Happy Atheist Forum

General => Obituaries => Topic started by: Dave on December 16, 2017, 04:13:56 PM

Title: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: Dave on December 16, 2017, 04:13:56 PM
This may be more significant to us Brits over a certain age. Heinz Wollf was a great populariser of science and a man I admire.

For the moment I will leave you with one of his programmes, just a taster whilst I also watch it and get on with eating my tea!

The haircuts, beards and clothes will give away the idea this dates from, er, a while ago!

https://youtu.be/7pvf6Xl9hQE
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: Dave on December 16, 2017, 04:31:33 PM
And another one:

https://youtu.be/eRyWKV8-9AI

And

https://youtu.be/ocpBMA3KOoQ

I cannot find any examples of the actual egg races, where teams have to transport an egg, intact, for A to B fastest, highest etc. All using exactly the same materials.
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: joeactor on December 16, 2017, 04:33:10 PM
I hadn't heard of him before. Interesting concept for this program. I liked watching them work together to figure out the best method to solve the problem.

Sorry he's passed on.

I'm in favor of all of our science educators, but have some faves myself.

Julius Sumner Miller was very good. Also Paul Zaloom (Beakman's World), Bill Nye, and of course Carl Sagan.

Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: Dave on December 16, 2017, 04:45:31 PM
Ever heard of "optalysis" optical computing?

https://youtu.be/T2yQ9xFshuc
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: OldGit on December 17, 2017, 10:01:08 AM
He was a great character and entertainer, but also a serious scientist.
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: xSilverPhinx on December 17, 2017, 01:46:25 PM
It's always sad to hear a science educator has passed. The world needs more of them, not less. :(
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: joeactor on December 17, 2017, 02:51:13 PM
Quote from: Dave on December 16, 2017, 04:45:31 PM
Ever heard of "optalysis" optical computing?

https://youtu.be/T2yQ9xFshuc

Yes! It looked very promising at first, but then hit some major snags in developing a practical machine. Seems like quantum computers are the current focus for R&D.
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: Dave on December 17, 2017, 03:40:07 PM
Quote from: joeactor on December 17, 2017, 02:51:13 PM
Quote from: Dave on December 16, 2017, 04:45:31 PM
Ever heard of "optalysis" optical computing?

https://youtu.be/T2yQ9xFshuc

Yes! It looked very promising at first, but then hit some major snags in developing a practical machine. Seems like quantum computers are the current focus for R&D.
Yeah, but I also remember the early, clumsy looking rigs for optical manipulation about 40 years ago. Now it's done in one chip.

Dammit, I remember the first "robot turtle" with three thermionic valves as its memory trying to navigate a very simple maze!. I rescued about 100 valves out of the scrap skip at work because they were the type used in Bletchley Park's Colussus. We no longer made the nanovolt-meter they were used in. They sent a van to pick them up the next day.

I rescued loads of stuff from those skips for my lab or the local school.
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: Dave on December 17, 2017, 03:48:26 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on December 17, 2017, 01:46:25 PM
It's always sad to hear a science educator has passed. The world needs more of them, not less. :(

I would love to get involved with fun science education, but don't have the deep knowledge. Did have fun with kitchen science with a friend's kids - turning "red" cabbage other colours using  acid and alkali washes - white wine vinegar, lime juice, baking soda etc, in various strengths and sequences. Made for interesting looking salads!

Notes were kept of course.
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: xSilverPhinx on December 17, 2017, 08:42:50 PM
Quote from: Dave on December 17, 2017, 03:48:26 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on December 17, 2017, 01:46:25 PM
It's always sad to hear a science educator has passed. The world needs more of them, not less. :(

I would love to get involved with fun science education, but don't have the deep knowledge. Did have fun with kitchen science with a friend's kids - turning "red" cabbage other colours using  acid and alkali washes - white wine vinegar, lime juice, baking soda etc, in various strengths and sequences. Made for interesting looking salads!

Notes were kept of course.

Me too, but I lack both the deep knowledge and the patience. :P
Title: Re: Heinz Wollf has died
Post by: joeactor on December 18, 2017, 03:05:30 PM
Quote from: Dave on December 17, 2017, 03:40:07 PM
Yeah, but I also remember the early, clumsy looking rigs for optical manipulation about 40 years ago. Now it's done in one chip.

Dammit, I remember the first "robot turtle" with three thermionic valves as its memory trying to navigate a very simple maze!. I rescued about 100 valves out of the scrap skip at work because they were the type used in Bletchley Park's Colussus. We no longer made the nanovolt-meter they were used in. They sent a van to pick them up the next day.

I rescued loads of stuff from those skips for my lab or the local school.

That... is very cool!