Kyle Taljan of Oberlin College stands on Jearl Walker while holding some of the books Jearl has written. Jearl, who is sandwiched between two beds of very sharp nails, is wishing he had written less weighty books. Dan Styer, a physics professor at Oberlin, looks on with mild concern. (Photo courtesy of Professor Jason Stalnaker, also of Oberlin College.)

For the physics of the beds-of-nails demonstrations, go to
http://www.flyingcircusofphysics.com/News/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=25