and or in everyday society?”. We got so many great responses we need to split them into parts, here are the first several. This is part 3. Read part 1 here and part 2 here. Enjoy!…
We asked our PF Advisors “How do you see the rise in A.I. affecting STEM in the lab, classroom, industry and or in everyday society?”. We got so many great responses we need to split them into parts, here are the first several. This is part 2. Read part 1 here. Enjoy! gleem AI: Maybe…
We asked our PF Advisors “How do you see the rise in AI affecting STEM in the lab, classroom, industry, and or in everyday society?”. We got so many great responses we need to split them into parts, here are the first several. Enjoy! Ranger Mike If things run true as before, and I have…
Today we get to know a little more about Engineering Mentor jrmichler! Tell us a bit about your education and academic years Two years college (UW-Madison) in electrical engineering. Burned out (two semesters of 21 credits, tired of poverty, needed to think some things through), dropped out, joined US Air Force. Four years later, had…
Time to test your science knowledge with a fun 10 question quiz with random questions across all sciences. Difficulty is easy to medium. As always, post your score in the comment thread. Enjoy! Comment Thread
What is a limit? In mathematics, a limit is a fundamental concept used to describe the behavior of a function or sequence as it approaches a particular point or value. Limits play a crucial role in calculus, where they are used to define concepts like continuity, derivatives, and integrals. Here are key aspects of limits:…
We asked our Physics Forums Science advisors “What technology or scientific discovery will be the most revolutionary within the next 20 years?” Here are their responses… Demystifier “Machine learning will be ubiquitous, just as applications of traditional computer algorithms are ubiquitous now.” Ygggdrasil The ability for scientists to create “artificial gametes”—functional human sperm and eggs…
Don’t forget to read Part 1 of this interview. Professor Kaku, what do you think of “peak oil,” how serious is it? and what alternative sources of energy do you think will best provide the worlds needs in the coming decades after fossil fuels start to decline? (whether it be organic oils, nuclear breeder-types, fusion…
We are happy to have Michio Kaku answer some questions from the community. This interview was originally held in 2004. Michio Kaku is an American theoretical physicist, futurist, and popularizer of science (science communicator). He is a professor of theoretical physics in the City College of New York and CUNY Graduate Center. Kaku has written several books about physics and related topics, has made frequent…
Time to test your inventions, inventors and patent knowledge. As always there is no prize, so try without Google. Post your score in the comment thread. Good luck!
Tell us about your school years? Part of my story is sad but common. I was a poor student. I didn’t pay attention, and I never did homework even once; until one day when it all flipped. That was the day I first learned about differential equations. Diffy-Q was so much fun, that it completely…
Give us an executive summary on bhobba I was born in Toowong Brisbane Australia 17/11/1955, and was raised in suburbs around Toowong – Toowong itself, Taringa and Indooroopilly. I went to 3 schools Taringa State School,. Toowong High and Indooroopilly High. I now live in Redland Bay Queensland Australia. It is about halfway between Brisbane…
We asked our PF Advisors to tell us what their favorite science or math blog is (other than PF Insights). We also have a physics blog list here. Here are their responses…
Physics Forums is pleased to introduce Niels Tuning. He’s a physicist working as the Run Coordinator for the LHCb experiment at CERN. Apart from the questions below you can learn more about him at his website. Niels Tuning also has an active Twitter account here. Please give us a bit of background on your life, education and…
We asked our PF Advisors to tell us what academic advice would you tell your 18 year old self. Here are their responses… Thanks to all the PF Advisors that shared their academic advice. We have more questions for them in the near future. Stay tuned for another “Ask the Advisors”!
We asked our PF Advisors to tell us their most memorable or influential textbook and why. Here are their responses… Thanks to all the PF Advisors that shared their favorite textbook. We have more questions for them in the near future. Stay tuned for another “Ask the Advisors”!
Adam Becker is an astrophysicist and science writer whose first book “What Is Real?: The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics” just hit the bookshelves! Give us some background on how you got interested in physics and some experiences in youth/school that were formative. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested…
Clifford V. Johnson is a professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the USC. “I mainly work on (super)string theory, gravity, gauge theory and M-theory right now, which lead me to think about things like space-time, quantum mechanics, black holes, the big bang, extra dimensions, quarks, gluons, and so forth.” Clifford V. Johnson runs a…
Let’s see how well you know your science book authors. Some are classic, some modern! Don’t forget to post your score in the comment thread linked at the bottom.
The 2017 August Eclipse really was something special. Fortunately Physics Forums has great photographers and snapped some remarkable shots. Here are a few highlights.
