Technology – Athens Science Observer

The Earth from ET’s Perspective

Sahana Parker — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

To date, researchers have identified over 5,000 exoplanets in the Milky Way, a small fraction of the billions hypothesized to exist in our galaxy. Among them, researchers catalog so-called “Earth-like planets,” or planets with a similar size, structure, and distance from the Sun as Earth. While of great interest to modern astronomers, no conclusive evidence …

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Getting SAFER with Space Waste

Sahana Parker — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

When the International Space Station (ISS) reaches the end of its lifespan in 2031, where will it go? No options for major recycling exist in outer space, so when a spacecraft is decommissioned, there are only three “trash cans” available. The first is a so-called “graveyard orbit,” where spacecraft are blasted away from Earth into …

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Cooling just got cooler

Sarada Sripada — Thu, 19 May 2022 14:14:00 +0000

As we head into Georgia’s hot and humid summers, you might find yourself chilling in an air-conditioned room, or reaching out to your fridge for a cold beverage. But have you ever thought about how these appliances might be heating up our planet? Refrigeration is integral to our modern lives, affecting everything from household food …

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Machine Learning for Ecologists and Other Interesting People

Daniel Suh — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Every spring, graduate students at the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia organize a short weekly seminar around an interesting theme. This year, the theme is â€œMachine Learning for Ecologistsâ€. At first glance, machine learning may not seem very related to a discipline mostly concerned with the distribution and abundance of organisms, …

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Universal Flu Vaccines: Beyond the Seasonal Jab

Kaito Nagashima — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0000

Sore throat? Stuffy nose? Influenza, or flu, is a nuisance for many every year, causing unwelcome respiratory discomfort that goes away after a few days for most. In some, it can cause more severe disease and even death. Every year, we can get a seasonal flu vaccine to protect ourselves against the virus. But there …

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Toxicology and Poisons: a Cat and Mouse Game

Corinne Sweeny — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 14:51:56 +0000

Murder is as old as mankind. Or so the saying goes. Every culture has a history of poisons, from the ironically named â€œelixirs of lifeâ€ eagerly sought after by early Chinese emperors and nobles, to the Poison Damsels (Visha Kanya) of ancient Indian mythology that could kill you with just a drop of the deadly …

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The Future of CRISPR Therapy

Kaito Nagashima — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Although rewriting the code of life seems like a daunting task, scientists have managed to do just that. You've probably heard of CRISPR technology, a burgeoning genetic tool that has seen use in a multitude of applications, from treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy in mice to making crops more sustainable. The technology offers a method of …

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How private companies light up our night sky

Sahana Parker — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 18:00:45 +0000

In late 2019, astronomers across the U.S. began to notice mysterious streaks of light passing through their imagesâ€”clusters of the private company SpaceX's Starlink satellites. With 955 of these satellites launched so far, founder Elon Musk aims to create a â€œmega-constellationâ€ of satellites in the low Earth orbit (LEO), designed to provide global broadband Internet …

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From obscurity to everyday use: How basic science changes the world

Meghan Brady — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:00:24 +0000

Every holiday season, I've struggled to explain to my family of accountants, firefighters, and lawyers why basic science research is important. They never seem to believe that my work on frog-eating bats is anywhere near as important as applied research aimed at curing disease or addressing world hunger. What they don't seem to understand is …

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Your new favorite author is a robot

Max Barnhart — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 23:43:38 +0000

Have you ever wondered if the article you're reading was written by a human? I imagine you probably haven't. After all, why would there be any reason to assume otherwise? What about art or music; are you certain that the works you see and hear are truly human creations? AI is now smart enough to …

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The Fault in Our Epigenome: The science behind aging

Megan Tomamichel — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:20:57 +0000

From the Yoruba tradition of throwing cowrie shells, to the Roma fortune tellers peering at palms, people throughout history have wondered if there was some sort of physical or external way to map out the path of our lives. Modern day scientists are still pondering how to predict the future, but instead of looking up …

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CO2 to the Rescue: Transforming Pollution into a Resource

Sarada Sripada — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:07:12 +0000

