• Who am I?

    I am Qrystal; or at least, that's my dot-name! Har har. (My name is really Crystal, but that's not as internet-searchable; hence, switching the C for the little-used letter Q.)

    I am here because I enjoy writing. I do this mostly for myself, but I also have a passion for helping others learn things from the things I write. Now that I am done my Ph.D. in Physics, I am stepping away from academic research so that I can indulge in some creative ways to share my knowledge and inspire the appreciation of scientific thinking in others. I am also working as a tutor, which is one of the jobs I've most enjoyed doing in my life so far.


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    • Venus-Jupiter-Moon Conjunction

    Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

    My favourite photo of the Venus-Jupiter-Moon conjunction that peaked just a few days ago was this Astronomy Picture of the Day, which was apparently taken on my birthday! Please click through to read the description, as it has some good links with more explanation of the phenomenon. The site also says that tomorrow’s APOD will [...]

    Big Earth, Little Moon

    Thursday, July 17th, 2008

    “HOLY FRAK! Moon transits Earth!” So says Phil Plait, famed “Bad Astronomy” debunker. This video is indeed awe-inspiring, and even though his article prepared me for awesomeness, I still found myself with my breath caught in my throat.  The moon really looks like such a little rock orbiting the earth, and just the visual impact [...]

    Quote on Mathematical Beauty

    Thursday, July 10th, 2008

    To those who do not know mathematics it is difficult to get across a real feeling as to the beauty, the deepest beauty, of nature … If you want to learn about nature, to appreciate nature, it is necessary to understand the language that she speaks in. — Richard Phillips Feynman

    Logarithmic Spirals

    Saturday, May 17th, 2008

    Today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day – Logarithmic Spirals Breathtaking, isn’t it?  And mathematically fascinating.