Notebook

Science Future for August 27, 2011

September 6 In New York City, author Joshua Foer discusses the history and science of competitive memorization. See www.nyas.org September 15 Deadline to submit photos illustrating “chemistry in our microbes” to the Colors of Chemistry calendar contest. For info go to colorsofchemistry.org

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SCIENCE & THE PUBLIC BLOG Smoke-exposed kids are more likely to have neuro-behavioral disorders. See “Young minds at risk from secondhand smoke.” BODY & BRAIN At-risk newborns may avoid death and disability by cooling off. See “News in Brief: Body & Brain.” Active neurons trigger changes that speed up signaling. Read “How exercise benefits nerve […]

Material Objects Seen as Holes in Space by British Scientist

A close examination of the math of quantum mechanics led to the prediscovery of antimatter particles in 1930.

Science Future for August 13, 2011

August 17 – 21 Explore antique tractors and other equipment at Columbus, Ohio’s Center of Science and Industry. Go to www.cosi.org August 30 Launch into the sun’s cosmic neighborhood in a show at New York City’s Hayden Planetarium. See bit.ly/SNsolarnbhd August 31 In Portland, learn about the technology behind iPhone games. Ages 21 and up. […]

Science Past from the issue of August 12, 1961

“CLIMBERS” PRONE TO ILLNESS — “Nonhazardous” occupations can be dangerous for men who work their way up.  Eighty-four out of 139 young men between the ages of  22 and 32 who had attained managerial positions showed more illness than 55 co-workers who stepped into the same kind of job right out of college…. The men […]

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ATOM & COSMOS NASA’s Dawn spacecraft enters orbit around the asteroid Vesta. Read “Dawn on Vesta.” MOLECULES Tasting fat gives rats the munchies. See “Fat stimulates binge eating.” BODY & BRAIN Armor-clad knights use about twice as much energy to move as non-armored fighters. Read this tale and others in “News in Brief: Body & […]

Russians Dig to Reach Below Earth’s Crust

During the space race, U.S. and Soviet teams also engaged in a less-famous contest — to drill down to the boundary between the Earth’s crust and mantle.

Science Past from the issue of July 29, 1961

RADIATION SURVIVORS  — A world-wide radiation disaster might eventually give rise to two populations, research on bacteria indicates.… Starting with a culture of ordinary (wild-type) bacteria, the scientist added copper ions that produced a “disaster.” Most of the bacteria died…. But as time passed, a small number of survivors, called variants, began reproducing at a rapid […]

Science Future for July 30, 2011

August 8Hear an anthropologist speak in Houston on the evolving relationship between humans and water. Go to www.hmns.org August 12–13The weeklong Perseid meteor shower peaks. Watch after midnight. For more info go to http://bit.ly/Ln3pCr August 20In Ann Arbor, Mich., bring preschoolers on a morning hike to explore the outdoors. For more info, see www.lesliesnc.org

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BODY & BRAINInfants may learn speech sounds as they snooze. Read “Sleeping babies learn in an eyeblink.” LIFEResearchers find a natural screwlike joint — in a beetle’s hip. See “Weevils evolved nut-and-screw joint.” MATTER & ENERGY An acoustic cloak made of metamaterials reflects sound off a bump as though it were a flat wall. Read “You haven’t […]

Men to Mars Possible in 60’s, Experts Say

Experts had forecast that astronauts would walk on Mars by 1970, but such a feat is still 20-plus years out.

Science Past from the issue of July 15, 1961

CERAMICS PROVED BEST FOR POWER GENERATORS — Ceramics have proved to be the best material for checking the white-hot stream of gases in a new kind of electric power generators. Westinghouse Electric Corporation scientists, Pittsburgh, Pa., believe ceramics will be superior to iron and steel for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) electric power generators. They found that ceramics, […]