Join Cool Science for Science on Tap every 2nd Monday of the month at Jack Quinn’s in downtown Colorado Springs. Presenters begin at 6:30 pm with food and drink available beginning at 6:00 pm. A wide variety of fascinating topics are presented by local scientists for informal discussion, and the relaxed atmosphere encourages anyone and everyone to come explore the latest ideas in science and technology. From practical to theoretical, the presentations and group interactions provide a fun and interesting way to gain an understanding of the world around us.
Next On Tap: February 10, 2020
Immutability of New Standards for Science
Summary: The metric system, introduced during the French Revolution, is now used by scientists world-wide. Over the years, small changes were made in the values of the various fundamental constants (the speed of light, Planck’s constant, and the Coulomb) as measurements became more accurate. Thus, work based on older values had to be updated periodically. Two constants, the meter and the kilogram, were based on physical artifacts stored in Paris. In practice secondary standards had to be used. I will discuss the project undertaken to re-define all the fundamental constants so that they were immutable, and how devices to measure standards in units of the fundamental constants could be constructed. This resulted in a major change in the SI system, and, by implication, in much of modern science. Questions like “How can the speed of light be measured?” and “Can the temperature of the triple point of water be measured more accurately?” are now meaningless, and all future attempts to improve their accuracy are now pointless.
Bio: James J. P. Stewart, DSc, PhD, BS, C.Chem. Professor, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, 1972-1985. Researcher at the Air Force Academy, 1984‑1990. Adjoint professor at UCCS, 2013-2016. CEO of Stewart Computational Chemistry, 1990 - now. Author of the popular (over 25,000 users) quantum-chemistry program MOPAC, which is used for modeling chemical systems, including crystals, and enzymes and other biomolecules. Interested in atomic physics, cosmology, biochemistry, and quantum theory. Author of over 150 papers. Citations: Theory of AM1: 14,179, Theory of optimization: 7,889, Description of MOPAC: 2,453, speeding: 1 ($20 fine) He has two cats, a wife, and a snow-blower, none of which work.
Bio: James J. P. Stewart, DSc, PhD, BS, C.Chem. Professor, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, 1972-1985. Researcher at the Air Force Academy, 1984‑1990. Adjoint professor at UCCS, 2013-2016. CEO of Stewart Computational Chemistry, 1990 - now. Author of the popular (over 25,000 users) quantum-chemistry program MOPAC, which is used for modeling chemical systems, including crystals, and enzymes and other biomolecules. Interested in atomic physics, cosmology, biochemistry, and quantum theory. Author of over 150 papers. Citations: Theory of AM1: 14,179, Theory of optimization: 7,889, Description of MOPAC: 2,453, speeding: 1 ($20 fine) He has two cats, a wife, and a snow-blower, none of which work.
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