Science and Technology Brief

20060413

So Fun It Kills You

Fox News

     So categorize this under things that I do not intend to do: sit in a swinging centrifuge for several minutes at twice gravity while watching a movie about space exploration. That is the theme for Disney’s Epcot Center ‘Mission: Space’ ride. While I am sure that some people relish the chance to weigh twice as much as they do normally, I am not one of them.

     Consider that there is a reason that fighter pilots and astronauts are required to be in superior physical condition before they regularly experience similar conditions. For most of us couch potatoes, we are not in the condition necessary to participate in such adventures, whatever we may believe. Hence the reason that at least two people have died on this ride and more have been sent to the hospital.

     That does not sound fun to me…

Geology in Action

Fox News

     Scientists exploring an underwater volcano near the Samoan Islands in the Pacific have discovered that the volcano may very well breach the surface of the ocean, becoming a new landmass, in the next several decades. Arguably, such an event can help science understand how the volcanic islands throughout the Pacific were formed and grow.

Robots Are Our Friends

CNN

     Robots are our friends, even if they look like snakes. A scientist at Carnegie Mellon University has developed a series of robots that mimic the locomotion capabilities of snakes, making them optimal for exploring disaster areas where small cracks and crevasses make the going tough for typical rescue robots.

     Arguably, such robots could have applications beyond rescues as well. Such designs could be employed in such areas as inspecting and repairing pipes as well as in construction and maintenance of large structures with confined spaces.

DLH

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