Humans have a tendency to litter wherever we go. Whether it's the local park, a music festival, or Mt. Everest, we're just not good at cleaning up after ourselves. And space is no exception.
Space is pretty big. Infinite, in fact. But the same can't be said of low-Earth orbit (LEO) and, in particular, the most popular orbital lanes used by Earth-sensing and communications satellites. We're launching more objects skyward every year and not, in many cases, cleaning up when we're done with t ...read more
For many people, the holiday ritual of baking cookies isn’t complete without also eating some of the raw dough. In my family, questions like “Who gets to lick the beaters?” and “Can I grab a piece of dough?” were always part of the cookie-making experience.
Yet, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly issued warnings about the dangers of consuming raw dough. Specific statements have included: “The bottom line for you and your kids is don’t ...read more
The discovery of novel filaments on two species of pterosaur suggests that the extinct flying reptiles had complex coats of "feathers" and fuzz, say the authors of a new study. The presence of these apparent pterosaur feathers may indicate that the ancestor of both pterosaurs and their cousins, dinosaurs, sported similar coverings — but that's not the only hypothesis.
Like dinosaurs, pterosaurs are archosaurs. This group of reptiles, which also includes crocodilians, likel ...read more
This time last year I wrote(1,2) about a Swedish company called Emotra. Emotra make a device that is supposed to measure suicide risk in people with mental illness. The test is called EDOR® and according to Emotra's website and materials, it has been shown to be highly effective. Last year, I explained why I disagree with that assessment.
Now, a year later, I'm revisting the EDOR® story, because there have been a number of developments that I find quite disturbing. It seems that EDOR& ...read more
The Surfrider Foundation is pleased to announce its participation in the first ever open data standard for the automated exchange of recreational water quality data.
Recreational waters at ocean and freshwater beaches, lakes and rivers are monitored for harmful bacteria and pathogens that can threaten human health. Agencies and volunteer organizations alike have always found it challenging, however, to get water quality information into the hands of the public. An estimated 90 milli ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine