Christmas Lectures

Michael Faraday started a tradition of trying to bring science to the masses with his annual Christmas Lectures at the Royal Institution.  In 1980, the Chemistry department at the University of Utah decided to continue this fine tradition.  Two of the professors from the department dress up in period costumes from the 1860s and lecture on some entertaining properties, such as color in chemistry, the chemistry of a burning candle, and (the best part) some explosions.

Thanks to my wife, who got tickets weeks ago, we went as a family last night to watch this.  I think the only one who wasn’t completely entertained was Elenna, who just couldn’t sit still for the whole 75 minutes.  Hopefully, this is something my children will remember as something cool their parents did.

It also made me wish I had paid more attention in Chemistry back when I took it–in that very same room.