Mycroft sent me this video about the Higgs Boson particle, and I...understand it slightly more than I did before, but I still wouldn't say I understand it. It's also made me very slightly paranoid, in that it sounds like the opening to a science fiction film in which scientists accidentally open a rift into another and much more hostile dimension.
Mycroft will roll his eyes so hard he may strain something when he reads that last sentence.
Mycroft will roll his eyes so hard he may strain something when he reads that last sentence.
The Higgs Boson Explained from PHD Comics on Vimeo.
And I may have posted this before, I can't remember, but here's Brian Cox explaining...the universe.
In other news, L is still refusing to let me try his tart until after dinner, which I think you'll all agree is appalling behaviour. On the other hand, he's made me a tart, so I can't really complain.
L continues to insist that 'no moose' is still an option, but he's not fooling anyone but himself. Sherlock hugged his leg when he got home that day and said he was sure L would make the most brilliant moose ever, so he was doomed from the start.
A patient at work today told me that he's 81 and the secret of his continued health is onions. Loads and loads of onions. He said he goes through a bag of them every week. I admit, he did look good for his age. And smelled only faintly of onions.
111 comments:
My Nonna died at 98. She said the secret was sex and olive oil and figs.
I don't know if she meant combined or separately.
I'll take it over onions though.
I like her plan better.
Maybe Mycroft would like to weigh in on a discussion my dad and I are currently having about the Higgs boson. He claims discovering the Higgs boson is the most important scientific breakthrough in the last 100 years, I think it's finding the structure of DNA.
Yes we have strange dinner topics in my home.
Can't speak for Mycroft, but I think I'd pick the DNA.
Yeah, you see I'm a biologist/biochemist by training, so I tend to think DNA myself but there is no doubt that the Higgs and other subatomic particles are more fundamental, so it's difficult. I could also shout out for Alan Turing's fundamental work on computing since without modern computers current studies on DNA and particle physics would at least take much, much longer if they were even possible.
Lancs. Anon
I think I'd vote for DNA, because the Higgs boson is still only a possibly/probably. (I'm out shopping with my mom at the moment, can't watch the video now but I'm really looking forward to it!)
And you are definitely right about the moose, John. :)
I liked that video in that I'm excited now because he's excited. But almost everything that he said went miles (light years) over my head.
But thanks for sharing Mycroft.
I think, in terms of how it will affect most people's lives, probably the DNA, but on the other hand, we have no way of knowing at this point what may come out of new discoveries relating to the Higgs boson.
I am, however, fairly sure that no one will open a rift into a new and hostile dimension.
...and here was I going to say the Adidas Predator boot...
I'm traveling in the Rockies and can't comment on subatomic whosits, but I needed to pop in here and tell you that I JUST SAW A MOOSE. I really did! And some marmots. ("Marmites?" my daughter said.) And snow - we pulled over for a quick roadside snowball fight. Sherlock would love it here!
Interesting vid, thanks Mycroft :-)
Science is still discovering so much but I think right now DNA is probably the biggest breakthrough but maybe higgs boson will be the biggest of the next 100?
Adidas predators were the biggest breakthrough in things that matter most though Greg ;-)
A REAL MOOSE?? And how can there be snow, it's summer! I want to go there.
I'm amazed he didn't just ask you to capture it and post it to us...
Mrs T already said we couldn't have a real one because they're too big and dangerous and also it would poop on things.
Mrs T sounds like a very practical person. (That would be a lot of poop!)
Thirdbird said the Rockies, Sherlock, and that is a quite high mountain range. The elevation makes it colder--and I'm guessing (and it's just a guess!) it's the Canadian Rockies because those go pretty far north, north enough to make it colder because of that, too.
It sounds like a really wonderful trip, Thirdbird!
There's snow in the Colorado Rockies in the summer, too. Which is how a girl I know got hypothermia during survival training in the middle of July.
DW--I can't even imagine, with it being so hot here!
(I confess I was thinking more about the likelihood of seeing a moose than about snow. But for all I know there are moose in Colorado, too... :))
Mycroft, that was my idea exactly on DNA! It's affected every person on the planet...
