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Topics of Interest
- Albert Einstein's comments on (Quantum) Physics
(In this article Einstein discusses why he believes that we do not yet know the laws of nature
because of the contradictions that are part of the (current) fundamental concepts in
(quantum) physics. Notice that on page 47 he is discussing the photo-electric effect and its fundamental
contribution to our understanding that light is made up of particle-like photons. Since Einstein has difficulty
trying to understand how light can act both as a particle (photoelectric effect) and as a wave (diffraction patterns),
don't be discouraged if you too have difficulties !)
- Always Check Your Units
(In 1999 the Mars Climate Orbiter was destroyed because
units were not checked. A Billion Dollar Mistake !)
- Detailed Discussion of the Elements and a Useful Interactive Periodic Table
- Mendeleev
and the History of the Periodic Table
- Lavoisier
and Conservation of Matter
- Dalton
and Atomic Weights
- Life's
Parameters.
Read this article for a better understanding of how physical
constants relate to the size of every-day objects
- Understanding
the Light Emitting Properties of Quantum Dots (it's easier
than you think)
- The
History of Benzene and Other Simple Organic Structures
- Refreshingly
Honest Scientific Opinions
Read this article to peak inside the inner world of science,
as two scientists (who I know) give their opinions on how
interdisciplinary science should be done. One view is mutually
inclusive, the other mutually exclusive. The former provides
a foundation for steady progress, the latter an environment
for unexpected progress.
- Influenza
This paper is not related to our course contents, but the
topic is important and this excellent paper gives a very
good introduction to the complex topic of viral disease
origin and transfer.
- Open
Facilities leads to Novel Research
- Powers
of Ten
View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth.
Then move through space towards the Earth in successive
orders of magnitude until you reach a tall oak tree. After
that, begin to move from the actual size of a leaf into
a microscopic world that reveals leaf cell walls, the cell
nucleus, chromatin, DNA and finally, into the subatomic
universe of electrons and protons.
- Coordination Compounds
See an example of how ligands detect and bind toxic mercury(Hg++).
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