PI-ku: eight geekily poetic haiku about physics from Perimeter Institute
It has been said that "physics is the poetry of the universe." Well, we assume it has been said. If not, we shall promptly copyright it and charge royalties for its usage.
Regardless, the sentiment is true: physics employs the language of mathematics to tell the story of the universe, just as poetry helps us decipher the human condition. We decided to marry physics and poetry by asking researchers, students, and staff of Perimeter Institute to share their best physics haiku.
The basic rules of haiku are simple: five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables. Explaining quantum gravity and string theory in that format? Not so easy, but a fun challenge. Write your own haiku in the comments below. We'll share them!
Need more inspiration? A few runners-up:
Multiplication
Once I had two quarks
Pulling apart. Now they’re four.
Hadronization.
- Aurora Ireland, PSI student
Compute me
I am a qubit.
I am up and down and both.
I’m Schrödinger’s bit.
- Colin Hunter, Perimeter communications director
Quantum field theory
Stitching together
the micro and the macro.
Nature’s warp and weft.
- Tenille Bonoguore, Perimeter senior science writer
Share your own in the comments below!
About PI
Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.
