Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
I can’t show you the name of the solar-probe program
UNH will have a role in the Parker Solar Probe that was launched Sunday by NASA. Apparently, however, NASA has hired the person who convinced Prince to change his name to an unpronounceable symbol because the instruments that UNH will be operating have been given an...
New England’s forests have changed several times since the glaciers left
If you lived here 13,000 years ago, you wouldn't have much choice for Christmas trees: It was spruce and jack pine everywhere you looked. That's one of the conclusions (although they don't phrase it that way) from an analysis of multiple studies of pollen grains in...
Mushrooms are bustin’ out all over
If you’ve been outdoors in the past few weeks and it seems like the ground is suddenly sprinkled with little multi-colored domes, don’t be surprised. The dry start to the summer followed by consistent rains since mid-July have been perfect for luring mushrooms above...
Kids say the darndest things – live from space edition
Judging from the audience reaction, if you ever get a chance to ask a question of an astronaut floating around on the International Space Station, ask about dental hygiene. “How do you keep from making a mess when you brush your teeth?” asked Luke Morrow, one of 21...
Why just read my words when you can listen to them, too?
While I realize it's a joy and a delight to read the words I create via my quite impressive typing skills, don't forget that it's also a delight to listen to me blather on about the subjects of my column and other articles. You can do this by listening to what we...
Now makerspaces have to wonder if their 3-D printers will be used to make guns
MakeIt Labs in Nashua, the oldest and probably biggest makerspace in New Hampshire, says it won't let anybody make guns on their 3-D printers. (WMUR story is here.) I imagine the same issue is being chewed on by any place with an accessible 3D printer, including a...
NH apartment building says it can be net-zero energy with just solar panels
An agency that helps create affordable housing in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont has started construction on a 29-unit development in Lebanon that it says will be net-zero energy usage, including heating, from solar panels. So far as I can tell from...
When you’ve done one job for 55 years, you’ve seen a few changes
My column this week is slightly different: I profile Ron Pike, who just retired from the Monitor after working here 55 years. He's 80, and only retired because he hurt his leg and it slowed him down so much that he thought he was making work harder for other people....
UNH: Seed coats could lead to tougher flexible materials
From UNH News Service: Researchers at the University of New Hampshire say the puzzle-like wavy structure of the delicate seed coat, found in plants like succulents and some grasses, could hold the secret to creating new smart materials strong enough to be used in...
Why are there solar panels on the cab of a very big truck?
When I pulled into work Wednesday there was, as if often the case, a big tractor-trailer unloading rolls of newsprint for the press. But then I noticed something different: It has flexible solar panels attached to the hood and the top of the cab. "Sometimes people ask...
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