Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
Our winters have really, really warmed
An analysis from the site Climate Matters quantifies what is already obvious to those of us pining for the days when there was ice skating before Thanksgiving: winters in the Northeast have warmed faster than just about anywhere. The whole analysis, with...
Maine’s kelp forests face ‘widespread collapse’ as oceans warm
The Boston Globe has a well-reported but depressing article about the effect that the warming Gulf of Maine is having on kelp forests, which are almost up there with coral reefs in terms of supporting ecosystems. Researchers found temperatures have become too warm,...
We’re in the midst of a flash drought
Three years ago I first learned of the concept of a "flash drought," the dry flip side of a flash flood. As I wrote at the time, the term " sounds like an oxymoron since 'drought' usually reflects accumulated dryness rather than a quick-hit event. But as we saw last...
Storing electricity as water. (Wait – what?)
Last week I wrote about interesting stuff that UNH is doing in space, but there’s something interesting on the ground in Durham, as well. A big something. Big and cold. Admittedly, it doesn’t sound all that interesting. It’s just a giant water storage tank that...
NH patents through Nov. 10
(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 Nov. 10. *** Methods and Systems for Design and Production of Customized...
Growing peaches in New Hampshire? Lots of testing is required
From UNH Cooperative Extension: Although the scale of production for peaches in New Hampshire is far less than that of apples, it’s increasing every year. Extension is supporting growers by researching peach and nectarine varieties. Which are most cold-hardy? Least...
For political signs: plastic film good, Coroplast plastic bad
Now that the election is over, for better or worse*, the question arises of what to do with all those roadside signs. The Monitor has a nice story on it (read it here) but in summary: Many rigid plastic signs are made from Coroplast, the same polypropylene plastic...
Hunting coyotes can sometimes increase their population
UNH News Service: Research led by the University of New Hampshire sheds light on how coyotes, North America’s most successful predators, are responding to various environmental pressures, including human development, hunting and competition with larger carnivores....
How did UNH become a space-weather hotbed?
I posted the press release about the latest NASA award to UNH last week. This is my follow-up column in the Monitor. New Hampshire is known for a lot of things: Mt. Washington, the presidential primary, our slightly alarming motto. And then there’s heliophysics...
Science on Tap: Hurricanes
Science on Tap, the Manchester science cafe series, will discuss hurricanes at their next session on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The ‘official’ hurricane season is coming to a close. Join us to discuss how this season stacked up to predictions and what new insights it has...
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