Science Out Of The Box Science Finds One Use for Fruitcake: Blow It Up! December 30, 2006 • Not sure what to do with Grandma's leftover fruitcake? Professor Thom Castonguay has an idea. In a lab at the University of Maryland's Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Castonguay demonstrates bomb calorimetry -- the science of calculating calories by blowing up food.
Environment Midway, a Protected Area, Is Also Underfunded December 29, 2006 • Even President Bush's staunchest environmentalist critics were singing his praises when he protected the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, including Midway Island. But it turns out that there's so much lead paint flaking off old buildings on Midway that thousands of Laysan albatross born there each year are getting poisoned.
Author Interviews Book Pays Tribute to the Much Maligned Pigeon December 29, 2006 • A new book tells the story of the most common urban bird: pigeons. Author Andrew Blechman talks about Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird.
Research News Volunteers Start Annual U.S. Bird Count December 29, 2006 • Across the country, volunteers help to launch the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count, going strong for more than 100 years. Researchers hope the results will tell them how birds are faring. They're watching this year's count closely, as birds have weathered a record wildfire season and struggled to recover from the 2005 hurricanes.
A Look Back at the Science Stories of 2006 December 29, 2006 • This year, science stories made headlines: Pluto was bumped from the planetary line-up. Google bought YouTube. Evidence grew for global warming. New York City declared war on trans fats and breast cancer rates dropped.
2006: The Year in Health News December 28, 2006 • Health news made headlines throughout 2006, with stories ranging from mental illness to HIV/AIDS. Dr. Ivan Walks talks about the year in health news.
Environment The Future of Aging Dams Provokes Debate December 28, 2006 • There's a debate over what to do about America's aging, and sometimes deadly, dams. Some say tearing them down is the responsible thing to do. Others believe it's better to keep them in place.
Scientists Compete to Design New Nukes December 28, 2006 • Two teams of scientists have drawn up designs for a new nuclear warhead intended to replace the aging warheads on U.S. submarines. The scientists had to devise designs that they can guarantee will work without being tested.
Error Prompts Question: How Cold Can it Get? December 27, 2006 • Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service predicted weekend low temperature for the San Jose area of minus 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The forecast is a computer error, and the temperature is physically impossible. But what would those sorts of temperature mean?
Online Campaign Sparks Interest in New Disease December 27, 2006 • A vigorous online lobbying campaign has made a disturbing disease a priority for the Centers for Disease Control. Patients from California, Texas and Florida describe symptoms including rashes and sores, and the sensation of things crawling under their skin. Many sufferers believe they have something called Morgellons disease.
Environment Asia Earthquake Threat Hangs Over World Markets December 27, 2006 • Scientists say Asia is at risk for at least two more massive quakes. One near the source of the 2004 tsunami, the other threatens Tokyo. When they come, the quakes could impact world financial markets.
Environment USGS Works to Advance Quake Warnings December 26, 2006 • The U.S. Geological Survey will soon upgrade its rapid earthquake notifications to include a projection of hazard to human beings and potential economic losses. Emergency officials are rapidly notified when a large quake strikes anywhere in the world. But it can take hours or days to figure out whether a particular quake is a major threat to life and property.
Environment Tsunami Data Point to Value of Reefs in Warming Era December 26, 2006 • Scientists who have studied the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami conclude that coral reefs helped to save many people. Recent computer models have confirmed what eyewitnesses reported: Shorelines behind reefs fared much better. That raises both the value of reefs as well as alarm over their rapid disappearance. And with climate change expected to raise sea levels, the data also suggest that reefs might help protect low-lying areas from higher wave surges.
Solving an Old Math Problem Nets Award, Trouble December 26, 2006 • The journal Science's "breakthrough of the year" for 2006 is the solution of a century-old math problem. The story behind the solution is quite a soap opera. It includes a Harvard math wizard, a reclusive Russian genius, a $1 million prize, an award-winning journalist and The New Yorker magazine.
National Fighting Hunger in Cincinnati December 24, 2006 • In the downtown Cincinnati neighborhood known as Over the Rhine, one food bank gave out special meals this week -- enough to feed some 17,000 people, including 8.000 children.