Louise Hillman Physics and Maths Tutor

12/01/2026

09/01/2026

When it comes to choosing the right pan for your cooking, the material plays a crucial role. With so many options out there, it’s important to pick one that suits your needs best

👉 Borosilicate Glass or Pyrex: Similar to ceramic pans, these materials conduct heat well. However, keep in mind that sweeter foods are more likely to burn in glass dishes, so use a lower temperature. Borosilicate glass can also go in the fridge, making it very versatile.

👉 Ceramic or Porcelain: These pans are a bit heavier and harder to handle, but they do an excellent job of retaining heat even after being removed from the oven. They’re perfect for lasagna, casseroles, and other hearty dishes that benefit from even heat distribution.

👉 Silicone: Growing in popularity, silicone pans are flexible, non-stick, and great for both low and high temperatures. One major perk? They don’t need greasing, making them ideal for lighter recipes.

👉 Aluminum: Known for being a great heat conductor and resistant to rust, aluminum pans work well for most baking needs. If you go this route, choose one with high sides and, if needed, line it with parchment paper.

Which baking pan do you find yourself reaching for most often? Let us know in the comments 👇

30/12/2025

In 1923, Wilson Bentley captured the first-ever successful images, or "photomicrographs," of a single snowflake. ❄️

Through trial and error, Bentley perfected a technique to photograph crystals through a microscope, hoping to highlight the beauty of nature and the uniqueness of each flake.

"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others,” Bentley later said. His work was published in National Geographic magazine, showcasing the delicate beauty and geometry of snow crystals.

29/12/2025

This Week In Science (December 21 – 27)

A storm slowed time, garlic mouthwash, an early Alzheimer's intervention, and much more!

Links to the full articles 📖
Protein https://buff.ly/sSWeweD
Time https://buff.ly/8AB6gQa
Frog https://buff.ly/WVQtBll
Garlic https://buff.ly/1iEh5Mm
Dark matter https://buff.ly/bka8FqC
Alzheimer's https://buff.ly/WhplYLF

27/05/2025

I saw this and had to share: The cyanometer is an instrument that measures the intensity of the blue of the sky. Its invention in 1789 is attributed to mountaineer and physicist Horace-Bénédict de Saussure and Alexander von Humboldt.
De Saussure's cyanometer consists of 53 sections, numbered cards, ranging from white to different shades of blue (dyed with Prussian blue) and then to black arranged in a circle. The idea of ​​capturing the hues of the sky occurred to him on one of his trips climbing Mont Blanc.
He, like other climbers, noticed that as they climbed higher, the sky turned a darker blue. Saussure proved the sky was getting darker as we climbed. He was also convinced that the color of the sky was an optical effect and argued that, as blue faded subtly into the white of clouds, the color should be an indicator of the moisture content of the air.
De Saussure concluded that the color of the sky depended on the amount of particles, water droplets, and ice crystals, suspended in the atmosphere.

02/04/2025