We are at the brink of a severe climate crisis caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide. Anthropogenic activities such as burning fossil fuels have significantly elevated the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. As a matter of fact, the global CO2 average has hit a new …

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Breaking the two-hour tape: Engineering the fastest marathon run in history

Emily McIntyre — Fri, 01 May 2020 18:32:21 +0000

What does it take to reach the peak of athletic performance and break barriers thought to be beyond human capabilities? One of these barriers is the two-hour marathon, a feat which requires running 26.2 miles while maintaining an average pace of 4:34 per mile. At that speed, you could run the 100-yard length of a …

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Microbial mania on Mars

athenssciencecafe — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 17:08:29 +0000

At the Kennedy Space Center, NASA is finalizing preparations to launch the Mars 2020 rover in July. One of the aims of the Mars 2020 mission is to search for signs of past microbial life through biosignatures. Biosignatures typically present themselves in traces of nitrogen, oxygen, or methane, indicating some active life form in either …

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Can you hear me now? Good!

athenssciencecafe — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 22:41:21 +0000

â€œTweedly tweedly TWEEEâ€œ â€œBadum dum dumâ€ â€œThat was good everyone, but can we do one more take?..â€ Working at a recording studio for a year was the dream job for a fledgling audiophile such as myself. One tidbit that stuck with me was the absolute genius, yet simplicity, in how the songs we recorded could …

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Plant Cells, an Unculturable Mystery

athenssciencecafe — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 19:38:33 +0000

The simplest unit in biology is the cell. This central tenet has remained true since the coining of the term 'cell' in 1665 by Robert Hooke. Cells have enabled multicellular organisms to conquer every part of the planet, enabling cell line specialization and the formation of more complex organisms. Multicellularity allowed organisms to thrive by …

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Cleaning up Chernobyl with Sunflowers

Max Barnhart — Thu, 16 May 2019 11:12:35 +0000

On April 26, 1986, in the city of Pripyat, Ukraine, a group of engineers working on the No. 4 Reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accidentally caused one of the greatest environmental disasters known to mankind. 50 tons of radioactive material were released into the atmosphere and dozens of lives were lost. Pripyat was …

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Blinded by the Blue Light

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 09 May 2019 10:42:34 +0000

â€Don't stare at your phone/computer too much, you will hurt your eyesâ€ – we've probably all heard this at some point in our lives. Is this true? Does staring at a screen really â€œhurtâ€ your eyes? What other effects does it have on the body, and is it something that will impact our health as …

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The Cartography of the Genome

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 19:42:39 +0000

What is a map? What does it REALLY represent? You might answer a map generally represents the relationships of locations. However, maps have evolved substantially in modern times. For example, modern genomics and cartography? While they might seem like different worlds, they actually share much in common. Both focused on a similar goal – spatial …

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Littering 2.0

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 13:32:25 +0000

Like many kids, I dreamt of becoming an astronaut; exploring distant planets and making contact with aliens. With a huge number of planets out there, it's hard to think we're all alone in this vast universe. But, as I grew as a scientist, my curiosity focused on a specific question: How can we find alien …

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Big Science, Small Satellites

athenssciencecafe — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 16:43:58 +0000

Is it a star? A moon? A comet even? No, it's a satellite! NASA broadly defines a satellite as a moon, planet, or machine that orbits a planet or star. More specifically, â€œnaturalâ€ satellites include the Earth, which revolves around the Sun, and the moon which revolves around the Earth. On the other hand, there …

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Cosmic Farming: A Step Towards a Sustained Stay in Space

Sarada Sripada — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 01:50:44 +0000

We talk about astronauts going on space missions to unravel the possibility of life beyond Earth. In fact, with NASA and SpaceX's race to Mars, it is not long before a human colony is established on the Red planet. But have we ever considered how we will sustain ourselves there? Food has been a major …

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The Cold Truth About Cryopreservation

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 01:05:17 +0000

Recently, I was in the lab doing some routine work with cells. In order to start growing my own stock of cells I took a small vial out of a tank of liquid nitrogen, where it is stored at around -150°C (-238°F). Then I quickly thawed it to body temperature (37°C, or 98.6°F) and transferred …