What got you interested in biology? I was an amateur naturalist as a kid. Had collections of all sorts, and a small menagerie — much to my mother’s dismay when an anole got loose in the basement. I graduated from college with a double major – Biology and Chemistry. Tell us about your research at…
Time to test your scientist photo recognition skills! As always please post your score in the comment thread at the end. Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know about inventions?
Please give us a bit of background into your educational and professional life. I’m a public school kid through and through. After going to the local high school where I grew up in Westford, Massachusetts, I attended Michigan State University to get Bachelors degree in astrophysics (with several extra classes in Computer Science). From snowy…
Special thanks to Universe Today founder Fraser Cain for this fascinating video Q&A! All questions were provided by the members of Physics Forums. The question list is below the video. Read the next interview with astronomer Pamela Gay
We are pleased to introduce Sabine Hossenfelder. Sabine is a theoretical physicist from the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies. Sabine also authors a very popular physics blog called backreaction. Reading your blog over the past 6 months or so, one gets a feeling that your views about (particle) dark matter versus modified gravity have changed during that…
We are please to introduce our newest member of the mentor group, fresh_42! Can you give us a brief bio? I studied mathematics and economy and always worked in the periphery of IT. Often as a programmer on various platforms and in various languages, but as well on a hotline, as a software designer, project-,…
We have an amazing count of over 320 Insights published at Physics Forums. Now we test to see how much you remember from some of them. If you need a hint feel free to read the corresponding Insight which is linked at the end of the question. Good Luck and remember to read future Insights…
Since the mid 20th century NASA has been a force in aerospace research and programs. Let’s find out just how much you know about it’s history, programs and research. Don’t forget to post your score in the forum thread. No prizes, so don’t Google it. :) Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know…
Give us a little background on Jim Hardy Born and raised in Miami Florida of parents with roots in Springfield Missouri . So at heart i’m a small town midwestern fellow. Miami was small in the 1950’s but it became cosmopolitan and outgrew me. I spent a career working in the nuclear plant south of…
Give us a brief history on stevendaryl I was born and raised in the American South, mostly living in Georgia. It’s a Southern tradition, for some reason, for kids to be called by their middle name, so my friends call me “Daryl” even though my first name is “Steven”. I grew up in a family…
Stephen Hawking has been a giant in the science world for decades. He has been a accessible figure with his willingness to reach out to the public in various ways. Time to see how much you know about him. There are no prizes so no Goolging! Post your score in the discussion area. Ready for your…
For those who don’t know the great David Hestenes, he is the inventor of the geometric algebra formalism of physics. Here we go! 1) What is the best application of geometric algebra in theoretical physics that you can think of? In other words, what application shows the power and elegance of geometric algebra best? The…
We are pleased to share with you an interview with PF Science Advisor and one of our founding members: DrChinese Who is DrChinese and share some early experience that got you interested in science. I am a Dallas, Texas, USA boy, now married with grown kids. I got very interested in science at a private…
We are pleased to introduce David J. Griffiths. Professor Griffiths is one of the most successful physics textbook writers. Odds are if you studied physics in college, you’ve used one of his textbooks. We are pleased and honored to obtain some of his insights on the quantum and academic world. Here we go! Please give us a…
Summer is almost over, but the fun doesn’t have to stop! Take a look at the photos below and see if you can identify them. Post your score in the comment section. Good luck!
Give us a little background on yourself? I was born in Washington DC, grew up in Texas, bachelor’s in physics from Harvard in 1978 but found a career in system software instead. Son of two law professors and grandson of a third, raised a Quaker although it didn’t stick, keep a small fleet of well-rusted…
We are pleased to introduce Sean Carroll! Sean Carroll is a theoretical physicist at Caltech, specializing in cosmology and quantum mechanics. Sean has a new book out called The Big Picture, where the topic is “On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself”. Key Points Sean Carroll’s educational journey took him from suburban Philadelphia to Villanova University,…
For ages it has been Earth’s little sister. Find out just how much you know about the Moon and our relationship with it. Please post your score in the comment section. Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know about NASA?
We are pleased to introduce Peter Krautzberger. Peter is a manager for MathJax. MathJax is the technology behind the display of equations on Physics Forums. “The core of the MathJax project is the development of its state-of-the-art, open source, JavaScript platform for display of mathematics.” Please give us a bit background on yourself from growing up…
DrClaude is a mentor at Physics Forums! What brought you to Sweden from Canada? Life, the Universe, and Everything. While in Canada, I was offered the opportunity to do part of my studies in France. After my Ph.D., I stayed in France for postdoctoral work. I tried getting an academic position in France, but…
PeterDonis is a Physics Mentor at Physics Forums Give us a little background on PeterDonis I have been interested in science since childhood. I have two degrees in Nuclear Engineering, but they were actually in the field of fusion, not fission, so they might just as well have been labeled as degrees in plasma…
Please give us a bit of background on your life and professional experience Life: Born educated in Italy, then 10 years in the States and 15 in France. I got to physics late: before I was more into the hippies dreams or trying to overthrow the Italian government. Professional: in my third university year I…
Have you been keeping up with reading each PF Insight? Let’s find out! Every question’s answer can be found in a PF Insight. Hint links are included if you need help. Be sure to post your score in the comment area.
