iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Direct Measurement Video of a Rotating Water Tank: Purple Hexane and Parabolic Fish

The next step after that is to put fish in it like Peter Bohacek's famous Direct Measurement video: youtu.be/f8IwL2ZtDTc?... #ITeachPhysics

youtu.be

YouTube video by Peter Bohacek

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Still worth it if you can only afford 1 for demonstrations, from the perspective of someone who used a large aquarium that was difficult to empty. And if you use powdered milk to better show the laser beam (use Mop&Glow), it doesn't smell as bad if accidentally left over the weekend. #ITeachPhysics

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I reprocessed my image of the Milky Way at Saguaro National Park to take advantage of 2 years of improving software and processing skills. I still wish I would have left the trail to walk closer to the cacti, but I was alone in the desert and it was dark and scary! #astrophotography

the milky way hovers over the horizon that is dotted with desert brush and large saguaro cacti

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Julie Kegels Spring 2027 Ready-to-Wear Collection

I'm in Vogue: "The runway included portions of stretch fabric suspended just above the ground, to show the weight of each step. It was inspired by a YouTube video of science educator Dan Burns, who used a similar setup to explain Einstein’s theory of general relativity" www.vogue.com/fashion-show...

vogue.com

Julie Kegels Spring 2027 Ready-to-Wear collection, runway looks, beauty, models, and reviews.

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Laser Viewing Tank - Arbor Scientific

The tank is also called a skinny fish tank. It was developed by PTSOS founder @deanbaird.bsky.social and sold by Arbor Scientific as the Laser Viewing Tank: www.arborsci.com/products/las... It is one of the many items PTSOS.org participants walk home with after seeing it demonstrated. #ITeachPhysics

arborsci.com

The versatile "laser aquarium" provides a clear view of reflection, refraction, and critical angles, and allows students to easily control observations involving simple refraction and total internal r...

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AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Do you teach physics and need support? Consider applying to the Bauder Fund for assistance with special physics teaching activities. Deadline to apply is December 1. Learn more at ow.ly/c6mV50YnbWE #AAPTFunding #AAPTGrants

Dr. Raven the Science Maven @ravenscimaven.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Leonard Susskind started out as a plumber!

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Have some movement goals? Want a walking buddy? Also, wanna earn some money betting on your goals? I'm hosting Nerd Walk on StepBet where we're being nerds and walking together get.stepbet.com/SnJA/pjh53cgf

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Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 29/09/2026

I am looking forward to my workshop but I am not sure I will reach the fantastic level!

Physics with Phones

Organizer: Dan Burns

Using advanced sensors integrated into smartphones, participants will be guided through dozens of experiments and activities with emphasis on fluids, waves, sound, electromagnetism, and magnetism. These experiments will showcase the wide range of applications made possible by the technology in their phones. The experiments are suitable for both high school and introductory university physics courses. Participants will receive a kit with materials for the experiments. The Physics with Phones curriculum can be accessed at this website: https://st.llnl.gov/sci-ed/Physics-with-Phones.

What to Bring: A laptop and a smartphone.

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AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Excited for #AAPTWM27? Don’t miss out on the fantastic workshops happening on January 9th! Workshops fill up fast—secure your spot early! Explore the lineup and add your favorites to your registration: ow.ly/vSPy50ZQCNL #AAPTMeeting #AAPTConference

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Vincent Ledvina @vincentledvina.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Want to get alerted when mid-latitude aurora may be on the way? Sign up for my email list which includes free aurora alert emails when NOAA SWPC sends out a G2 or higher geomagnetic storm watch. go.theauroraguy.com/alerts

go.theauroraguy.com

Know before the sky lights up

When a G2 or stronger storm is forecast, I email you what is coming, when it could hit, and who could see aurora.

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Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 29/09/2026

…mmmm, you can really taste the terroir!

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Robert "The Bobby Yaga" McNees @mcnees.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Astronomer and mathematician Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis, exact date of birth unknown, was born around this time in 1698 and baptized #OTD. He was among the first to articulate the Principle of Least Action, one of the most beautiful ideas in physics. 🧪 ⚛️ Image: Wellcome Trust

Etching of Maupertuis. His right hand rests on a globe and his left hand points to the site like a manicule from a broadsheet. He has a long, dark, curly wig on, and a robe tied at the waist with a sash.

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Vincent Ledvina @vincentledvina.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The first 100 customers get 20% off, and the discount code goes out to my email list on launch day. You can sign up here: go.theauroraguy.com/email

go.theauroraguy.com

Join 38,000+ aurora chasers

Storm alerts, forecasts written for every level of aurora chaser, and a free aurora chasing e-book the moment you sign up.

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AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Take advantage of #AAPTWM27 Early Bird Registration rates! Register today and get ready to hear from outstanding plenary speakers, participate in workshops, informative sessions, events, and more. Early Bird rates end on October 23rd. ow.ly/xXQC50YJ4um #AAPTConference #AAPTMeeting #ITeachPhysics

Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 28/09/2026

Aviation Week and Space Technology published my letter about working on the Iridium project!

