Miscellaneous Posts on a variety of scientific topics
2 Minute ReadHappy Halloween! Since Halloween is fast approaching đź‘» I thought I would publish this seasonal post on the strange and eery properties of the Horse Chestnut tree that anyone can try. To see what I mean, take a look at this short video… https://www.youtube.com/embed/bw3cqeBmha4?feature=share So what is going on here? This strange fluorescent emanation is […]
Spooky Horse Chestnut Fluorescence! Read More »
3 Minute ReadThis post will be fairly short since I’m away from the “home lab” and relaxing in Thailand. I’m staying at a place called The Sanctuary on Phangan Island (Koh Pha-ngan), which I guess comes as close to paradise as one can get. I was here before a few years ago at The Sanctuary’s Wellness Centre
A Quick Blog Post from Paradise Read More »
6 Minute ReadIntroduction Mention the words “chemistry set” to anyone who grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s, and watch their reaction. If they had an interest in science as a child, it is likely that their eyes could well glaze over as they fondly remember their first chemistry set and recount the experiments and fun they
Chemistry Sets of Today and Yesterday Read More »
3 Minute ReadIn a previous post I described one of the “workhorses” I have been using for several years for recording spectra. This is the Oriel MS125 spectrometer coupled with an InstaSpec IV CCD (Charge Coupled Device) from Andor Corporation. The main limitation of this system was that the software for the detector only ran under DOS
Freedom from DOS at Last! Read More »
3 Minute ReadMany years ago, shortly after I obtained my PhD in physical chemistry, I moved from the UK to go and live in France. Basically I had met a French girl whilst living in Bristol where I was a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Chemistry. Things got serious between us, and I decided to
Who Discovered What and When? A slightly amusing historical tale… Read More »
