Discoveries in the Physics & Astronomy shop | Science, curiosities, and surprises
Welcome to Olin Science 181, the Physics & Astronomy department’s machine shop. As the department’s support team, we regularly discover, design, and build all sorts of curiosities. This blog is just a small sample of the fascinating things we come across every day.
They’re interesting. Sometimes strange. Sometimes oddly charming.
Always worth sharing.
“CAUTION: AI does not know how to write a proper lab report. Do not risk losing easy points by trusting something that has never attended labs.”
Entirely reasonable position from instructors: do your own work, and please don’t cheat.
Of course, we also get this message in the same week:
‘Twas update-the-computers season in the department, and the new Windows laptops have eliminated the right-side Control key in favor of one for Microsoft’s AI. Ditched a very useful key for one that’s utterly pointless.
For example: with only a single Control key on the left, it is no longer possible to log into this laptop with a single hand, even if you’ve got hands like Andre the Giant.
Sigh.
There it goes, our old 1968 Bridgeport. Cast iron and steel, in need of a little refurbishment, and off to a new home across campus. The replacement’s on its way.
That we got the old one out the door is a small miracle by itself. Installing the new milling machine? There’s a budget to pay someone else to do that.
All it’s missing is the chalk outline and little tents with numbers.
With the right crystal structure, as with calcite (a form of good, old calcium carbonate), you get some neat effects. With a refractive index that varies depending on the polarization of the light passing through, a chunk of iceland spar is birefringent and causes a visual doubling effect of the objects seen beyond. How cool is that?
Behold, Canis Major, the Greater Dog! He’s such a good boy!
Sirius-ly.
Campus can really be quite lovely when it’s quiet.
Bar magnets, over time, lose some of their intensity. From time to time, a top-up’s in order, using this glorious little contraption.
Two magnets, a conducting bar, and the fantastic sound of BZZZZ-THUNK as those iron atoms line up. Cool!
Sometimes you stumble across little gems, squirreled away in the back closets, like these illuminance meters, acquired in March of 1964. Sadly, no cost etched into the side. Eventually, these were replaced with more modern versions, before being phased out of labs entirely.
We can guess how they were used – being next to a box of slide frames with a rainbow of color filters – and assume they’re not making a comeback. But check out all of that tiny, mid-century text crammed on there!
Especially intrigued at the specific note about newsprint requiring twice the incident light of other reading, writing, and general tasks.
Equipment from the Chemistry folks in need of repair. Delivered in what, we assume, was the easiest to acquire and least expensive option.
The cat owner seems pleased with the situation. The cat? The cat looks intense.
When a table is wider than the doorway it’s meant to fit through, it’s time to get creative.
When that table top is for an optics setup, and weighs about 400 kg, creativity involves some sturdy equipment.
Step two: make certain it’s exactly where it wants to stay for the next decade or two.
“To Reorder Please Call DEAD BATTERIES”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice…