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Report Suggests Social Environment's Outsized Role in Obesity
Tweet Share on Facebook July 11, 2012 CommentObesity is a global epidemic. The World Health Organization now places it as the world's leading non-communicable disease, ahead of even diabetes or cancer. And Americans are more obese than most.
Generally speaking, people believe that either genetics--if your mom or dad was obese, then you're likely to be as well--or personal choices are to blame. Most obesity researchers--and most diets--focus nearly exclusively on the individual and the daily food choices each of us makes.
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Unlimited Data Sharing, Storage Just a Flash of Light Away
Tweet Share on Facebook July 6, 2012 CommentIf two recent studies using some novel applications around the unique properties of light are any indication, we may be about to enter a brand-new era of data and communication. Limits on storage, data transfer, and information-sharing speed may simply vanish.
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How The Mighty Mississippi Saved Shores From BP Deepwater Oil Spill
Tweet Share on Facebook June 29, 2012 CommentMost of us have by now seen the happy, sunny commercials BP has sprinkled across the television landscape in the past few months, welcoming Americans back to the beaches in Florida, Louisiana, and other southern coasts affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the spring of 2010.
The ads sponsored by BP feature state and local officials who are obviously relieved that predictions of oil contamination along the coastlines never reached the levels some had initially predicted. They show lovely beaches, and remind viewers that the BP oil spill could have been much, much worse.
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Vatican Cracks Open Doors to Catholic Church's 'Secret' Archive
Tweet Share on Facebook May 18, 2012 Comment (2)The movie trailer is worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster ripped from the pages of a new Dan Brown novel, complete with ominous background music, quick, furtive screenshots of secretive documents, and camera angles that draw you deeper into the inner sanctum of a seemingly endless vault that is clearly one of the most mysterious on the planet.
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Poll Says America Ready for Hard Choice on Fossil Fuels, Climate
Tweet Share on Facebook May 7, 2012 Comment (1)A majority of Americans from both political parties are ready for the "grand bargain"--an increase in taxes on old energy sources (oil, coal, and natural gas) in return for a reduction in income tax rates across the board. In short, they're ready for a new national climate and energy policy to emerge.
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Forget Darwin, DNA Science Could Soon Let Humans Play God
Tweet Share on Facebook April 17, 2012 Comment (10)It's a dream for most of us--change who we are to conform to an ideal notion of who or what we should be. Well, it might be a real option one day soon. And the changes that may occur will make plastic surgery look like child's play.
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For DARPA, Defense Planning Proceeds at Mach 20
Tweet Share on Facebook March 21, 2012 CommentThe folks who stay up all night worrying about such things at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have a real insomnia inducer for the people of the United States: Our most advanced technology is in enemy hands. But for those enemies, DARPA has a warning shot: It's up to the challenge.
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Scientists' Life's Work to Search for It Aboard Mars Rover
Tweet Share on Facebook March 7, 2012 Comment (1)Later this year, nearly 300 of the brightest scientists on Earth will begin holding their breath as the most high-tech rover in NASA's storied history touches down on the airless surface of Mars and begins seeking proof of the possibility of life beyond our atmosphere.
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Forget Conventional Wisdom: Israel Can Nix Iran's Nukes
Tweet Share on Facebook March 1, 2012 Comment (10)Intelligence community analysts have coalesced around three central notions about Iran's nuclear weapons intentions:
That Iran hasn't yet committed to building nuclear weapons. In a deliberate leak, the New York Times reported recently that all 16 American intelligence branches agree with this assessment.
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Wave Disk Engine Could Be New Hybrid Powerplant
Tweet Share on Facebook February 23, 2012 Comment (7)Imagine if an American research team developed a new internal combustion engine three to four times better at burning the fuel that's needed for a power generation system in a hybrid car, and was considerably smaller than the heavy, 1,000-pound powertrain assembly in today's cars?
What if such a novel engine could be connected, for example, to Nissan's efficient, relatively low-cost 24 kilowatt battery that runs the hybrid LEAF—a battery that surprised experts when its manufacturing cost was much lower than anyone had predicted?
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