4 ms·
Bit of a tangent, but Derek Lowe is a great example of an exceedingly rare species -- a competent science writer. His writing manages to be engaging (and occasi
by gwerbret 4y ago
Bit of a tangent, but Derek Lowe is a great example of an exceedingly rare species -- a competent science writer. His writing manages to be engaging (and occasionally hilarious [0]) while still providing the reader with enough information, clearly delivered, to understand the topic. It probably helps that, unlike the myriad journalists and PR types who call themselves science writers, he actually knows what he's talking about.
[0]: https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/things-i-won-t-work-dioxygen-difluoride https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/things-i-won-t-wor...
- Hayvok 4y agoI come across that dioxygen difluoride article of his every few years and it still makes me laugh (and shudder) every time. Thanks for providing my 2022 reading of it. Looking forward to next time.
- function_seven 4y agoChemistry:"That FOOF Article"::Aviation:"That SR-71 Speed Check Story" I've also read it a few times now (as well as that SR-71 story). Some real staying power!
- jiggawatts 4y agoThe article of his that I re-read regularly is titled “Sand won’t save you this time.” The topic is Chlorine Trifluoride, which will burn asbestos firebrick! https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/sand-won-t-save-you-time https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/sand-won-t-save-yo...
- greendestiny_re 4y ago>It burned its way through a foot of concrete floor and chewed up another meter of sand and gravel beneath, completing a day that I'm sure no one involved ever forgot. Chlorine trifluoride sounds like xenomorph blood.
- hprotagonist 4y agohe remains primarily employed doing the job at the bench. that distinguishes him from every other scicomm name i can think of, and accounts in part for this fact.