Abigail and I just returned from a trip to the Galapagos Islands. On the way, we visited the iconic Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) monument which commemorates the 18th-century French Geodesic Mission expedition carried out for the purpose of measuring the roundness of the Earth and measuring the length of a degree of latitude at
Article in SJ Voice: Father & Daughter Team Up to Make Science Accessible for Everyone
From today’s SJ Voice: Click here for the full article.
diyPhysics on Scientific American
George Musser – an editor at Scientific American (and author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to String Theory”) – visited our basement lab a few weeks ago. Today he published a very nice blog about us on the Scientific American site. Thanks George! Click here for the blog.
New Book by Prof. Mark Beck – Great Complement to Our diy Quantum Physics Book!
Prof. Mark Beck from the Dept. of Physics at Whitman College recently published an excellent book titled “Quantum Mechanics: Theory and Experiment.” It is written for an advanced undergraduate/graduate quantum mechanics class. This book presents the theory in its full formalism (with thorough, high-level math), as well as describes five laboratory experiments that explore the use of entangled photons in the
Using the $79 SainSmart DSO201 Pocket Oscilloscope and GammaGrapher with the PMT/Scintillation Probe
Connects directly to PMT probe shown in the book’s Figure 30 with no need for PMT amplifier! The nice guys at the Yahoo GammaSpectrometry Group developed multichannel analyzer software for the $79 SainSmart DSO201 Pocket-Sized Digital Oscilloscope. The upload of the MCA software to the oscilloscope is really easy (via USB), and it allows the PMT probe shown in
A Low-Cost X-Band Generator for Microwave Optics Experiments
Gunnplexers are becoming scarce in the surplus market, but X-band motion detection is very much alive. X-band detection modules are available for OEM applications, and fortunatelly, Parallax has a unit based on this module available for $34.99.
diy Quantum Physics on MAKE Magazine (Volume 31)
diy Quantum Physics was featured in Make Magazine, Volume 31: Punk Science (page 76).
diy Quantum Physics Book Featured in Philadelphia’s Exponent
We were interviewed by the Jewish Exponent and featured in today’s edition. Check it out at: http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/26460/FatherDaughter_CoAuthors/ A scan of the printed edition is at: Exponent002
A Number of Perkin Elmer SPCM AQRH 12 on eBay (No Connection to Seller)
My ongoing eBay search found a number of Perkin Elmer SPCM AQRH-12 units. Two are listed for $499 (buy-it-now) as working, one for $199 as “parts/repair.” I have no connection to seller. eBay auctions: 230835435238, 230835438679, and 320959423052 (parts/repair).
Tabletop Electron Accelerator Demonstrator at Trocadéro’s Gardens in Paris, France
Harvey Summers called my attention to a miniature electron accelerator that was built for an exhibit at the Trocadéro’s Gardens in Paris, France. The device is an exhibit that was shown to the public for the first time during the CNRS exhibition “Entrée en matière” in November 2011.
Two SPCMs on eBay at $400 Each (No Connection To Seller)
Today I found two Perkin Elmer SPCM-AQE-13-FC SPCMs for sale on eBay at $400 each. eBay auction numbers are 280877451350 and 280877453169. I am passing along this information in case that blog readers may be interested. I have no connection whatsoever to seller.
USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington DC
We just came back from the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington DC, where we had the pleasure to meet fellow diy Science authors Theo Gray (Mad Science, The Elements, Popular Science’s Gray Matter, etc.) and William Gurstelle (Backyard Ballistics, Whoosh Boom Splat, The Practical Pyromaniac, etc.)
Posted to www.prutchi.com: diy High-Power UV/IR/Visible Flashlight
I just posted detailed instructions for the construction of a high-power (10W) flashlight that has interchangeable LED heads to produce UV, IR, or visible illumination. The URL is http://www.prutchi.com/2012/04/27/d-i-y-high-power-swappable-head-uvirvisible-led-flashlight-with-intensity-control/#more-1091
