Science and Technology Issues

A Chance of Showers and a Little Shaking

2005-05-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

This was widely reported on the AP news line but they
never referenced the actual site where the earthquake
forecasting map resided.

http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/step/>

It appears to me that many of the reports on this map
have misinterpreted its meaning. The purpose is to
display to the average Californian what the chances
are that they'll have a quake in the next 24 hours.
That's it. There's no mention of size or location nor
the precise location of the quake.

One also has to look at the probabilities displayed,
the highest probability being 1 in 10, to know that
this remains an imprecise science.

Chimp's Art to Feature in London Auction

2005-05-11T22:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, here's something a bit lighter.

If what this article says about Congo is true it's a truely interesting example of curiousity, playfulness, or something else entirely. Could it be that chimps react to colors in similar fashion as humans?
Chimp's Art to Feature in London Auction

One of the more interesting examples of curiousity in apes, that I've seen, comes from "Last Chance to See" by Douglas Adams. An ape takes a particular interest in Adams' shocking pink notepad while he's observing a family of apes in the wild.

'Last Chance to See' by Douglas Adams and Mark Cawardine

Physical Constants Change Over Time?

2005-05-09T23:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of blogging for the past few
months. I'll do better. I promise.

For those few who actually care.

Anyways, there's an interesting article in SFGate.com.
It states that there may be evidence that the fine
structure constant may change over time.

Here's the link, while it lasts:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/09/MNG5LCLEU41.DTL

The argument that certain physical constants may not
be, well... constant, has been around for a little
while. But without any hard evidence these thoughts
were dismissed as fanciful speculation. Besides the
idea that physical constants like Pi changing over
time makes most comsologists' heads spin.

Electron Microscope Peers into Atoms

2004-09-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have overcome issues with vibration and resolving power of electron microscopes to actually peer into atomic structures.

Here's the AP story with the oddly misleading title:
'Tenn. Lab Develops Electron Microscope'. By Duncan Mansfield.

The article only tempts me for more information though. It doesn't specify whether or not this technique can be done for only certain materials or any material. It also doesn't specify whether the material needs to be specially prepared or not, e.g. sliced, coated, doped, etc.

Genesis Capsule Crashes into the Desert

2004-09-08T23:34:00.000-07:00

Looks like another brash and unusual mission has been lost. The Genesis capsule was to collect particles in the solar winds and have brought them back to earth via a complex parachute and helicopter combination. Unfortunately the chute failed to deploy and the capsule tumbled helplessly into the desert floor on live TV.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040909/ap_on_sc/genesis_capsule&cid=624&ncid=716

Printing Tissue

2004-08-10T17:53:00.000-07:00

A group from Clemson University has developed a way to use the average ink-jet printer to create living tissue. Without reading further details I'm supposing that the researchers print specific cells into particular patterns that would mimic the target tissue.

For years biomedical researchers have been attempting to grow tissues using methods such as growing cells in molds. Even attempting to grow genetically modified organs in donor animals like pigs. This is one of the simpliest and yet most logical approaches to growing tissues. It begs the question, when they mix this technique with 3D printers how close will they get to producing whole organs?

Links:

The Medill News Service article by Emily C Kumler

Gluon Glass Condensate

2004-08-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

From Scientific American "Shattered Glass - Seeking the densest matter: the color glass condensate" By David Appell.

In highly energetic quark-based particles it's been hypothesized that gluons form a condensate within the particle at relativistic speeds. Produced by the over abundance of gluons created during the acceleration of the particle, the gluon condensate forms something similar to the Bose-Einstein condensate.

What interests me is the statement that acceleration creates more gluons. With the strength of the strong force this increase in gluon creation must have a noticeable effect on acceleration of the particles. If so, what is the manifestation of this mathematically? I imagine it must be a deceleration, making it harder to accelerate the particle at higher speeds. Sounds downright relativistic.

M