Thank physics for that!
Most of us take for granted that we can carry our entire music library in our pocket or whip out Google maps on our phones when we get lost. But few of us realise that it's physics and maths we have to thank for these marvellous inventions.
To raise awareness and to celebrate the role of physics in making these technologies possible, our friends at the Institute of Physics have produced a series of tech themed beermats, now to be found in pubs around Brighton and Hove. The mats challenge pub goers to answer four questions about technology and they can find out the answers by text message or by scanning a QR code on the back of the mats.
If you're not in Brighton, don't despair: there's a website accompanying the campaign where you can test your knowledge and where there's also plenty of info about the physics at work inside your favourite gadgets, as well as the technological innovations shaping their future. You can also follow the campaign on Twitter and take part in discussions using the hashtag #thankphysics.