We are pleased to introduce you to Theoretical Physicist and PF Member Garrett Lisi. Known for riding waves and developing a unique theory of everything. Read on! Tell us a little bit about growing up in San Diego The part of San Diego where I grew up — Rancho Santa Fe — was pretty idyllic. I…
Can you give us a brief history of berkeman? I grew up in a military family (my dad was an Army colonel), so we moved all over the place when I was a kid, finally settling in Calistoga in the northern part of the Napa Valley, California, for my high school years. Being a military…
Give us a brief history of Borek Note: text below is of a negative pedagogical value, don’t read it if you are younger than 20, attending school or still naïvely hoping for the best. I was born half a century ago, in a galaxy far, far away. So far away our laws were all shifted…
This is a new Interview category for Insights. While I line up some great new interviews I’ll be migrating some previous mentor interviews. ZapperZ is a staff emeritus at Physics Forums Can you give us a brief history of ZapperZ? Without reveal things that are answers to a few of the security questions to my accounts, I would say…
Think you know your famous science quotes? Let’s find out in this 12 question quiz. There are no prizes, so it doesn’t pay to Google. Try your best on your own. Report your score in the comment area at the bottom. Good luck!
Let me introduce you to Andy Resnick, a long time Science Advisor at Physics Forums. Tell us a little bit about how you developed an interest in biophysics That’s a good question, and I’m not sure how to answer. I’ve worked in the ‘in-between space’ for many years- for example, optics is in-between physics…
This is a new Interview category for Insights. While I line up some great new interviews I’ll be migrating some previous mentor interviews. Doc Al is a physics mentor for Physics Forums Can you give us a brief bio? Okay. It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days,…
This is a new Interview category for Insights. While I line up some great new interviews I’ll be migrating some previous mentor interviews. Russ Watters is an engineering mentor for Physics Forums Can you give us a brief bio? I’m 37, I live outside of Philadelphia and I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel…
Winter is coming. First day of Winter is December 22nd. Time to learn a bit about a substance that the northern regions will encounter. Don’t forget to share your score in the comment section. Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know about the ice planet Pluto? 1. What is Ice? Ice is…
Pluto has been in the news quite a bit these past several months. Let’s see if you’ve been paying attention. Feel free to share your score in the comments section. When finished head over to our Pluto Flyby forum thread for the latest news. Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know ice?
What is evolution? In every field of scientific endeavor, there comes now and then a quantum shift in knowledge, a grand denouement of the way things are. In physics, we have Newton’s laws of mechanics, Einstein’s theories of Relativity, and the new theories of Quantum Mechanics. In Biology, we have the discovery of DNA and…
On December 11, 1972, astronaut Eugene Cernan became the last person to walk on the lunar surface, marking the conclusion of NASA’s Apollo missions—a pivotal chapter in space exploration history that saw humanity push the boundaries of science and engineering to unprecedented levels. The Apollo program remains a testament to what human ingenuity can achieve…
One of the great heavy weights of history. How much do you really know about him? Let’s find out! “To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.” – Isaac Newton Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know Albert Einstein?
News of the LHC progress has dazzled scientists and hobbyists alike. It’s now time to show just how much you know about the operation. Please share your results Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know about the Periodic Table of Elements? 1. What is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)? The Large Hadron…
These are some of the best physics blogs, updated regularly, written by some of the top minds. The feeds are updated on page refresh, so bookmark this page and you’ll have a quick overview of all the blog’s latest entries each time you visit here. We also asked our community advisors which physics blogs they recommended….