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My machine learns better than me

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 20:56:41 +0000

Have you ever used Siri to check the weather for the week, for your trip to the beach, or to check if that cough you have this morning means you're dying and don't need to go to class? What about those pesky ads on Facebook or Instagram that seem directly related to your interests? What …

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Thermophiles: Hot Microbes on the Biofuel Frontier

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 22:52:16 +0000

If you've ever been lucky enough to visit Yellowstone National Park (or looked at pictures), then you have probably seen the colorful, steaming mats that surround many of the park's famous geysers and geothermal pools. While they may not look it, these mats are actually living creatures. They form a special class of organisms called …

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CSI Athens: Crime Scene Science

athenssciencecafe — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 23:57:04 +0000

Every contact leaves a trace. â€˜Locard's Exchange Principle', the underlying premise of modern forensic science, describes a perpetrator's involuntary act of leaving traces behind in a crime scene in exchange for taking some sort of trackable evidence with him. Traces, including blood, saliva, fabric, dirt, prints, and weapons, are meticulously collected by the crime scene …

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Bright and Bedazzledâ€¦ Camouflage?

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 11:39:23 +0000

Have you ever looked at the shimmer of a peacock's feathers or the metallic shine of a green June beetle and thought, â€œI bet those bright colors help that animal blend in with its natural habitat.â€ No? Well, you wouldn't be alone. When artist and naturalist Abbot Thayler first proposed that iridescence could be a …

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Crowd-funded Dams

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 17:04:16 +0000

Infrastructure development is a major issue in many countries of the developing world. Countries with developing economies often suffer from a negative balance of trade and weak institutions, making lenders unwilling to lend. Governments of these countries are forced to borrow with heavy interest rates, further increasing budget deficits. This cyclical economic problem …

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Smart(y) Pants: Putting the Tech in Textiles

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 00:04:54 +0000

Nowadays, it feels like we're living in a sci-fi movie with the development of self-driving cars, technology we can talk to, and watches that monitor our day-to-day activities. All that's missing is a suit and cape, right?… we're working on it! Smart textiles, or e-textiles, are fabrics that are interwoven with technology to provide user …

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Your Latest [Artificial] Intelligence Report

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 13:11:40 +0000

With the technology introduction of the personal assistant Siri and the promise of a completely self-driving car from Tesla soon, artificial intelligence (AI) is radically changing the modern world. AI is an umbrella term to describe advancements that allow machines to learn from experience, adjust to new inputs, and perform human-like tasks. AI learns and …

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Turning (Saw)dust into Gold

athenssciencecafe — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 21:59:35 +0000

A year ago, I was invited to present my research findings at a conference held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. So, there I was, standing in a room full of experts from all over the world, waiting for my turn to present my research. However, after listening to everyone else's talks, I was surprised …

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Bioterrorism & Chemical Weapons: Part 1

athenssciencecafe — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 00:26:24 +0000

Smallpox blankets given to Native Americans. Gas chambers in concentration camps. Chemical weapons in the Syrian War. Russian spies poisoned by a nerve agent. What do these have in common? Each weaponizes chemical or biological agents. With today's strained political and foreign affairs climate, there is an ever-looming possibility of war and the use of …

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Science in your Laundry Detergent

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 16:01:40 +0000

When I was a kid, if I got a grass stain or a blood stain on my clothes it was probably not coming out no matter how much presoaking and hand scrubbing was involved. Nowadays, if I get food on my clothes, I admonish myself for being clumsy then throw it in the wash with some liquid detergent and hope that it magically comes out looking new. It still amazes me that it usually does. How have laundry detergents improved their cleaning efficacy so much in just the last few decades?

