Posted by Michael Bradbury in Animals, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Engineering, SciClips on 05 30th, 2008 | No Comments
Monkey Movement
Monkey using mechanical arm, courtesy of University of Pittsburgh
Scientists are teaching monkeys how to operate a mechanical arm by using just their thoughts.
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Posted by Michael Bradbury in Nanotechnology, SciClips, Uncategorized on 05 29th, 2008 | No Comments
Nano Noodles
World’s Smallest Ramen Bowl, Courtesy of University of Tokyo
Hungry engineering students in Japan decided to make a noodle bowl using microscopic pieces of carbon, called nanotubes.
The bowl comes with noodles but they aren’t edible. They do make for a good picture. And, this one was entered...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Global Warming, Oceanography, Politics and Science on 05 28th, 2008 | No Comments
Corrosive Ocean
Courtesy of NOAA
Scientists and policymakers are urging immediate attention and research into a growing concern that the world’s oceans are becoming more acidic.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell held a field hearing in Seattle yesterday to stress the importance of learning more about this phenomenon...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Astrobiology, Astronomy, Science of..., Space on 05 27th, 2008 | No Comments
Phoenix Begins Scientific Mission
Crater showing carbon dioxide frost, courtesy of NASA
After all the anticipation about the landing, the real work begins now that the Phoenix Lander is safely planted on Mars.
The three-month mission gets underway this week and will search for clues to the red planet’s watery past. A robotic...
Mars Phoenix Lander Starts Snapping Pictures of the Red Planet
NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander spent its first full day in the Martian arctic plains checking its instruments in preparation for an ambitious digging mission to study whether the site could have once been habitable. (May 27, courtesy of AP)
In a news briefing, Barry Goldstein, Phoenix project manager,...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Adaptation and Extinction, Animals, Biology, Computer Science, SciClips on 05 23rd, 2008 | No Comments
Animal Tracker
Animals roam across vast expanses, criss-crossing the world. And, now people can follow many different species fitted with satellite tags and tracked online using applications like Google Maps.
Peregrine Falcons
Porcupine Caribou Herd
Narwhals
Sea Turtles
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Posted by Michael Bradbury in Astronomy, New Discoveries, Physics and Chemistry, SciClips, Space on 05 22nd, 2008 | No Comments
Looking for the God Particle
Computer model of Higgs Boson, courtesy of CERN
Science and religion have often created explosive outcomes. But now particle physicists are hoping to get a glimpse of what they call the God particle when a new large particle accelerator starts smashing atoms in the next few months.
Some fear Earth-swallowing...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Energy, Environment, Global Warming, Video, Wave Power on 05 21st, 2008 | No Comments
Ocean Motion to Power Homes
Watch the video Wave power as a new source of electricity.
When it comes to tapping energy from the ocean, off-shore oil rigs are often what comes to mind. But the ocean itself is proving to be an efficient and environmentally friendly source of energy.
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Biology, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics and Chemistry, SciClips on 05 20th, 2008 | No Comments
Photonic Beetle
Brazilian green beetle, photo by Jeremy Galusha, courtesy of University of Utah
Mother Nature generally knows the best way to solve a problem. And people chase those natural technologies in hopes of creating something almost as effective.
Now a new beetle discovery–thanks to a high school science...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Astronomy, Computer Science, SciClips, Space, Video on 05 19th, 2008 | No Comments
Exploring Space with the WorldWide Telescope
Courtesy of Microsoft
A new computer application created by Microsoft is hoping to change astronomy forever.
WorldWide Telescope is aiming to make the cosmos more accessible for everyone and perhaps spur amateur astronomers to make new discoveries using the same information as the professionals.
...
Recreating the Big Bang
For years particle physicists have been trying to figure out how to recreate the moments–no, the micromoments–following the Big Bang. Now the world’s largest particle accelerator is about to go online beneath the Swiss Alps. By crashing atoms into each other, the scientists hope to...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Biology, Diseases, Genetics, Marine Science, SciClips on 05 15th, 2008 | No Comments
Undoing Evolution
Dr. Katie Peichel, courtesy of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
There are few examples in nature of a species returning to its more primitive self.
