What does water condensation on the rim of a coffee cup tell us about the greenhouse effect, or the heat emanating from a hot coffee reveal about the evidence for the big bang? Why did Lord Kelvin consider that the physics behind cooling coffee implied that the earth was simply not old enough for Darwinian evolution to have occurred and how does stirring a cup of coffee relate to the measurement of blood pressure?
As many scientists have found, gazing into a coffee reveals a rich universe of physics. Bean thinking explores this physics through anecdotes and discussion as well as experiments that can be done at your breakfast table. Far from being an inaccessible subject, possible for only those few with PhDs, understanding (some of) the mysteries, the beauty and the fun of physics is possible for anyone with a mug of coffee and a small amount of spare time.
In his book, “Inventing Temperature“, Hasok Chang called for a revival of “the kind of ‘natural philosophy’ that was practised… with such seriousness and delight”. It is time to take up this challenge. At Bean thinking, the world of science will be explored through the lens of a mug of coffee. Anyone with an active curiosity and a mug of coffee is welcome to join us in this exploration.
So sit back, enjoy your coffee and join the discussion.
This page is about the website Bean thinking. For information about the person behind Bean thinking click here.