The EDGES Story: How Scientists Detected Effects of Light from the First Stars

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 01:50:18 +0000

In March 2018, a team of scientists led by Judd Bowman from Arizona State's School of Earth and Space Exploration and Alan Rogers from MIT's Haystack Observatory has done what many thought to be an impossible task. With a small radio antenna called EDGES (Experiment to Detect the Global Epoch of Recombination Signature) placed in …

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Innovation in Education: How Virtual Reality is Transforming the Classroom

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 18:17:44 +0000

It is a blazing hot summer day in August of 2014, and I am a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed freshman at the University of Georgia about to attend my very first college class. The class is Introductory Physics, a fundamental course for an engineering major such as myself. Fast forward to a month later, however, and I …

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It's the Little Things: Finding Inspiration in a Snail

athenssciencecafe — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 21:22:10 +0000

Nature influences us every day. Not only can we find beauty in the natural world, but scientists and engineers can also draw inspiration from animals and plants to solve problems. Bioinspiration, a term for taking biological principles and applying them to non-biological science and technology, has long been a driving force behind invention and the …

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Hey Doc, U up?

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 16:01:50 +0000

Ever since the new iPhones were announced, millions of people have been pondering one of life's most important questions: to upgrade or not to upgrade? For me, the newly improved camera could take my Instagram game to a whole new level. For others, retinal scanning could help secure important business emails. Whether you use your phone to post pictures of your vacation, respond to important emails, or stalk an ex-boyfriend, there's no denying that phones have become integral parts of our lives. For people without access to healthcare, cell phones can help save their lives. Even in Africa, 93% of people have access to cell phone service. This has spurred scientists to find ways to make diagnosing, treating, or tracking diseases as easy as using an app on your phone.

Computers Detecting Sarcasm? Great!

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:17:35 +0000

Ahh sarcasm. Whether you love it or hate it, sarcastic comments have become quite common on the Internet. This is especially true on sites where people are more likely to express their opinions, such as blog posts, product reviews, social media, message boards, etc. By its very nature, sarcasm can be pretty ambiguous which makes …

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The Structure of Color

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:56:41 +0000

When I was young I learned that the colors I saw in the world were due to materials absorbing certain wavelengths of light and reflecting others. Leaves appear green because the chlorophyll in plant cells absorbs blue and red light and reflects green. While this holds true for most natural materials, it turns out that nature has more than one way of making color. Many of the most striking colors found in nature often occur through the development of structural coloration. For instance, the absurdly bright colors of butterfly wings, beetle scales, day gecko skin, bird feathers and even certain berries all come from structural color.

Around the World in 80…Minutes? The Science Behind the Hyperloop, and How it’s Possible

athenssciencecafe — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 17:33:18 +0000

While traveling across the entire globe in 80 minutes may be a bit of stretch, getting from Los Angeles to San Francisco in just 35 minutes might not be completely out of the question. For Georgians, imagine traveling from Athens to downtown Atlanta in less than 6 minutes, never again having to worry about interstates …

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Mo’ Data, Mo’ Problems

athenssciencecafe — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 17:20:03 +0000

Anyone who has read my previous post on â€œWhy Computers Can't do Everythingâ€ knows the Information Technology industry has an uncanny ability to generate a variety of buzzwords to try to convince the public that their computing capability has no limits. In fact, these â€œbuzzwordsâ€ have generated so much public interest that Gartner, Inc., a …

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I Shall Call Him Squishy: The Rise of Soft Robotics

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:21:20 +0000

In popular culture, biologically-inspired robots play a sinister role. Movies like Blade Runner and The Terminator depict scenes of a humanoid faces split open to reveal violently grinning machines underneath. Such stories often portray machines in a dire â€œus vs. themâ€ scenario. However, real life robots can have a much softer side. Taking inspiration from creatures such as jellyfish, rays, and octopuses, scientists are developing soft robots that can respond to different environments and can augment human capabilities.

Out There With the Old, In with New: The James Webb Space Telescope

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 23:12:23 +0000

What is the fate of the universe? Will it keep expanding forever? What did some of the first galaxies look like? Why are we here? The Hubble Space Telescope was commissioned to answer just these sorts of queries – well, except for that last one, you're on your own there. Indeed, Hubble has shed clarity …

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Vaccine 101: What's in there?

