Chad Orzel
@orzelc.bsky.social
Physicist, professor, author of books about science for non-scientists. Longer-form stuff at https://chadorzel.substack.com/
Reposted by Chad Orzel
ads so far are like riddles where you find yourself guessing what the hell company is paying for this. then comes the second part - why
February 9, 2026 at 1:20 AM
ads so far are like riddles where you find yourself guessing what the hell company is paying for this. then comes the second part - why
This thing where they run a commercial to direct you to a trailer that's only online is the fucking worst.
February 9, 2026 at 12:58 AM
This thing where they run a commercial to direct you to a trailer that's only online is the fucking worst.
Getting a sack because you hit the QB with the center has to be one of the most satisfying things you can do as a defensive lineman.
February 9, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Getting a sack because you hit the QB with the center has to be one of the most satisfying things you can do as a defensive lineman.
Reposted by Chad Orzel
a little bit of fiction:
It’s the 41st millennium and things are fine.
You can see the cities on the Moon from the surface of the Earth. (You can’t see the Martian colonies without a telescope or a satellite feed, obviously.) We’ve been to all of the planets and most of the asteroids.
It’s the 41st millennium and things are fine.
You can see the cities on the Moon from the surface of the Earth. (You can’t see the Martian colonies without a telescope or a satellite feed, obviously.) We’ve been to all of the planets and most of the asteroids.
February 8, 2026 at 8:21 PM
a little bit of fiction:
It’s the 41st millennium and things are fine.
You can see the cities on the Moon from the surface of the Earth. (You can’t see the Martian colonies without a telescope or a satellite feed, obviously.) We’ve been to all of the planets and most of the asteroids.
It’s the 41st millennium and things are fine.
You can see the cities on the Moon from the surface of the Earth. (You can’t see the Martian colonies without a telescope or a satellite feed, obviously.) We’ve been to all of the planets and most of the asteroids.
Getting to be that time...
February 8, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Getting to be that time...
The Olympics are loaded with sports I don't give a shit about, which I have usually attributed to them being largely judged events, but watching a bit of the parallel snowboarding this morning, I think it's less the judging per se than the fact that most of them are individual events.
February 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM
The Olympics are loaded with sports I don't give a shit about, which I have usually attributed to them being largely judged events, but watching a bit of the parallel snowboarding this morning, I think it's less the judging per se than the fact that most of them are individual events.
Reposted by Chad Orzel
some sports make the athletes beautiful by osmosis. soccer is like this. nearly every big American sport, however, is not
one of my favorite things about the winter olympics is when a skier or snowboarder blows my mind with athletic feats of daring that would literally kill regular folks. and then they remove their mask and are ALSO the Most Beautiful Person Alive
February 7, 2026 at 5:12 PM
some sports make the athletes beautiful by osmosis. soccer is like this. nearly every big American sport, however, is not
My original plan for today was to drive over to VT and do some skiing before the really bitter cold hit, but the temperature is on a steep dive and the wind gusts on the dog walk just now were incredibly unpleasant so I'll be doing something indoors...
February 7, 2026 at 1:21 PM
My original plan for today was to drive over to VT and do some skiing before the really bitter cold hit, but the temperature is on a steep dive and the wind gusts on the dog walk just now were incredibly unpleasant so I'll be doing something indoors...
Went out skiing this morning at a golf course, and I can not for the life of me figure out how people are making tracks that go for a significant distance on flat ground with one ski higher than the other.
February 6, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Went out skiing this morning at a golf course, and I can not for the life of me figure out how people are making tracks that go for a significant distance on flat ground with one ski higher than the other.
The irony here is that the Law of Headlines dictates that if you ask "What Time Is The Super Bowl?" at the top of the page, you're supposed to answer "No."
Today is the 15th anniversary of "What time is the Super Bowl?"
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
A Brief History of 'What Time Is the Super Bowl?'
The story behind "the most legendary act of SEO trolling ever"
www.theatlantic.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:28 PM
The irony here is that the Law of Headlines dictates that if you ask "What Time Is The Super Bowl?" at the top of the page, you're supposed to answer "No."
A (very nerdy) blog post about the course I'm teaching this term on Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, which just passed the halfway mark: open.substack.com/pub/chadorze...
Midterm Report: Quantum Optics/ Quantum Information
Thoughts after ten of twenty classes
open.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:49 AM
A (very nerdy) blog post about the course I'm teaching this term on Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, which just passed the halfway mark: open.substack.com/pub/chadorze...
Reposted by Chad Orzel
Is this what I'll be researching this afternoon?
February 5, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Is this what I'll be researching this afternoon?
Reposted by Chad Orzel
We gotta get this in the Olympics now
During part of this we discussed Alpine Luge, which is an amazing sliding sport that sadly is not in the Olympics.