My dad said I was biased as a medical student, and used the knock-on effects from the discovery of the electron. I guess we'll all have to wait and see.
(I am also somewhat skeptical about the media becoming wildly excited about scientific discoveries, unfortunately a year of learning about scientific method, peer review and clinical trial has dampened my exuberant enthusiasm)
I finally had a chance to see the video--that's very interesting, Mycroft, thank you!
I think I understood what it was saying about the Higgs boson, but physics without the mathematics is always a bit iffy--the concepts don't always translate well--and I lack the necessary level of mathematics. :( (I continue to take periodic whacks at the subject despite this, because the ideas are so fascinating, but I never feel sure I've understood it properly.)
Yes, there are moose in Colorado. I nearly walked into one one morning when I was cabin camping with my mom and nephew. (It was in the bushes, having breakfast, and I was half asleep. We both jumped and ran the other way!) There's snow on the mountains in summer, too, most years. Although it's been so hot this year I'll bet most of it has melted.
I think I'm more inclined to pick DNA for significance, although the Higgs boson may trump it during the next hundred years. It will depend on how many applications arise from a new understanding of the particles.
That's a great video, Mycroft. I already plan to show it to several people.
rsf
Cool, rsf! Well, this is why when I guess at something, I am careful to say it is a guess! Maybe Thirdbird will come back and tell us where in the Rockies she(?) saw the moose. :)
If you wanted to see a moose RR you wouldn't have to go west for it. My brother once got pictures of a moose in the driveway of the place he was staying in Lake George. That's just up in the Adirondacks. Though it's not very common. We were all surprised to hear about it. And I gave him an earful about standing around with his kids taking pictures of it because they can be very dangerous.
That's pretty nifty, kholly!
I've spent lots of time in the Catskills (not my favorite place, but my parents took us there for summers from about the time I was 12, and had a cabin there until a couple of years ago) and I've seen plenty of deer and skunks and so on--and a few bears, too!--but no moose. But I've not spent much time in the Adirondacks. I wouldn't have thought moose would want to be where so many people are, that's for sure!
(Actually, I prefer the beach to the mountains. Beaches in the New York City area don't tend to moose, though... :D)
Yes, it was a Colorado moose - and I'm glad Sherlock didn't want it shipped; I don't know how I would have smuggled it out of a national park. I might have been able to slip a marmot into my bag, though, if I could catch one. It's like a otter, but drier and pointier. :)
Is this the kind of marmot you saw, Thirdbird? And I can almost visualize the moose-smuggling attempt, a la Jimmy Durante: "Moose? What moose?"*
* For those not familiar with Jumbo, check the end of the "1962 film" section here. :D
I want snow it's raining here again like it always rains now and its boooooooring and it should bbe summer.
It is summer, Sherlock, it's just a very wet and dull summer :-( I agree, if we can't have proper summer weather, then snow would be much more fun. There's a joke that you can tell when it's summer in the UK, because the rain's warm - not so much of a joke this year.
John - I prefer Lestrade's Nonna's recipe for a long life over your patient's, I think. Certainly sounds like it would be more fun, even it did work :-p
Jaws - I'm in agreement with Mycroft and others, about the DNA-Higgs boson debate based on what we currently know, but I also agree with Lancs Anon that Turing's work on early computing (and that of his colleagues - Tommy Flowers turned mathematicians ideas into reality, for example) has probably had a more fundamental impact on all of us, because that work helped leverage and enalbe pretty much all scientific advancement since.
(I'm quite envious of Sherlock's visit to the Turing exhibition at the Science Museum)
Well, Sherlock--there's summer, and then there's summer! In New York City we've already had 8 days of above 90F (32.2C) and today is supposed to be another--and tomorrow is supposed to reach 100F (37.8C). It's summery, all right, but it isn't particularly nice--it's hard to do anything outdoors without making yourself ill and the power grid keeps failing in some parts of the area--and compared to some other parts of the US that's even pretty cool. Phoenix, for example, regularly goes over 110F (43C) in the summer, and several of the southern states are very, very humid.
