What Are Some Quirky Science Topics for a Physics Talk?

[bayners123]

I've got to do a talk for part of my physics degree and I'm trying to think of subject ideas. It doesn't have to be physics exactly, but must be scientific in some way.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for quirky subject matter. To give you an idea, my favourite talk from the year before was about sonoluminescence: how collapsing bubbles can focus sound energy to produce a pulse of light. Obviously I can't do that again, but that kind of thing is what I'm aiming for.

Any ideas would be great! :)

 

[Ivan Seeking]

How do LCD screens work, exactly? It's more complicated than one might expect.

We just bought an LED LCD TV. Interestingly, the 22 year old saleman helping us at least knew the basics, but his sales manager was clueless. The manager thought the LED TV uses an LED screen.

 

[Insanity]

Brewing/Fermentation science.
Proper temperature for enzyme during the mash.
Malt conversion efficiency.
Strains of yeast to give proper flavor profile.
Temperature control during fermentation.
Type of hops, calculating the amount needed based on the % of alpha acid in the hops, correcting the amount needed based on the concentration of the wort during the boil.

Designing the brew to hit the target profile of alcohol %, flavor, bitterness, color.

 

[FlexGunship]

The Dunning-Kruger Effect

At the end, you should conclude that you are the best speaker.

 

[EnumaElish]

How light + air ---> oak tree.

 

[TylerH]

Scotch tape radiation: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=x-ray-machine-adhesive-tape

 

[Pengwuino]

How do LCD screens work, exactly? It's more complicated than one might expect.

You plug it into your cable box. Duh.

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

How a quartz oscillators works. [URL]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff286/nfforums/NF%20smilies/15gch6u.png[/URL]

 

[bayners123]

Thanks all! There's some really good ideas in there.
Ivan, I had a look at LCD screens and you're right, there's a lot more to it than I thought.
Insanity, that does sound interesting but it's a bit on the biochemistry side for me.
FlexGunship: clearly a superior suggestion.
EnumaElish: again great, but quite a broad subject! I'm not sure I could learn it in sufficient detail to answer questions on it well.
╔(σ_σ)╝ that was a really good suggestion and I've actually been interested in it for a while myself but it didn't occur to me, I think I'll keep that on the backburner in case I have to change topics for some reason.

I think I'm going to go with Tyler's Scotch tape radiation though, it sounds fascinating!

 

[FlexGunship]

FlexGunship: clearly a superior suggestion.

Oh, I know.