iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 12h

the visual for the parallel setting contains a short circuit

circuit diagram with a short highlighted

Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Short-term effects of an SGLT2 inhibitor on divalent ions in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a randomized crossover trial I supported some stats, so thank you to everybody involved for this study, now in @ckj-era.bsky.social! #Science #WomenInSTEM #NephSky 👉 doi.org/10.1093/ckj/...

$ABSTRACT Background Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a cornerstone of chronic kidney disease (CKD) therapy, reducing disease progression, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients were excluded from major trials, and data on electrolyte handling with SGLT2 inhibitors, in combination with tolvaptan, are lacking. Methods SIDIA was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover trial in 15 adults with ADPKD (mean eGFR 68 mL/min/1.73 m²; median age 43 years). Participants received empagliflozin 10 mg or placebo for 14 days, separated by a two-week washout. The primary endpoint was 24-hour urinary and fractional excretion of phosphate, calcium, and magnesium. Exploratory secondary endpoints included markers of kidney stone propensity, inflammation, vitamin D metabolism, and tolerability. Treatment effects were estimated using generalized linear mixed models. Given the small sample size, analyses were exploratory and focused on effect estimation. Results For the primary endpoint, neither 24-hour urinary nor fractional excretion of phosphate, calcium, or magnesium differed between empagliflozin and placebo. Empagliflozin lowered serum uric acid (–26%), increased serum magnesium (+5.7%) and urinary citrate (+78.6%), and reduced blood pressure (–4/–7 mmHg). An expected decline in eGFR (–7.1%) was observed, with no major short-term safety signals observed. Copeptin levels increased with empagliflozin (+26%). Conclusions In this exploratory mechanistic trial, no substantial short-term difference in urinary or fractional excretion of divalent ions were detected with empagliflozin. The observed changes in serum magnesium, urinary citrate, uric acid, and copeptin are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger, longer-term studies.$

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

i have never given grades for homework (that's the typical thing around here). Instead, it's only the "you need to practise and these problems are your exam prep" pressure 😏 mixed results, though, as always. some dig in and notably improve throughout the semester, others get lost, unfortunately

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

yeah, at the end it was quite surreal to see a slice of the sun set, rather than the full fire ball. but of course, my phone camera does not cut it compared to the human eye dynamic range, so those pictures just don't compare 🥲 i am happy about the evolution pictures, though 😄

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

cycled to a viewpoint. and because i couldn't get eclipse glasses, brought a very simplistic pinhole camera, which conveniently fit into my bike basket so i didn't have to keep holding them 😁. it gave me a nice evolution of the eclipse 🌞 #iTeachPhysics #Science 🧪 #Astronomy 🔭

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

a (partial and shortly before sunset for me) solar eclipse is already so near! 🤗😁 i should really figure out where to best watch it from, so it's not hiding behind mountains 🤔 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...

esa.int

Join ESA for a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026

Follow the total solar eclipse with the European Space Agency (ESA), in person or online. Quick links: - Overview of ESA eclipse activities & resources - Event programme in León, Spain (12 August,...

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

i'm in the "lets gather extra materials to link" mode of prep before the fall semester right now, so finding this resource is amazing, thank you for sharing! 🙌

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Reposted by Dr Cornelia Hofmann

Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 16/10/2025

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 was awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis "for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit." This Collection celebrates the contributions by the awardees. ⚛️ 🧪

go.nature.com

Nobel Prize in Physics 2025

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 was awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis "for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical ...

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Oh,i finally found my typo there, should have been *multi-lense-systems, of course 😅

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Yes to everything that has already been mentioned. Additionally, I use some geogebra constructions as well (especially for linear optics, nice interactive demos for images from lenses, and multi-sense-systems)

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

[student name]squared, and many more funny submissions as their chosen units. 🤣 I love observing them, see how they already solve certain problems creatively, and afterwards I have an excellent motivation to introduce the SI system, as well as talk about accuracy of measurements 🤗

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Today was a lot of fun! 😁 #iTeachPhysics Had the first physics lecture with a new class of first semesters, and my usual activity it to have them measure out the area of the lecture room with their own "measurement instrument". This year, we've had dog-leash-squared, pin board-width-squared,

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

OMG, the lense fell off my cardboard hand spectroscope, so I took it home to glue again. And while playing around to check everything, I found the best line spectrum example I have ever seen with this little thing 😄 🎢 ⚛️ #optics

$Line spectrum of a white lamp, consisting of a dark blue, light blue, green, orange (maybe?), and a red line, between approximately 430 and 600 nm. The lines appear on top of a dark wavelength scale, after bouncing off a diffraction grating.$ The spectroscope in question, hand-built from a cardboard set.

