The
News
19Aug2008
Brian Cox
Hi all
Sorry I haven’t written for a while…Been a bit all over the place.
Listeners to my Planet Rock show will know about the weekly science spot, well next Sunday I have a treat for you if you do..
This morning I finally got to talk to Brian Cox, one of the physicists working on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN…(He also used to play keyboards for D-Ream, so in his case, I guess things really did get better..)
Holy shitting Christ..What a DUDE!! He managed to talk about mind-meltingly hugely profound physics concepts with a clarity and simplicity that has to be heard to be believed.
(What’s more he does it in a seductively lilting Mancunian accent, more Johnny Marr than Liam Gallagher if you know what I mean, and he’s got a cooler haircut than either of them to boot..)
What the good folk at CERN are about to attempt is simply astonishing. On Sept 10th, they will have cooled down the 27km particle accelerator to 2 degrees above absolute zero…That’s colder than the space between galaxies..They will then start firing protons at each other at 99.999% of the speed of light in order to recreate the conditions in the Universe ONE BILLIONTH OF A SECOND after the Big Bang!!!!!!
The idea is to find the so far elusive Higg’s Bosun, the so-called ‘God’ particle that give things mass, and try to detect why we can’t detect dark matter…I was going into an ecstatic spin listening to him talk about this stuff, and it was all I could do to not jump off my chair shouting “Yippeee!“
He also does it with a keenness and humour that is utterly captivating, and makes me bitterly regret having dropped out of Physics at school. (Although to be fair I blame my Physics teacher’s excruciatingly long winded and tedious experiments verifying Hooke’s Law for that..)
Physics is the big daddy of all the sciences, and right now it’s on the verge of breakthroughs that are beyond immense, like Biology in Darwin’s time I expect. In terms of making Physics sexy, appealing and accessible someone like Brian is worth a thousand Stephen Hawkings, and needs to be celebrated as such.
We’ve had Comedy as the new Rock’n’Roll, well let’s make the next one particle physics!
Check out
http://public.web.cern.ch
Also, some of the scientists have done a rap!! It’s actually a brilliantly simple explanation of what they’re up to..
It will certainly be better than last weeks show, which was plagued with mishaps, and I can only apologise to my guest Chris Spedding for the shambles…
xxGuy
30 comments
Nate - August 20, 2008 12:20 AM
Sounds like a good interview Guy, although I have not listened to you in a long while 🙁 It’s about time that some ‘science’ was applied to the PR Listen Again feature! It would be nice if it worked on a Mac for example 😉
Do you listen to the Guardian Science Podcast? I think you would like it 🙂
Phoenix - August 20, 2008 5:57 AM
Woo, Guy on bass in the Olympics. I’ll have to tune in for that.
As for all the CERN stuff, very exciting. And I just get a grin reading this and hearing your voice in my head as if you were reading it over the air. Just like a little kid with massive glee going on there.
Cheers,
Nix.
Karen - August 20, 2008 8:03 AM
Ok, after the first reaction, of what the hell is it ?
I think it is the largest/longest particle accelerator used to smash atoms and test.
Physics was something I generally forgot after the last exam, I did actually do quite well, amazing as that may seem
Nic speling of Olympics by th wy
Thomas Robinson - August 20, 2008 2:01 PM
Great news about the interview. Roll on sunday is all i can say, mainly because i’m completely lost about the rest of it at the minute.
I wouldn’t call last weeks show a shambles. OK there was a problem with Chris’ microphone or something like that and the CD player just doesn’t know when to stop but it was a long way off a shambles.
OK so Terry Wogan knows how to use all the bits and bobs in the studio but he also sends half the listeners to sleep. Your show is always entertaining, even if you don’t always mean it to be.
Caroline - August 20, 2008 4:48 PM
Whoa…absolutely fantastic news about the interview!! While I always look forward to the science spot, I will definitely, DEFINITELY look forward to this upcoming Sunday’s spot. Even if I can’t wrap my head around at least half of what will be discussed…as much as I hate saying it, especially after having gotten to know how much you adore the subject, Guy, I am not much for physics or its siblings like chemistry (*tiny voice*please don’t kill me!!*tiny voice*). I’d probably be better at and enjoy those sciences more if I was more of a math-head. Math has always been my one weakest subject…and you’d think it would be otherwise considering that my dad majored in mathematics (and economics) at UNC. But no, I’ve always had more of a mind for arts, writing, and history/world culture/geography…
But all of that said, I will always have admiration for those who know and take delight in the details of physics/chemistry, like you Guy. 🙂
- Caroline
Karen - August 21, 2008 1:51 AM
Um, we have been discussing this at work.
Looks like you have started something.
Apparently two pseudo scientists are suing to stop them firing it up, something about creating a mini black hole that will consume the earth or the like…
Phoenix - August 21, 2008 7:46 AM
And when they throw the switch on the 10th and the earth doesn’t go kerblooey, the ghost of Mel Blanc will arise from his grave and plaintively ask, “Where’s the kaboom? There’s supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom…”
And we will giggle like little kids.
Or I will anyway. XD
Nix.
mondo - August 21, 2008 3:23 PM
Hey that was a cool blog to read. I love things like that. And Brian Cox seems like the kinds of bloke I could hear talking about stuff like that for hours. Very cool guy.
Good to see you back blogging after so long Guy!
