Phyiscs in Football

It's Super Bowl weekend, and we can all look forward to the big game even if our team isn't playing (mine certainly is NOT). The New York Times published an article about the physics of "the hit". A good hit in football not only displays momentum in action. When a safety like the Steelers' Troy Polamalu cannot be stopped (mass times velocity), but only tripped or wrapped up. A good hit can also change the momentum (not mass time velocity) of a game, giving it to the other team. The NYT article quotes Ryan Clark, Steelers' safety:

“A good hit can change the momentum of the game,” he said. “If we come out there and hit them, be physical with them, and get a good hit early, I think they might go back to the quarterback and say, ‘How ’bout you not throw the ball in there?’ ”

FYI: I do enjoy watching great safeties in the NFL, but none could hit better than Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins!

In memoriam of STS - 51 - L

Today is the 23 anniversary of the Challenger tragedy. It was a day that strongly affected me as a young person and scientist in the making. Most people remember Christa McAuliffe, scheduled to be the first Teacher in Space. I would like to especially acknowledge Ronald E. McNair, a physicist, graduate of North Carolina A & T University, and an inspiration to me.

Thank you Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Mike Smith, Dick Scobee, and Ron McNair--the crew of STS-51-L--for inspiring future scientists and engineers, then and now.

Science in the Obama Administration

A recent post at Physics Today discussed science related activity in the new Administration. The new EPA head, Lisa Jackson promised to set a national standard for greenhouse gas emissions. Steven Chu was confirmed as the new Secretary of Energy.

Women in Physics - Besides the Standard Three

People seem to know the famous women of physics, Marie Curie, Maria Goeppert Mayer, and Rosalind Franklin (who did not share in the Nobel prize for the discovery of DNA). When it comes to women physicists, most people are not aware of the many women who are out there continuing their research today.

Here's a list of five women physicists of whom I have been fortunate enough to be aware. I also took a class from one of these scientists, and I must say just seeing her on the faculty was encouraging to me as a young physicist in the making.

1) Mildred Dresselhaus
2) Lisa Randall
3) Mercedes Richards
4) Vera Rubin
5) Barbara A. Williams

Happy Inauguration Day

As I sit here watching Inauguration Day coverage, I am excited to see all the people in Washington enjoying themselves and feeling celebratory. I wish all the best to President-Elect Obama and his administration. I also have to say I am looking forward to a White House filled with the cuteness and adorable-ness of Malia and Sasha Obama!

What a wonderful day to be an American!!!!

Back home from ScienceOnline 09

I am happy to say we (the sweet potato and myself) are back home. The dear child did not sleep much and was very grouchy, especially once my music player's battery died. Songs from the "Sound of Music" keep a baby calm on long car trips!

Needless to say I am exhausted, but inspired to keep this blog active. My goal is to post at least twice during M-F, thanks to a blogger I met at the conference.
See Urban Science Adventures

Any weekend posts will be a plus. I also plan to add more photos and video clips and such. I wanted to photograph a famous landmark found along I-85, the Gaffney Peach. Unfortunately driving and using the camera on my cell phone do not work well for me. The peach ended up behind the highway mileage sign.



Maybe when I have some energy, I will find a free image of the Peach and add it to this post!

ScienceOnline '09

Currently, I am attending ScienceOnline '09 in North Carolina's Research Triangle. This conference is an annual science communication conference, with extensive sessions on blogging, science education. Generally speaking, it's about sharing the wonders of science with the community.

It has also motivated me to keep this 2nd attempt at blogging going - so far so good. Finally, it's my first conference since my little sweet potato was born, and although I'm getting rest I'm missing the little bugger. But I'm sure Grandma and Granddad are enjoying all the face time with their grandbaby!

Hitchhiking into space?

The US has three remaining space shuttles (Discovery, Endeavour, and Atlantis) and nine scheduled flights for the next two years. Our next generation spacecraft will not be ready to launch until 2015. Congress and President-elect Obama's administration will decide to either extend the shuttle program or try to divert more resources into getting the Orion vehicle up and flying.

It seems the motivation to keep the shuttle running is political in nature. Certainly the engineering advantages of flying a 30 year spacecraft are slim. Considering that there have been two catastrophic failures (Challenger and Columbia), it would make sense to push forward with the 21st century vehicle. However, the US would have to rely on Russian rockets to get our astronauts into space beginning in 2010 until Orion is ready.

Stay tuned to Congress in 2009 for the future of the space shuttle. Otherwise, American astronauts may have to hitchhike their way to the International Space Station.