Robots Arrive at Fukushima Nuclear Site with Unclear Mission
As workers race to stave off further melting at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors in Japan , several robots there are waiting on the sidelines for an opportunity to help. Questions remain, however, regarding how these units might assist in an ongoing emergency at a site contaminated with radiation and deluged with tons of corrosive seawater . [More]
As workers race to stave off further melting at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors in Japan , several robots there are waiting on the sidelines for an opportunity to help. Questions remain, however, regarding how these units might assist in an ongoing emergency at a site contaminated with radiation and deluged with tons of corrosive seawater . [More]
How Free Is Your Will?
Think about the last time you got bored with the TV channel you were watching and decided to change it with the remote control. Or a time you grabbed a magazine off a newsstand, or raised a hand to hail a taxi. As we go about our daily lives, we constantly make choices to act in certain ways. We all believe we exercise free will in such actions – we decide what to do and when to do it. Free will, however, becomes more complicated when you try to think how it can arise from brain activity.
Think about the last time you got bored with the TV channel you were watching and decided to change it with the remote control. Or a time you grabbed a magazine off a newsstand, or raised a hand to hail a taxi. As we go about our daily lives, we constantly make choices to act in certain ways. We all believe we exercise free will in such actions – we decide what to do and when to do it. Free will, however, becomes more complicated when you try to think how it can arise from brain activity.
Homophobia Phobia: Bad Science or Bad Science Comprehension?
Two columns ago , I discussed evolutionary psychologist Gordon Gallup’ s theory about the possible adaptive function of homophobia, or, more broadly defined, negative attitudes toward gay people. Central to his position–which, he assures me, has not since wavered–is that homophobic responses "are proportional to the extent to which the homosexual [is] in a position that might provide extended contact with children and/or would allow the person to influence a child’s emerging sexuality." I also described a set of studies meant to test some hypotheses related to this theory, and which, according to Gallup, offered provisional evidentiary support.
Two columns ago , I discussed evolutionary psychologist Gordon Gallup’ s theory about the possible adaptive function of homophobia, or, more broadly defined, negative attitudes toward gay people. Central to his position–which, he assures me, has not since wavered–is that homophobic responses "are proportional to the extent to which the homosexual [is] in a position that might provide extended contact with children and/or would allow the person to influence a child’s emerging sexuality." I also described a set of studies meant to test some hypotheses related to this theory, and which, according to Gallup, offered provisional evidentiary support.
Money over Matter: Can Cash Incentives Keep People Healthy?
Think you would stick to a diet if someone paid you for it? Would you be more likely to exercise if you were fined each time you bailed on your scheduled workout?
Research in recent years suggests–and a handful of new businesses are betting–that you might. The Web-based company StickK.com lets users sign commitment contracts to lose weight, exercise or quit smoking–and pay up if they default. Members of the Boston-based start-up Gym-Pact are charged for every day they pledge to work out but do not.
Think you would stick to a diet if someone paid you for it? Would you be more likely to exercise if you were fined each time you bailed on your scheduled workout?
Research in recent years suggests–and a handful of new businesses are betting–that you might. The Web-based company StickK.com lets users sign commitment contracts to lose weight, exercise or quit smoking–and pay up if they default. Members of the Boston-based start-up Gym-Pact are charged for every day they pledge to work out but do not.
Rwanda Investigating Adult Male Circumcision sans Anesthesia
The African nation of Rwanda recently set a goal of circumcising an estimated two million adult men by the end of 2012 to fight the spread of HIV, and is investigating a new nonsurgical device that is said to allow practitioners to perform the procedure in less than four minutes–without anesthesia.
The African nation of Rwanda recently set a goal of circumcising an estimated two million adult men by the end of 2012 to fight the spread of HIV, and is investigating a new nonsurgical device that is said to allow practitioners to perform the procedure in less than four minutes–without anesthesia.
Wood Smoke Wafts Up Health Concerns
NORDEN, Calif.–On a frosty evening in the Sierra Nevada, smoke curling from the chimney of the Clair Tappaan Lodge is a welcome sight to chilly snowshoers and cross-country skiers. Gathering by the massive stone hearth at this landmark Sierra Club mountain hostel, guests relax in the warmth and aroma of the crackling log fire.
