Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
Hearing this week for a subtle anti-vax bill in NH
There's a hearing Wednesday (March 12) at 1:30 in Concord on a mild-sounding bill that has the potential to give anti-vaxxers a tool to limit or even shut down childhood vaccination programs. The full text of HB679 i: "This bill provides that no childhood immunization...
NH House wants to kill bulk buying of vaccines
From New Hampshire Bulletin: A Republican-backed proposal to eliminate New Hampshire’s mechanism for purchasing vaccines was approved by the state House of Representatives Thursday. The House voted, 189-181, in favor of House Bill 524, which seeks to terminate the New...
Science Cafe NH: The science of meditation
On Tuesday, March 18, Science Cafe NH will discuss the Science of Meditation. It will explore the physiological, psychological, and spiritual benefits of meditation. This event involves discussions that delve into how meditation impacts brain function, emotional...
Snow on the ground makes things seem wet but we’re in a real drought
This winter has been a little colder than average but much less snowy in Concord, which has been fine for winter sports but done nothing to help the state’s drought. The National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, which covers New Hampshire, says the average...
Solar power keeps growing in New England and the U.S. despite – well, you know
ISO-New England, the folks who run the six-state power grid, saw a new record for utility-scale solar last week: On Saturday there was 816 MW of "front of meter" (not rooftop) solar power entering the grid in early afternoon. Although it's a full 40% than the previous...
Lunar Eclipse event on Pi Day for night owls
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is hosting a geek twofer on March 14 aka 3.14 aka Pi Day: A look at the total lunar eclipse plus some pi-related activities. You haven't head much about this eclipse because it's happening very late, or very early: The moon...
Science on Tap: Cognitive Development
The SEE Science Center’s twelfth season of Science on Tap discussions continues Tuesday, March 11. Science on Tap events are informal discussions with local scientists and experts on a particular topic. On March 11th the topic will be: Cognitive...
NH patents through March 2
(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 March 2. *** Patch-Sized Fluid Delivery Systems and Methods DEKA PRODUCTS...
Climate change is sending lobsters further north – sorry, Maine
Maine's haul of lobsters has declined every year from 2021, when it was nearly 111 million pounds, to 2023, when it was less than 97 million pounds. That decline extended into 2024, when the haul was about 86.1 million pounds, according to data released by state...
Something useful to do with AI: Grading rock-climbing routes
A story in the Monitor (you can read it here) talks about a UNH grad-school project to use AI to standardize the difficulty rating for rock-climbing routes. Shaad Mahmud, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UNH, started working nearly two...
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