Non-Linear

The toolkit you build as a physicist doesn't include many tools to deal with nonlinear phenomena.

Inspired by the book Chaos, by James Gleick. I’d highly recommend it!

07 May 2021

Research Directions

A sign for where to go next in your research, but the directions are unhelpful.

Be thankful you even have a sign.

05 May 2021

Common Notation

How it's so fun to navigate three papers which have almost the same equations, but each off by a few factors.

This is sort of like learning a new language: When you’re beginning, you have to translate everything from the new language into your preferred language, interpret it, and then translate it back. This is why it takes so long to read these papers!

03 May 2021

Papers

We read a lot of papers, "read" a lot more, and cite a ton.

This is why I need a citation manager.

30 Apr 2021

Coarse-Graining

We like reducing people to just a few items.

And this is if you’re lucky. The unfortunate truth is that we don’t even notice most people.

28 Apr 2021

Razor

William of Okham decides whether to include his razor in his travel bag.

Thanks to Jim Propp for the suggestion!

26 Apr 2021

Project Growth

The dreaded result not pictured: When nothing happens.

23 Apr 2021

Technical Debt

“Really, it’s the last time. After that, I’m rewriting the code base!”

21 Apr 2021

Paper Charms

Oh and I forgot: Citing references but not ever mentioning where in that reference you want to point us to. Am I supposed to believe that everything in that other paper is relevant?

19 Apr 2021

Firehose

At least make me understand the first half of the presentation. Is that so much to ask?

16 Apr 2021

To the past To the present