Blogger: Chris Lintott
URL: chrislintott.net
First post: January 2006
Who is the blog written by?
Chris Lintott is a postdoc at Oxford University in the UK, where he is studying the application of astrochemical models of star formation to galaxies beyond the Milky Way. He is also heavily involved in science popularization and co-presents the 50-year-old BBC TV programme The Sky at Night with Sir Patrick Moore and he co-authored, along with Moore and Queen guitarist Brian May, the book Bang!, which is a popular account of the history of the universe (see Physics World October 2006 pp12–13, print edition only). Lintott is also principal investigator on the Galaxy Zoo project, which enlists the help of members of the public to classify galaxies imaged by telescopes, and contributes to the project’s blog.
What topics does the blog cover?
Compared with many other scientists’ blogs, this one is quite focused. On the whole, Lintott restricts himself to writing about and commenting on topics related to physics, and astronomy in particular. Readers are often treated to previews of upcoming episodes of The Sky at Night, as well as being pointed in the direction of Lintott’s other outreach activities, such as his posts on the Galaxy Zoo blog and articles he writes for The Times newspaper, not to mention other interesting science-related articles and posts on other blogs. The funding crisis at the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has naturally featured quite heavily over the past few months.
Who is it aimed at?
General readers with an interest in astronomy should have no trouble following most of the topics discussed on Lintott’s blog, although some — such as the STFC funding crisis — are probably aimed more at those in the research community. Judging by the comments the blog receives, readers are a varied bunch ranging from Lintott’s Galaxy Zoo colleagues to physicists working in completely different areas, and even non-scientists.
Why should I read it?
Lintott writes really well, and always explains the science very clearly, and his passion for all things space infuses his posts with enthusiasm. He also provides some interesting behind-the-scenes insights into the making of The Sky at Night and what it is like working with Moore; for instance, the veteran astronomy popularizer apparently insists on doing all his writing on a nearly 80-year-old Woodstock typewriter that he has owned since he was a boy of nine. Don’t expect to hear too much about the minutiae of Lintott’s life, however: astronomy is definitely the star of this blog.
How often is it updated?
Lintott often posts in bursts, putting up several posts in a day or over a few days, and then has a break for a few days to a week (presumably to allow him to catch up with his other commitments).
Can you give me a sample quote?
My trip to Hawaii was more or less a complete washout. Of the four nights we had on the telescope, we made it to the summit for one and a half of them. The last night was the most depressing, when we sat there for hours waiting for fog to clear only for it to start snowing heavily. Once that happens, you need a team with shovels to be able to open up and it’s time to head down. We did manage to get about an hour’s data on the third night, for a program which didn’t need as good conditions as mine did, providing data on targets which will be viewed by the new Herschel telescope.