Rain might be boring if it keeps coming, but at least it's safe to run around outside!
With 89 flood alerts accross the country and an entire month's worth of rain due in a day... I think a lot of people would disagree it's safe to be inside, let alone out. Although there've only been a few evacuations so far.
I feel terrible for people only just starting to recover from the flooding a coupple of weeks ago, who are now being evacuated all over again.
Ah, Brian Cox. My geek crush. I could watch him explain subatomic particles all day.
I'll trade you weather, Sherlock! Its supposed to reach 105F here today, which is way above normal, and I'm supposed to be outside tomorrow in a full 1886-style costume at 100, so Id say summer is definitely here in my part of the world. Whew!
L- and we're in a severe drought here with fire watches (and fires, like Colorado). Just what the heck is going on?
Global warming predictably causes extreme weather and shifts in weather patterns, Maz--I just hope we're not looking at the new normal. O_O
Please be VERY careful tomorrow in the heat!!!
If you're interested RR there's a picture here of the view out of my friends office window last thursday and we're told to expect more rain than that over the next 24-48 hours it took six and half hours to travel the 20 miles home last week!
If only we could send some of our rain to you and you could send some of your sun to us ;-)
Hope everyone is having a good day :-)
Anonybob
Anony, we could definitely use some of your rain--The New York area's well below normal rainfall for the past few months and the only reason it's not being considered a drought is that we had above normal precipitation in the winter, so the reservoirs aren't as low as they might be. So please send some of that over!
But I don't think you'll take our sun/heat in exchange! As I recall, you were all most uncomfortable a while back when your temperatures reached about 25, 26C--which is what our a.c.'s thermostat is set to cool to. :) (In fact, the power companies most urgently request we not go lower than that, in the hopes of not overloading the grid.)
Well it does get a lot hotter than 25 here. That was just quite an unexpected bit of heat for the time of year.
Just like this amount of rain is unexpected - and we're still in drought in some areas.
As for air con... well, it's the best way to contribute to climate change and excessive fossil fuel use, whilst combating the effects upon the individual, I guess.
As for air con... well, it's the best way to contribute to climate change and excessive fossil fuel use, whilst combating the effects upon the individual, I guess.
Well, that's why I quite literally have not had more than 2 or 3 hours of sleep per night in over two weeks--the a.c. goes off at night. And we keep the blinds down to cut down on sun during the day, and the lights off as much as possible as well. (And use Energy Star units only, pay to have the a.c. units cleaned professionally before the season, and clean the filters weekly.)
But using a.c. is better than heat stroke--and most NYC apartments (which are old) easily get above 100F when the temperature outside is above 90, as it has been. (And the weather reporters are all giddy about the lower humidity today--it's about 60% now. :/)
Anyway, I understand that heating generally uses more energy (and fossil fuel) and produces more CO2 than cooling. (A few random sources.)
(Ooops, the third link didn't go through: Let's try again.
Rereader Lestrade is obviously worried about people, specific people or just people in general I don't know but if theres enough rain going on to almost cover cars then it is worrying and telling him about our heatwave is not going to settle his worry about british people who are struggling with the rain is it? we all have our rubbish weather to put up with but I thought it was only the british who insisted on talking about it all the time.
We could talk about the tennis instead if you like... One set each to Djokovic and Federer so far.
Well at least there's a roof on Wimbledon, or i'd miss John's manic texts updating me...
It doesn't sound Like it's going well though....
Maz - I could watch him explain subatomic particles all day.
Me too.
this should have been the final John, they are both brilliant :-)
L - not any more manic than you watching Italy play football!
Sorry, remind me which one did you want to win again?
Lestrade! You know which one!
Dear Anonymous--I did not suggest, in any way, shape, or form, that flooding is a minor issue. I was responding to Sherlock's comment of the dullness of rain (as opposed to snow :)) by pointing out that we're having a very hot and summery summer, which is rather dull too, since it's not possible to safely do anything active outside. (And then responding to other comments directed to myself.)