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 02:18:30 +0000

As we continue Vaccine 101 we move from history to the recipe for a vaccine. Throughout our lives we eat food, drink beverages, and use products on our bodies and around our homes. We do not always know what these things are made of, but we ingest them and use them anyways. Of these foods and products, many people have expressed concerns about what is being injected into their bodies when they get a vaccination. Much like a recipe for brownies, the ingredients that go into a vaccine all serve a specific purpose. But what exactly are these ingredients? What is their purpose?

Vaccine 101: A History Lesson

athenssciencecafe — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 14:06:04 +0000

Today vaccination is considered a normal part of childhood and life for many. But do you know the origins of this life saving scientific discovery? Who were the big players and when? Hop in your TARDIS, DeLorean, or time machine of choice to take a trip back in time with me to visit some of the major milestones in the history of vaccinations.

Going Bananas Over CRISPR

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 16:09:55 +0000

Americans buy bananas in larger quantities than apples and oranges combined. However, this favorite potassium-filled fruit could soon go extinct. Panama disease, caused by a new strain of fungus called Tropical Race 4 (TR4), is slowly spreading around the world and causing entire crops of bananas to be eradicated.

Can we SCIENCE! our way out of climate change?

athenssciencecafe — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 19:02:27 +0000

Climate change is happening. What should we do about it? With climate change, we can expect serious consequences, including destruction of coastal communities by sea level rise, increased frequency of deadly heat waves, and worsening of crop-decimating draughts. Many of us have been hearing the same story for years: we need to cut carbon emissions …

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The Origins of Rocketry

athenssciencecafe — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:31:37 +0000

Curious about how rockets get into the sky? Join Graham as he discusses the origins of rocket engines and the history behind the technology that is still in use today. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/289960354″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] Sources: Robert Goddard, Goddard's Experiments, Scott Manley's Rocket Plumbing Image Credit: RS-25 engine test (for NASA’s New Rocket) By NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/qsyGca (No …

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Is it alive? A peek at the bending and waving robotic stingray

athenssciencecafe — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 12:48:00 +0000

â€œImagine a world where butterflies run on batteries.â€ This is a quote from Terminator 2, when Skynet is just beginning to take over the world. Although it is unlikely that the world will end in complete robotic destruction anytime soon, a new innovation may be putting us one step closer to battery-ran butterflies: a live …

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A New Therapy for PTSD: Virtual Reality

athenssciencecafe — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 21:05:58 +0000

â€œThe body remembers. Stuffed until an event, a sound, a sight, a touch, a word, or a person awakens themâ€. The body remembers pain, domestic abuse, and the horrors of war. Unfortunately these memories become a burden on a person's mind and body. This debilitating and stressful illness is commonly known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, …

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The Future of Genomics Research is Here

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 20:18:24 +0000

Let's pretend we're back in the fourth grade. We shuffle into the science classroom toting our keychain laden backpacks, and then suddenly we're filled with excitement! We've spotted the boxy TV monitor and VCR player, and as of July 2016, this dates me as â€œold.â€ Yes! It's Video Day which means no quizzes or worksheets, …

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Life with and without Social Media: a Nick Batora Story

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 12:25:55 +0000

â€œYour life exists outside of television and likes, and Instagram. Engage the world.â€ Jon Stewart snapped these words out in a recent interview that he did with David Axelrod. His point is one that resonated with me. Not only because he's Jon Stewart and I believe most Americans miss him dearly as of late with …

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Test tube babies: freaky fiction or possible future?

