Thursday, October 28, 2010

It's All High Tech To Me

I was going to post a photo of the entryway to the Guggenheim building at Caltech, but I like this shot better. Like yesterday's photo, I took this one inside on the second floor.

From the two shots, yesterday's and today's, you'd might guess the Guggenheim is a sleek, 21st century building but the exterior is actually more classic-looking. Inside, though, it's all high tech with natural light, modern art and glass display cases showing old documents and artifacts from early Caltech work.

The transition from classic, late 1920's exterior to modern interior is due to a renovation by John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects, completed in 2008. The linked article shows a photo of the interior of the conference room above; be sure and check out the slide show, too.

I'm intrigued by the document on display in the foreground. Could it be some world-saving formula, typed by Einstein's secretary?

Some of my titles are better than others.

For more Caltech photos, click on the Caltech label below.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the Cal Tech photos. I keep waiting for Sheldon Cooper to walk up and make corrections on the math.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Can't answer for Einstein's secretary but I do love the IBM Selectra typeface

Susan Campisi said...

It looks like a Bernoulli Equation Lisbeth from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" studied.

The Caltech photos are amazing. I'm glad you said to watch the slide show.

Petrea Burchard said...

Anonymous, are you saying the formula's wrong?

PA, isn't that an electric typewriter. Darn. I was so hoping this was done on a manual.

Should I read that, Susan? I guess I should read that.

Trish said...

I recognize that equation

Thanks for the memories!

Susan Campisi said...

Petrea, I was resistant to reading it at first when I heard about the violent subject matter, but once I succumbed I was hooked. The second book in the trilogy was my favorite. I couldn't put it down.

Anonymous said...

"Anonymous, are you saying the formula's wrong?"

No, I'm saying that Sheldon would think he could improve on the work. Gotta love the Big Bang Theory.

Anonymous said...

gina b

Anon anon, your comment is perfect. My thought exactly! Of course I think my thought is perfect--Sheldon and I have a lot in common!

Petrea Burchard said...

So Trish, are you saying you typed it, or you're Einstein?

I have so many questions today. Obviously this conversation is way over my head.

Bellis said...

Actually, the Big Bang Theory IS about Caltech grad students, it's just that Caltech wouldn't allow them to use the name without script oversight (which TV companies are never keen on). Sheldon (the actor) has been to Caltech to visit the Engineering students, so he may well have seen this diagram. There's a lot of Theodor Von Karman memorabilia in that room - perhaps it's about rocketry? Trish, give us a clue.

I've just finished the Stieg Larsson trilogy, and am now so into Sweden.

Anonymous said...

gina b

Bazinga!

Petrea Burchard said...

Now I know why I was so lost. I thought Sheldon Cooper was some Caltech scientist. I take it you mean the Sheldon Cooper played by Jim Parsons.

John Sandel said...


All ya need is a cloud chamber, honey
Some red goggles an' a whole lotta money
Everybody talks about the low-tech, baby
But it's all high-tech to me …

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(snaps fingers coolly)
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(black hole forms)
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(Cleveland disappears)
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.
.
(nobody misses it)

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to many secrets of the universe tomorrow. (There's more than one, right?)

WV: Charm. Honestly, honestly.

John Sandel said...

Quark—! What strangeness …

Petrea Burchard said...

I think I might miss Cleveland.

We'll learn more of the universe's secrets today, Hiker. Guaranteed.