The feasibility of floating in a bubble

Hello readers! Wicked: For Good came out last week, and since then, I’ve been pondering the physics of Glinda’s bubble. For those of you that haven’t seen the film – don’t worry. I won’t spoil anything in this post that hasn’t already been spoiled in the trailers. The reason that Glinda’s bubble has been bothering … Continue reading The feasibility of floating in a bubble →

Clayton Calculates: The feasibility of a hedgehog running over water

Hello readers! This week’s post is a response to a reader request. Harry (aged 27) has asked me to investigate the feasibility of a hedgehog running over water, if that hedgehog could run very fast. Some of you may have already guessed the inspiration for this enquiry, as it relates to a franchise that is … Continue reading Clayton Calculates: The feasibility of a hedgehog running over water →

Clayton Calculates: Lava-water interactions in video games

Hello readers! This is an old post that I unearthed while tidying up the blog, so I have streamlined the structure and removed the spelling errors in order to share it once again. These calculations come from June 2023, and were originally tied to a post that discussed the properties of lava. At the time, … Continue reading Clayton Calculates: Lava-water interactions in video games →

Six-minute summary: Pythagoras

Hello readers! This week we’re exploring the life of Pythagoras, an Ancient Greek philosopher best known for a theory regarding right-angled triangles. His impact on modern science is undeniable. Centuries after his death, he inspired eminent scientists such as Kepler and Newton to discover fundamental laws of physics, and even now, he has the power … Continue reading Six-minute summary: Pythagoras →

Clayton Calculates: Ice Magic

Hello readers! Today we’re taking an analytical dive into the feasibility of ‘ice magic’, which I am defining as the ability to conjure solid ice out of thin air. This frosty power is found in traditional fantasy and in superhero genres, from Elsa in Frozen, to Todoroki in My Hero Academia, to Frozone in The … Continue reading Clayton Calculates: Ice Magic →

Six-minute summary: Sophie Germain

Hello readers! Today we’re taking a look at the life of Sophie Germain, a French mathematician. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d never heard of her, and by the end of this summary, I hope you’ll agree that this is a terrible shame. Childhood Sophie Germain was born in Paris in 1776, with the full … Continue reading Six-minute summary: Sophie Germain →