Advent Calendar 2024

01. A quote that carries me▲

This year, I choose a quote about life. I note that during the year I questioned its definition, its nature, its presence in the Universe, notably by reading the French book A l’aube de nouveaux horizons by Nathalie A. Cabrol. I read this quote in a work by Henri Poincaré entitled The Value of Science.

Geological history shows us that life is but a short episode between two eternities of death, and that in this very episode conscious thought has lasted and will last only a moment. Thought is but a flash in the middle of a long night, but it is this flash that is everything.

Henri Poincaré, an English translation of text taken from the French version book: The Value of Science.

For more quotes, see the blog post entitled Quotes I came across on my way.

02. An image that makes me dream▲

I choose a multi-colored image expressing solidarity, mutual aid, and kindness. What makes me dream: empathy, being able to help others.

03. A musical crush▲

My crush of the day is for the opening credits of the TV series Star Trek: Enterprise.

04. A super cute image▲

05. A song that gets you going▲

06. Something that comforts when things are bad▲

07. A little free happiness▲

A word in five letters: dream. Project your desires and imagine them coming true 🤩

08. A beautiful love song▲

I want to choose another feeling, tenderness, which can be listened to as a love song for the human heart ❤️ I am sharing a online “confined symphony” version of the French song entitled La tendresse.

09. A cinematic crush▲

I decided to highlight a fictional universe that I particularly like: Star Trek. The first movie I watched that invited me to continue exploring this franchise was Star Trek: First Contact. Here is a trailer for the movie released in 1996:

10. A must-see video▲

I choose an intriguing video about a mind-blowing mathematical calculation: the sum of all natural numbers. Doesn’t that add up to infinity? Well, maybe it would be simple… 😁

11. A recipe to try▲

I propose a recipe for a savory tart that I like to cook regularly and for which I wrote the recipe on my blog: Savory pie with mushrooms, leeks and camembert.

12. A personality to discover▲

I choose to highlight Vera Rubin, whose path I crossed while watching a documentary on the cosmos and galaxies.

Vera Florence Cooper Rubin (/ˈruːbɪn/; July 23, 1928 – December 25, 2016) was an American astronomer who pioneered work on galaxy rotation rates. She uncovered the discrepancy between the predicted and observed angular motion of galaxies by studying galactic rotation curves. These results were later confirmed over subsequent decades. Her work on the galaxy rotation problem was cited by others as evidence for the existence of dark matter. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is named in her honor.

Read more ➔

I share the astronomer’s statements on the representation of women in science:

I fought with the Academy of Sciences. I am shocked by the low number of women elected each year. This is the saddest part of my life. Thirty years ago, I thought everything was possible.

Vera Rubin, extracted statement: Irion, Robert (February 8, 2002). “The bright face behind the dark sides of galaxies”. Science. 295 (5557): 960–961.

Je vis et je travaille en partant des trois principes suivants :

1. il n’existe aucun problème scientifique qu’un homme peut résoudre et qu’une femme ne pourrait pas ;
2. à l’échelle de la planète, la moitié des neurones appartiennent aux femmes ;
3. nous avons tous besoin d’une permission pour faire de la science mais, pour des raisons profondément ancrées dans notre histoire, cette permission est bien plus souvent donnée aux hommes qu’aux femmes.

A personal translation:

I live and work by the following three principles:

1. there is no scientific problem that a man can solve that a woman cannot;
2. Globally, half of all neurons belong to women;
3. We all need permission to do science, but for reasons deeply rooted in our history, that permission is given far more often to men than to women.

Vera Rubin, extracted statement in a French article: Guillaume Gendron, « Découvreuse de la « matière noire », l’astrophysicienne américaine Vera Rubin est morte le 25 décembre, après une vie passée à redéfinir la perception du cosmos et se battre pour la place des femmes dans les sciences », Libération,‎ December 27, 2016 (read online [archive]).

13. A place to discover▲

I choose a place in Toulouse: the Quai des Savoirs. To look at science differently 🔦👓🥽🔍🔬🔭📡

14. A TV series in the spotlight▲

15. A literary crush▲

This literary crush dates back to my adolescence and was very formative for me: The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne, about which I wrote an article in my blog:

16. A memorable memory▲

The Puy de Sancy trek in the Massif Central during the summer of 2014, ten years ago.

17. An initiative to discover▲

Projects to clean the oceans and seas of polluting debris.

18. Something that restores faith in humanity▲

I am sharing a short film which is a very moving Thai advertisement, to watch in its entirety. This kind of behavior, if we find it too rare, also happens in reality.

19. An idea to brighten the daily lives of others▲

Use a key ring with a carabiner that can also be used as a bottle opener.

20. Common sense advice that does good▲

For the most used seat in the house, choose one that is as comfortable as possible, where you feel comfortable to carry out all your personal activities. If the seat is too rigid, install a suitable cushion.

21. An exploding expression or play on words▲

I choose the Vulcan salute, which consists of making a hand gesture with a raised hand with the palm forward and the thumb extended, while the fingers are parted between the middle and ring finger, often when saying the sentence: “Live long and prosper“. In response, it is customary to use the expression “Peace and long life”.

22. A blog to discover▲

This year, I am highlighting a science blog, Scilabus:

23. A fun and easy to set up game▲

I propose Crack List, a board game of which here is a French presentation:

24. A funny, moving and/or meaningful anecdote▲

For the record, I don’t have one in particular but, depending on the circumstances of a “significant event”, I regularly use a Shadok motto.

25. A wish for all other humans▲

I feel a pang in my heart at the moment of being able to choose which wish to write on this Christmas day… In fact, we are witnessing such inhuman disasters (wars, crimes against humanity) and yet expressing a wish is necessary to say hope. A qualifying adjective stands out in my thoughts: reassured. I have the feeling that people need to be deeply reassured to calmly and lightly consider their future. So, I hope that confidence and reassurance can shine in our human hearts.