How can you be a scientist AND a Mormon?

Eight years ago, in an underground laser lab, I was just beginning a laborious experiment. In my mind, I was reviewing the checklist of instruments, power supplies, and detectors that I would use to perform a test. I had recently finished the 10-day long process of optimizing, aligning and calibrating the sensitive equipment worth over two million dollars.  Among the equipment were powerful lasers, a device that generated a plasma as hot as the sun, and lots of other detectors and electronic equipment with lots of lights, buttons, and beeps. Just powering up the various components required the toggling of some 40 power switches.

My goal was to “talk” to atoms.  The question I needed to ask the atoms was, (in a nasally voice with my hand over my mouth) “what is your location, over.”  By design, atoms were heated as they traveled through the plasma which was as hot as the sun. Once heated, a high intensity laser would shine on the atoms. This brute force method of “talking” to atoms then forces them to give away their location; because when atoms are exposed to light of the right color, they emit light of a different color than the laser in a process called atomic fluorescence. By aligning optics and sensors to a certain location and optimizing detectors for the latter color of light, the experiment was designed to selectively determine the location of the atoms of interest.

Argon Plasma from an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer  

After several hours of experimentation, the data collection process was complete.  As I was waiting for the cooling down phase of the experiment to complete, I had some time to think.  I felt powerful, being able to “talk” to atoms, and all.  I felt satisfaction knowing that I was able to accomplish a task so complicated and yet so elegant.  Sure, it had taken weeks to do, and millions of dollars of equipment, but the experiment was done, and I felt a literal power over the elements.  My mind was then inspired to ponder over a different scene. 

Excimer laser used to probe atoms.

This new scene was that of Jesus the Christ at a wedding in Cana.  His mother says to Him, “They have no wine.” James Talmage gives some important insights into the scene, and explains that His mother seems to have some responsibilities for the administration of the marriage feast. You can read more about the incident in John chapter 2, but Jesus has the servants fill six water pots with water.  Then, he tells them to draw from the pots. When they did, the water was wine, and reported by the ruler of the feast to extraordinary wine. So, for a moment, I thought I had some power over the elements.  But, after reviewing this scene in my mind’s eye, I realized my skills were scant in comparison, and I felt greatly humbled. My egotism turned to appreciation for nature and the way that the creator assembled our earth.

The experiment I just related was an endeavor in seeking a small piece of truth.  The bit of truth I needed was to know how fast atoms were moving in a region of space next to a hot plate inside an instrument.  The way that I was seeking to obtain that truth was by a well know pattern called the scientific method.  One of the important tenets of the scientific method is to test our ideas by experiment.  Experiments are a way to confirm our suspicions about the way Mother Nature is designed.  The experiments I was doing in the laser lab eight years ago led to an increased confidence and understanding about how this particular instrument behaved under a certain set of conditions.

With spiritual things, we are invited to follow a very similar pattern.  In the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Moroni speaks of seeking truth:

 3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. 

- Moroni 10:3-5

All scriptures quoted from (http://lds.org/scriptures) bold added for emphasis

Our earthly experiences are opportunities to test and find truth. For example, think of a time when someone warned you that something was hot, but you got burned anyway. You learned that there is not a visual warning that some objects are dangerously hot.  Similarly, when we serve a family member or a close friend in an unsolicited way, and we see that we made a difference for that person, we feel something inside. Those feeling are real, but not something that you can measure with a laser . We can learn lessons about both our physical and spiritual nature.

I have had other experiences which have taught me spiritual lessons.  For example, I have put Moroni’s experiment to the test.  I personally asked God in prayer if the things I had learned about the Gospel of Jesus Christ were based in truth. The answer I received through the Holy Ghost by way of the feelings I felt were in the affirmative.  Those feelings come like the fruit on a tree; we know the identity of a tree by it's fruit and analogously we can recognize the presence of the Holy Ghost by the feelings we feel:  

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

- Galatians 5:22-23

So, above all, I have faith that God exists, and my faith is confirmed and supported through the manifestations of the Holy Ghost. This is a belief I have always held since I was child. This belief has been challenged throughout my life, but at age 38, I feel sure it is a correct belief.  Ultimately, the hardest evidence I have is my own experience and judgment influenced by the Holy Spirit. When I rode the waves of the Pacific Ocean, I felt the power and majesty of the open water; who could be in control of something so big?  When I stand in front of the Wasatch Mountains, I think, what magnitude of work was required to generate something so large?  As I have studied scorpions in detail, I am amazed at their features.  They are so specialized for survival in such a harsh environment. Has science ever produced such an organism?  The more I learn about the atom, the more I realize I don’t know. Its structure is so small, detailed, and perfect, with ever increasing layers of complexity.  And yet, for all our industrial progress, we can’t even take a clear picture of it. For me, the world around me is a part of the truth that God exists. The impressions I’ve had in these experiences have strengthened my faith in my Heavenly Father.

"44 The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

- Alma 30:44

What is it like to be a Professor?

I think a decent answer could only come from giving you a few moments in my shoes . . .