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 18:03:05 +0000

Imagine a future where procreation happens in a laboratory, and not in the bedroom. Scientists derive embryos from a simple skin sample. Children are screened prenatally for any number of traits that their parents deem desirable. Things as simple as eye color and hair color could be discovered before parents even decide on a name. …

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Drug Bugs Could Replace Sniffer Dogs in the Detection of Illegal Drugs

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 17:16:09 +0000

While waiting in line at TSA a few weeks ago, I was sniffed by a drug dog and his handler (well, the handler didn't sniff me, but you know what I mean). Resisting the urge to get on the floor and roll around with the absolutely adorable black lab, I stood patiently in line as …

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The Squeeze on Octopus Tentacles

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 04:21:14 +0000

The long-awaited sequel to Pixar's Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, features a new major character named Hank, an octopus who helps Dory in her journey home. Hank's creation took longer than any other character because octopus tentacle movement and behavior is so difficult to mimic. Animators needed two years to animate just one scene with Hank! …

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Adaptation through agile software development

athenssciencecafe — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 18:45:03 +0000

The real world is brutal. You've heard it all before. This globalized world is becoming more competitive than ever; it's getting harder and harder to succeed out there, especially when it comes to software development. Who can compete with the likes of Apple, Google, and Microsoft in developing ideas and software? It seems as if …

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Why Computers Can't Do Everything

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 05:46:04 +0000

In the modern computing world, many tech companies want you to believe that the limitations of computing do not exist. In this idealized world, computers seem to have the ability to do everything, and all your tech giants (Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.) are working tirelessly to reach this reality. They will throw out buzzwords, …

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The R-Evolution of 3D Printing

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:56:22 +0000

Graham talks about the different 3D printing methods and how it is helping scientists and engineers prototype new ideas. 3D printing is even emerging into consumer markets, allowing for 3D models to be made on your desk. Take a listen, and learn about the evolution of 3D printing and how you can get started. [soundcloud …

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Standing on the Bridge: Thoughts on the Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference 2016

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 18:47:26 +0000

Standing on the Bridge: Thoughts on the Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference 2016 Istanbul, Turkey April 24-28, 2016 A month ago, I was hovering between continents. The Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference (PCST) was taking place in Istanbul, Turkey, and I had the fortune of attending. Istanbul is a city practically …

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That’s No Moon…

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 02 May 2016 15:56:46 +0000

Welcome to Star Wars week here at the Athens Science Observer. To help celebrate May the 4th – Star Wars Day – we wanted to take a look at the real life science of that galaxy far far away. To start off, we'll dive into one of the most iconic pieces of Star Wars culture: …

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What's the Point of the International Space Station(ISS)?

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:59:08 +0000

On March 1st, astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth after 340 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). But why was he even up there for so long in the first place? What is the ISS? According to NASA, the ISS is a â€œconvergence of science, technology, and human innovation that demonstrates new technologies and …

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Bionics: Shaping the Future One Body Part at a Time

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 15:39:56 +0000

The loss of limbs, sight, and control of body can lead to a dramatic decrease in the quality of life. But, an emerging field may offer the solutions needed to fix these problems. Join Graham Grable as he discusses some of the emerging technologies from Bionics. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/243071537″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] Link One (Macular Degeneration …

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The Death of Silicon

athenssciencecafe — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:00:42 +0000

As you read this, your computer or phone is processing tons of information at very high speeds, and this process is simpler than you may think. Consider this: the human brain makes simple comparisons that usually come in the form of â€œyesâ€ and â€œno.â€ Similarly, computers â€œthinkâ€ in these basic terms. Inside your computer, microscopic …

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What is Nanotechnology? Part Three: Metamaterials

athenssciencecafe — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 14:52:30 +0000

On this third and final podcast on nanotechnology, invisibility just might be real. Join Graham Grable. as he explores the optical wonders of metamaterials. Be sure to check Part One and Part Two. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/219795378″ params=”color=800000&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Link One (Bio-Sensing), Link Two (Invisibility), Link Three (Extra Read: High-Efficiency Solar Cells) About …

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What is Nanotechnology? Part Two: Carbon Nanotubes

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:16:01 +0000

Nanotechnology is rapidly growing field that is proving that very tiny things can have a huge impact. With this podcast, we talk about the impact Carbon Nanotubes can have on our society, and why they are being so heavily researched. Be sure to listen to Part One about Graphene. This podcast is hosted by Graham Grable. …

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The Manifold Attractions of DNA Origami

athenssciencecafe — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Origami is a craft that transforms the simplest materials into intricate works of art. Precise folds and careful planning draw fantastic creatures from an otherwise unremarkable sheet of paper: cranes, dragons, lilies, andâ€¦scaffolds for complex nanomachinery? Through careful engineering and clever implementation of standard molecular techniques, scientists have found a way to fold long DNA …

