A bit over precise?

Exciting that the clearance on the lorry was given to the nearest mm. Load or tyre wear would be at mm level 

Eclipse

The partial eclipse was way more impressive than expected. It was visible despite thin high cloud and was noticeably darker at its peak, which I hadn't expected. The old telescope projection method proved best for viewing. 

Insulated Floor

I was being shown how to drive a steam train at Shildon. The guide asked us why the floor was wooden. The answer is that wood is not a good conductor of heat so it stays cool enough to stand on. Steel would conduct heat from the boiler so well as to burn your feet. 

Mug design

The holiday home mugs are shorter but wider than the ones at home. The volume is the same. It has dawned on me why they are more difficult to handle when full. The centre of mass is further from the pivot so I have to create a bigger counter moment with my hand. 

Quantum Radio

 This is a brilliant little programme on BBC Sounds. The presenter goes to Helgoland to ask quantum physicists "what is quantum?". 

Light detection in the eye

 

This explained clearly how we see colour. I read an interesting report in Physics World recently about seeing brand new colours. Each type of cone cell detects over a range of wavelengths. There is overlap of these ranges which means that certain wavelengths trigger two different cone cell responses. This masks them so we don't see those colours independently. Researchers have used very narrow laser light to hit single cone cells so that the response comes from only one type of cone cell, avoiding the overlap problem.

Dog Vision

 

The exhibition at Tullie House on Colour was a lovely mix of basic science and art. I was left playing spot the difference with these pictures but I did figure out which end of the spectrum is missing for dogs.