Among my varied interests in writing genres I was most influenced by science fiction in grade school. By the time I graduated from high school that influence came more from science research periodicals and digests. At 16, I read my dads AECL handbook on nuclear reactor engineering, the most interesting sections described the safety systems in the design that were deployed in emergency operations. At 18, I worked a summer job at the AECL engineering office on Dixon Road. That is where Pushpa Shah, a PhD nuclear physicist, answered all my questions about nuclear physics. At 19, I started my quest for knowledge about astrophysics, and that led to supernovae, and that led ultimately to black holes and dark energy.
I learned that a supernovae event sprays the universe with shrapnel, most came from the star that exploded however some came from any orbiting planetary objects crushed and accelerated by the gravity shock wave. Some of the shrapnel produced by the explosion might reach our solar system. If the interlopers don’t hit our planet directly they might disturb a comet trajectory or collide with objects in the asteroid belt. The latter event can result in a secondary spray wherein some shrapnel impacts the Earth, the moon, and the other inner planets. That vision moved me to add geophysics and paleontology (plate tectonics, asteroid strikes, hot-spots) to my list of science studies.
Armed with the knowledge of fictional and reality science theories, keeping them firmly separated in my mindset, I choose the subject material content in each of my sandbox categories to advise, amuse, and provoke thought. Sometimes the thought encourages a positive action by the reader. Sometimes I might be convinced by the reader to revise something.
My Sandbox Content
My Sandbox science articles, blogs, videos, and DIY projects are edited to remove science misinformation prior to publication. If the theory presented herein does not have empirical observation performed by a credible research organization to back it up I don’t include it. Sandbox topics are updated after a reply asking for revision is reviewed, accepted, completed and posted.
These activities are intended for students and family members. Please keep this in mind when replying to a blog or commenting on an article or video.
Generating Science Fiction Storylines
Your suggestions are welcomed in this corner of the sandbox.
- Example: An Act of Kindness
- How to Create Ideas for the Premise of a Storyline
- View FAQs for Generating Science Fiction Storylines
Writing for STEM Academics
DIY Science Projects on the Cheap
- *200 Watt solar collector water heater to 200+ °F (*at the equator, scalable design)
- View FAQs for DIY Science Projects on the Cheap
Google Earth Geographic Anomolies
- Seafloor Anomolies
- Land Anomolies
- View FAQs for Google Earth Geographic Anomolies
Writing for STEM Academics 