Archive for the ‘Understandings about science and technology’ Category


Scraps of ancient textiles found - Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Flax, the basis for linen, was spun and dyed, and lost in the mud. More than 30,000 years later, microscopic flax fibers provide the first cord in archeological history.



Brit astronomers reveal sizzling cosmic tryst! - Thursday, August 27th, 2009

A planet newly found in the southern sky is perilously close to its star, orbiting in less than 1 Earth day. Within 10 years, this planet may force a new understanding of star-guts.



Running short of copper, phosphorus, rare elements - Thursday, September 11th, 2008

Without phosphorus fertilizer, millions would starve. A shortage of copper — and electricity — could short-circuit our economy. Without many obscure elements, we would not have LCDs and cell phones. Should we act to prevent future shortages?



Questioning candidates - Thursday, August 28th, 2008

The candidates are skirting issues related to environment, energy and science policy. Heard promising plans for greener energy, solid science advice, or coping with the decline of oil? We neither…



Measuring invading trees: New system tested in Hawaii - Thursday, March 6th, 2008

Hawaii is the world’s capital of biological invasions. A new airborne gadget measures how bad the situation has become; offers aid in fighting weedy trees.



Reprocessing nuclear fuel: A cure that’s worse than the disease? - Thursday, February 28th, 2008

With the Nevada waste dump 20 years late, deadly radwaste still piles up. Would removing the plutonium for new fuel aid proliferators or help with waste storage? The debate continues.



Political equation (1) Election + science = ? - Thursday, February 14th, 2008

Use a cellphone? Love nature? Fear cancer? Then how can you hate science? Epidemics, environment, technology: We’ve got questions for the marathoners running (still?) for prexydent.



Selling the poor, helping the poor: No contradiction? - Thursday, November 15th, 2007

By marketing to billions of lower-income people, business can do well by doing good: Affordable green goods for “the base of the pyramid” could improve lives and cut environmental damage. Could this work?



Toddler’s “vocabulary explosion,” explained - Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

A toddler suddenly begins to learn 10 words a day. Does this reflect some innate genius for language, or could it have a less dramatic explanation? New research de-glamorizes the vocab explosion.



Barbecue season approaches: What’s so great about open fire? - Thursday, May 17th, 2007

The ancients used fire to cook, smelt metal and make pots. It provided warmth, protection against animals, and became a social focus. Fire changed who we are. Could this explain the enduring allure of fire?




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