But a tiny freshwater fish has done just that and it might help answer some big questions about human disease like cancer.
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Posted by Michael Bradbury in Physics and Chemistry, Politics and Science, SciClips, SciLebs on 05 14th, 2008 | 1 Comment
Einstein’s Theory of Religiosity
Albert Einstein, 1947
Einstein had a way with words, which confused many. His apparent contradictory opinions on science and religion allowed both the religious and non-religious to claim him as one of their scientists and great thinkers.
A new letter going up for auction sheds a little more light...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Food and Nutrition, Genetics, Health and Medicine, SciClips on 05 12th, 2008 | 1 Comment
Sweet Tooth Gene
Courtesy of FreeImages.com
Some of us must have sugar. It might come in the form of sweet soda or piles of cookies. We affectionately refer to those cravings as a sweet tooth or those having a taste for sugar.
Well, scientists are learning that a genetic mutation might be triggering those insatiable...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Health and Medicine, Nanotechnology, Physics and Chemistry, SciClips, Space on 05 12th, 2008 | 1 Comment
Couture Physics
Dr. Brad Sherrill, courtesy of Michigan State University
Nuclear physics could become quite fashionable if creating new radioactive isotopes starts helping doctors improve medicine, especially as more atom smashers are planned and built in the next decade.
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Posted by Michael Bradbury in Biology, Computer Science, Diseases, Genetics, Health and Medicine, Math, SciClips on 05 9th, 2008 | No Comments
Game for a Cure
Human Fyn protein, courtesy of University of Washington
A group of scientists is banking on the world to help solve some big diseases. Cures to finding proteins to stop cancer, Alzheimer’s or HIV may lie in global game players.
A new online videogame project, called FoldIt is looking for players...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Biology, Politics and Science, Science of... on 05 8th, 2008 | No Comments
Science of…Our Clear and Present Danger
Prices are rising, food seems scarce. Wars are raging in far corners of the world. But is our present time one of more or less violence?
A group of Maryland researchers have been following the numbers. It turns out we are living in a very peaceful time. Why doesn’t it feel like it?
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Antarctic Expedition Brings Home New Questions
Scientists just returning from a months-long survey of the Antarctic Ocean are investigating why the ice is disappearing. Is it global warming, the ozone hole or just natural variability? They know it’s a combination of the three but won’t know which factor is driving the big changes near...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Environment, Geology, Global Warming, SciClips on 05 6th, 2008 | 1 Comment
Volcano Vents
Map of Pacific Ring of Fire, courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS/National Geophysical Data Center. Red dots mark volcanoes and yellow indicates tectonic plate boundaries
Along the Pacific Ring of Fire, sleeping volcanoes burst to life without warning. A 25-year eruption in Hawaii kicked into gaseous high gear...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Consumer Safety, Ethanol, Food and Nutrition, Genetics, SciClips on 05 5th, 2008 | No Comments
Rice Race
Dr. Om Parkash, courtesy of University of Massachusetts Amherst
The current rice shortage being felt around the world doesn’t have just one source. It seems that many reasons are causing the food shortage. And, one is quite elemental.
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Posted by Michael Bradbury in Energy, Engineering, Global Warming, Wave Power on 05 2nd, 2008 | No Comments
Wave Power
A new technology mimics the action of ocean-based plants and fish to generate power. The new wave device is being tested right now in Australia.
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Climate, Global Warming, Marine Science, Uncategorized on 05 1st, 2008 | No Comments
Staying Current
North Pacific Gyre Oscillation, courtesy of Georgia Tech
Ocean currents are complex systems that change climate and determine fish populations.
Long studied by scientists to help fishermen predict sardine and anchovy populations, knowing currents is vital to the fishing industry.
But often the predictions...
