#759 Chad Orzel - A Brief History of Timekeeping; from Stonehenge to Atomic Clocks
RECORDED ON DECEMBER 8th 2022.
Dr. Chad Orzel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Union College in Schenectady, NY, where he teaches a wide range of classes, and does research on atomic, molecular, and optical physics. He writes a blog about physics for Forbes.com. He is the author of several books, including Eureka: Discovering Your Inner Scientist, and Breakfast with Einstein: The Exotic Physics of Everyday Objects. His latest book is A Brief History of Timekeeping: The Science of Marking Time, from Stonehenge to Atomic Clocks.
In this episode, we focus on A Brief History of Timekeeping. Topics include: timekeeping as a human universal; what a clock is; using the “movements” of the Sun; using other stars and the moon; how the cycle of the zodiac got invented; how different calendars got created; the influence of politics and religion on timekeeping; the first clocks; how mechanical clocks work; how global empires and astronomy influenced the evolution of clocks; the development of standardized time zones; the ways by which the physical nature of time differ from the human understanding of it; quantum clocks and their applications; and potential new clocks in the future.
Time Links:
Intro
Is timekeeping a human universal?
What is a clock?
Using the “movements” of the Sun
Using other stars and the moon
Where does the cycle of the zodiac come from?
How different calendars got created
The influence of politics and religion on timekeeping
The first clocks: sun clocks, water clocks, sand and hourglasses
How mechanical clocks work
Portable mechanical clocks
How global empires and astronomy influenced the evolution of clocks
The development of standardized time zones
In what ways does the physical nature of time differ from the human understanding of it?
Quantum clocks and their applications
Future clocks
Follow Dr. Orzel’s work!
Follow Dr. Orzel’s work:
Faculty page: https://bit.ly/3PuaioX
Website: https://bit.ly/3Qv6GUK
A Brief History of Timekeeping: https://amzn.to/3zYzZYU
Twitter handle: @orzelc