The periodic table is something we all are made aware of early in schooling, but have you really looked at it closely and learned about it’s lessor known facts? Let’s find out! Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know about the LHC? 1. What is the Periodic Table? The Periodic Table is…
Richard Feynman is one of the most popular and highly regarded physicists of all time. You think you may know him, but do you? Let’s find out by taking this quiz! Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know Stephen Hawking? 1. Who was Richard Feynman? Richard Feynman was an American theoretical physicist…
Albert Einstein is arguably the most famous scientist of all time, but how much do you actually know about him? Let’s find out by taking this quiz! No prizes, so no Googling. (post your honest score in the discussion thread) Ready for your next quiz? How well do you know Isaac Newton? 1. Who…
*This Insight is intended to have a logical basis but not to be taken as purely factual or legal advice. Key Points Outer Space Treaty does not provide clear guidance on the legality of satellite–based lasers One should apply to the ITU when planning a telecommunication satellite Do not interfere with remote sensing activities of other…
Bioethics Key Points Worrying about the future now means recognizing the advances in technology, such as genetic engineering, that have arisen. There is a standard of health that fluctuates depending on relative perceptions of different biological variations on the human species that may emerge. We must be careful when using new technologies and understand their…
Eclipse Viewing Key Points NEVER view the sun with the naked eye for any length of time, as doing so may cause irreversible eye damage or blindness. ONLY totality is viewable with the naked eye, all other phases of the eclipse should not be viewed with the naked eye. When viewing a solar eclipse, use…
Star Fate Key Points Stars are born in primordial nebulae, gaseous molecular clouds on the spiral arms of galaxies Stars smaller than 1.4 suns will settle into a white dwarf and eventually become a black dwarf Stars greater than 1.4 suns will undergo a much more violent death, as their nuclear fuel is exhausted and…
Discussing science online can often be a frustrating experience if no quality controls are in place, which is often the case. As part useful reference and part entertainment PF has put together an adequate list of common attributes associated with dubious scientific discussion. Next time you’re in a discussion, check this list to see if…
Physics of Hand-to-Hand Combat Key Points Martial arts effectively use principles of physics to achieve goals quickly and forcefully. Athletic intelligence enables humans to adapt to the physical laws of nature quickly. The most successful styles used by military forces rely heavily on physics. Acceleration, force, momentum, and energy are integral to martial arts. Jiu–Jitsu and…
Meet a Mentor is a biweekly (twice a week) series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: Integral Can you give us a brief bio? I am a 2nd generation Oregonian born smack in the middle of the 20th century. My dad came to…
Meet a Mentor is a series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: D H Give us a brief history of D H I spent my childhood in Minnesota, the first nine years in Minneapolis and the last nine on a farm. I…
Meet a Mentor is a weekly series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: George Jones Give us a brief history of George Jones. On my mother’s side, my roots in Canada have been traced back to the late 1600s; on my father’s side,…
Meet a Mentor is a biweekly (twice a week) series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: Evo Can you give us a brief bio? I’ve been in love with science as long as I can remember. As soon as I began to read…
Meet a Mentor is a fun series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: Lisab Give us a brief history of lisab I didn’t follow the usual education route. I dropped out of school in about 8th grade to hang out with my hoodlum…
Meet a Mentor is a fun series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: @Ryan_m_b Give us a brief history of Ryan_m_b I’m in my mid-twenties, spent most of my life living in a small town on the border of the country side but…
Meet a Mentor is a series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: Mark44 How did you become interested in mathematics? Along about 4th grade I came across an algebra textbook that really fascinated me, with all of its x’s and y’s, and symbols…
Meet a Mentor is a weekly series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: jtbell Can you give us a brief history of jtbell? I went to a liberal-arts college in a small town (a village, actually) in the Midwest US. There were only…
Meet a Mentor is a fun series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: DaleSpam Give us a brief history of DaleSpam I have moved around a decent amount during my life: Arizona, Indiana, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Utah, Ohio, and North Carolina. With all…
Meet a Mentor is a fun series to help you get to know your wonderful Mentors better. Constructive questions and comments are welcome! Today we meet: @Chestermiller Give us a brief history of Chestermiller Born Jan., 1942, Brooklyn, NY Samuel J. Tilden HS, graduated June 1959 (Capt. Math Team) Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science…
Key Points Evolution is a theory, which is the foundation of science 2. Evolution is the most rational explanation for the existence of life Creationism stems from denial and dogma, not evidence Intelligent Design is an attempt to shoehorn a God into the theory of evolution Evolution does not necessarily clash with religion The second…
Evidence for evolution First, read the following article as a precursor: What is Evolution: A Beginner’s Guide, What Is Evolution and How Does It Happen?, Evolution FAQ Evolution Key Points Fossil record shows an increasing trend in complexity and similarity to modern creatures, suggesting a common ancestor Interspecies variation shows that parts of genomes that…
Digital Modeling Key Points Digital Signal Processing (DSP) was introduced in the mid-seventies, allowing musicians to simulate the acoustic properties of instruments and analog effects. Until recently, a guitarist’s sounds were limited to the gear available, requiring vintage gear for certain sounds. Recent advances in microprocessor power have allowed current amplifiers to closely match the…