Episode 3: Ted makes the call (superposition of states and Schrödinger´s cat)

So far, Ted´s attempts to find himself a date have led us through the ideas of probability and that light comes in individual lumps known as photons. We left him as he was about to make a call to a girl he had met the night before… Having finally worked up the courage following his lighting-related [...]

10minus9 interview: Philip Moriarty (Part 2)

In the final part of this interview with Philip Moriarty from the University of Nottingham, we talk about pattern formation in nature, research funding, and find out the one physics problem Professor Moriarty would most like to see solved. Part one ended with a shortlist of scientific heroes… OK, but if you have to pick [...]

10minus9 interview: Philip Moriarty (Part 1)

As part of a new series here on 10minus9, I’m interviewing various people working in and around nanoscience. First up is professor of physics, nanoscientist  and all-round nice guy, Philip Moriarty, who I was lucky enough to have as a PhD supervisor. He’s featured in several of the University of Nottingham’s sixty symbols videos, which [...]

Thinking like a novice: the bottom up approach to explaining nano

I’ve gone back to square one. I’m a complete novice again. I’ve said before that the way to explain science is to try to make a connection with your audience. This means two things; to be passionate, and to be responsive enough to adjust your own view to that of the audience, rather than the [...]