Web pick posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Web pick posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Web pick posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Web Pick posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Web picks posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Web picks posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Web picks posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
To help frame the debate on science, TechCrunch, which has been covering the just-finished Personal Democracy Forum in New York City, offers a poll to find out what technology policies its readers would give priority to. Among the choices, "mandate net neutrality," "promote renewable energy," and "appoint an engineer to the FCC." Netscape creator Mark Andreessen suggests "brain draining the world" by offering work visas to anyone with a college education.
Related Story: Clinton, Obama Surrogates Debate Science Policy
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Speakers at the Renewable Energy Finance Forum said there's a real need to fund and build high-power transmission lines in the parts of the country where wind farms and solar installations would work best, which tend to be less inhabited, according to the Environmental News Network.
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
The authors say: "Any transition from an economy based on fossil fuels to one based on renewable, alternative, green energy--call it what you will--is likely to be slow, as similar changes have been in the past. On the other hand, the scale of the market provides opportunities for alternatives to prove themselves at the margin and then move into the mainstream, as is happening with wind power at the moment.
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
New Scientist reports that a study found that people think doubling the miles per gallon of a compact car has the same effect on overall fuel consumption as doubling it in an SUV: that is, going from 10 to 20 mpg saves five gallons per 100 miles, while going from 25 to 50 mpg saves only two. The scientists want to flip the Environmental Protection Agency's standard on its head, from miles per gallon to gallons per (100) miles, which they say would make the picture clearer. In this case, 100 miles in the more efficient compact would "cost" 2 gallons, as opposed to 5 gallons in the more efficient SUV.
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
The statement, prepared by the World Economic Forum, was presented ahead of next month's meeting of the Group of Eight industrialized nations. The U.S. has said it won't agree to any binding targets unless China and India do also.
Bloomberg quotes Paris-based International Energy Agency as saying earlier this month that "Oil, power and metal industries are among the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. To cut their output in half by 2050, an extra $45 trillion must be invested in clean-air technologies."
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
An AP story on Forbes.com reports that the FDA put out a warning in October, but since then has received four reports of patients dying after being injected with Definity, a drug formerly marketed by Bristol Myers Squibb.
Researchers are always trying to develop agents that are easier to see on ultrasound or MRI scans as a way to spot hard-to-find defects.
The Think Ox is about the size of a Prius, runs for 125-155 miles per charge on rechargeable lithium ion batteries, and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. One wonders if the Ox name, presumably designed to evoke clean air, will have the same effect on sales that the Chevy Nova---"no go" in Spanish---legendarily had on sales in Latin America.
Posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Fearing the country isn't producing enough scientists and engineers to keep the US competitive with the rest of the world, the National 4-H Council went to Washington this week to lobby members of Congress to promote science to youngsters, says the Wall Street Journal.
4-H wants funding for programs that give kids hands-on experience with science, such as building rockets. The council pledges to prepare one million of the nation's youth for science careers by 2013.
posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com
Science Daily reports on a study published in the journal Health Affairs that while the US population has been growing and living longer, the number of generalists graduating from medical schools has been shrinking. The study's authors suggest increasing enrollment in medical schools by forgiving some loans if students become generalists.
To treat chronically ill patients, they advocate a team approach: physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and others provide comprehensive primary care services. And, they advise increasing the use of the telephone, e-mail and electronic medical records to boost quality and reduce costs.
Web Picks posted by Neil Savage in partnership with xconomy.com.
Web picks posted by Neil Savage in partnership with xconomy.com
Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) say the manure from a single pig could yield 21 gallons of crude oil. Wired Science reports though the pig-based fuel is not yet ready for use in your road hog, the analysis tells researchers how they can improve it. More important, says Wired, is that in doing this study, NIST developed a measurement technique that can be used in analyzing all sorts of fuels.
It's not just the SUV that have America's highways contributing to global warming. Making asphalt requires heating it to 300°F, which means burning energy and emitting carbon. The Environmental News Network reports a University of Wisconsin scientist is studying materials he could mix in with the tar to make low-temperature asphalt.
Even with greener asphalt, the vehicles traveling our highways are still a major source of greenhouse gases. Google's Public Policy Blog thinks plug-in hybrids may provide one way of reducing emissions. Along with the Brookings Institution, they're sponsoring a conference called "Plug-in Electric Vehicles 2008: What Role for Washington," to discuss how the federal government can encourage such cars.
posted by Neil Savage, xconomy.com
High-tech attacks notwithstanding, an analysis by Verizon's Business Risk team found the vast majority of data losses come down to sloppy security. The Wall Street Journal says that over half of the attacks the team studied were committed by people with minimal technical skills. They say stupid mistakes are so common that forensics work is getting boring.
A new model for monitoring the Internet to identify computer infected with worms could reduce the threat of worms such as Code Red, which caused $2.6 billion in damages. Technology Review reports that researchers found they could catch worms earlier if they looked at the number of times a machine scans the Internet looking for new hosts. The key was finding the scanning rate high enough that it indicated infection without catching uninfected computers just going about their business.
A report from the RAND Corp. says the US is still the world leader in science and technology, despite worries about falling behind. But it also finds there is increasing competition from Europe and Asia, and recommends some steps to stay in the lead, Science Blog reports. Among the suggestions: Make it easier for foreigners who earn degrees here to stay here, and establish a group to keep an eye on how US science and technology stacks up.
Shortfalls in the blood supply are a chronic public health problem, especially in the summer months. Science Daily reports that a UCLA clinical trial of a blood substitute, derived from cows, found the substance was relatively safe in patients under 80 who needed up to about three pints of blood. The substitute can be stored for three years at room temperature and doesn't need to be matched to a patient's blood type.
