LiquidNitrogen

Created Saturday 23 August 2025

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True story ...

I was engaged to give a talk at a venue in London. It was part of an event with a few hundred school students attending. I can't remember exactly when and where it was ... I should take notes. Really. I should.

Anyway ...

I was speaking last, but I arrived early. I always like to see the other talks, get a sense of what the audience is like, generally not be rushed, and to allow that my travel might not have gone smoothly. Arriving early reduces the risks.

So I was there when one of the other speakers arrived. I can't remember who it was, but he was going to be talking about the physics of the really cold. Upon arrival his first question to the organisers was: "So ... where's my liquid nitrogen?"

The organisers looked at him, looked at each other, looked at him, and then one said: "What liquid nitrogen?"

Turned out that the speaker requires liquid nitrogen for his talk, and he gets the organisers to arrange it to be ready for him at the venue. Obviously he can't easily travel with it, so this is the only way it can work.

Only somehow the message had got lost. So while they were talking about it, I wandered off, looked on the internet on my phone, then called the physics department of one of the London universities. I can't remember which one ... I really wish I could.

I asked to be put through to the physics department technicians, and explained the situation.

"Yes,", they said. "We can let you have some liquid nitrogen."

So I told the organisers what I was doing, got a taxi, and dashed across London to the right building (gosh I wish I could remember the details). I asked the driver to wait for me, jogged into the building, was escorted "out back" to the support area, and given a Dewar Flask of liquid nitrogen.

Extraordinary.

Payment was refused! So I walked carefully back out, got into the taxi, opened all the windows, and returned to the venue.

I was expecting to make my way backstage and quietly put the Dewar in the wings where the speaker could retrieve it. But no! I was ushered into the back of the main auditorium and announced as the saviour of the event, the saviour of the talk, and cheered all the way down to the front of the stage where I could hand over the flask.

It was quite the experience.

I just wish I could remember the details!


Rachel actually remembers this episode! She especially remembers how the event organisers and the speaker were "discussing" the source of the confusion, whereas I ended up just wanting to solve the problem! Then when I told them I was going to collect some liquid nitrogen they were surprised. And confused.

The only other thing I remember that will narrow the timeframe was that my mobile phone was a Blackberry. I think.



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