1. Creativity - the moments of pure enjoyment

One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is finding and using examples from "real-life" situations to teach concepts. The students I teach don't usually have innate desires to immerse themselves in chemistry; the classes I have taught (101, 105, 106, 107, 223) are designed for non-majors. I can't rely on my students having prior experience with chemistry in a laboratory setting, but I can rely on my students having experiences in their everyday life which relate to chemistry. Here are some examples:

• I recently made measurements of radioactivity in my basement and my neighbors basement, and used the data as a test question.
• One type of "hand warmer" is a useful application of super-saturated solutions
• Scorpions fluoresce green under UV light
• The way molecules react with one another is much like dating.
• The way that roads are salted in the winter to melt ice is an example of important properties of solutions.

In other cases, I have written a program in order to illustrate the phenomenon. I have also enjoyed making animations to show step-wise progression of a processes. Then there are the simplest cases, where I just enjoy sorting through a complicated principle and reducing it down into small and simple steps that people can follow. These are the times when my creativity really gets to play in the sandbox.

The nice thing is that life is full of so many examples. I will never run out of ideas to explore. I already have my next two frontiers ready to go. I recently bought a book called the Biology of Spiders where I found many connections to chemistry. A few months ago I acquired, "Weeds of the West." It may not sound terribly thrilling, but there are chemicals concepts behind the toxicity of weeds that I want to find and use in class as examples or as questions on exams based in reality.

My goal is to have students see chemistry in reality, not just on paper. For example, a student may be asked on an exam, "What is the pH of 1.2M acetic acid?" But when they go home, they may never make the connection that the vinegar they are using to cook with, or consuming, is the very same species they were just tested on; the vinegar is food, not a chemical, right? So, I ask my questions in a different way, "You go into a kitchen cupboard, and you notice that the label on the vinegar states that it has a concentration of 5%. You learned from your chemistry class that vinegar is acetic acid, and now you are thinking . . . 'what is the pH of this solution?' " The same question was asked in both cases. But the latter emphasizes to students that chemistry surrounds them; that their chemistry knowledge is applicable in places they are familiar with. Of course, not everyone is curious, and the practical significance of knowing the pH of vinegar is debatable. But, you get the point. In case, you didn't get it yet, the point is life-long learning; my job is fun because I get to searching out and pursue things that I can be passionate about.

2. Problem Solved - a moment where the work pays off

I recently worked with a student who was confused about a step in a lab procedure. There was a little desperation in their voice, but the desire to learn was obvious. It was clear the student wanted to learn, to do the lab, and was willing to work for it, but it was like there was a brick wall in the way. The student had already tried several different ways to try and solve a particular problem, but without success.

A quick caveat in the story . . . It's important to me to have students go through the process of solving problems with only as much help as is needed. If too much help is given, a student can feel "babied." If not enough help is given, then the student can feel left in the dark, or abandoned. Alternatively, I could be branded as unhelpful or conceited. I don't get it right every time; sometimes I overshoot or undershoot. Now, going back to the story, this was a case where it worked just right. A look came across the student's face; it's a look of surprise that the answer was so simple, but also of excitement because they realize that they can successfully jump that same hurdle the next time they come across it. They feel ready to handle that same situation and they feel pleased and enthusiastic. That moment is extremely fulfilling.

3. Thrown out of the game - the tough moments

I was stopped in the hall recently by a student from last semester. They wanted to discuss their grade from last semester, was it calculated correctly? We walked back to my office, where he told me that a failing grade was posted for him. While errors in the posting of grades is not common, it has happened before. As I reviewed my records to double check the grade assignment, I determined that the grade was posted and calculated correctly. When I confirmed this information with the student, the student revealed more. Because they had failed the course, they would no longer be eligible to play sports for the University. The student asked if there was anything that could be done. Knowing that the student's percentage in the class was truly too low to justify enough chemistry knowledge to pass the course, there was nothing I could do. I watched as his demeanor changed, and he hung his head forward and stared at the floor. With few other words he stood up and slowly walked out. In the quiet moments that followed, I reviewed in my mind what had just experienced. While I knew that the grade assignment was accurate, and that I had a responsibility to the University to uphold it, I felt a small piece of the student's fresh burden pressing upon my own shoulders.

The students lack of effort throughout the semester had put them in a position that altered the course of his life. Even though I had invited students to visit me at my office hours many times in class, and provided at least an hour everyday, this was a case where the help was needed, the help was offered, but not utilized. This is the toughest situation for me; to watch the potential of a student be corroded by a lack of effort to result in regret at the end of the semester.

I should mention that unrealized dreams of good grades are not always within the control of students. I have met with students whose parents have died, or who are dying of cancer. For others, sibling have passed on. Others have lost an engagement, scholarship, or visa status. These are the tough heartbreaking situations for me.

What does grey hair look like under a microscope?

Like this . . .

This is a video of a hair that starts out brown, and then changes to grey. The magnification is about 200X. Here are stills of the grey and brown parts . . .

How can compact fluorescent bulbs use only 13 Watts and put out the equivalent of 60 Watts?

