Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
Shooting more moose can protect them from ticks, biologists say
The population density of moose in some parts of New England might be so high that it is helping winter ticks thrive, and the ticks are sickening and killing off moose. A solution, say some wildlife biologists, is to increase the hunting season. Shoot them to save...
FCC says to double-check broadband speeds
The Federal Communications Commission is urging people to download their app onto their phones and test speeds and latency in their home's internet connection, to gather real data about the nation's broadband. You can see their statement here on press release. They...
Cape Cod climate-research station abandoned due to climate
Today's ironic/funny/painful story of life in the Climate Emergency: A long-running weather station on Cape Cod that gathers data to study the climate is being abandoned because the land its sits on is falling into the sea....
Lumber prices are going bananas, so why aren’t my trees worth more?
This article of mine isn't exactly geeky but I thought it might be of interest nonetheless: With lumber prices going through the roof from demand driven by pandemic changes, it seems like forest-filled New Hampshire should be reaping a windfall. But issues from the...
T-minus three and counting to eclipse! (Years, of course)
Three years is a long time to look ahead in an era when most of us can’t see beyond getting that second vaccine shot (on Thursday for me – hooray!). But it’s not too long if you’re an eclipse fanatic. “The hospitality industry, they need to be preparing! We’ve got to...
Can old wood-burning electricity plants make money?
The Valley News reports that a Maine firm called Stored Solar has bought wood-burning power plants in New Hampshire that have shut down because their electricity is too expensive to compete in the deregulated market. The whole story is here. It's a good story that...
N.H. patents through April 11
By Targeted News Service The following patents were assigned in New Hampshire from April 4 to April 11. *** Parallel Wireless Assigned Patent for End-to-End Prioritization for Mobile Base Station Parallel Wireless, Nashua, New Hampshire, has been assigned a patent...
Did ocean noise levels change during the pandemic?
From UNH News Service: An international development team, led by researchers at the University of New Hampshire, has created a software program that can process sound data collected from the world’s oceans in a more standardized format that will enhance research and...
After a wind storm, forest ‘tip-ups’ can spur diversity
When big trees fall over in a storm, their upended root masses can the raised six, ten or more feet in the air. They slowly rot over many years forming what's called a tip-up or, after many decades, a pillow. (Alongside the pillow will be a depression where the roots...
Ice-out is getting earlier, but it’s an imprecise measure
One New Hampshire spring tradition is declaration of "ice out" on lakes, of which the most famous is on Lake Winnipesaukee, the state's biggest body of fresh water. This year it was declared on April 5, which is pretty early. The announcement led a reader to ask me:...
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