NAMING CONVENTION
Executive Editor for Defense and Space Robert Wall's article "Spectrum
Battle Heats Up With Rocket Lab's Iridium Deal" (July 13-26, p. 36) brought back memories of my days at the Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunny-vale, California.
My department did some analysis for Motorola in the late 1980s. We were asked to use our expertise in satellite network coverage analysis to confirm some of the initial work on Iridium. We were told that the name came from the initial assessment that 77 satellites would be needed—77 is also the atomic number of the element iridium. Our job was to confirm this number and reduce it, if possible.
My colleagues would let us know how the analysis was going by renaming the constellation for the new number of satellites. It went from iridium to tungsten, then hafnium, ytterbium and finally to dysprosium, element number 66. Motorola wisely decided to keep the original name.
Another rumor about the name
Iridium had to do with a long-term ambition of Motorola. Iridium is found in the layer of rock that contains evidence of the asteroid impact that cauld the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Motorola was hoping their Iridium system would mark the extinction of
AT&T. That was not to be, but it is amazing to still see the name Iridium in the pages of AW&ST!
Daniel J. Burns, Auburn, California

AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY/SEPTEMBER 14-27, 2026

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⭐ ᗰᗩᖇᛕ ᗩ. ǤᗩᖇᒪIᑕᛕ ⭐ @markgarlick.com · 28/09/2026

More fun with my orbital space hotel. Made in #blender. FUN only. Not a serious concept. The barrel-shaped pods are the living quarters. They're detachable in case of damage to the underlying ring. (Although, not sure how much help that will be!) #sciart #spaceart #scifi

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

And if anyone is interested in the book version of the #Multiverse, here is me reading the start of the Multiverse chapter from "How to Design a Universe" (the mad story I tell is 100% true) 😵‍💫 🔭 www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVQ1...

youtube.com

Chapter 7! The Multiverse

YouTube video by Astronomer Royal Scotland Prof Catherine Heymans

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AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Interested in tackling AI challenges in physics education? Join the AAPT AI Leadership Working Group, a year-long action-research initiative. Apply by October 12! ow.ly/AIgI50ZSfmb #PhysicsEducation #PhysicsTeachers #AI #ITeachPhysics #AAPT

Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 28/09/2026

Full moon rising over Lake of the Pines. #astrophotography

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Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 28/09/2026

In the My Solar System sim units, use G = 4.46 The units are an unwieldy AU*km^2/s^2*kg×10^28. My physics activity can be found on the @phetsims.bsky.social website: phet.colorado.edu/en/activitie... #ITeachPhysics

phet.colorado.edu

Loading | PhET Simulations

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Rhett Allain @rhettallain.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#physics video - solving a particular solution of the 3 body problem. Equal mass stars moving in a circle. youtu.be/82ItQEntMrw

youtu.be

Physics Problem: Solution for the 3 Body Problem

YouTube video by Dot Physics

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Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 27/09/2026

That is a neat result! My AP Physics Mech C students solved for two stars orbiting their center of mass in circular orbits. They enjoyed seeing it work after doing the calculations in the @phetsims.bsky.social My Solar System sim. I set up your trinary system and it is even cooler! #ITeachPhysics

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Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 27/09/2026

A brilliant sundog was reflected in the lake this morning.

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Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 26/09/2026

Amazing show in Grass Valley last night. No video was allowed so I made this clip from a Live Photo. The tour continues with a couple of California dates, Portland and Seattle, then on to Portugal.

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Robert "The Bobby Yaga" McNees @mcnees.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Today is the big one-two-one for special relativity. In honor of this momentous occation here is a 121-post-long thread. (I am just kidding, the thread is from last year so it is only 120 posts long. [No, I am still just kidding, it is only 35 posts.]) Happy birthday, special relativity! 🧪 ⚛️ 🔭

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Joe Cossette @cossettej.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Just found out that the new budget electronic balances that we got can measure up to 5 kg and display in newtons!! Makes for some significantly simpler force stations than I had been doing :) #ITeachPhysics Amazon Link: amzn.to/4xL3t8y

Mystery mass supported by a spring scale and a balance displaying NEWTONS!!

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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 25/09/2026

Voyager Instruments xkcd.com/3302/

3-panel comic. (1) [Person with shoulder-length hair gestures at diagrams on wall in front of table with three people.] PERSON 1: As the radioactive power source on *Voyager 1* weakens, we’ve been turning instruments off to conserve power. (2) PERSON 1: Only two instruments remain. Do we want to lose the plasma wave subsystem or the magnetometer? (3) PERSON 2 with ponytail: You know, if we just turned off Greg’s LED underlighting– PERSON 4 with short hair: Absolutely not. PERSON 3: Dammit, Greg. PERSON 4: I will *not* allow us to look uncool in front of aliens.

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AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Join us for an AAPT Virtual Coffee Hour, "Dark Matter Day: Activities to Use with Students," with facilitators Marla Glover & Ken Cecire on October 12th at 7:30 pm ET. This event is open to the public. ow.ly/UpvI50ZNt19 #AAPTCoffeeHour #PhysicsEducation #ITeachPhysics

AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Reposted by Dan Burns

Check out the Living Physics Portal! An online environment for physics educators to find, share, and discuss free teaching materials for introductory physics for life sciences (IPLS)! ow.ly/5eZa50NqeNa. #Physics #PhysicsTeachers #PhysicsEducation #ITeachPhysics

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Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 24/09/2026

Sporting my new Aviators gear including a Hunter Bigge autographed cap at last night’s game.

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Dan Burns @the-physics-well.net · 24/09/2026

Got to see my former student Hunter Bigge shut down the Oklahoma City Comets in the ninth last night. Unfortunately the Aviators were down by 6. Pacific Coast League championship game tonight. Hunter may be the only MLB player with a Harvard physics degree.

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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

My latest @newscientist.com cartoon. many more here: www.newscientist.com/author/tom-gauld/

Image: A graph with lots of red dots clustered together in a curve. The are all looking upwards at a single red dot wearing sunglasses.

Caption: Mike was an outlier and would probably be excluded from the study, but all the other data points secretly thought he was really cool.

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Give me your tacky, your boorish, Your befuddled asses yearning to eat free buffet.

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Yes, hope to see him tonight. Jim is driving up today

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First time I have seen challenges to check swing calls. It seemed to work well and was quick. I guess this is coming to MLB next season, whenever that will be! 😢

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