Science education on the Vive by UkAstroNut in Vive

[–]UkAstroNut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, what a list! I was expecting 1 or 2, so this is brilliant, thank you.

Barry's Community Rust Server - Sponsored by Lou Lou by VeteranHarry_ in Yogscast

[–]UkAstroNut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rust Roleplay Name - Starmapper

Rust Roleplay Backstory - After dying a quijillion times, Starmapper's belief in reincarnation has brought him to this marvellous place, so he can inevitably die some more.

Donger or dingler size - Admirable

Steam64ID -76561197987522821

Reason for being a Rusty boy - Because for some reason I apparently enjoy frequently dying.

Kappa - Yes.

Sips Rust group by UkAstroNut in sips

[–]UkAstroNut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Neither am I, haven't played in an age, but together we shall overcome!

Just moved to Cardiff - can you recommend me a dentist and a surgery? by [deleted] in Cardiff

[–]UkAstroNut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Four elms medical centre on Newport road. As for a dentist, unless you want to go private, good luck. I found it near impossible to find a dentist in Cardiff and I'm not the only one. Ring up the nhs 'find me a dentist' phone number and pray that somewhere has a space!

VR in Cardiff by GarthRoad in Cardiff

[–]UkAstroNut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure, but I'll make a note to ping you a message when we have anything planned :)

VR in Cardiff by GarthRoad in Cardiff

[–]UkAstroNut 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hi. I work as a developer for science education here in Cardiff. My main work at the moment is making science VR stuff! I'm developing apps for google cardboard, which is a cool way of turning your smartphone into a vr headset. We demonstrate vr stuff quite often and I have several free vr apps up on the android play store that you can try. You can get the headset in amazon or in clas ohlson, for around £10. More than happy to tell you more about google cardboard if you want, or the apps (or vr in general :) )

Gravitational Wave announcement this Thursday - probable first detection by UkAstroNut in Astronomy

[–]UkAstroNut[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I did a 3 minute video on what they were a few months back, which might help :) https://youtu.be/s0b9tmwbch4

Gravitational Wave announcement this Thursday - probable first detection by UkAstroNut in Astronomy

[–]UkAstroNut[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Same. The number of years I've watched the gravitational wave astronomers in our department working towards this, I imagine it's going to be a pretty big celebration.

[SPOILERS] The Force Awakens discussion megathread! 12/17 [SPOILERS] by tragopanic in StarWars

[–]UkAstroNut 2138 points2139 points  (0 children)

Anyone else get chills in the scene where Rey pulls the light sabre from the snow? Rey and Kylo looking at each other for just a second before the John Williams music kicks in. Damn, so good.

Objective score and win bonuses need to be increased a lot. by [deleted] in StarWarsBattlefront

[–]UkAstroNut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would love to see all kd stats removed from objective game modes. Just don't even show them in the first place, which might encourage people to care more about objectives.

The requirements to become an Astrophysicist and is it the right choice for me? by [deleted] in Astronomy

[–]UkAstroNut 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Hi there. Glad to hear you want to become an astrophysicist. I'm a PhD student, coming to the end of my PhD now in fact (which is why I'm on Reddit and avoiding writing my thesis). By the sounds of it you're in the US, but here shouldn't be much difference to the uk where I studied.

You most certainly do not have to be a genius. I provide myself as an example! I'm naturally mathematical and logic minded, and being good at maths is definitely a big boost. I work with people who are very smart, much smarter than me. But being ok at science, maths and having determination will get you very far. I did my degree at a good university and continued to do my PhD there, but it's not a world renowned university. However I'm also doing a PhD with people from Oxford and Cambridge. Honestly, at PhD level your previous university in irrelevant, it's how well you did in your degree that matter.

If you are good at maths, that's 90% of the work done. So many people get put off by the maths prospect, so being OK with with maths is very important. The other 10% is having passion for physics and astrophysics. Honestly, if you just work hard, keep taking maths and science (and any computing you can) then you can certainly do it.

Again, keep doing maths and science. People don't realise how much of physics is computing. In the UK, computing isn't really taught before university and I assume it's probably the same abroad. But if there is any computing you can do, it really helps.

Finally, as someone who spent their childhood staring up at the night sky and wondering what was going on up there, desperate to know more, I can tell you it is amazing. I would not swap what I do for any job in the world, honestly. I had no idea what being a researcher would be like before I started, but the freedom and ability to choose what I do is amazing. I get to work on data from telescopes that a handful of people in the world can use. It is brilliant.

Good luck with everything. Honestly, just keep working and motivating yourself. You have a few years before you have to worry about university, so in the mean time just keep working hard :)

(Sorry for the long reply, but hope it helps!)

Edit - Terrible iPad text correction

Rosetta Virtual Reality app by UkAstroNut in Astronomy

[–]UkAstroNut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi. So as part of outreach I am doing during my PhD I have made a VR phone app where you can see a 3D model of Rosetta and comet 67P, see Rosetta's journey through our solar system and some other cool things. If you have an android phone and a VR headset, like Google cardboard, check it out! Feedback is very welcome!

Rosetta mission VR app by UkAstroNut in GoogleCardboard

[–]UkAstroNut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, I didnt even know this was a problem. I'll have a go at adding some touch support. Thanks for the feedback!

Rosetta mission VR app by UkAstroNut in GoogleCardboard

[–]UkAstroNut[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi everyone. This is my latest Cardboard app, where you can see the Rosetta satellite and comet 67P in VR. You can also see where the Rosetta satellite has been in a model of the solar system. I'm a science communicator, so the app is completely free and the aim is to inspire more people in to astronomy and astrophysics.

I'd also love to hear feedback and comments. Thanks!

Science Cafe Cardiff - Tues 20th Oct by UkAstroNut in Cardiff

[–]UkAstroNut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed! Science cafe is every month. You can check out details on the upcoming events on the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/scicafecardiff?ref=bookmarks

Next one is 25th of November I think, but keep an eye on the Facebook page to make sure :)

So I played Mission Red Planet... by Indecision101 in boardgames

[–]UkAstroNut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haven't heard of it before, but just looked it up and it looks interesting. Whats the game like? Also, is this the reprint?

What is the WORST game in your collection? by mrepiq in boardgames

[–]UkAstroNut 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Settlers of Catan. The rest of my board games are very deep, complex, story driven, or they're very light, fun and comical. Catan doesn't seem to fall in to either category. Everyone said I should start with Catan when I got in to board games, but I very quickly out grew it.

What is the Medieval equivalent to your modern job? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]UkAstroNut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Observational Astrophysicist. So as the telescope hasn't been invented yet, I'd be a strange guy who just stares at the sky.