Possible Topics for Papers/Talks
Searching for topics and references
- Do
- Take advantage of previous relevant work experiences.
- Seek out many sources.
- Start early; see warning about last minute work.
- Initiate discussion by email with instructor.
- Don't
- Use only a single source; see warning about single sources.
- Use a textbook as source; find original sources.
- Wait until the last minute.
- Be limited to list below.
Short and medium papers suggestions
These topics are the same as for the talks, but the audiences
are different:
short/medium paper -- non-technical peers
10/20 minute talk -- classmates in 596
One person per topic
Top 1998 Physics Stories in Physics News Update
Physical Review Focus
Physics Success Stories
Important inventions in last 2000 years.
Top discoveries in astronomy Einstein rings from space warping
Various space shots (planets, satellites view of earth, etc.)
See, for example, 13 March 1998 Science (pp. 1671-1696)
Computing modeling of cosmos
Holography Lasers: solid state; high-intensity
Nuclear magnetic resonance Magnetic resonance imaging
Why materials break Plasticity/superplasticity
Quantum wells or dots Molecular beam epitaxy
Rocket propulsion Atomic clocks (amazingly difficult)
Description of research of some OSU faculty
Contribution of some scientist, e.g., Tesla, Neurosurgeon example
Wave-particle duality as revealed by experiments
Uncertainty relation, see Heisenberg.
Fractal structure (with or without chaos)
New magnets physics of recording
High pressure effects insulator -> supercondutor
Probing the structure of atoms Imaging atoms
Optical molasses ultra fast lasers
internal structure of nuclei Quarks
Weather or climate modeling El Nino Also Science 283, 950-954 (1999)
The solar neutrino problem Neutrinos
High temperature superconductivity Josephson junctions and devices
Buckyballs Carbon nanotubes
Neural networks Quantum computers
MEMS: micromachines and recent advances MEMS: microsensors or biosensors
Radar, esp. current uses stealth technology
Fuel cells Solar cells
Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) Atomic force microscope (AFM)
Pacemakers Bar code scanners/security sys.
Bird/bee navigation Physics of hearing
Nuclear weapons cleanup
Physics of sports Sweet spots, tennis and baseball
Physics of insect flight
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Long -- public policy -- paper suggestions
One person per topic
Note: you have to produce a sentence outline
before writing.
Nuclear test ban violation
Misconduct/fraud in science. See bibliography for references.
Try article section first.
See also Chronicle of Higher Education article by C. K. Gunsalus.
See also Ethics for broader range of topics.
Role of biotechnology in agriculture. See Chronicle of Higher Education
article by Nina V. Federoff.
Public perception of the internet. See Georgia Tech survey for example.
Scientific challenges after the Cold War: Science-based stockpile stewardship,
Monitoring nuclear pollution; see nuclear waste dump.
Is cholesterol (metadoses of vitamin C, marijuana, etc.) dangerous?
The search for extra-terrestrial intelligence
The feasibility for and/or necessity of scientific literacy.
Global warming: fact or fiction Will solar power ever be practical?
The case for nuclear energy The case against nuclear energy
Cold fusion and scientific fraud Are low E&M fields dangerous?
The case for public money for science ...for the arts; for the humanities
Manned versus unmanned space stations Big versus small science
Apollo missions Space station/shuttle
Ozone holes and their importance Non-polluting cars
Do we need more scientists/engineers? Is the earth overpopulated?
The internet: blessing or curse? Censorship on the internet
Media hype versus scientific fact The feasibility for fusion power
Cellular phones & driving Supersonic transport
Genetic research Cloning
Genetic enhancement in humans
X-ray telescope
Science illiteracy, see Augustine article .
Experiments on humans/animals; start with Nuremberg Code, then opinion on human subjects.