Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire

Can genes trigger autism by making brain cells grow too much?
Autism spectrum is a complex issue and this is unlikely to be “the” cause even if findings hold up.

“Gamification” teaches people how to be their own lawyer
One lesson: Don’t call the judge “dude”. And dress nice.

New Hampshire once had the world’s longest slide rule, all 320 feet of it
I’ve been following this story for more than seven years. I’m a sucker for any story about slide rules.
Moose collaring project winds up for year- yes, ticks are the problem
From N.H. Fish and Game: New Hampshire moose collaring for 2018 has been completed, and the capture crew has moved on to Vermont, where the goal is to collar 30 calves and 5 adult cows. This year, 83 moose (68 calves and 15 adults) were collared in Maine and 50 (44...

Boy, that warm rain destroyed our snowpack
Look at these two photos sent out by the Mount Washington Observatory. Top image is Jan. 10, bottom image is Jan. 13, after two days of warm rain. Extreme weather, indeed. The photo shows Mt Jefferson and Mr Adams, with a bit of Mt. Madison on the right edge, seen...
Recent patents by NH inventors and/or companies
My favorite is the “pants assembly”, too
Our deep freeze proved we need gas pipelines – or it didn’t
In this contentious energy debate, the cold snap is a sort of Rorschach Test. Where do you stand?

The first baby born in NH was demographically significant, for more than one reason
Yes, it’s interesting for the obvious reason, but the state’s first baby of 2018 reflects another demographic trend more important for New Hampshire in the short term: Her family is a classic example of domestic in-migration.

Collect rabbit poop in the wild – for science!
Need I say more?
NH solar power: Growing fast, still dinky
Photovoltaic electricity is growing fast in New Hampshire, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration: We went from an estimated annual production of 45,000 megawatt-hours during the first three quarters of 2016 to 78,000 Mwh in the same period of...