Announcement PF Insights: The Official PF Blog

[Greg Bernhardt]

UPDATE: PF Insights is now live!

We are proud to announce the soon to be feature of "PF Insights: The Official PF Blog"

https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/insightslogo-300x71.png

This blog will be a fantastic collection of casual and technical commentary on all things science and math. All written by your favorite select members from the PF community. The diversity of content should be it's real strength. One week you may find an entry on a member's work experience at a particle accelerator. The next week you could find a review of the hottest pop sci book. The next week you find a tutorial on an interesting way to solve an equation. The next week an opinion piece on the lack of science funding. The next week a commentary on a big science discovery. And on and on and on, the possibilities are endless!

PF Insights will truly be a place you'll want to be checking out every time you visit to see what is new.

We are hoping to release PF Insights to the public first week of May.

To round off our writing team, we are looking for interested bloggers with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a science. Special exceptions are possible. If you would like to be considered to become part of the PF Insights writing team, please apply here:
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/

More information to come!

 

[Drakkith]

Will there be a Cooking with Om segment? I know @OmCheeto would love it.

 

[donpacino]

This seems like a good place to have a "request section" where people can request that an SME writes a segment on a particular topic.

for example. I have always been interested in aerodynamics, but have not taken any formal coursework in the subject.

 

[Drakkith]

The problem is that we may or may not have someone with the necessary skill set to write a particular article.

 

[donpacino]

Very true, but it doesn't hurt to ask. I'm sure someone might at the very least have some exposure to the subject. the best way to learn is to teach

 

[Drakkith]

You can't have a decent blog if someone only has 'some exposure' on a subject. Unless perhaps you're blogging about the effects of sub-zero temperatures on bare skin.

 

[donpacino]

good point

 

[rollingstein]

for example. I have always been interested in aerodynamics, but have not taken any formal coursework in the subject.

Have you tried wikipedia or any of the open material / courses available on the web?

The problem with writing an article on core topics today is that there's such a huge (and often good quality) body of pre existing work out there that I feel overwhelmed to put time into yet another article. To know you can do better than what's out there needs a huge investment for most broad topics.

 

[rollingstein]

My suggestion is articles on esoteric topics. That segment may not be saturated yet.

e.g. Maybe we have a member who's worked with massive turbines or a railway engine repairman or someone who laid dynamite in mines.

Its very fun to read anecdotes from such people.

 

[PWiz]

To round off our writing team, we are looking for interested bloggers with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a science.

Aw man I'll have to wait for 5 years before I can get started!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

My suggestion is articles on esoteric topics.

Or a different spin on common topics. We're definitely not trying to build a vanilla encyclopedia. The nature of blogs enables writers the freedom to add their own flare and personality.

 

[rollingstein]

Or a different spin on common topics. We're definitely not trying to build a vanilla encyclopedia. The nature of blogs enables writers the freedom to add their own flare and personality.

I'd love to write. Can I write under a pseudonym? Too many wackos out there. Will fill the form to apply.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I'd love to write. Can I write under a pseudonym? Too many wackos out there. Will fill the form to apply.

You will be logged in as rollingstein :)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I wanted to mention that "members" information can now be found in the "Info" nav link

 

[donpacino]

Have you tried wikipedia or any of the open material / courses available on the web?

The problem with writing an article on core topics today is that there's such a huge (and often good quality) body of pre existing work out there that I feel overwhelmed to put time into yet another article. To know you can do better than what's out there needs a huge investment for most broad topics.

I have looked at Wikipedia (briefly) and looked for some online articles. I have found that everything is either way to easy (high level concepts no math) or too difficult (requiring a bachelors at minimum in the subject). Maybe in my specific case something like MIT opencourseware is the way to go. I also havnt looked wayyy too hard.

I still think there is a place for a request section, but maybe it would be more of a, "hey rollingstein, i know you're good at 'X' any good stories or cool ideas to share"?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I still think there is a place for a request section, but maybe it would be more of a, "hey rollingstein, i know you're good at 'X' any good stories or cool ideas to share"?

It's a great idea, we will add a sticky for recommendations once we go live.

 

[Delta31415]

this will be helpful

 

[OmCheeto]

Will there be a Cooking with Om segment? I know @OmCheeto would love it.

Not after my last attempt. Though I think I've discovered a method of turning perfectly good food into compost, almost instantly
I converted 2 potatoes, 1 cup lentils, and some spices, into curried dirt biscuits. I still have a bag full in the fridge, if you'd like some.

But I don't think that would be a very popular subject, so I was thinking instead, that I would compile the worlds greatest collection of electrical analogies.
My next analogy will involve an electrostatically charged chicken as the electrons, and the road as the resistor.
The goal of course, is to finally find the proper mathematical derivation of the motivation.

 

[Drakkith]

But I don't think that would be a very popular subject, so I was thinking instead, that I would compile the worlds greatest collection of electrical analogies.

