Dicamba in the Field …
Monsanto and BASF, what could go wrong? Washington Post, Aug 29, 2017. “This miracle weed killer was supposed to save farms. Instead, it’s devastating them.”
Science
$9 Billion Nuclear Boondoggle Fits a Global Pattern of Troubles
From the IEEE Spectrum on South Carolina’s VC Summer nuclear power plant. “Public trust is at stake here, folks.” That’s how South Carolina’s top power industry regulator described the gravity yesterday of local utilities’ decision to walk away from a pair of partially-built nuclear reactors, according to Charleston’s Post and Courier newspaper. Public Service Commission … [Read more…]
The Great Red Spot
It is difficult to put the size of the planets into perspective, but a photo of earth superimposed over the Jovian Great Red Spot does a very good job of showing just how really big Jupiter is in comparison to earth. Great Red Spot Eats Earth! [to scale] 2017-07-18 17:40 UT Credit : NASA / … [Read more…]
Patent-Free Drugs
Another piece from the NY Times today, July 18, 2017, this one by Fran Quigley (Health and Human Rights Clinic at Indiana University McKinney School of Law) and the full article can be read here. How’s this for a great deal? The United States government funded research and development of a new vaccine against Zika. … [Read more…]
A predictable nuclear accident at Hanford
From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – A predictable nuclear accident at Hanford. From May, 2017.
Noam Chomsky: On Trump and the State of the Union
Always good to read Chompsky’s views and, as usual, he clarifies the issues in today’s State of the Union. From the New York Times, July 5, 2017. On nuclear war, actions in Syria and at the Russian border raise very serious threats of confrontation that might trigger war, an unthinkable prospect. Furthermore, Trump’s pursuit of … [Read more…]
Data On Drug Use Is Disappearing Just When We Need It Most
An in-depth article covering the data gathering on opioid and street drug use, who has data and the problem of getting good data today. From the folks at FIVE THIRTY EIGHT . com …
ARS Technica on the Death of the IEEE 1394 FireWire
ARS on the Death of the IEEE 1394 FireWire Richard C. Moss – Jun 22, 2017 Good, bad, I’m the guy with the plug From our “Brief history of the USB,” here’s a quick summary on the pros and cons of FireWire’s tech: FireWire had a few advantages over USB in its time. FireWire devices … [Read more…]
Climate Denier’s Materials Package
In a heartbreaking article in the Washington Post about Secretary DeVos’ stand on climate change, the author, Valerie Strauss, adds a letter written by Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Democratic Senator where the Senator writes of the efforts of the Heartland Institute, a climate denial “think tank” to promote a climate denial information packet sent to … [Read more…]
Us and Them
The history and basis for discrimination is highlighted in a Science News article about a new exhibit at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris.