Science and Engineering Blog Move
We have moved the
Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog:
About the blog:
The title of the blog gives you an idea of the topics we explore. Here we will provide some additional insight into what we aim to do:
- Primary education (k-12) in science, math and engineering - we will post about the state of such education (research etc.), news and items of interest to teachers and students. We aim to be a resource that helps teachers and students learn about science and engineering. The K-12 category will be targeted at teachers and students. We are also trying a students category for items we think might be of particular interest to students (and we believe teachers might find useful as items to interest students in science and engineering).
- Higher education (college, university, graduate school and other sources of advanced learning) - we will post about news about science and engineering higher education and items of interest to professor, students and those interested in higher education. The higher education category will be targeted at professors, students and those interested in higher education.
- Economic impact of science and engineering - we will post about the macro economic and societal impacts of science and engineering: higher education, research funding, investments and political decisions and discussions. We believe science, engineering and technology can serve to improve living conditions around the world. We believe investments in science and engineering, research and higher education, will impact the economic success of countries and the world overall. The economics category contains posts on developments in this are and our thoughts on this topic.
- Highlight interesting science and engineering information - we will post about interesting science and engineering news and blog posts as we see it
The Effects of Patenting on Science
A Descriptive Analysis of a Pilot Survey on the Effects of Patenting on Science AAAS:
Of the 40% of respondents who reported their work had been affected, 58% said their work was delayed, 50% reported they had to change the research, and 28% reported abandoning their research project. The most common reason respondents reported
having to change or abandon their research project was that the acquisition of the
necessary technologies involved overly complex licensing negotiations.
What's A Gene For?
What's A Gene For? by Carl Zimmer
This dilemma has helped give rise to a new kind of science called bioinformatics. It's an exciting field, despite its woefully dull name. Its mission is to use computers to help make sense of molecular biology--in this case, by traveling through vast oceans of online information in search of clues to how genes work
Robot Surgens
Three-inch Life SaversEach camera-carrying robot -- the width of a lipstick case -- would illuminate the patient’s abdomen, beam back video images and carry different tools to help surgeons stop internal bleeding by clamping, clotting or cauterising wounds.
Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Rube Goldberg Machine ContestCut or Shred Into Strips 5 Sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" 20lb Paper Individually With a Shredder in 20 or More Steps!
...
Rube Goldberg drew his "Inventions" as contraptions that satirized the new technology and gadgets of the day. His drawings, using simple machines and household items already in use, were incredibly complex and wacky, but somehow (perhaps it was because Rube was a graduate engineer) the "Inventions" always had an ingenious, logical progression as they worked to finish their task.
The annual National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest held at Purdue University in Indiana is organized by the Phi Chapter of Theta Tau, the National Student Engineering Organization. It hosts college and university teams from across the US. Winners of the high school statewide and regional contests are also invited to run their invention machines at the National.
Another site with additional information on the contest. This seems like a great way to make engineering fun.
Mars Rover
Mars Rover Begins Climb Down From SummitAfter two months at the summit of Husband Hill, the six-wheeled rover is making its descent toward a basin to the south where it will explore an outcrop dubbed "home plate" that looks like a baseball diamond from orbit.
The solar-powered Spirit's yearlong climb to the peak marked a major feat for the rover, which along with its twin, Opportunity, landed on opposite ends of the Red Planet in 2004 in search of evidence of the past history of water on the cold, dusty planet.
Image credit: NASA/JPL
Artist's concept of the Mars Exploration Rover on Mars.
High Resolution ImageNASA Mars Exploration Rover site
