Thursday, 9 February, 2012

Tornadoes kill 60 Americans each year. How do we predict tornadoes? How do we make houses safer? Where do tornadoes get their energy?

Chandra links gamma-ray bursts to supernovas. What really causes these gigantic explosions?

Existing nukes may not exhaust the possible nukes. What other weapons could appear on the nuclear shelf?

Renewable energy and the hydrogen economy get a boost from new invention.

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

Tyrannosaurus rex was no sprinter, new biomechanical study finds.

Moon was formed by impact of Theia with Earth. How do we know this, and why might we care?

How violins make sound. And why the ear is the world’s most sophisticated spectrum analyzer.

Giant volcano at Yellowstone erupts on schedule. The last eruption covered about 20 states with ash. If Yellowstone blows, think big: Think REALLY BIG!

Worldwide thirst for oil, Hurricane Katrina, political instability, conservation failures add up to record demand and record prices for fuel. Can inherently “safe designs” reduce the risk of meltdown? Should we support a revival of fission power?