Anyway, here's what that looks like, with one of the greatest to ever doing it giving the demonstration down the track in Deutschnofen
Anyway, here's what that looks like, with one of the greatest to ever doing it giving the demonstration down the track in Deutschnofen
February 5, 2026 at 3:18 PM
We gotta get this in the Olympics now
Request for QC-type folks: I'm teaching Quantum Optics/ Quantum Information to Jr/Sr undergrads, and asking students to do research papers/ presentations. I would like to be able to point them toward some quantum algorithms sorts of things that I won't cover in class; what should I suggest?
February 5, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Request for QC-type folks: I'm teaching Quantum Optics/ Quantum Information to Jr/Sr undergrads, and asking students to do research papers/ presentations. I would like to be able to point them toward some quantum algorithms sorts of things that I won't cover in class; what should I suggest?
Reposted by Chad Orzel
People thought Porzingis was gonna revolutionize the game of basketball when he entered the league and yet this is like the third time he's been traded for a box of marshmallow peeps.
February 5, 2026 at 4:48 AM
People thought Porzingis was gonna revolutionize the game of basketball when he entered the league and yet this is like the third time he's been traded for a box of marshmallow peeps.
Reposted by Chad Orzel
[extreme The Killers voice]
I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier
I’ve got toast but I’m not a toaster
I’ve got hole but I’m not a holster
I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier
I’ve got toast but I’m not a toaster
I’ve got hole but I’m not a holster
February 5, 2026 at 5:36 AM
[extreme The Killers voice]
I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier
I’ve got toast but I’m not a toaster
I’ve got hole but I’m not a holster
I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier
I’ve got toast but I’m not a toaster
I’ve got hole but I’m not a holster
Reposted by Chad Orzel
feel bad for Bad Bunny because in context he was clearly very genuinely emotional for winning AOTY and is fighting back tears but this image is already being accompanied with like “when your boss asks you to do your job”
February 3, 2026 at 9:24 PM
feel bad for Bad Bunny because in context he was clearly very genuinely emotional for winning AOTY and is fighting back tears but this image is already being accompanied with like “when your boss asks you to do your job”
Pauli got there first:
February 3, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Pauli got there first:
Reposted by Chad Orzel
First they came for Bill Belichick, and I went lol. Then they came for Robert Kraft, and once again I went lol.
From @theathletic.com: Robert Kraft, who owned the New England Patriots for each of their six Super Bowl wins, did not receive enough votes to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bill Belichick was not elected into the hall either.
Bill Belichick was not elected into the hall either.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft not selected for 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame: Source
Kraft was a finalist via the contributor committee. Belichick was a finalist via the coach committee.
nyti.ms
February 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
First they came for Bill Belichick, and I went lol. Then they came for Robert Kraft, and once again I went lol.
Reposted by Chad Orzel
I would much rather live under the mayoralty of Mamdani, but Adams strikes me as *far* more likely to be able to speak with rodents. You know that Eric Adams knows words that are considered deeply offensive slurs to voles, he’s shaken down ferrets and flattered raccoons.
groundhog [visibly thrilled]: *chatters away while Mamdani smiles and nods, listening deeply*
February 2, 2026 at 10:54 PM
I would much rather live under the mayoralty of Mamdani, but Adams strikes me as *far* more likely to be able to speak with rodents. You know that Eric Adams knows words that are considered deeply offensive slurs to voles, he’s shaken down ferrets and flattered raccoons.
Philosophy poster hanging near the bathrooms in the science center:
February 2, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Philosophy poster hanging near the bathrooms in the science center:
Reposted by Chad Orzel
Groundhog Harassed By Dipshits In Stupid Hats
February 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Groundhog Harassed By Dipshits In Stupid Hats
Reposted by Chad Orzel
Powerful argument for sticking with Fahrenheit.
Although Celsius makes summer more bearable.
Maybe we should switch forth and back, when we move the clocks forward or back? (Because there isn't nearly enough complaining about DST already.)
Although Celsius makes summer more bearable.
Maybe we should switch forth and back, when we move the clocks forward or back? (Because there isn't nearly enough complaining about DST already.)
February 2, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Powerful argument for sticking with Fahrenheit.
Although Celsius makes summer more bearable.
Maybe we should switch forth and back, when we move the clocks forward or back? (Because there isn't nearly enough complaining about DST already.)
Although Celsius makes summer more bearable.
Maybe we should switch forth and back, when we move the clocks forward or back? (Because there isn't nearly enough complaining about DST already.)
Today in "Aww, Goddammit..." www.dailygazette.com/news/busines...
Schenectady's Gershon's Deli announces closure
SCHENECTADY - Schenectady's Gershon's Deli announced its permanent closure Sunday after more than 60 years in business.
www.dailygazette.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Today in "Aww, Goddammit..." www.dailygazette.com/news/busines...
It tells you everything about the weather we've been having that I was genuinely pleased to see the outdoor thermometer showing 7F this morning, because it was at least a positive number.
February 2, 2026 at 10:36 AM
It tells you everything about the weather we've been having that I was genuinely pleased to see the outdoor thermometer showing 7F this morning, because it was at least a positive number.