science

Solar-Powered Airplane Completes First Leg Of U.S. Flight

Bill Chappell, NPR — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:08:11 +0000

The Solar Impulse, an airplane traveling across the United States using only solar power, is in Phoenix today, after reaching Arizona from California Saturday.

Question for the Supreme Court: Can Human Genes Be Patented?

Nina Totenberg, NPR — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:29:15 +0000

Same-sex marriage got huge headlines at the Supreme Court last month, but in the world of science and medicine, the case being argued on Monday is far more important. The lawsuit deals with a truly 21st century issue — whether human genes may be patented.

Myriad Genetics, a Utah biotechnology company, discovered and isolated two genes — BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 — that are highly associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Myriad patented its discovery, giving it a 20-year monopoly over use of the genes for research, diagnostics and treatment.

Obama: $100M Will Be Invested in Brain-Mapping Initiative

Mark Memmott, NPR — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:37:53 +0000

Adding some details to an initiative he announced during his latest State of the Union address, President Obama on Tuesday said that federal agencies plan to spend $100 million to jump start an effort to map the human brain.

Why Not Apologizing Can Still Make You Feel Better

Shankar Vedantam — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:24:39 +0000

To err is human.

So is refusing to apologize for those errors.

From toddlers and talk show hosts to preteens and presidents, we all know people who have done stupid, silly and evil things, then squared their jaws and told the world they've done nothing wrong.

Parents, educators and even public relations flacks have talked at length about the value of coming clean, and there is abundant research on the psychological value of apologizing.

Austin Student Scientists Get Major Recognition for Diabetes Research

Laura Rice, KUT News — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:47:05 +0000

A brother and sister team of young scientists from Westwood High School are finalists in a national science competition.

Priya and Naveen Arunachalam are both finalists in the Exploravision contest. The contest attracted nearly 16,000 students nationwide in a competition to design future technologies that could change the world.

UT Scientists Look to Create an Invisibility Cloak (Update)

Kate McGee, KUT News — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:26:22 +0000

Update: Harry Potter fans and Muggles alike may be one step closer to getting their own invisibility cloaks, if researchers at the University of Texas can help it.

According to the New Journal of Physics, they’ve created a thin material called a “mantle cloak.” Right now the cloak can only make things invisible in a certain range of light waves. It also doesn’t look like a cloak you would wear. It’s a thin tubing made from polycarbonate film, wrapped with copper tape.

Mosh Pit Math: How Physicists Analyzed a Rowdy Crowd

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:24:58 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7w7m4lb2ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQW8eb1P3dk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jKU7gdxncE

Pan-STARRs Comet Streaks Across Texas Sky Tonight

Andrew Weber — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:43:09 +0000

Tonight is one of a few chances Austinites will have to see a passing comet.

The PAN-STARRS comet, or C/2011 L-4 as it’s known by stargazers, will make its way across the Austin skies around 30 to 40 minutes after sunset tonight – which is at 7:37 p.m, according to the National Weather Service.

Next-Generation Space Telescope Getting Modeled at SXSW

Matt Largey, KUT News — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:48:21 +0000

First it was a music festival, then a film festival, then an interactive festival. Since then, South by Southwest has added education, the environment and venture capital to its repertoire. Could SXSW Space be far off?

SpaceX Reports Problem With Launch Of Dragon Capsule

Scott Neuman — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:24:10 +0000

Update at 8:10 p.m. ET: Problem Fixed, Arrival Delayed

SpaceX says the problem with its unmanned craft carrying supplies for the International Space Station has been fixed.

The Associated Press reports: "The earliest the Dragon capsule could show up is Sunday, a full day late, said top officials for NASA and the private company SpaceX. ... [SpaceX's billionaire founder Elon] Musk said six hours into the flight that all four sets of thrusters finally were working. 'All systems green,' he reported via Twitter.

Scientists Trace Origin of Destructive Russia Meteor

Scott Neuman — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:23:52 +0000

Scientists from Colombia believe they have pinpointed the origin of the giant meteor that smashed into a remote region of Russia earlier this month, injuring more than 1,000 people.

Using some of the dozens, if not hundreds, of videos that captured the once-in-a-century event, the scientists have calculated the Chelyabinsk meteor's trajectory, tracing it back to a group of Earth-crossing objects known as prize for inventing a key technology used to produce virtually all modern computer chips. The Japan Prize is awarded annually to people who make major contributions to the fields of science and technology.

C. Grant Willson, along with a colleague and a grad student, figured out how to print complex computer circuits on silicon wafers. Chris Mack, an expert in lithography, says Willson’s work is everywhere.

UT Prof Works to Define Elusive Concept of Happiness

Jennifer Stayton, KUT News — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:00:00 +0000

This Should Be a Hit in Texas: Oil Turns Into a Christmas Tree

Robert Krulwich — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:16:33 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me5Zzm2TXh4