The Why Files » The future

Video surveillance: Who is watching you?

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:22:03 +0000

London pioneered video surveillance in public, but it's catching on fast. Many major cities have systems, and more are coming. What do these cameras learn? How do they interact with other sources of data? In this culture of disclosure should we even worry about privacy?

Fertilizing the ocean

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:57:17 +0000

As Earth warms, should we try huge geoengineering projects to cool the climate? Would adding iron to fertilize ocean plants withdraw enough carbon dioxide to slow warming -- or backfire?

Running short of copper, phosphorus, rare elements

schulte — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:42:27 +0000

We need elements. Without phosphorus fertilizer, millions would starve. A shortage of copper means a shortage of electricity. And we're importing more than 95% of the "rare-earth" elements needed for LCDs, cell phones and green energy. Is this smart?

Space Travel: Humans vs. Robots

schulte — Fri, 30 Jan 2004 16:07:58 +0000

Bush proposes mission to moon and Mars, but how great are the scientific payoffs of this expensive, risky adventure? Would it be smarter – and cheaper – to send robots?

Homestake Goldmine: Science Lab?

schulte — Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:12:51 +0000

An international team of scientists selected the Homestake goldmine to be the world's deepest underground lab, but the project may sink.

Zoonotic Disease — Bugs Jump to People

schulte — Thu, 03 Jul 2003 14:45:25 +0000

Monkeypox, AIDS, SARS: Are more diseases jumping from animals to people, or is it just our imagination?

Particles Get Entangled: Weird Quantum Interaction

schulte — Thu, 26 Jun 2003 18:57:30 +0000

Austrian researchers show quantum entanglement across the Danube River, providing new promise in cryptography and computing. At the smallest scale, you can throw out the usual rules of engagement. What's up with spooky action at a distance?

Skyscrapers: Engineering Challenge

schulte — Thu, 30 Jan 2003 21:02:24 +0000

As New York City decides about the World Trade Center site, we discuss the significance of a city skyline.

Photovoltaic Advance

schulte — Thu, 28 Mar 2002 19:03:02 +0000

New photovoltaic (PV) cells combine polymer and inorganic semiconductors -- could be cheaper to manufacture.

Surveillance Today: Sleuth’s High-Tech Tricks

schulte — Thu, 22 Jan 1998 20:59:40 +0000

Forget big brother, your neighbor could be watching you!