What Do “Good” Ag Colloids Look Like?

If you are my faithful reader, then you know that much (all?) of the research that happens here relies on “good” silver colloids. Last week I posted a prep that results in good Ag sols. But what do I mean by good? Well, they have to look good.

Random Links for 6/24/09

Morning People and Night Owls Show Different Brain Function

Scientists at the University of Alberta have found that there are significant differences in the way our brains function depending on whether we’re early risers or night owls.

Releasing The Tension

Despite the popping sensation you can get when your ears finally clear from water, there is no vacuum behind the water (really, I’m certain).

The Limits of Elven Vision

We can make a ballpark estimate of what Legolas’s eyes would need to look like, given the rest of the data from the passage. He says that the riders are “little more than five leagues distant.” A league is something like three miles, which would be around 5000 meters, so let’s call it 25,000 meters from Legolas to the Riders (that’s a bit low, but we’ll assume he’s bragging).

Eating Grad Style: Free Food

Free food is an interesting phenomenon. How is detected? Should you feel guilty about getting it? Is there a line at which pursuit of free food becomes tacky? Sci has had many young grad students, eyes full of shining hope, ask her these questions. And in these trying times, it is harder than ever to find free food. And thus, to you, she will spread her knowledge. Use it wisely, and not for evil.