Friday, 25 May, 2012

Space shuttle Columbia has crashed, raising questions about research on the space shuttle and the International Space Station. Should we do space science by robots or manned vehicles?

Airbus crashes in New York — composite material fails and tail fin falls off. Why are composites (usually) so strong? How are they used in roads, bikes and planes?

Before some building projects, salvage archaeologists save what they can. What can you learn with a quick-and-dirty dig? Is it worth the hassle?

Organic solvents are handy hydrocarbon chemicals used to carry coatings — typically paint — to objects. New invention could filter these solvents out at the factory, reducing air pollution.

Mars Polar Orbiter: Lost in space. What else goes wrong in the great blue yonder, and what could we do to prevent more problems?

Scientific kites are back, flying payloads high into the atmosphere and delivering data at a fraction of the cost of satellites and specialized planes.

How do we find and produce oil and natural gas? Give credit to the ancient plants that make oil and natural gas. Why do oil companies whack the Earth? What is a horizontal drill good for?

Missile defense: Protective shield, or dangerous myth? New tests do little to solve the problem.

Computer animation powers A Bug’s Life to the box office. What is wire-frame animation? What other techniques are used to bring pixels to life in the movies?

New push for renewable energy: Solar hydrogen, wind farms and fuel cells all have potential — and problems.