Partners
Fearing 1918
A lot of people have been commenting about the apparent overreaction of governments to the swine flu. Why go to such extreme measures to deal with simple influenza? The reason has to do with the flu pandemic of 1918-1919.
Post on May 11, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
Shooting the Moon
Launching a spacecraft bound for the Moon with the deliberate intention of striking the Moon in a spectacular impact! Sounds like something out of a Jules Verne novel…
Post on May 08, 2009 by Ben Burress
Go Go Geo! USGS Open House, May 16 and 17
Have you hugged your local geoscientist lately? Science events blogger Kishore Hari gives you his top picks for the 9th Triennial Open House at the USGS, 10 am – 4 PM on May 16th and 17th.
Post on May 07, 2009 by Kishore Hari
What's the Scoop on Kitty Poop?
I am a cat owner who cares about the environment. What to do about their poop presents quite a conundrum.
Post on May 06, 2009 by Amy Gotliffe
Turning Lemons Into Energy Efficient Homes
While new housing is stalled in the United States, there is lots of funding-in the billions of dollars-on the way for weatherization, residential energy efficiency, and renewable energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Post on May 01, 2009 by Jim Gunshinan
Superconductivity: an Arsenic-Laced Future?
In February of last year scientists discovered a new champion in their quest for a better superconductor, a material based on iron and, curiously enough, arsenic.
Post on Apr 28, 2009 by Christopher Smallwood
Tracking Genetics in Popular Culture
In the last couple of weeks, on another blog of mine there has been a surge in our answers about genetic chimeras. Usually this means that somewhere in the world, a certain episode of CSI is being shown.
Post on Apr 27, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
Have the Energy Munchies? Curb your "Snackwell Effect"
Stanley Jevons first described this conundrum in 1865, when he observed that new efficient steam engines decreased coal consumption, which led to a drop in coal prices. But the lower prices meant that more people could afford to use coal, and so coal consumption increased.
Post on Apr 21, 2009 by Jim Gunshinan
When a Cosmo's More Than a Cocktail: Yuri's Night at Cal Academy
208 parties in 46 countries on eight continents celebrated Yuri Alexyevich Gagarin between April 6 and 12th of this year. Who is Yuri and why does he deserve such accolades?
Post on Apr 15, 2009 by Cat
Underwater Update
We heard about the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's new underwater laboratory in a radio story last fall. When that story aired, the lab (known as the Monterey Accelerated Research System, or MARS) was just getting going, with lots of neat experiments planned. Now, few of those have become a reality.
Post on Apr 08, 2009 by Rachel Zurer
Predators in Peril in Uganda
Last October, I gazed out at the expanse of Queen Elizabeth Park, in Uganda, close to the comfy Mweya Safari Lodge where we were staying. The landscape was beautiful, peaceful…and kind of empty. Though we had seen a large and lovely herd of elephants the evening before, on this fine, clear morning, the habitat was clearly missing one of the most important parts of the eco-system: predators. All we could find were tracks.
Post on Apr 08, 2009 by Amy Gotliffe
Using the Online Photo Community Flickr for Science Education
With its powerful, yet easy-to-use features Flickr offers science educators a number of ways to bring abstract concepts to life and add depth and color to theoretical understanding.
Post on Apr 03, 2009 by Jessica Neely
Questions from the Naturalist Center
The exhibits you see on the museum floor of the California Academy of Sciences are just the tip of the iceberg of the Academy's work. In fact, 90% of what we do is the education and research that happens behind-the-scenes. It is this ongoing research that in turn generates the exhibits and programming that guests enjoy.
Post on Apr 02, 2009 by Cat
Designer Babies
A storm of protest broke out a month or so ago when a fertility clinic in Los Angeles announced it would start helping women choose what their babies might look like. The ruckus was loud enough that the clinic has since backed off on this service.
Post on Mar 30, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
Producer's Notes: World's Most Powerful Microscope
Today QUEST takes you behind the scenes to see the most powerful microscope in the world, which happens to be in our very own backyard in Berkeley.
Post on Mar 30, 2009 by Gabriela Quirós
Producer's Notes: Animal Chefs
Few images will stay as indelibly with me as the sight of a 500 pound grizzly bear devouring a horse bone while standing waist high in water.
Post on Mar 17, 2009 by Sheraz Sadiq
Why Human Cloning Shouldn't be a Big Worry
President Obama lifted the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research last Monday. Many researchers breathed a sigh of relief as they could finally get to work using these cells to find treatments and even cures for many debilitating diseases and injuries.
Post on Mar 16, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
First Star I See… In My Life!
What's that up in the sky? A… uh… an… uh…. Golly, never seen that before…
Post on Mar 13, 2009 by Ben Burress
The Need for Science in America
This week the Cal Academy of Sciences celebrated the millionth visitor to its new building in Golden Gate Park On March 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., executive director Gregory Farrington greeted the one-millionth visitor to the new California Academy of Sciences. It seems incredible that in just over five months, one million visitors have explored [...]
Post on Mar 05, 2009 by Cat
Predicting Fossil Finds
Scientists used evolutionary theory to figure out where to find the bones of this fishibian. Lately I have been reading Jerry Coyne's Why Evolution is True. And so far it is a fascinating read. What is so great about this book for a scientist is that it gives the big picture on evolution. This sort [...]
Post on Mar 02, 2009 by Dr. Barry Starr
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