I fail to see in what way that qualifies as talking about the weather "all the time."
I am going to die of tennis before this match is over. Before this DEUCE is over.
Breathe, John--in, out... :)
they're giving good value for money these two :-)
Going to be a five setter from the looks! you need to stay calm John there's a long way to go ;-)
I can't believe Lestrade has conveniently forgotten your devotion to Roger Federicorn, John. The hyperventilating should at least be a clue.
(I'm at work, no idea what's going on other than the general freaking out by tennis fans on my Twitter, and by you.)
YES YES YES HE DID IT!
Just don't forget to fetch Sherlock.
And...good?
...Thank you. I'm going now.
Awww, if you've gone to fetch Sherlock, it's possible you'll miss the end of the match.
This is some great tennis, and it looks like Federer will win. Djokovic just isn't keeping up here in this fourth set.
ryo
(wish you could send some rain over to CO and other places in danger of fire)
If it means Federer wins, I'm all right with missing the end. Sort of. Mostly. I'm recording it anyway. So I can force L to watch it with me later.
Alright then. I will say no more. :)
ryo
It's all right, I'm watching the scores! God, so relieved.
Yes! I'm very glad he won. The final should be interesting. Federer actually has a better record against Tsonga than against Murray, but the last time Federer played Tsonga at Wimbledon, he lost. So, whoever he goes up against, we should get to see some good tennis.
ryo
Did everyone know that today is (Inter)National Kissing Day?
I'm sure everyone wants to celebrate appropriately! ;)
I hope all UK badgers get home okay this evening. There's been serious flooding not that far north of us.
Perhaps someone here can tell me--is the "vegetable yeast spread" in this episode of Chopped actually marmite? (See at around 3:15.) Thanks! :)
Looks like Murray is going to be the first British man in the Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin. 2 sets up on Tsonga, and doesn't look like he's struggling for it. Go Murray!
ryo
(be safe in the flooding!)
SH - it took a little while longer than usual here, but that's all. Weirdly, it was bucketing down about five miles south, traffic backed up, standing water on the roads, people worried about the road closures caused by the flooding... got within a few hundred yards of home, the rain stopped, it was like someone turned on the lights. wouldn't know from looking out the window it's been honking it down all day, it just looks a bit damp out there. You get home OK?
The US heatwave sounds sticky and unpleasant :-( Hope you're all OK.
John - you cheering for Murray or Tsonga now?
Getting home safely is definitely good, so please all do that...
How was today in school, Sherlock--are you and Mrs N getting on a bit better now?
Tsonga just took a ball to the groin. But it did not stop him from taking the third set.
ryo
Nameless - I don't know! I do want Murray to win, and to win at Wimbledon, but...not this year? If Federer wins the final, he'll get his number one ranking back, at least long enough to finally beat Sampras's record...but on the other hand, the press are such arseholes to Murray, and he's a very good player... The finally will be difficult.
I do think Murray's going to beat Tsonga though. And if it weren't for the final, I'd definitely be in favour of that.
Yeah, who are we cheering for now? And, Danger, I'm terribly busy tonight, with... stuff. No time for tennis.
stuff or stuffing Greg? assuming the moose needs stuffing ;-)
Come onnnn, you don't have to listen to it, you can play guitar with your headphones on, just watch it with me. Please?
Ha. As if. I'll watch you watching it, deal?
Close enough. :)
Maybe you can celebrate (Inter)National Kissing Day while watching John watch the match? :D
Don't think we need to, really. Kissing is pretty high on my 'to do' list every day.
Plus John wouldn't like me distracting him.
:)
And you have a point there--although, you can kill two birds with one stone by helping him celebrate or commiserating with him (whichever is more appropriate) after... ;)
Yay! Murray makes it to the final!!
ryo
you've got to be looking forward to Sunday now John :)
HM
This is going to be an amazing final.
.... you know, I might be able to do a deal, get tomorrow off, for pride, and work during the tennis. If you wouldn't mind, John? (my autocorrect just called you jubbly).
