Welcome to Tidbits

As things come up that that I think you should know about, I'll post them here. These tidbits generally arise from discussions about presentations in class, and commonly will be from the world of science. They are in no particular order.

• Magnetic Declination: This came up in our discussion of the Bermuda Triangle, where "mysterious forces" cause compasses to point in the wrong direction. Click on the link to find out what anyone already knows who has ever learned how to do orienteering with map and compass. If you look within this FAQ you will find a link to a declination map. (Info updated 10/27/2004.)
  
  
• pH of blood and other common substances. For a general review of pH, go to my lecture slides for Chemistry 3a, and click on Unit "P" for pH. For the medically inclined, do a web search on acidosis and alkalosis, but you will get more information than you probably want. This came up when we were discussing the claims that Coral Calcium would "balance your body's pH."
  
  
• Check out In Valley Skies Tonight from the Downing Planetarium. That bright light or streak of fire in the sky might not be an alien spacecraft after all! The Downing Planetarium website also has many astronomical links. This came up in our discussion of UFOs.