Pellet… On Mars!

I often capture pictures of my scientific work in progress, allowing me to better explain my protocols to others. In this case: a partial pellet of pressed silica nanoparticles in the center of my 3D-printed gas cell, sealed behind orange-colored zinc selenide window that blocks UV light from escaping.

Pellet... On Mars!

Keyhole View from Skytop

If that picture of Skytop from last week sparked the question, “What does the view look like from the top?” I’ll meet you halfway; this is the view from the climb up. (The rest of the view will come Monday.)

That cliff face exploding from the trees is part of the Shawangunk Range of mountains, home of Mohonk Mountain House.

Keyhole View from Skytop

Unleash the Beast

My neighbor parks his growling, thundering Audi S3 in a perfectly-sized space. He carefully backs it in and tucks down the corners of the Audi-emblem car cover. At night, this machine comes to life. LED headlamps flare and the walls of the garage form a resonant chamber for the warm-up revs of the turbo engine. Hydrocarbons are injected, explosively oxidized, and exhausted; the beast is unleashed!

Unleash the Beast

Alpine Brew

I only spent two nights in the surreal alpine mountainscape of Oregon’s Timberline Lodge. Though my previous photos were either in the dark of night or far-off scenes, I’m quite enamored of this morning shot. The mountaintop and the slopes stand in the distance, the morning light is casting long shadows, and the shiny carafes of coffee promise a sharp start.

Alpine Brew