Biweekly links for 12/08/2008

  • The basic dichotomy of quantum gravity « Shores of the Dirac Sea
    • Moshe Rozali explaining some of the problems of quantum gravity.
  • Eric Drexler: Condensed-Matter Physics Condensed
    • “In reading up on metal oxides, spin systems, and computation, I found a wonderful 19-page “Perspective of Frontiers in Modern Condensed Matter Physics” [pdf], published in the AAPPS Bulletin last April by Caltech physicist Nai-Chang Yeh. Its scope ranges from symmetry, Landau, and intellectual history, to topological orders and spin liquids, even touching on solid-phase chemistry and nanofabrication. I think it will reward physics-oriented readers with a taste for the broad knowledge that puts deep knowledge into context.”
  • John Walker: Mortgage Bailout, Roman Style (Fourmilog: None Dare Call It Reason)
    • “In Book VI of The Annals, Tacitus describes how runaway mortgage lending, combined with government meddling with interest rates and loan terms resulted in a credit crunch and an eventual collapse in real estate prices. All of this happened in A.D. 32 during the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. “
  • NORAD Tracks Santa in 2007
    • See also http://noradsanta.org, the official site for NORAD’s 2008 tracking
  • American Physical Society News: The Future of Science
    • An abridgement of my essay “The Future of Science” appeared as the back page of the American Physical Society’s November newsletter. The abridgement is by Jennifer Ouellette.

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