The spectroscope in question, hand-built from a cardboard set.

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Reposted by Dr Cornelia Hofmann

ETH Zurich @ethz.ch · 08/08/2025

Some nerve cells are very long, others are not. There are also differences in the length of nerve cells in the eye. Nevertheless, visual stimuli arrive in the brain simultaneously, regardless of this length. A research team from Basel has now discovered why. bsse.ethz.ch/news-and-eve...

bsse.ethz.ch

How the eye keeps time: New study reveals synchronisation mechanism in the human retina

A new study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals how our brains achieve the remarkable feat of synchronising visual signals that travel at different speeds –even within the small nervous system of...

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

With all of that, i'm very thankful to my colleagues, because both these were team-teaching-efforts 💪. And i'm glad our study programs support us properly workings teams, going beyond the faculty exchange and peer support.

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

It's been a while since i've posted, sorry 😑 Spring semester kinda ran away from me... besides all the usual stuff, i also had one module that we did for the first time after a curriculum reform, and another one that i joined where i have not taught that particular content before 😅 #iTeachPhysics

Pin stating "❤️ Science, it's like magic but real ❤️", pinned on a lanyard

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

yep, i use this one, too, especially for visualizing circuits that ny students will have to build in their practicals.

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

i have since found this resource: www.tubecollection.de/ura/roentgen... so my guess by comparison is, the above setup is roughly 100 years old

tubecollection.de

Röntgen-Strahler / X-ray heads / Tube Museum Udo Radtke, Germany

Röntgen-Strahler in der Röhrensammlung / Tube Museum / Udo Radtke, Deutschland .

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Went to the dentist today, but ended up studying an old x-ray tube 😁 🎢 #Physics

Overview of the x-ray tube, which can be aimed and positioned on a 3-joint arm.

Closer look at the (slightly tinted and matt) glass vacuum chamber with the anode inside (looks like it might be copper)

Label identifying it as a 'Dental Röhre Ritter Dent 20', as well as listing the current (20 mA) and voltage (65 kV) values for use.

view of the controls, and current/voltage indicators

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

😲 okay! even more reason to double check 😂

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

there is also a #SciTeachUK feed, but i read the #iTeachPhysics, mostly, so can't vouch for how active that one is

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

huh... that's a neat solution! besides the point, i was sure the slit spacing (and other dimensions) would be labelled on the double slit? 🤔 gonna check ours next time i'm doing that unit

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

yup, we have similar racks to hang them, sorted by colour and length. the racks are mounted on the inside of our labs storage cupboard doors, so they take up no extra space, are tucked away, except when you actuall need them they're right there in your face 😊

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Reposted by Dr Cornelia Hofmann

Jacopo Bertolotti @jacopobertolotti.com · 12/03/2025

#PhysicsFactlet Remake of an old animation about quantum tunnelling in the time domain. 🧪⚛️💡 A few details: * The incident and reflected wavefunctions interfere, creating fringes when it hits the barrier. * Even when far away from the barrier, the wavefunction is slowly broadening.

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

i've either been drawing stuff by hand, created my own geogebra file, or copied-and-modified geogebra materials to suit my liking (and keep things interactive) 🤔 but none of that is truly the ideal solution for everything, unfortunately

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

oh gosh, i just received an email from my first ever cohort here, making me all emotional, because they're preparing to graduate in summer 🥹

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Laser Focus World magazine @laserfocusworld.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Happy International Women's Day! We're celebrating a day early by sharing some of the amazing work of the women within our community we've covered so far in 2025. www.laserfocusworld.com/science-rese... #women #optics #photonics #quantum #scisky @jmurphoton.bsky.social

laserfocusworld.com

Celebrating women in optics, photonics, and quantum

To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th, check out some of the cool optics, photonics, and quantum work being done by women.

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Reposted by Dr Cornelia Hofmann

ETH Zurich @ethz.ch · 07/03/2025

Researchers have developed a method that makes it easier to study interactions between electrons in a material. Using a moiré material consisting of twisted atomic layers they created an artificial crystal lattice in a neighbouring material. ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

ethz.ch

Crystal lattice at a distance

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a method that makes it easier to study interactions between electrons in a material. Using a moiré material consisting of twisted atomic layers they created an...

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Reposted by Dr Cornelia Hofmann

Simon Clark @simonoxfphys.com · 01/03/2025

It can feel like we have made no progress in the fight against climate change. That's not the case. youtu.be/h1jOqyjcO4g?...

youtu.be

How much progress have we made on climate change?