That's fine, if you'd rather? I don't mind either way.
Be nice to all go and fetch Mycroft. Maybe do something to celebrate the end of his first year? Then go and do a bit of pride?
That'd be nice, yeah.
Sorted. On my way home. Need anything?
Another tart? :)
John H. D. Watson said...
Another tart? :)
Lestrade isn't enough for you anymore, John? ;)
It sounds like it's shaping up to be a very special Saturday--have fun, all of you!
I'm headed to my sister's for Shabbat, which should be really nice too...so long as the power doesn't go out!
But if you can't have a computer or cook anything why do you need power?
... computers and food both being very high on Sherlock's list of priorities...
Excellent question, Sherlock! For one thing, we have lights--a couple (in the bathrooms) stay on the whole time, and the rest on timers. If the power goes out (which happens a lot there when ihere's a big thunderstorm or sometimes when it gets really hot) we sit in the dark until 9:30 tomorrow night, and we can't turn on flashlights or light candles. Also, it's supposed to be super hot and humid tomorrow (it's supposed to reach 100F (37.8C)) and no power means no air conditioning anywhere!
(That's fine--computers and food are high in my priorities, too! But we'll eat cold food tomorrow.)
Gotta go now--my mom's got the car round. Have a lovely weekend!
Ryo - I shall ignore you calling me a tart .
But only because I have a noose headache. Sherlock certainly has a terrifying amount of faith in me...
You made a whole pond and a moose is much smaller so it should be easy.
Yeah, but I wasn't making a pond in a small flat. And a pond is more... destructive. Digging out mud. Not constructive and complicated.
The belief you have in Lestrade's abilities is lovely Sherlock :-) have you provided him with a final drawing of what you want or are you leaving it up to him to decide?
I told him some more things it should have but he just laughed but i was serious!
were they sensible things Sherlock or things that you'd really like but know may not be possible?
Are you going to help build it do you think or will you be staying away and waiting for the surprise?
He has given me drawings. I might post one of them.
I want to help!!
Sherlock's ideas are always interesting to see, more so when you aren't the one trying to make the thing I'm guessing though ;-)
It's all serving to amuse John no end. I may accidentally superglue a bit of moose to him for revenge.
What bit?
Well... they only have tiny tails - and anyway, you don't wear the tail I got you already.
So probably an antler.
More to the point, which bit of John?
I think I'm going to notice if you try gluing an antler to me... Then again, I superglued myself to a wall once, so maybe not.
Nameless - I'm not fussy :) whichever bit he leaves unguarded.
Danger - but you did notice the wall, I hope? It would mean your patients weren't embarrassed, anyway. Whatever they had wrong wouldn't be as weird as suddenly sprouting an antler...
I did notice the wall. It was the porous nature of what I was gluing to it that escaped me.
I dunno, you haven't seen some of my patients... The ones I get now are relatively normal though.
Ah. I hope someone rescued you quickly.
And no, i haven't. Relative to what?
Relative to certain people in the Army.
I hope someone rescued you quickly.
You've met some of my friends now. What do you think are the odds of that, as opposed to them pointing and laughing and taking photos?
You've met me...did you think I meant 'quickly', or 'quickly once they'd taken pictures, pointed and laughed'?
:)
But only because I have a noose headache.
I dunno, I think a noose would give me more permanent discomfort than a headache... :D
(I have arrived safely at my sister's house, and am borrowing her computer since she's cooking and hasn't noticed. :D)
You made a whole pond and a moose is much smaller so it should be easy.
Very logical, Sherlock! And I'm sure you had very good ideas indeed. (Although some things don't work without a bigger budget and a bigger stage and so forth, alas!)
I think my sister will kick me off soon, so have a great Saturday--Shabbat shalom!
L - Ah, of course...what was I thinking?
I want to know if anyone kept one of the pictures, myself.
It sounds like it's been very soggy there. I hope you have some decent weather for Pride, though. Especially if Sherlock is going to get painted!
rsf
Post a Comment