tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post219018574695770023..comments2024-03-27T20:43:05.862-07:00Comments on The Eternal Universe: "Public" ScienceJoseph Smidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583891162785742138noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post-21718915957487597672007-09-21T10:13:00.000-07:002007-09-21T10:13:00.000-07:00I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not goo...I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not good at coming up with sound bites. It usually takes me four or five tries before I come up with a good sound bite.<BR/><BR/>I suggest using Buzz Words.Quantumleap42https://www.blogger.com/profile/16711817313734546305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post-64781702455286727252007-09-21T08:47:00.000-07:002007-09-21T08:47:00.000-07:00I find it is easier NOT to explain what I do to th...I find it is easier NOT to explain what I do to the public. With all of the people I interact with, when ever they ask me what I am doing I simply say I am figuring out how a certain type of star works. If they press for information I ask them If they know what a neutron star is and then I say I'm studying that type of star.<BR/><BR/>Of course there are cases when I am blatantly trying to "WOW" somebody and I tell them that we are doing a "theoretical calculation of a rapidly rotating neutron star in general relativity", but their eyes start glazing over at about "theoretical". Most people don't know the difference between Newtonian Physics and GR, or even know that there is a difference. Mostly I just don't tell people what I am doing, but if I do I keep the language very, very, very, VERY simple.Quantumleap42https://www.blogger.com/profile/16711817313734546305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post-78741725492734410332007-09-20T22:55:00.000-07:002007-09-20T22:55:00.000-07:00Nick, nice picture. For good or worse, public per...Nick, nice picture. For good or worse, public perception of physics is important. <BR/><BR/>Now how to solve your "encapsulate the physics in three sentence" problem. Fred Hoyle summarized modern cosmology in three words "The Big Bang." He was looking for a short description of modern cosmology that would shock people when they heard it.(He was hoping in a negitive way since he didn't like the theory.)<BR/><BR/>So lets see: "Magnetic Rings of Fire." "B-Field Hoops." "Solar Ear-Rings." "Solar Magnito-Halos" "Flaming Toroids" <BR/><BR/>Anyways you get the idea. I wonder who coined the phrase "String Theory" and the circumstance of it.Joseph Smidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02583891162785742138noreply@blogger.com