Category Archives: Music

Bono a hypocrite? Good.

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Stephen

Last Friday night as I watched U2 play Glastonbury on TV, the stream of hatred on Twitter was relentless. A torrent of unforgettable ire. I’ve long known that Bono and his band excite very mixed reactions, but this seemed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , | 67 Comments

Movement and Music

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Stephen

What the hell is Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey about? I’m sure I don’t know. I’m really, really sure I don’t know. At least, I think I am. I’ve seen the film three times now, and I’ve read Arthur … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, Music | Tagged | 26 Comments

Time Travel

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Stephen

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Dublin Airport,” says the pilot. “Please remember to turn your watches back thirty years.” So goes the time-worn joke but last weekend that’s more or less exactly what I did. I flew to Dublin to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 11 Comments

I’m a scientist and the Boomtown Rats are here

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Stephen

Confused by the title? I’m not surprised. I’m a little confused myself. Though this is a common experience in science and nothing to be ashamed of. I was thinking about the Boomtown Rats since I was using their celebrated second … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Music | 5 Comments

Music in a nutshell

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Stephen

I once read in a physics textbook that if an atom were to be magnified to the size of London’s Wembley Stadium, the nucleus at the centre would be about as big as a hazelnut. Well screw that, because I … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 39 Comments

I confess

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Stephen

There is something inherently confessional in a blog, even in a science blog. There is an urge to reveal—do you feel it?—that is normally kept safely in check. Mine is pretty well locked down. And yet I admire those who, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Scientific Life, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 72 Comments