Yup, you read that right. This week’s word was chosen by Sally over at Diario. Cheers Sally! Pop over to her blog to find out who else dared to play this week!
So, according to Wikipedia ultracrepidarianism is
the habit of giving opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge
Hmmm. That could be a worryingly large number of subjects for me! Still, Sally said she’d like to read some advice on a subject we know nothing about, so here goes…
Particle physics. Erm, yes. So, this is a branch of physics, which is a science. In case the name wasn’t a giveaway, this particular branch of physics is about particles: neutrons, protons and electrons. Scientists who study this branch like to look at the way the particles interact and behave.
*goes back to Wikipedia for another look*
Um, nope, that’s it I’m afraid – I’m all out. Have a pretty photograph instead…
As I seem to have shot myself in the foot by volunteering to write about science today let’s have a bit more science. Chemistry this time. Certain varieties of hydrangea will change their flower colour depending on whether the soil is acid or alkaline. The more acidic the soil the bluer the flower will be, and the more alkaline it is the pinker the flower will be (which is opposite to the pH scale, wherein red is acid and alkaline is blue – and one of the highlights of my academic career was correcting a professor about this in the middle of a lecture!). You can therefore tamper with the colour of your hydrangeas by altering the pH of the soil yourself. Please note that this doesn’t work with all varieties (white hydrangeas, for instance, will always be white), but if you’ve got coloured hydrangeas in your garden they’ll be a very good indicator of your soil type.
Happy Weekword everyone, and here’s hoping for an easier one next week!
Difficult it may have been but that about the hydrangeas is really interesting! I wonder why it’s backwards?
Tag, you’re it for next week
It’s bizarre, isn’t it? I was SO smug when I corrected that professor
Right, I shall get my thinking cap on and see if we can’t give everyone an easier word next week, I think you scared everyone away!
I know nothing about any of this. I was never very good with science, however, in the spirit of the word I’ll say: Jolly good advice. I believe the same goes for herbs. The more acidic the soil you plant your basil in the spicier your dish is you make with said basil. See? Told you I know nothing.
I didn’t know that about basil! I’m hosting next week, will you be playing along? The word will be up tomorrow morning
[...] tagged me to choose a word this week (after I struggled woefully with ultracrepidarianism), and I chose weather. A deceptively simple choice I think, because there’s just so much [...]