You Aren’t What You Eat
Dr. Peter Ungar, courtesy of University of Arkansas
Chew on this. The old adage, “You are what you eat” may not hold water after all.
Anthropologists have uncovered evidence that ancient humans were built to eat hard, crunchy objects but they probably didn’t eat them unless softer...
Rebooting Computer Science
Fire fighter locator can see through smoke and walls, courtesy of University of Buffalo
Computer science is in a slump. Ask Microsoft. The software company is putting its money on Michael Buckley, a computer programming professor at University of Buffalo. He is “computing with a cause”...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Animals, Biology, Endangered Species, Marine Science, SciClips on 04 28th, 2008 | No Comments
Whale Listening Network Alerts Ships
North Atlantic Right Whale breaching, courtesy of NOAA
Collisions with ships are becoming a significant danger for the rare North Atlantic Right Whale.
Oil and natural gas tankers have been running over the whales, which are already severely threatened. Now a new acoustic warning system aims to give...
National DNA Day
National DNA Day 2008 image, courtesy of National Human Genome Research Institute
Today marks the 55th Anniversary of the discovery of DNA’s structure. It’s also the 5th Anniversary of the fully sequenced human genome. Yesterday the U.S. Senate passed the first genetic non-discrimination...
Spaceport Clears Tax Hurdle
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson says Spaceport America is clear for liftoff. Voters in two counties near the proposed site agreed to a tax increase to support the $200 million project.
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic will be the spaceports biggest tenant when the site begins sending...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Engineering, SciClips on 04 23rd, 2008 | No Comments
Electronic Sherlock Holmes
The real Dr. Pedro Domingos, courtesy of University of Washington
Detectives use reasoning to solve cases. The most famous detective is Sherlock Holmes, known for his keen deductive reasoning and ability to make sense of subtle clues.
Now a group of scientists is trying to construct a virtual Sherlock...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Climate, Geology, Global Warming, SciClips on 04 22nd, 2008 | No Comments
Greenland’s (not so) Slippery Slope
Courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Greenland is a big unknown when it comes to climate change. Could the giant Greenland ice sheet melt suddenly and cause sea levels to rise dramatically? Yes, but when? That is the big question.
Scientists are trying to learn all they can about ice dynamics...
Musical Math
Courtesy of Lukesh
Every musical note strikes a mathematical chord. And, now a group of scientists has found some complex shapes in the music even before geometric mathematicians can describe them.
In this week’s issue of Science magazine three music theorists describe the advanced geometry...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Video on 04 18th, 2008 | No Comments
Robo Mower
Spring is here. The grass is growing. That means the lawn needs to be mowed. For many, the thought of yard maintenance is enough to wish for cooler, winter weather. But for those who’d rather watch the lawn being mowed there’s hope on the horizon.
Robot lawn mowers are here. They’re...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Engineering, Physics and Chemistry, SciClips on 04 15th, 2008 | No Comments
Laser Lightning
Kasparian’s laser, courtesy of CNRS
Being able to control lightning has long been a goal of science. Benjamin Franklin helped discover how to attract it and rockets have been triggering lightning strikes since the 1970s. But now a group of European physicists are trying to generate a lightning...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Animals, Biology, Marine Science, New Species on 04 14th, 2008 | No Comments
Name a Sea Creature
Orange, speckled nudibranch, courtesy of Scripps Institution of Oceanogrpahy, UCSD
How would you like to see a sea creature with your name? The Scripps Oceanographic Institute is allowing donors to name some newly discovered ocean animals and fish.
If the price is right, a sea slug could get your...
2008 Hurricane Predictions—the early forecast
Two months before the storms should start swirling in warming ocean waters, hurricane prognosticator William Gray is expecting 15 named storms and eight hurricanes. This is a slight increase from the forecast issued in December for 2008.
ATLANTIC BASIN SEASONAL HURRICANE FORECAST FOR 2008 (revised...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Biochemistry, Biofuels, Energy, Engineering, Physics and Chemistry on 04 10th, 2008 | No Comments
Sugar-Powered Cars
Percival Zhang, courtesy of Virginia Tech
Someday fossil fuels will no longer fill our gas tanks. But what will replace gas as the fuel of the future? Some are betting that we will become a hydrogen economy.
But there are many barriers blocking the way. A Virginia Tech chemist thinks he’s overcome...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Biology, Environment, Physics and Chemistry, SciClips on 04 9th, 2008 | No Comments
Bamboo Boost
Courtesy of Paul Vlaar
The fast-growing bamboo plant is the enemy of the western gardener but it might be the foundation for the fabric of the future. As eco-friendly clothing takes root bamboo is lining up to be a leader…if it can overcome a few obstacles.
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Posted by Michael Bradbury in New Discoveries, Physics and Chemistry, SciClips, Space on 04 8th, 2008 | No Comments
Seeds of Life (from space?)
Painting by: Donald E. Davis
What if we are all aliens? Is it possible that life as we know it originated in outer space? Few are quick to latch onto that notion but now science may be uncovering some extraterrestrial evidence that shows life coming from the cosmos. Ronald Breslow thinks that the building...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Animals, Diseases, Health and Medicine, SciClips on 04 7th, 2008 | No Comments
Gator Blood is no Snake Oil
Courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Alligator blood has unusual pathogen-fighting properties that could be useful to humans in warding off diseases caused by bacteria, fungus or viruses. New research from Louisiana shows how gators may aid new antibiotic drug development.
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Posted by Michael Bradbury in Physics and Chemistry, SciLebs, Science of..., Space, Video on 04 4th, 2008 | No Comments
Michio Kaku and Science of…The Impossible
Dr. Michio Kaku examines the link between science fiction and real science. From the technological advances of teleportation in Star Trek and a death star in Star Wars, Kaku rates the impossibility of such realities in the future in his new book, Physics of the Impossible.
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Animals, Biology, Marine Science, New Species, SciClips on 04 3rd, 2008 | No Comments
New Fish Angles for Recognition
zebrastripe-frogfish.jpg
A new family of anglerfish might be added to the history books. The new species of frog fish, as they are commonly known, is found around Indonesian coral reefs. It looks like something you’d see in the mind of glass artist Dale Chihuly. With its flat face and wrinkled...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Energy, Engineering, Environment, SciClips, Video on 04 2nd, 2008 | No Comments
The Cleanest Car
Specialized equipment at the Argonne Powertrain Research Facility includes a full-dilution emissions sampling system with a water as well as hydrogen analyzer. The test cell is equipped with an integrated hydrogen warning and ventilation system.
In the race to zero emissions, BMW is leading the way...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Animals, Biology, Environment, Plants, SciClips on 04 1st, 2008 | No Comments
China’s Species Invasion
Student volunteers from schools all over Beijing on their way to planting trees in Beijing’s nearby mountains, courtesy of The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
When the Olympics begin in August this summer it won’t just be the fittest athletes vying for supremacy....
