What is Rosetta Doing?

Image created using Canva by Matthew Bird
"Rosetta - comet fly-by" by DLR - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlr_de/11962922525/.
Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The spacecraft, Rosetta, has been in the news a lot recently. It has recently been woken up after a 31-month hibernation in January this year. Launched in 2004, this mission has had a lot of coverage.

You likely know it has something to do with a comet, so let's be curious and ask, 'what is Rosetta doing?'

How are Graphs Manipulated? Skewed Statistics 3

Graphs are useful to present a sets of data in a visually appealing way whilst still containing all the information. Last week in the Skewed Statistics series, we looked at correlation and causation, a topic which often includes graphs. We saw then how data can be manipulated to imply causation. Graphs, too, are easily manipulated. Sometimes this is to make the data easier to read or understand. Other times this manipulation can mislead. It is important to know how graphs are used and abused.

Let's be curious and ask, 'how are graphs manipulated?'

What is e?

Less well known than it's popular friend, pi, e is nonetheless a very important number. Approximately equal to 2.718, Euler's number pops up in everything from finance to hats!

But what is it? Let's be curious and ask 'what is e?'

What is the Pale Blue Dot?

On 14 February 1990 the command was given for the Voyager 1 spacecraft was ordered to turn around and take a photo. This photo, now known as the Pale Blue Dot, is, in my opinion, the most significant photo ever taken. It is significant in that it shows our own immense insignificance. Voyager 1 took a photo of the Earth from 6 billion kilometres (40 Astronomical Units / 3.7 billion miles) away at the request of Carl Sagan.

Last week's photo's were of chemical bonds. This week we are looking at just 1 image. Let's be curious and ask 'what is the Pale Blue Dot?'

This post doesn't have a header image, nor any other image on it. The only image I wish to share in this post is the Pale Blue Dot. Beneath the image I have included Carl Sagan's thoughts on it. If you're struggling to find your home planet, it is the Pale Blue Dot in the brownish sunbeam near the right of the picture.

"Pale Blue Dot" by Voyager 1 - http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=601.
Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Correlation or Causation? Skewed Statistics 2

Last week we looked at averages and saw how they can be abused. This week we turn our attention to correlation and causation. Correlations are probably the most abused statistical entity, particularly by pseudo-science and disreputable media.

Let's be curious and ask 'correlation or causation?'.

What is i?

Last week we spoke about the irrational, but very real, pi. Today we're going to take a look at the number i, where the i means 'imaginary'.

It is very likely that you won't have come across i before. It isn't generally taught at GCSE, being reserved for A-Level and above. Although I'd heard of it before, the first time I properly met this number was this year during my Chemistry degree.

Let's be curious and ask, 'what is i?'

What do bonds look like?

Image created by Matthew Bird using Canva.
"Glass ochem dof2" by Purpy Pupple - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

From secondary school onwards we are taught that the world around us in made from atoms and those atoms are held together by bonds. As we get older we are introduced to the different types of bond: covalent, ionic, and metallic. We are also told about hydrogen-bonds, though these don't join atoms together as the other types do.

We are all used to the diagrams we see for bonding, but is that what an actual bond looks like? Until recently the answer was a decisive, 'we don't know'. No one, not even scientists, had ever seen a bond. No one had ever seen an atom. We had calculations and theories saying they were there, but no actual visual of them until recently.

In the first 'Images on Monday' post, let's be curious and ask 'what does a bond look like?'

Which Average Should I Use? Skewed Statistics 1

Statistics are quoted all the time in the media. However, sometimes the media, accidentally or otherwise, can skew statistics such that they lie. In many of these cases the statistic is technically correct, but presented in a misleading manner. Skewed Statistics is series of articles, posted on Saturdays, about how different types of statistics should be used, and how they are misused.

Averages are one of the most common types of statistic used. We all probably remember being taught about the different types of averages in school: mean, median, mode, and range. But do we actually know when we should use each type?

Let's be curious and ask, 'which average should I use?'