Those same woodsy scents waft across the wintry north, as millions of fireplaces and wood stoves are lit by people seeking an environmentally friendly source of heat and ambience. But recent research raises new concerns over the toxic substances borne aloft in wood smoke.
NORDEN, Calif.–On a frosty evening in the Sierra Nevada, smoke curling from the chimney of the Clair Tappaan Lodge is a welcome sight to chilly snowshoers and cross-country skiers. Gathering by the massive stone hearth at this landmark Sierra Club mountain hostel, guests relax in the warmth and aroma of the crackling log fire.
Those same woodsy scents waft across the wintry north, as millions of fireplaces and wood stoves are lit by people seeking an environmentally friendly source of heat and ambience. But recent research raises new concerns over the toxic substances borne aloft in wood smoke.
Inventing the Future of Energy: A Q&A with ARPA-e’s Arun Majumdar
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.–Every day the U.S. imports $1 billion worth of oil. Yet, the nation is no closer to weaning itself from such foreign oil than it was 40 years ago when President Carter called energy reform the " moral equivalent of war ."
Enter ARPA–e , the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy, started in 2009 and tasked with taking scientific findings on alternative energy and turning them into deployable technologies. "The future of the U.S. depends on three securities: national, economic and environmental," said mechanical engineer Arun Majumdar and ARPA–e director at the agency’s second annual summit in Washington, D.C., on March 1. "The foundation of all three is innovations in energy technology."
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.–Every day the U.S. imports $1 billion worth of oil. Yet, the nation is no closer to weaning itself from such foreign oil than it was 40 years ago when President Carter called energy reform the " moral equivalent of war ."
Enter ARPA–e , the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy, started in 2009 and tasked with taking scientific findings on alternative energy and turning them into deployable technologies. "The future of the U.S. depends on three securities: national, economic and environmental," said mechanical engineer Arun Majumdar and ARPA–e director at the agency’s second annual summit in Washington, D.C., on March 1. "The foundation of all three is innovations in energy technology."
Where Are the Talking Robots? (preview)
Sulla, the world’s first talking robot, was so adept at conversation–in four languages, no less–that a human visitor to the laboratory in which she was created refused to believe she was not a real person.
Alas, Sulla was not a real robot, either, but a character in Karel Capek’s 1921 play R.U.R. , which introduced the word “robot” to the lexicon. Ever since that debut, talking robots have seemed to be peeking around every corner, and not just in science fiction.
Sulla, the world’s first talking robot, was so adept at conversation–in four languages, no less–that a human visitor to the laboratory in which she was created refused to believe she was not a real person.
Alas, Sulla was not a real robot, either, but a character in Karel Capek’s 1921 play R.U.R. , which introduced the word “robot” to the lexicon. Ever since that debut, talking robots have seemed to be peeking around every corner, and not just in science fiction.
The deity by any other name: Army resilience program gets a thumbs down from atheists
Atheists The best thing about writing a story as a journalist is that you get to interact with astute readers who are never reticient about telling you what you missed in your reporting. My story, “ The Neuroscience of True Grit ,” the cover in the current issue, talks about what we know, and what we’re still trying to find out, about psychological resilience: the thing that allows you to slog through when S**T happens.
Atheists The best thing about writing a story as a journalist is that you get to interact with astute readers who are never reticient about telling you what you missed in your reporting. My story, “ The Neuroscience of True Grit ,” the cover in the current issue, talks about what we know, and what we’re still trying to find out, about psychological resilience: the thing that allows you to slog through when S**T happens.
The Future Is Now
As an understocked purveyor of large dried fruit might say, we’re out of big dates for a while. The Orwellian 1984 came and went, we partied like it was 1999, the most ominous monoliths in 2001 turned out to be ideological and the Clarkesque follow-up of 2010 recently ended without interplanetary incident. We have another five centuries before we judge the prescience of Zager and Evans, if we are still alive.
As an understocked purveyor of large dried fruit might say, we’re out of big dates for a while. The Orwellian 1984 came and went, we partied like it was 1999, the most ominous monoliths in 2001 turned out to be ideological and the Clarkesque follow-up of 2010 recently ended without interplanetary incident. We have another five centuries before we judge the prescience of Zager and Evans, if we are still alive.