The first thing to understand is the construction of each type of bulb. The light from an incandescent bulb is generated by sending a lot of electricity through a tungsten filament which causes it to get white hot. A compact fluorescent (CFL) lamp however, is filled mostly with mercury gas. As electricity pulses through the mercury vapor, the energy associated with the electrons on the mercury atoms increases. Because the electricity is pulsed on and off, electrons eventually lose the extra energy, and they release the extra energy in the form of emitted light.

The key difference here is in the colors that are emitted, and to illustrate the difference I have analyzed each type of bulb with an optical spectrometer, a device which analyzes light signals and determines what "color", or wavelengths" are present. Both bulbs were analyzed within minutes of each other. Both bulbs were allowed the same amount of time (minutes) to warm up, and were analyzed at the same distance and spectrometer settings. Here is the plot showing the two types of bulbs:

The point of this graph is to show that the incandescent bulb emits light not only in the visible spectrum, but also in the infrared region that we can't see. That means that 42% of the tungsten bulbs efforts are wasted, and we haven't even talked about energy losses to the heat generated in this kind of light bulb. Considering the CFL bulb, humans can see 95% of the light that is emitted, and these bulbs generate less heat.

So, in basic terms, a tungsten bulb is wasting a lot of energy. But, tungsten bulbs still have a healthy self-esteem because they will never be as toxic to the environment as the mercury in the CFL's.

Are compact fluorescent bulbs really more efficient than traditional light bulbs?

Yes!

Really, that's the answer.

Well, this would be a boring post if there wasn't an explanation. So, here goes . . .

First off, a typical compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) designed to be equivalent to a 60 W incandescent bulb, only uses 13 W. That is an immediate 25% saving on the electricity required to power the light! But, what about the upfront purchase price? Typically, incandescent bulbs are about $0.25 each, while a CFL can be anywhere from about $1.33 at IKEA to upwards of $5 depending on where you buy it! So, then how long will it take to break even?

Let's start with an average price for the CFL, about $2.50. The incandescent is 10 times cheaper. How long will it take to break even? Using local electric utility prices ($0.07/kWh), it turns out that the break even point is about 2000 hours of use. Over that time, two traditional bulbs will be required, while the original CFL will continue to run for about 6000 more hours.

The final cost break down means that over the life of one CFL, you would have gone through about 8 tungsten bulbs, and by using the CFL, you would save about 2 dollars in electricity! Now multiply that by the total number of bulbs in your house, and that adds up to night out for dinner.

P.S. In order to save that kind of money, you would have to be a person who leaves their lights on all day and all night for an entire year, I'm just sayin' . . . .

Is that exit sign radioactive?

Adorning the exits of the church building I attend are exit signs that look generally unassuming like this:

However, you may note that there are no wires or conduit leaving this lighted sign. How is it lighting up then? It turns out if you look underneath the sign, you see a label that looks like the picture below. It is radioactive!

But, don't worry, this exit sign is not the reason you feel warm and fuzzy when you leave the building. In fact, the sign is designed so that no radiation should leave the tubes holding the radioactive material, tritium. Tritium emits one kind of radioactive particle, beta particles, which are contained within the tubes that hold the tritium, and nothing else. The insides of these tubes are lined with a phosphorescent material. When the radioactive particles collide with the phosphor, green light is emitted!

This type of sign is only good for a about 10-15 years. During that time, no electricity is required, and everything will be fine as long as no one knocks the sign off and it crashed down and releases all the radioactive tritium gas.

Are rainbows reflecting polarized light?

This question came to me (6/13/2009) while looking at a rainbow out my back porch. Rainbows frequently appear behind my house (east) when it is raining in the evening. I was thinking about how the light is reflected inside the raindrops when I remembered that reflected light tends to be polarized. This is why polarized sunglasses work so well. For a fishing example, see: http://bit.ly/gS1x9E. I held my polarized sunglasses in front of my camera and rotated the glasses back and forth. I apologize for the low quality, I was more worried about recording the phenomenon at the time, and didn't check the settings. his was a fun discovery!

How can people handle fire and not be burned?

Someone recently asked me about how people can handle fire. My first thought was about a chemistry demonstration called "the burning dollar," where a dollar is soaked in a 50:50 mix of water and rubbing alcohol. When a match is set to the dollar, the alcohol ignites and dollar appears to be on fire. But the water in the dollar prevents it from burning, at least for a little while (avoid ever trying this out with a $20 - and uh, no, this recommendation doesn't come from experience). They referred to a YouTube video where someone used a small piece of rag rolled up and held together with a rubber band to form a small ball. It was then soaked in some kind of fuel, and by continually moving the ball between hands, handling the burning ball was possible.

Using this technique, it is relatively easy to handle fire; and by easy, I mean that I only got a few first degree burns in the process of trying to do it. Additionally, when there is too much fuel, it drips out of the ball and onto other surfaces, subsequently lighting them on fire. Also note that in the following video, the ball is soaked with a little too much fuel, and it leaked onto my fingers (OUCH!). As a result, I give this one the "Don't try this at home" status, or, "Just watch the video instead," advice. I also found a few videos of people (whose sanity should be checked) trying to breathe fire, with disastrous results I should add. Is there a slogan somewhere that says something about only you can prevent a forest fire on your face?