WITA’s new feature: science blunders often seen in popular works. I’ve seen this particular one twice recently from writers who I expected to be much more careful. It’s one of those “facts” folks believe was proven long ago and now is just passed along without thinking. Here is one version typical of others*: This statement […]
PSB #1 (Popular Science Blunders): Why do Lakes Freeze at Top? Read More »
A common sight here in the Seattle area: puddles in the rain. A drop hits, then a circular wavelet expands outward. When watching this happen, I tend to just see larger wavelet rings, never noticing the small initial waves. Do the waves start out very fast, then slow down as they get larger? The picture
Raindrop wavelets, falling apples Read More »
It seems like it should be a law of nature: reflections of a source cannot be brighter than the source itself. How could it be otherwise? To be otherwise would imply that the object somehow amplifies the light, which is impossible. And yet, there are situations that seem to bend this obvious “law”. If you
Lightened reflections on rippled water Read More »