May 19th, 2008
Okay, my limited physics classes did not teach me about Schrödinger’s Cat, or if it did I did not retain the information.
Oddly enough two different TV shows this evening seemed to think the average Joe would know just who Schrödinger was and what was so god awful important about his cat.
In quantum mechanics atoms can exist in two or more different quantum states. But the question was raised whether a complex object made up of large numbers of atoms could exist in more than one state. In comes the cat.
The thought experiment takes the cat and puts it into a box with a vial filled with poison. The box is sealed. Since you cannot see the cat and do not know whether it is alive or has fallen victim to the poison. Therefore the cat is both alive and dead at the same time. Existing in both states. Until you open the box and observe the state of the cat.
First show I saw this in was Big Bang Theory. I have to thank the guys for geeking out and telling us what they meant when they used the term. In fact it was very relevant to what they were discussing.
The second show was Bones. Unfortunately they did not explain what Schrödinger’s Cat was and left their viewers in the dark. (I know, I know Google is a handy tool to have and so is Wikipedia, but when watching a show sometimes they need to fill the audience in on the science jargon.)
Get your geek on (I half expect to see Sheldon wearing one of these t-shirts on The Big Bang Theory some night) with the Schrödinger’s Cat tee.
Get this cool geek shirt at ThinkGeek.com
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May 4th, 2008
Last weeks episode of The Big Bang Theory had Sheldon arguing with Leslie Winkel. His response to her insult follows. I just loved it.
Sheldon: Yes, well, I am polymerized tree sap and you’re an inorganic adhesive. So whatever verbal projectile you launch in my direction is reflected off of me, returns in its original trajectory and adheres to you.
Translation: I’m rubber. You’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.
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April 28th, 2008
The guys of Big Bang Theory buy the prop time machine from the film The Time Machine. Leonard jumps in and sets the machine to March 10, 1876 the date of the famous first phone call. They proceed to argue over the fact that they all want to go but they would not be able to all fit into the small lab and agree that they should travel into the future to get a cloaking device first. Here’s their conversation about the cloaking device.
Sheldon: First go into the future and obtain a cloaking device.
Rajesh: How far into the future?
Sheldon: If I remember correctly Captain Kirk will steal a cloaking device from the Romulans on stardate 5027.3, which will be January 10th 2328 by pre-Federation reckoning.
As a collector and a fan that plays with their toys the scene that followed was hilarious with the four guys acting out the high speed action that goes on around Leonard while traveling in the time machine. Penny comes in to tell them all how pathetic they all are for still playing with toys. Leonard then goes on to re-evaluate his life, his maturity and his collection. (Bad Penny.)
The Nerdvana that Leonard has created is disappearing as he is packing up his collection to sell to the comic book guy down the street. All his friends want to buy it off of him but he refuses saying it will hurt their friendship if he sells his stuff to one over the others. They try to stop him and he pulls out a Playmates Star trek figures and threatens to open it. 
Sheldon: No I can’t let you do this.
Leonard: Sheldon, get out of my way.
Sheldon: (Grabbing a sword from Leonard’s box) None shall pass.
Leonard: Okay. I did not want to do this, but…I have here the rare mint condition production error Star Trek: The Next Generation Geordi Laforge without his visor in the original packaging. If you do not get out of my way I will open it.
Howard: Okay, man be cool. We’re all friends here.
Penny comes out and Sheldon lets her have it.
Sheldon: You hypocrite.
Penny: What?
Sheldon: Little miss grown-ups don’t play with toys. If I went in to that apartment right now would I not find Beanie Babies? Are you not an accumulator of Care Bears and My Little Ponies? And who is that Japanese feline I see frolicking on your shorts. Hello Hello Kitty.
Penny then apologizes to Leonard about the day before and he just about asks her out when a hunky guy comes up and goes into her apartment with her. Leonard grabs his toys and heads back into the apartment saying, “My turn on the time machine”.
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April 26th, 2008
Earlier this week I wrote about all the Star Trek references in Monday’s episode of The Big Bang Theory but I had missed the first few minutes of the show. Thanks to CBS.com for posting full episodes I was able to see the rest of the show and get you all the following transcripts of the stuff I missed on Monday.
Howard: Yo, more details about the new Star Trek film. There’s going to be a scene depicting Spock’s birth.
Rajesh: I’d be more interested in a scene depicting Spock’s conception.
Sheldon: Oh, please. For Vulcans mating or if you will , Pon Far is an extremely private matter.
Leonard: Still I would like to know the details. His mother was human and his father was Vulcan they couldn’t just conceive.
Howard: Maybe they had to go to a clinic. Imagine Spock’s dad in a little room with a copy of Pointy Ears & Shapely Rears.
Rajesh: How come on Star Trek everybody’s private parts are the same? No alien lady ever told Captain Kirk, ‘Hey get your thing out of my nose’.
Sheldon: You want me to use my intelligence in a tawdry competition? Would you ask Picasso to play Pictionary? Would you ask Noah Webster to play Boggle? Would you ask Jacque Cousteau to play Go Fish?Leonard: Come on you need a four person team. We’re for people.Sheldon: By that reasoning we should also play bridge, hold up a huppa and enter the Olympic bobsled competition.
Penny: Tickets to that please.
Leonard: Sheldon. What, do I have to quote Spock’s dying words to you?
Sheldon: No. Don’t.
Leonard: The needs of the many…
Howard: Out weigh the needs of the few…
Sheldon: Or the one. Damn it I’ll do it. (Holds up the Vulcan salute.)
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