Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
Are dandelions good or bad for pollinators? Yes.
From UNH Extension: The sunny yellow flowerhead of the common dandelion is a familiar sight in New Hampshire lawns. Although long regarded as a pervasive weed, it has gained more positive attention in recent years for its potential to provide an early spring food...
28 years after an ‘e-mail course’, a professor ponders change
More than 28 years ago I interviewed Kenneth Levasseur, a professor at UMass-Lowell, about his innovative new project: A math class via email. In the resulting column I noted that the course, the school’s first official online class, would have students answer...
NH patents through April 21
(Links to each patent can be found here, using the patent number or inventor’s name.) By Targeted News Service WASHINGTON – The following federal patents were assigned in New Hampshire through April 21. *** Rod End With Locking Device for Struts ALBANY ENGINEERED...
Anti-vax bills get approval from GOP in NH House
A couple of anit-vaccine bills are making it through the GOP-controlled NH House. One would remove all vaccine requirements (including polio!) for children entering daycare or private kindergarten (HB 1213), leaving it in place only for public school. It also and...
Vt. electric airplane gets trial run in New Zealand
Air New Zealand has chosen the first demonstrator route for its all-electric Beta ALIA aircraft, which is made by a startup in Burlington, Vt., of all places. (This is the company that put the electric-plane charger in Manchester, as I wrote about recently.) The...
Timber harvest vs. carbon credit in northern forests – which is the better income?
The state has rejected an interesting proposal to change the way the huge, 146,000-acre Connecticut Lakes Headwater Tract of forest in northern New Hampshire, saying that a plan t o emphasize getting paid for keeping trees upright to store carbon takes away too much...
Forest streams are so pretty; too bad they’re such a pain to measure
One of my favorite parts of hiking in New Hampshire is coming across a rushing brook or mountain stream. They are one of nature’s most beautiful creations. But we live in reality so I realize there are complications even when things are beautiful. For example, I don’t...
NH court: You can’t deny solar arrays just because neighbors think they’re ugly
From New Hampshire Bulletin:In a unanimous decision last week, the NH Supreme Court court overturned the Franklin Planning Board’s denial of a solar project that met the city’s zoning ordinance but was opposed by neighbors who argued it would ruin the scenery and...
UNH uses moose influencers as a research tool (well – sort of)
From UNH News Service: Even though they are a major draw for tourists, and important for forest habitat, moose are shy and can be a challenge to track to help protect from adversities like certain forest and land management and environmental factors like the increase...
NH patents through April 14
(Links to each patent can be found here, using the patent number or inventor’s name.) By Targeted News Service WASHINGTON – The following federal patents were assigned in New Hampshire through April 14. *** Electronic Circuit for Measuring an Angle and an Intensity of...
Return to the Concord Monitor