What the *****?

This thing isn’t an everyday sight for most people, but it is for Quantum Diarist Shohei Nishida. Can you guess what the ***** it is? (Hint: It has something to do with physics.)

Write your hunches, notions, suspicions, and speculations about the thing in this photo in the comments section below. Use your real e-mail address (feel free to substitute "at" for "@" or use any other obvious method to obscure), because the person who guesses correctly or—in the absence of a correct guess—guesses most creatively will win a fabulous World Year of Physics T-shirt. The deadline for submitting your guess is Friday, July 29.

As this week progresses, Shohei will drop hints about the photo to point you in the right direction, so check back often and guess as many times as you’d like. On Friday, he will reveal what the ***** this really is.

Everyone is invited to participate, but if you are a physicist and know what this is because of your work, please give others a chance and hold back your guess. We know you’re smart.

Good luck!