YouTube video by Simon Clark

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Reposted by Dr Cornelia Hofmann

Young Atom Opticians Conference 2025 @yao2025.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

🎉 Registrations for YAO 2025 are OPEN! 📅 Join us July 6–11, 2025 in Innsbruck, Austria for talks, poster sessions, industry talks & networking! 🔗 Register by the 31st of March: yao.iqoqi.at Don’t miss out! 🌍⚛ #YAO2025 #QuantumPhysics #AMO @iqoqi.bsky.social @uniinnsbruck.bsky.social

yao.iqoqi.at

YAO 2025 - Home

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Reposted by Dr Cornelia Hofmann

ETH Zurich @ethz.ch · 31/01/2025

She won the Swiss figure-skating championships before developing an interest in quantum computing. ETH Zurich alumna Bettina Heim is optimistic that quantum computers will eventually live up to their potential. Read the portrait here: ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

ethz.ch

From loop jumps to quantum leaps

Bettina Heim won the Swiss figure-skating championships before developing an interest in quantum computing. She studied physics at ETH and now develops software for the computers of the future.

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ETH Zurich @ethz.ch · 24/01/2025

Today is the International Day of #Education. To mark the occasion, we’re resharing this article: ETH doctoral student Rolf Imseng, ETH Vice President Julia Dannath, and Professor Ursula Renold discuss how education drives #Social #Mobility in Switzerland. ethz.ch/en/news-and-...

ethz.ch

What are the key requirements of an education system that ensures that everybody has the same opportunities?

ETH doctoral student Rolf Imseng comes from a working class family. Together with ETH Vice-President Julia Dannath and ETH Professor Ursula Renold, he talks about the hurdles that his background bring...

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Republik Magazin @republik.ch · 23/01/2025

Wie die Solarenergie ein exponentielles Wachstum hingelegt hat – dies ist der Start einer Datenserie von @herrfischer.bsky.social über die grossen Entwicklungen der vergangenen 25 Jahre.

republik.ch

Serie «Das erste Viertel», Folge 1: Wie die Welt zu Solarenergie kommt

Ein Blick auf Megatrends, die die ersten 25 Jahre des 21. Jahrhunderts geprägt haben.

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

first 🎢 exam of this season down, so now i'm enjoying our on-campus restaurant 😋 , before correction hell looms...

chestnut spaetzle with braised chicory á l'orange

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Simon Poliakoff @simonpoliakoff.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Great to see @phetsims.bsky.social have arrived on bluesky. I love using their simulations in my teaching and in my videos. #ITeachPhysics

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

yes! i love when they get creative and inquisitive 🤗

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

oh nice! i might just link my students to your video as an additional resource, especially for those who missed class 😁

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

But the actual current going down the rod is a multiple of that, since the setup is such that it loops around several times (not sure how many, precicely, would have to ask our technician who built it)

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

There is resistance in the setup, the powersupply states 3A of current at 8.3V, i have the voltage dial pretty high up from the beginning, and slowly turn up the current, keeping that as the limiting value (our experiment is spec'd for max 3A).

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

had to google the Exploratorium, looks really cool! reminds me of some of my favourite hands-on science/tech "museums"

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

While they play with the needles, they'll inevitably ask questions like "what about earth's magnetic field now?", "What happens if I bring another magnet near?", "Why do the needles react when I hold my phone close?" ... and we can guide the discussion towards electromagnets and applications.

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Turning the current on, the compass needles create a circular pattern. This demo gives students a literal feeling for the magnetic field created by moving charges, since they can pick up the tiny compass needles, and feel the effect when they move it around or vary the distance to the current.

Same setup as before, but now the compass needles re-arranged to show the circular magnetic field around a straight conductor.

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

I started electromagnetism in one of my classes. This experiment is not all too "jaw-dropping-impressive", but has proven very effective. I start out with the current off to just discuss magnets, compass needles, and magnetic vs geographic poles. 🎢 ⚛️

Many tiny compass needles distributed on a plexiglas sheet around a conductor, though the voltage source is off, no current flowing. The compass needles are all roughly parallel, and pointing towards geographic north, verified with a standard orientation/navigation compass.

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 03/12/2024

Scientists, academics, researchers: We’re excited to share that @altmetric.com is now tracking mentions of your research on Bluesky! 🧪

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Dr Cornelia Hofmann @coenneli.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Gradual change in the sugar solution concentration, yeah. The demo depends on the sugar molecules slowly settling more towards the bottom of the tank. Bumping into the table will stir it up and reduce the curvature, or destroy it completely even.

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