Is it a Spice Rack?

No, it’s a DIY Michelson interferometer by the Celtic Mad Scientist.

In a standard Michelson interferometer, the beamsplitter would actually go at 90ยบ to the shown orientation, so that each beam hits a mirror, but it’s all good. If your light is polarized, you’ll want to make sure that’s vertical, lest you be near Brewster’s angle when you bounce off the beam splitter.

Homer says, “Safen up! Do not look into laser with remaining eye”

Don’t end up like the Russian Ravers who were injured when the organizers erected a tent and used the lasers “indoors.”

Are You Sure Your Name Isn't Rod?

Scary.

lightning through my camera

Because you insisted, here’s the unedited screaming version. I also added video from a minute before the lightning struck so you can get an idea of how hard it was raining. From what i understand, it went through my left hand holding the camera, crossed my back and exited out of my right hand holding onto the metal railing. No entry or exit wounds, just a really good zap!

Reminds me of a “Far Side” tagline: Never, never do this.

Even More Advice for the Physicslorn

After More Advice for the Physicslorn

Weird Science

Sure, if your neighbor claims he was abducted by aliens, and spent some time on Alpha Centauri learning the mysteries of that highly advanced civilization, it’s easy to conclude that maybe it’s time he upped his meds. But in an era when modern theoretical physicists are routinely batting around notions like extra dimensions, dark matter, dark energy, and parallel universes, the line between bona fide breakthrough and nonsensical physics-babble isn’t so clear. To the average person, saying the world is made up of tiny styrofoam balls only seems slightly crazier than saying everything in the universe boils down to tiny vibrating strings.

Includes a link to The Alternative-Science Respectability Checklist but not to Crackpot Bingo (until you get to the comments)

I suspect this goes over the head of the target audience without so much as a hair out of place. Or they’ve got their phasers set on “ignore.”