In experimental condensed matter physics (and frankly, most tabletop-experiment fields), there are many ways to interrogate nature, and usually, multiple complementary experiments are needed to converge on the truth. Don't let people (including/especially your advisor) convince

A few years ago Caltech removed Millikan's name from their buildings because he was a eugenicist. As repugnant as those views are today, in his time this was an erudite position. Similarly, in today’s academia there are many modal views that history (not to mention contemporary

1. This takes almost zero additional resources on the part of the journal, as I discussed 10+ years ago. qr.ae/pADH2A 2. There also needs to be transparency about editorial decisions. E.g. how many of the nat. comm. phys. articles were nature physics desk rejects

Rarely does a product delight customers light the Cafe X coffee robot. I'm surprised they have not expanded into the myriad space-constrained places in desperate need of caffienation

When colored in blue, this ARPES image of a superconductor looks like the blue people from Avatar. A movie involving room temperature superconductors (so I've been told). My collaborators should supplement DFT with conspiracy theory.

First trip to Los Alamos in a while "Your z-number is really low!" (Me slightly offended thinking it is like h-index) Apparently LANL assigns persistent badge numbers in numerical order...

Academics in every field at universities with insufficient construction/renovation budget are involuntarily in this category. And some of my theory colleagues inexplicably like it.

This. And for junior academics, do not take a permanent position that separates you from your spouse, under the delusion that it will resolve within the window of your biological clock. Your advisor might pique your optimism with stories of couples that were reunited within two

It never compiled with errors before Overleaf

The images coming out of the Rubin observatory are truly remarkable, even my 6-year-old was impressed. It is also a reminder how extraordinary Vera Rubin and her female contemporaries in physics were. Not only did they contend with actual discrimination ("sorry, we don't

So you plan on doing research in condensed matter physics? Although most research projects in this area get up close and personal with the science of the field, what you do day-to-day will depend very much on the techniques you do. Some research involves tinkering/measuring in

Spotted in Jersey (UK). My favorite type of building supplies.

2D magnetic domain structures used to decoratively showcase the product? I am here for it.