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Saturday, 5 March 2011

Wonders of the Universe




Exciting news, people. That's Not My Age met Professor Brian Cox yesterday and managed not to gush, stutter or drool. The winner of the 2010 Style Begins at Forty Award (SBAFtas) for science, back with a new series tomorrow night, was signing copies of his latest book at Waterstones, Gower Street. So, on my way to a lunch meeting, I decided to get there early and form an orderly queue. Once in store though, I was greeted by a jolly nice bunch of quantum physics students - who'd come straight from a seminar at UCL round the corner and wanted PBC to sign their lecture notes, a gaggle of science geeks (including a man who'd met Brian May and Patrick Moore and had photos on his iPhone to prove it) and a sprinkling of giddy, star-stuck women of a certain age, a couple of lovely ladies who'd travelled all the way from Durham to see the pop star professor. Here's Mr TNMA's book with my very special dedication...



What I really admire about PBC is his infectious enthusiasm. He takes a complex subject and whoops it up. Dedicating his life to 'understanding the universe,' Professor Brian Cox is genuinely excited by the laws of physics - and the women of a certain age in the queue were genuinely excited to meet him. This is Alison from Durham who has written to The Sunday Times Culture magazine four times asking why we don't see more of Professor Brian Cox on television - and had her letters published! Alison from Durham had a copy of an old Dare album and a birthday card for PBC, who was 43 this week:



Yes, Professor Brian with a mullet. Who apart from his most avid fan knew? That's PBC second from the right:



So, I had less than a nanosecond with the rock star scientist and quickly asked how he felt about reaching the age of 43? 'Oh I didn't notice it,' came the reply, 'It's best not to.' This man can make even the ageing process seem attractive. That's Not My Age left the building feeling like Michelle Obama on Read Across America Day...



Oh and it's World Book Night, tonight. Nothing to do with Professor Brian Cox or the universe but there are a million books being given away, read all about it here
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12 comments:

  1. Christina @ Fashion's Most Wanted5 March 2011 at 14:51

    I love him, he's amazing. The Actor is very interested in this sort of stuff and tries to start long conversations with me about it. I get lost once it gets into the billion trillion galaxies and start to glaze over. Brian Cox has done a brilliant job at making it accessible and much more understandable. I worked with him when he was in D:REAM and he was absolutely lovely xx

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  2. mermaid gallery5 March 2011 at 15:14

    smart and good looking...great combo....helps us understand the universe better...Wow....I will be reading him now...thanks for that...

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  3. Between Me and You5 March 2011 at 16:22

    Why oh why are the Beeb putting him on at the same time as South Riding?!Bad,bad Auntie!

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  4. Alison Cross5 March 2011 at 19:13

    I love him too.

    Have you seen the spoof of him in Wonders of the Universe, it's really good, but awfully sweary (so vet first before sharing with adoring children)

    Go to youtube and type in Prof Brian Cox Wonders Spoof and up it will come.

    He was such a good sport on twitter that he RT'd the spoof so that we could all see it.

    Ali x

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  5. Deborah5 March 2011 at 19:33

    I really want to live in London. I miss it sooooo much. Anyone up for a house swap to visit Austin, Texas though?

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  6. coz5 March 2011 at 23:05

    ha ha, his hair has definitely improved with age! did you manage to get a sneaky photo of you with him?

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  7. Sarah6 March 2011 at 07:36

    He is rather lovely as well as being so clever but in a good way! Glad you enjoyed meeting him TNMA - another nbf?!! (from Sarah, as in Semi-Expat, Sarah xx)

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  8. Make Do Style6 March 2011 at 16:53

    So glad you went - great photo! xx

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  9. That's Not My Age6 March 2011 at 17:50

    Christina - yes, I was crap at physics at school, much more interested in geography and biology, so I understand some of it and then get MR TNMA to explain the tricky bits!

    Alison - thanks for that, I just watched the spoof. Very funny. 'The earth, it 's just covered in shit!'

    Coz & Sarah (SE)- oh no not enough time to become New Best Friends or take a photo, the queue was massive. PBC is much more popular than Peter Hook!

    MDS - thanks for the tip off!

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  10. amanda@thewomensroomblog.com7 March 2011 at 13:11

    Lucky.....Ax

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  11. Unknown8 March 2011 at 13:22

    I have 2 simple questions:
    1. What happens to the interstellar space when all the stars have vanished including the black holes and when entropy has reached its maximum value? Will there be still empty space when time has ceased to have meaning?
    2. Will there be another Big Bang and the the whole process will start all over again?

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  12. That's Not My Age8 March 2011 at 21:09

    Ananda - Mr TNMA asked the same questions, unfortunately I'm not sure when I'll be seeing Professor Brian Cox again to find out the answers.

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