China’s First Spacewalk
A Chinese taikonaut performs that nation’s first spacewalk, going outside an orbiter for about 13 minutes, waving a red Chinese flag for a live broadcast.
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Global Warming, Politics and Science, Video on 09 24th, 2008 | No Comments
Presidential Candidates on Climate Change
Both Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama answered a series of questions related to science and technology policy recently. Here’s where they stand on the issue of climate change.
Smaller Nuclear Plants a Possibility in Oregon
An Oregon State University scientist thinks he can make nuclear power green.
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Animals, Biology, Ecology, Environment, SciClips on 09 15th, 2008 | No Comments
Leading Role in Biodiversity
Parasitic wasp and aphid, courtesy of WSU
There is a lot of buzz about biodiversity these days. But new wasp research is showing it’s not just the number of species present that indicates a healthy system. But there also must be diversity in what each species can do.
Washington State University...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Energy, Engineering, Environment, Solar, Video on 09 12th, 2008 | No Comments
Solar Taxi Powers Through New York
A Solar-powered taxi made a stop in New York as part of its trip around the world. The Swiss schoolteacher who designed it, says he hasn’t spent a penny on gas.
Louis Palmer is finishing up his global solar tour after logging over 28,000 miles. He promised his mother he’d be home for Christmas.
The Eyes Have It — X Ray Vision
Courtesy of Rennslaer Polytechnic Institute, photo by Mark Changizi
Having two eyes that face forward is an evolutionary advantage. But new research points to a shift in our natural environments and suggests having an eye on each side of the head might be better for us down the road–say in a...
Counting on Number Sense
1, 2, 3, 4, how do you improve your math score? Well, start by getting good at estimating numbers of objects in groups. New research shows that good “number sense” translates to higher standardized math test scores.
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Particle in a Haystack
Courtesy of Pentek
Tomorrow, the Large Hadron Collider is set to fire up for the first time. The giant $10 billion particle accelerator is designed to re-create the moments just following the Big Bang. All the world will be talking about protons, atom smashing and new particles.
But University of Michigan...
Forest Storage
Boreal Forest in Yukon Territory, photo by Michael C. Bradbury
Among all the options to help tame carbon dioxide emissions, few people can see the forest for the trees.
But a team of ecologists at Ohio State University is quantifying how much carbon can be stored in North American forests.
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Science of…a Recession
The United States is in a recession. The signs are all around. But how is an official recession calculated or determined? The National Bureau of Economic Research announced that a recession began in December 2007. It took a year of housing foreclosures, bank failures and massive layoffs to slow economic...
CERN’s High EnRG Comedy
Below the Swiss-French border something is stirring.
Besides the largest high energy physics experiment which goes online smashing atoms on September 10, some of those physicists are learning to tickle our funny bones in an effort to better explain what the heck is going one at the Large Hadron Collider.
Hurricanes Heat Up
Hurricane Dean, the most intense storm of 2007
Hurricanes and global warming don’t mix. This is one of the more contentious areas of the climate change issue.
But new research from Florida State University and published in Nature magazine this week puts much of the uncertainty about hurricanes...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Biology, Engineering, SciClips, Solar, Wind on 09 3rd, 2008 | No Comments
Sunflower Houses
Dynamic Tower, Dubai, courtesy of Dynamic Architecture
A home that orients toward the sun is considered heliotropic. But there are a few homes that rotate, to actually follow the sun.
Those mimic Mother Nature and are an example of biomimicry. Even though they are rare, rotating homes are popping...
Posted by Michael Bradbury in Biofuels, Biology, Energy, Marine Science, SciClips on 09 2nd, 2008 | No Comments
Blooming Algae For Biofuel
Dr. Rose Ann Cattolico, Photo by Mary Levin, University of Washington
Dr. Rose Ann Cattolico’s 30-year-old idea is finally blossoming.
As gas prices soar and fears over foreign oil security mount, many scientists and entrepreneurs are looking for new sources of energy. Algae is one alternative...