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What is Nanotechnology? Part One: Graphene

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:26:39 +0000

You hear about nanotechnology on the radio and television, but what is it? Learn about this and one of the most promising pieces of nanotechnology, graphene, with this podcast hosted by Graham Grable. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/218598062″ params=”color=800000&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=’166′ iframe=”true” /] Link One (Strongest Material), Link Two (Aluminum-Graphene Battery), Link Three (Water Desalination), Link Four (Nobel Prize) About …

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Pluto and beyond: Voyaging into interstellar space

John Spiekerman — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:27:39 +0000

Pluto! Enigmatic, icy, and (at one time) one of the nine planets to grace the solar system we call home. Now labeled a â€œdwarf planetâ€ after contentious debate in 2006, Pluto sadly wasn't even able to complete one orbit around the sun between its discovery and demotion. Unfortunately for Pluto, size matters in the planet …

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Immortality â€“ Possible or Just Science Fiction?

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

by: Jacqueline Friel, Athens Science CafÃ© â€œI think the brain is like a program in the mind, so it’s theoretically possible to copy the brain onto a computer and so provide a form of life after deathâ€ â€“ Stephen Hawking Admit it, you've thought about living forever. However, did you ever imagine it would be …

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BINGO, Dino DNA: Can we create a dinosaur?

athenssciencecafe — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 16:15:22 +0000

By: Rishi R. Masalia, Athens Science CafÃ© On June 12th â€œJurassic Worldâ€, the 4th installment of the Jurassic Park series, is set to hit theaters. Now, I love dinosaurs and I know I'm not alone. Our fascination with them has permeated across pop culture, generating movies, songs, chicken nugget shapes, and even a list …

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Far From G-M-Over

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 25 May 2015 11:00:03 +0000

By: Patrick Griffin, Athens Science CafÃ© A couple of weeks ago, as I walked through the charming town of Broad Ripple, Indiana, I stumbled upon a behemoth three-story Chipotle. Recently erected to satiate the growing popularity of the Mexican-themed grill, the building was sporting a sign that piqued my interest as a scientist and …

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Lightsabers: Science fiction, or scientific possibility?

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 04 May 2015 11:10:00 +0000

â€œAny sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magicâ€ Arthur C. Clarke SciFi is one of the most popular genres of storytelling out there. Greats like Lucas, Asimov, and Shelley have inspired generations to think weirder and imagine bigger. In the last 15 years alone, we have developed prototypes for jetpacks, driverless cars and organ printing …

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Why is a Nigerian Prince sending me money? The economics of email scams

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 11:00:00 +0000

A few months ago, a good friend of mine fell victim to a pervasive phone scam where he lost nearly $4,000 in a single afternoon. Despite being a smart guy he fell hook, line, and sinker for this scam. To his credit, this was not your typical internet scam but actually quite an elaborate one …

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Editing the Human Genome: With Great Power There Must Also Come Great Responsibility

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 10:23:06 +0000

In 1963, at the dawn of the molecular biology age, Dr. Joshua Lederberg predicted that this nascent biotechnology would eventually allow direct control of human DNA, including the ability to change specific genes. [1] He recognized the potential of molecular biology to bring about gene therapy to cure human disease and to be misused for …

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Microwaves in Space!

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:57:30 +0000

How old is the universe? The deeper you look into space, the further you are looking back in time. This is because the further light is away from us, the longer it takes for it to reach us. Looking back in time to about 378,000 years after the birth of the universe, and thus viewing …

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Not so Fast Elon Musk: The Biological Barriers to Colonizing Mars or the Moon

athenssciencecafe — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 11:25:50 +0000

The reality of a man-made colony in space is becoming more plausible every year. Both private industry and government institutions are combining their collective genius to tackle the substantial engineering challenges associated with building human habitats on these completely alien environments. Many see space colonization as inevitable, like homesteading the American West with a twist; …

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