floranicholls.com

Welcome to floranicholls.com!

Science is the foundation on which the universe is built. The way the sciences intertwine and overlap to create everything ranging from bacteria cells to neutron stars is a source of constant fascination to me. Traditionally, the sciences were strictly segregated into their own field, but more recently there has been more of a shift of focus to the horizons where the traditional disciplines meet. To me, this is where the most exhilarating and beneficial advancements in science take place. I find that drawing together knowledge from different branches of sciences has helped to probe a deeper understanding of the universe around us. Science seeks to answer some of the most fundamental questions which have prevailed throughout human history, and in my opinion there is no worthier pursuit or challenge.

On this website which I have developed, I hope to publish a variety of articles discussing different topics of scientific interest to me, as well as book reviews on scientific books I found enjoyable and interesting. I also publish small 'Science in Short' reviews of recent discoveries, theories and finding published in magazines and papers.

Book reviews

'How to Build a Habitable Planet'

Charles Langmuir & Wally Broecker

Articles

Are We Alone in the Universe?

Science In Short

Centre of Gravity

Lee Billings | Scientific American vol. 321 no. 5 | 4th November 2019

Since their first detection in 2015, gravitational waves have been hugely popular in the field of scientific research. A new research facility in Japan due to open at the end of the year promises improved sensitivity and hopefully more results. The KAGRA (Kamioka Gravitational-Wave Detector) is the first underground detector, free from the interruptions of Earthly life, and also the coldest, with the advanced mirrors cryogenically cooled to 20 Kelvin. With this newer facility, we should hopefully gain more insight into the astrophysics of exotic objects, such as neutron stars and black holes.