Six-minute summary: Henry Cavendish

Hello readers! It’s time for another six-minute summary of a historical figure. This week, we’ll explore the life of Henry Cavendish, an eighteenth-century scientist best known for discovering hydrogen and measuring the density of the Earth. However, Cavendish kept many of his findings private, and much of his pioneering research only reached public attention decades … Continue reading Six-minute summary: Henry Cavendish →

What is science fiction? Part two: a discussion

Hello readers! Welcome to part two of my attempt to define science fiction. Last week I gave a brief history of the genre and mentioned some very old stories that have each been labelled “the first science fiction” by various academics. This week we will delve a bit deeper and explore the dividing line between … Continue reading What is science fiction? Part two: a discussion →

Is lava wet? And other questions

Hello readers! I’ve been playing more Tears of the Kingdom recently, and some of the “lava physics” in that game reminded me of various questions I have been asked over the years about lava in films and video games. This blog has hosted plenty of “cool rocks” since its inception, but we haven’t yet talked … Continue reading Is lava wet? And other questions →

Six-minute summary: Alfred Wegener

Hello readers! Thought I'd try something different again today (nothing like a bit of consistency to keep the audience engaged). You might have noticed that the title utilises an arbitrary amount of time in order to attain alliterative flow, from which it is embarrassingly obvious that I needed a snappy name for a new type … Continue reading Six-minute summary: Alfred Wegener →