Author Archives: rpg

About rpg

Scientist, poet, gadfly

A momentary lapse of reason

Posted on 4 August 2011 by rpg

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Before Experimental Heart was published, a discussion at the LabLit fora centered on whether it was possible to write an exciting story that remained true to real lab life. I … Continue reading →

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On tits and sparrows

Posted on 25 July 2011 by rpg

Opposite the advertisement for the Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey (“The Wildlife Hotel”) in Autumn 2011′s Birds magazine from the RSPB, Caroline Nash tells us she’s helping to save sparrows. As you might know, sparrows—which for some of us are the … Continue reading →

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Echoes

Posted on 13 July 2011 by rpg

At the pub the other night, I was asking how a friend was doing. He was particularly busy, it appears, because he had to attend students’ exhibitions, located inexplicably at inconvenient and distant locations the length and breadth of town. … Continue reading →

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Mata Penguin

Posted on 8 July 2011 by rpg

You just know this isn’t going to turn out well.

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On the Journal with No Name

Posted on 5 July 2011 by rpg

There was a little bit of kerfuffle a week or two ago. Apparently some rather well-respected institutions (and the Max Planck Institute) decided to announce they were thinking of launching a journal. Maybe. In a year’s time. With no editor-in-chief … Continue reading →

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Big angry macrophage

Posted on 17 June 2011 by rpg

Those of you who know anything about British popular culture will no doubt be familiar with Benny Hill. The Benny Hill Show was long-running and immensely popular—although it was often accused of being sexist, it was the men who were … Continue reading →

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On the hairy nature of light—redux

Posted on 15 June 2011 by rpg

A while ago I reported on an experiment. Using my laser beam I demonstrated the wave nature of light, by measuring its diffraction. One of the referees, for reasons of poetry, wanted to see the experiment repeated with a different … Continue reading →

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Another one

Posted on 1 June 2011 by rpg

This is a classic.

Posted in moth, Science-less Sunday | Comments Off on Another one

Flutterby

Posted on 31 May 2011 by rpg

Identify this.

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Apocalypse Penguin

Posted on 16 May 2011 by rpg

Number five.

Posted in bovine, Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Penguins | Comments Off on Apocalypse Penguin