It's been a while since I've written any posts related to science on here. There are some really cool articles that have come out, specifically about books. (Hint: Books are good for your health, and can even improve your memory, according to Bustle.) Reading and Your Brain According to the Daily Mail, scientists have found that reading a novel can affect your brain for days … [Read more...] about The Science of Writing and Reading
Science
I Know Dino: The Podcast
After months of researching, interviewing, and polishing, we have finally launched our long-awaited I Know Dino podcast (part of a larger I Know Dino project, which involves blog posts, books, and more)! You can find our new, free podcast on iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/i-know-dino/id960976813?mt=2 Our first episode features Pete Larson, president of … [Read more...] about I Know Dino: The Podcast
Living in a Sci-Fi World
CES (Consumer Electronics Association) was last week, and companies demoed a lot of really cool gadgets. One I think is worth sharing is a product by Tactus, a company in California. Tactus developed a screen that can turn into a flat tablet into something with actual bumpy buttons, to make it easier to type. When you're not using the typepad, the buttons just disappear back … [Read more...] about Living in a Sci-Fi World
The Higgs Boson / The “God particle”
From NPR: "Two teams of scientists using the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, announced in Geneva this morning that they have detected a new subatomic particle that bears the hallmarks of the elusive and highly sought after Higgs boson. In layman's terms, the Higgs is referred to as the "God Particle" because the field it … [Read more...] about The Higgs Boson / The “God particle”
Do eBooks Weigh Anything?
Interesting question posed by a New York Times reader: When an e-reader is loaded with thousands of books, does it gain any weight? The answer? “In principle, the answer is yes,” said John D. Kubiatowicz, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. To read the whole explanation, click here. … [Read more...] about Do eBooks Weigh Anything?
Maybe Someday We Can Visit The Whole Universe
That became my dream after I learned that scientists at CERN in Switzerland have successfully conducted an experiment proving Einstein's theory of relativity wrong. Turns out, things can travel faster than the speed of light (at least subatomic particles anyway). But hey, it's a start. Read more... … [Read more...] about Maybe Someday We Can Visit The Whole Universe
In the Name of Science
Turns out that the bands scientists have been attaching to penguins for 50 years to study them has been doing more harm than good. Because of the bands, penguins are producing fewer offspring and have a lower survival rate--probably because the bands impede their swimming abilities, which makes it harder to gather food. Still, the success of the penguins help indicate climate … [Read more...] about In the Name of Science
In the Name of Science
Science is constantly changing and scientists are always learning new things. This week, my focus is on the prehistoric, unsolved deaths, and green tech. Recently, researchers have reported that an extinct Jamaican bird, from the ibis family (but flightless), used its handbone as a clublike weapons. The fossil was discovered in 1997, and the bird became extinct around 12,000 … [Read more...] about In the Name of Science
Triceratops Never Existed
Being a huge dinosaur-lover, I can't believe I'm just hearing about this now, but back in July/August of this year, it was announced that triceratops never existed. In fact, both Triceratops and Torosaurus are now believed to have been the same dinosaur, but at different growth stages. Sound familiar? It's a lot like the mix-up with Brontosaurus and Apatosaurus, and in fact … [Read more...] about Triceratops Never Existed
Total Lunar Eclipse
Tonight/early morning, there was a total lunar eclipse--"the first time in 372 years that a total lunar eclipse also marks the beginning of the winter solstice," according to the New York Times. From my perspective here in Hoboken, it was beautiful. The moon was a deep red, and at 3:05 a.m. or so I could see the eclipse ending. (I think my California friends may have been … [Read more...] about Total Lunar Eclipse
Science Rules!
Kristianstad, Sweden does not use oil, natural gas, or coal to heat its homes and businesses. Instead, it uses gas extracted from biomass like farm and food waste. This is not uncommon in European cities, but Kristianstad harnesses "biogas for an across-the-board regional energy makeover that has halved its fossil fuel use and reduced the city’s carbon dioxide emissions by … [Read more...] about Science Rules!
Science Rules! Week 2
All kinds of good science news this week. First, late night Dec. 13 and early morning Dec. 14, there will be a "dazzling Geminid meteor shower" that is "expected to be the best display of so-called 'shooting stars' of the year." The Geminid meteor shower occurs every year, and they are a source of mystery to scientists. Meteor showers come about when "Earth passes through a … [Read more...] about Science Rules! Week 2
Science Rules!
I used to write science articles, and I miss it. So I'm going to start blogging about it. You're welcome. Lots of interesting stuff going on today. For one, NASA had some exciting but also disappointing news. Yesterday they announced they would hold a press conference, which address how we're going to change the way we look at extraterrestrial life. Of course, everyone … [Read more...] about Science Rules!