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The authors offer an in-depth look at technologies, both old and new, that are used to measure time and frequency. The focus is on something called an optical frequency comb, which "provides exquisitely precise measurements of light." Such combs, the authors report, could be used as optical atomic clocks, chemical detectors, and for boosting lidar's sensitivity and revamping the way optical cables work. Given our increasing dependence on lasers for everything from smoke detectors to surgeries, the potential for calibrating more sensitive lasers makes the comb a potentially groundbreaking innovation.
Posted 11:03, 28 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Kristen Harvey
and edited by Brijit.
in Scientific American
by
Nancy Y. Kiang, April 2008
Kiang looks to answer the question, "If there were plants growing on other planets, what color would they be?" Her research details atmospheric chemistry and gas levels from known star types and considers energy per photon ratios of different types of light. Kiang then spends considerable time sifting large amounts of data to hypothesize about what plant life might look like in and out of water on a hypothetical planet system. It's creative, and the accompanying graphics are suitably bizarre, but the lengthy technical details may be too much even for sci-fi fans.
Posted 11:00, 28 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Kristen Harvey
and edited by Brijit.
Opposite the first page of this article is a picture of a rocky cliff overlooking a remote desert. Forty-five years ago this was the Aral Sea, the fourth-largest lake on the planet. Micklin and Aladin report on the irresponsible devastation of this once vast resource, the resulting collapse of local health, economy and ecosystem, and the project designed to bring it all back from the brink of death. The accompanying photos of environmental devastation are truly shocking, and the authors warn that several lakes worldwide could suffer the same fate if such calamities continue unchecked.
Posted 10:54, 28 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Kristen Harvey
and edited by Brijit.
in Scientific American
by
Michael Shermer, April 2008
Shermer argues that evolution led humans (and other animals) to develop useful emotions. For example, a dog's tail wags to left when experiencing a negative emotion, but to the right when it's having positive feelings. Negative emotions are linked to the right brain, which guides the body's left side; positive emotions are associated with the left brain, which favors the right side. The same holds true for other animals, including humans, whose brain activity can be measured to prove the associations. Shermer thinks the brain has evolved emotional triggers to lead us to food, protect us from danger, and the like, and he builds a convincing argument.
Posted 4:12, 27 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Pinoli
and edited by Brijit.
Salamanders can regenerate lost limbs -- can humans? Theoretically yes, say the scientists who authored this intriguing article. The healing process begins the same way in both salamanders and humans; cells called fibroblasts migrate across the new skin forming over the wound to create a matrix of cells called a blastema. At a certain point, however, the process diverges, leaving the salamander with a new leg and the human with just a scarred stump. Scientists are studying the unique characteristics of blastemas and other cells whose signals trigger limb regeneration. These experiments, and the fact that humans can already regenerate severed fingertips, offer hope that humans will one day be able to regrow entire arms and legs.
Posted 3:59, 27 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Tim Merrick
and edited by Brijit.
in Scientific American
by
Michael Shermer, April 2008
Shermer imagines competing in a field where everyone else is cheating -- if you don't do it, you'll fall behind. That's what happened recently in cycling, as "blood doping" became cyclists' favorite shortcut. The practice involves injecting extra blood into the body to up red blood cell count and, as a result, increase stamina. Game theory, he writes, explains the proliferation of the technique: Players in a game make strategic choices in anticipation of strategies chosen by opponents. When others are successfully cheating and not getting caught, other players must either cheat or lose. The theory equally applies to other sports, like baseball. Shermer's analytical piece is enlightening, complete with plenty of sidebars illustrating his points.
Posted 3:45, 27 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Pinoli
and edited by Brijit.
in Scientific American
by
Robert Nadeau, April 2008
Neoclassical economists in the vein of Adam Smith developed their theories by substituting economic variables for physical variables in the equations of a "soon-to-be outmoded mid-19th century theory in physics." Since physics theory is a closed system, economists often still act as if economic theory is also a closed loop without external inputs. The looming threat of global warming proves that this is far from reality. Unfortunately, Nadeau only touches on the most important part of this piece, the work of ex-World Bank-er Nicolas Stern, who prepared a report on the economics of climate change for the British government, arguing that global warming is not "a standard externality" and must be addressed to a greater degree.
Posted 12:08, 27 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Beth Young
and edited by Brijit.
The recent isolation of a new form of carbon, graphene, opens up a wonderland of possibilities that far exceeds the humble pencil, report Geim and Kim. When scientists pulled apart graphite (aka the "lead" in pencils), they found a thin yet exceedingly strong one-atom-thick crystal sheet with remarkably high electrical conductivity. Engineers and physicists are now exploring the possible uses of the material, including single electron or spin valve transistors, a replacement for silicon in microchips, ultrastrong cables, liquid crystal displays, and even entire circuits. This article also provides a sidebar of do-it-yourself graphene instructions and a URL for a slide show on the technique.
Posted 12:06, 27 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Kristen Harvey
and edited by Brijit.
Cochran and McKinzie provide a terrifying, methodical report on how the radiation monitors designed to stop radioactive material from being smuggled into our country's ports are close to worthless. In 2002 the authors helped the ABC News team smuggle a cylinder of depleted uranium through port radiation detectors not just once, but twice. And while the Department of Homeland Security has moved to put next-generation equipment in place, the authors write that it's simple to screen uranium so that it would be "hard to detect by either generation of monitor." As such, they wisely argue for expanding other measures to help mitigate the threat of nuclear terrorism, placing emphasis on stopping the proliferation of nuclear material.
Posted 11:24, 27 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Kristen Harvey
and edited by Brijit.
in Scientific American
by
Carole Bass, March 2008
Bass looks in detail at an enormous study about the connection between environment factors and brain cancer. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh compiled a database of the men and women who worked at the Pratt & Whitney aircraft plants over the last 50 years, checking for correlations between exposure to toxins and development of the disease. While the study is unlikely to be conclusive, researchers believe it will contribute to an understanding of the effects of environmental toxins. In depth, yet clearly written, this article hints at the possible political implications of the results, though it could have gone a bit further in that regard.
Posted 2:57, 21 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Paula Jolin
and edited by Brijit.