As for physics being sexy? There is nothing more sexy than being smart. 🙂
Caroline - August 21, 2008 3:25 PM
Ah…you can certainly bank on me joining you in that giggling, ‘Nix. 😀
One of the greatest cartoon characters ever crafted…
“I claim this planet in the name of Mars, hmmmm. Isn’t Mars lovely, HMMMM?!”
And it just dawned on me that it’s a good thing that it was Mars from whence he came and not Pluto…there’s enough ridiculous ‘editing’ in ‘toons as it is these days… *sighs*
(Yes…it is a *very slow* day here at work.)
- Caroline
Thomas Robinson - August 21, 2008 4:05 PM
Ah i finally realised you were talking about Marvin the Martian from Duck Dogers weren’t you? Sorry im very slow on the uptake at the minute. Will CERN give mars a nice view of venus when its turned on?
Nate - August 22, 2008 6:37 PM
You could restore your original post now Guy as Thomas (above) did some detective work. He tweeted the following 5 hours ago: “but Guy wasn’t the first to reveal it http://tinyurl.com/5udctt” That Mirror article is dated 5 days before your blog post 🙂 Old News… Move On… Nothing to see here…
Phoenix - August 24, 2008 7:06 PM
Or to translate Nate’s comment into geek-speak: These aren’t the droids you’re looking for…
XD
Nix.
mondo - August 24, 2008 7:33 PM
hehehe!!! Just listening to your show and you said about you letting A Whole Lot Of Love out the bag early! Doh!! hehe. Made me giggle.
I really hope you didn’t get in too much trouble for that.
Great show by the way. 😀
-mondo
Karen - August 25, 2008 8:41 AM
Thoroughly enjoyed the Brian Cox interview. Thank you.
Dragonlady - August 25, 2008 10:34 AM
I remember when the were building the LEP, (in 1978). I was just ten but I loved physics, I wanted to work at the CERN later… but my math skills are really not up to that.
Instead I have my best friend who became an astrophysicist.
I must really try and go visit again, I live 2 hours away from Geneva.
Josip - August 25, 2008 11:12 PM
Hello, Guy! I just came across your website. I regret that I missed Ferry’s show in Zagreb some time ago. I wanted to say hello and get my copy of “Bass and other animals” signed. Perhaps there will be another chance. Cheers from Croatia! Josip
Thomas Robinson - September 6, 2008 4:03 PM
I’ve just noticed that Guy’s show has been moved back an hour, so his show is now 8–10pm. Phil Manzanera’s got a new show thats on from 7–8pm.
Planet Rock’s own newsletter still has Guy’s slot as 7–9 but if you go to the on air schedule it’s been changed, but the fact that Guy hasn’t said anything makes me wonder if maybe planet rock have forgotten to even tell him!
Caroline - September 6, 2008 9:44 PM
Hopefully, Guy has been made aware one way or another…once a few weeks ago, he hinted at a possible schedule change. I started to wonder if it that change had been dropped. But obviously, no it was not…that said, I may have to tune into Ray’s hour. I cannot help but be quite curious about it, being one who loves me some Roxy.
Even though I agree that Planet Rock could have done a better job in letting us and/or Guy know about his show being bumped up an hour (I could very well be wrong, but I’m liking to think that Mr. Manzanara’s show was not a spur of the moment arrangement), I have to say that I am just glad that the show will still be on Sunday evenings (or afternoons over here).
- Caroline
Phoenix - September 10, 2008 9:00 AM
Well, CERN’s fired up the hadron collider and Mel Blanc’s spirit has asked his plaintive question.
I guess this means I have to go to work tomorrow…
Nix.
Ronan Casey - September 15, 2008 5:52 PM
My condolences, Guy, on the sad passing of your father-in-law. May he rest in peace and continue to shine on in all our lives courtesy of his great music.
Caroline - September 15, 2008 6:25 PM
My brother e‑mailed me the news a few minutes ago, and my heart dropped. 🙁 My condolences and sympathies to you and yours, Guy, as I will certainly honor your father-in-law and his music and spirit with not only a Floyd ‘marathon’ of sorts when I get home from work today, but will also dedicate one of the blacklight paintings I’ve been working on lately to him.
As Ronan beautifully stated, may Mr. Wright RIP and always shine on through his outstanding music and work.
- Caroline
Phoenix - September 15, 2008 6:59 PM
My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you and your family, Guy. I will play some of his stuff again this Friday on my show, comedy music be damned.
*hugs*
Nix.
alternate gilmour - September 15, 2008 7:29 PM
I’m so so sad. My thoughts are with you and yours.
Paul Sexton - September 15, 2008 7:35 PM
Heart felt condolances to all, Guy.
AlX - September 15, 2008 7:48 PM
My condolences to Guy, Gala and all the family.
Rest in peace Rick. We will miss you.
Shine on
Sarah S. - September 15, 2008 7:53 PM
My thoughts are with you and your family. May family, friends, and beloved memories comfort you through this very difficult time. I am terribly sorry for your tragic loss. Richard will be terribly missed.
~Sarah
Genevieve - September 15, 2008 7:54 PM
All my sympathies for you and your family, specially Gala.
Phoenix - September 15, 2008 7:59 PM
Mr. Padua, could you please hook us up with a separate entry to comment in whilst Guy is away?
Thank you.
Thomas Robinson - September 15, 2008 8:08 PM
I’m sorry to hear of your loss Guy, and my thoughts are with all of Rick’s family and friends.
Alex Paterson - September 15, 2008 9:09 PM
My condolences to all the family and friends.