Terminal Ice - Scientists are seeing more icebergs from Antarctica every year, is this due to global warming ?
Find a Wild, Fearsome World Beneath Every Fallen Leaf - A short walk with Edward O. Wilson, a great author of books about nature. Find out what he is currently working on......
My Mother, The Scientist - a very interesting article about Joan Feynman written by her son. Not too long ago, women were discouraged about becoming scientists..........
Embyro Police *** - Great story about the HFEA in England. The group oversees reproductive technology. They make sure that people can not order 'designer' babies. It follows the sad story of one family who lost a daughter and sought help to assure that their next child would be female. The HFEA denied their request, and the family subsequently sought help in other countries. The author points out that currently, the U.S. does not regulate reproductive technology and calls it the "Wild West of reproductive medicine."
Ice Memory *** - The North Greenland Ice-core Project drills through the ice of Greenland. The core samples are sent to other countries to be studied. Scientists have discovered that the temperature of the planet can fluctuate very rapidly. We are currently living in what they believe is the end of the most stable climatic period the world has ever seen. They have also concluded that the reason why civilization spruing up at around the same time, all over the globe was due to a favorable climate. Are you concerned about global warming ? Nature might have something even more disatrous in store for us.
Treasure Under Saddam's Feet - a short article about ancient Assyrian treasures that could become lost if Saddam Hussein has his way. The story is obviously dated, and would be interesting to learn what happened to the area now that Iraq is under new leadership.
False Testament - the history of the Jews, according to the Bible can not be supported by scientists. The main focus on the discoveries, or non-discoveries of archaeologists.
Memory Faults and Fixes *** - wrongful convictions based on the memories of witnesses. Human memories are not immutable.
Homeland Insecurity *** - Bruce Schneier is a well known cryptographer. But he is out of the business these days because he realized that when computer software security fails, it fails badly. So these days he is providing security with the best known defense - the human mind. He also talks about how the U.S. government's plans to tie all relevant computer bases together for homeland security reasons. Schneier explains just how dangerous this can be.
It's Easy Being Green - The U.S. is addicted to fossil fuels, which cause environmental problems. The U.S. government does nothing about this problem because the people in the administration owe the backers of their political careers - the coal, oil and gas guys. I think this author should read 'Ice Memory' and lighten up.
The Royal We *** - Genealogies have hundreds of dimensions. Everyone's roots go back to the same family tree, but each families path is different. Almost everyone in the U.S. is descended from English Royalty, including African and Native Americans because of the long history of intermarriage. This process also works going forward in time. Everyone today who has children will be an ancestor of the entire human race. I have to read this again. It is very interesting.
A New View of Our Universe - Scientists are modeling new universes to help explain our own. Why did the our universe turn out the way it did ? There are very precise mechanisms in place that if changed by only fractions of a percent, would not allow this universe to support life as we know it. Is the universe 'programmed' to support life ?
The Blank Slate *** - John Locke is often attributed with the phrase "tabula rasa" meaning blank slate. This phrase was used by people to counter widespread racism and sexism. However, the author is making the argument that people are not born with a 'blank slate'. Parents provide their children with their genes, not just an environment. Case and point, biological siblings are found to be much more similiar than adoptive siblings. Also, the author puts forth the idea that variations in intelligence, sexual orientation, and impulsive violence are not entirely learned.
Anybody Out There - a short essay about how life may have begun on Earth and asking if this scenario is possible on other planets.
The Fully Immersive Mind of Oliver Sacks - Oliver Sacks is much more than a neurologist. He also wrote many books about his patients including "Awakenings". Sacks believes that the old art of listening to patients is being lost, to modern medicines more 'assembly line' approach. Sacks has realized that listening to his own stories about his childhood as he remembers them, can lead him to 'recover' who he is. ( The begining of the story is about how Sacks recounted an event is his childhood which never took place. )
Fat Heads Sink Ships - Short article which explains one theory why Sperm whales have such large heads.
What If It's All Been a Big Fat Lie ? *** - The obesity epidemic started in the early 80s. This is the exact same time at which the governement started to promote the low fat is good health diet. Hmmm, any connection there ? Million of dollars have been spent researching diet and nutrition, but none of it has been processed in a comprehensive way. Data can be found to support just about any diet plan ! The Atkins diet is mentioned in the article a few times, and it is quite interesting.
Sounding the Alarm - Rachel Carson tried to warn the scientific community about DDT way back in 1945 ! Did anyone listen ? Well, maybe her friends did but thats about it. After a reprint of one of her books, "Silent Spring" Al Gore stated that without her work, "the environmental movement would have been long delayed or may not have even started at all." The article is very short and not too informative.
The Very Best Telescope - Short article on the best telescope in the world, CHARA, located in California. It is actually 6 smaller telescopes sending information to 2 computers !
Raising the Dead - In 1936 the last Tasmanian 'tiger' died in a zoo in Australia. Today, scientists there are trying to bring back the species by cloning DNA from a sample. It will costs millions, and detract from other preservation projects but some feel it is worth it.
