Episode 135: Spider-man and the Higgs boson walk into a bar…
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:00 — 55.2MB)
Andrew is joined by Aaron and Billy to talk about this week’s biggest movie, The Amazing Spider-man. Does it live up to Billy’s high standards (or down to Andrew’s low standards)?
Then, physicist Dr. Matthew Francis stops by to help you brush up on everything you need to know about this week’s potential discovery of the Higgs boson. He’ll help you sound smart at parties, and it’s all right in this episode.
Check out Dr. Matthew Francis at his site, Galileo’s Pendulum
Music courtesy of JD Short (http://bassdbler.com) and Far From Close (http://farfromclose.com)
I do have a small correction to one of my answers: I pointed out that the particle discovered last week might not be the Higgs boson, but rather a Higgs mimic. However, instead of saying a mimic might have something to do with dark matter (which could be correct), I said it might be dark matter, which ain’t so. The particle spotted in the detectors decayed too quickly to be dark matter, which is obviously and evidently stable. Apologies if that answer was confusing to anyone!
I think that was one of your best interviews yet Andrew, kudos!
Also a good rundown of The Amazing Spider-man. Listening to the discussion, I’m wondering if you’re familiar with the Ultimate version of Spider-man in comics? It feels like this movie draws more from that version than the classic Spidey from the ’60s. In the newer storyline you have Peter more angsty outcast than nerd, a younger and more vigorous Aunt May, and a very Oscorp centric world, with multiple antagonist’s origins linked to the company’s activities. You also get the backstory on Peter’s parents and how their absence has affected him.