26
Nov
Best Australian Science Writing 2018

- Title: The Best Australian Science Writing 2018
- Editor: John Pickrell
- Published: 2018 (273 pg)
- Genre: essays and poems
- List of Challenges 2018
- Monthly plan
- Non-Fiction Reading List
- Robyn Arianrhod – Quantum Entanglement “spooky action at a distance”
- Does quantum physics melt your brain?
- Don’t panic. You’re not alone.
- I’m still confused.

- Alicia Sometimes – Kilonova (review)
- stunning poem and I added a video to the review!

- Nick O’Malley – Bureaucratic Bungle
- This reads like “fiction”….a who dunnit and why?
- Who destroys the memory of the plant?
- Would you burn the Mona Lisa?

- Michael Lucy – The Entangled Web – Micius Satellite
- Quantum entanglement —physics at its strangest—
- …it seems this is a trendy subject!
- has moved out of this world and into space.
- Micius sends quantum particles to ground
- …stations separated by 1200 kilometers
- smashing the previous world record.
- The result is a stepping stone to a
- …space-based ‘unhackable’ quantum internet!
- Michael Lucy uses simple example to explain complex quantum theory.
- Now I’m starting to understand the basics of entanglement…
- …there’s still hope for this less confused reader.
- Now: bits out of a computer
- Future: qubits (..good word for scrabble)…out of a quantum computer!

Richard Guilliaat – The Quantum Queen
- Quantum physicist Michelle Simmons (51 yr) was
- …declared Australian of the Year 2018.
- If building a quantum computer is not enough…
- …she is also the mother of three children!
- This interview with Ms Simmons just made me so proud
- of women choosing science and
- ….family and becoming the best!

Other favorites:
- Jo Chandler – Journalist of the year 2017 Walkley Awards
- Ms Chandler tells us about the last battle against polio
- Michael Slezak – Is Ian Cured?
- Andrew Leigh – Placebo effects and sham surgeries
- Peter Dockrill – seafaring trapdoor spiders
- Fiona McMillan – reveals secrets about Paris gutters (jick)!
- Ashley Hay – Leonie, zebra shark is world news!
- Liam Mannix – edible drugs from lettuce….that’s amazing!
- Elizabeth Finkel – Editor-in-chief Cosmos magazine
- In this book she reveals some bad science involving
- cannabis treatments!
- Ms. Finkel won QLD Premier’s Literary Award 2004 for her
- article about Stem cells.
- Rick Shine – Toad invasion…man the battle stations…
- science written with a flair for humor. #MustRead
Conclusion:
- This is a treasure trove of topics!
- The essays and poems show us that
- …art and science feed off each other.
- I have given you a taste for what lies ahead
- in the rest of the book.
- Best Australian Science Writing 2018
- would be a great Christmas present
- …for that amateur scientist on your list!
- #EyeOpener
Last thoughts:
- I read the introduction to this anthology on the train.
- While walking home…
- I took Stephen Hawking’s advice:
- “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet!“