Oh please! Oh please oh please oh please!

 

[OmCheeto]

Oh please! Oh please oh please oh please!

Things might get complicated if we want to model AC.
I believe we would need at least two chickens, and a bucket of magnuggets.
You see, once the chicken is motivated, a massless invisible swarm of magnuggets start mysteriously swirling around the chicken.
And I think we'd need some flies. Yes, lots of flies.

And superconductivity... Ah ha! Properly motivated, two chickens, who normally are repulsed by each other, can be brought together, into a bond called: a chicken cooper pair.

hmmm...
Perhaps this isn't a good idea.

 

[Drakkith]

Perhaps this isn't a good idea.

On the contrary, it's a delicious idea.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Still looking for writers
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

The blog is launching later today with a great piece from @Ygggdrasil

We're still looking for writers. Apply today
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

The first blog post is up
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/

 

[dlgoff]

The first blog post is up
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/

I just got home and haven't read it, but it sure looks spiffy. I think you've got a hit here Greg.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I just got home and haven't read it, but it sure looks spiffy. I think you've got a hit here Greg.

It's all up to the writers

 

[fluidistic]

The quizz about Einstein is bugged as of now. At least for the last 2 questions.
Normally when you're wrong you get to see the correct answer with a green check sign and your wrong answer with a red cross. I only get to see a red cross for the last 2 questions. I know the correct answer because it's written below.
But here's another bug, for the last question: 12. According to himself, what was Einstien’s “biggest blunder”. I ticked the correct answer (Creation of Lambda) and I get a red cross as if it was wrong. However at the bottom I get, as correct answer: Creation of Lambda or Cosmological Constant.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

The quizz about Einstein is bugged as of now. At least for the last 2 questions.

Thanks, I just fixed the last two questions

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

We have 5 great entries published so far. Lots of good stuff coming up too!
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/

 

[OmCheeto]

Submitting a Post
Format and Style

• PF Insights uses American English spelling

If I sign up, and write one, can I at least use an English accent?
Or, in the least, a Scottish one.
I've heard the chickens in 'Chicken Run' spoke in a Scottish accent.

Based upon that, I've decided that one can't very well, write a chicken based electrical analogy without a proper Scottish accent.

 

[PWiz]

So is there any place where people can request for blogs on certain topics, and writers can choose from the popular requests?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

So is there any place where people can request for blogs on certain topics, and writers can choose from the popular requests?

I'll be making a suggestion thread shortly, thanks!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Here is the request thread
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/pf-insights-topic-request.812096/

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

PF Insights is off to an amazing start. Some really great content
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

17 published posts so far!
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/

 

[rumborak]

As I am fairly new to this forum, can I ask the question what the value/purpose of these "Insight" articles is? In particular, are any of the people who might benefit from these articles actually reading them?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

what the value/purpose of these "Insight" articles is?

To educate, inform, and entertain

In particular, are any of the people who might benefit from these articles actually reading them?

Of course, we've gotten very good feedback so far

 

[OmCheeto]

To educate, inform, and entertain
Of course, we've gotten very good feedback so far

Can you tell them to slow down.
My skull is full, and every time I read a new one, excess brain oozes out of my ears.

Seriously though, they are great!

BTW, who's idea was this?

 

[ZapperZ]

Can you tell them to slow down.
My skull is full, and every time I read a new one, excess brain oozes out of my ears.

Haven't your mom ever told you to close your head or your brain will ooze out?

Seriously though, they are great!

BTW, who's idea was this?

It came to Greg in a dream. :)

Zz.

 

[phion]

Groovy.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

My skull is full, and every time I read a new one, excess brain oozes out of my ears.

Before sitting down to read PF I wear this to keep my brains inside my head

BTW, who's idea was this?

The idea is nothing if we didn't have an amazing group of authors!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

btw, if you enjoy an entry, please make a comment, that's the only way the authors can know you enjoyed it :)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Over 30 entries now! Amazing content!

 

[Intrastellar]

There are so many insights and they have such a high quality that it is astonishing! Please continue to produce these amazing insights!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

There are so many insights and they have such a high quality that it is astonishing! Please continue to produce these amazing insights!

I agree, PF Insights is off to an incredible start. We have 6 more articles in the pipeline to be published and many drafts being developed at this very moment. It's amazing! Our community is truly full of interesting people! We've been attracting a lot of attention on social media lately.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Authors now have a badge that links to their Insights profile listing their posts.

 

[mfb]

For some reason I have the link twice.

Edit: Weird, refreshing the page solved the bug.<--- about there

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

For some reason I have the link twice.

You are too quick. I created the error for about 5min :)

 

[dlgoff]

You are too quick. I created the error for about 5min :)

You can't get away with anything here Greg. Didn't you know that?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

You can't get away with anything here Greg. Didn't you know that?

I do know! I remember making a small error and Evo catching it within minutes. I couldn't believe it!