Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
Only half of overdose deaths get autopsied in NH due to shortage of pathologists
New Hampshire Bulletin has a good piece about how a shortage of pathologists means that only half of overdose deaths in the state get an autopsy. The full story is here. Why is an accurate cause of death so important? Death certifications have public health and data...

Small N.H. firm taking first orbital step for autonomous satellite robots
If you were told that a New Hampshire startup launched its first payload Saturday en route to creating autonomous robots that can fix satellites in orbit, where would you think it was located? Probably with the tech firms in Nashua or Manchester. Perhaps alongside...
Maine passes ‘right to repair’ auto law
I was so entranced with Maine's attempt to take over the electric utility that I missed a referendum about right-to-repair autos. It passed overwhelmingly (see here). It requires motor vehicle manufacturers to standardize on-board vehicle diagnostics and make access...
Science on Tap: Engineering for Equitable Health Care
SEE Science Center in Manchester has been holding Science on Tap discussions for 11 years. On Tuesday November 14th the topic will be: Engineering for Equitable Health Care. With growing awareness of the connection between wealth and health, join us to investigate...
Absolutely no ‘hopping’ puns in this article about kangaroo-related bills in New Hampshire
Among the many global controversies that will be pondered by New Hampshire legislators this year is a surprising one: Should we eat kangaroos? Two bills regarding Australia’s iconic megafauna have been introduced. (You can find them via the search engine of...
Update: Maine rejects taking control of its electric utilities
UPDATE: The referendum was rejected roughly 2-1. Only the Portland area supported it, but just barely: the vote there rounds to 50-50. Maine, which leaped into the electoral unknown by adopting the first statewide embrace of ranked-choice voting, may soon leap into...
Did N.H. have more electric vehicle chargers in 1915 than now?
A publication called Electric Vehicles from a century ago (before gas-powered cars killed them off) has been digitized online. A reader on reddit point to this map, showing New England charging stations in 1915: I swear, New Hampshire looks better then than it does in...
Biocontrol wasp shows promise against Emerald Ash Borer
A wasp-like critter from Russia's far east that lays eggs on the larvae of Emerald Ash Borer, producing its own larvae that eat the EAB, is proving a pretty good biocontrol in Michigan. A study from the US Forest Service (here) found: Life table analysis showed...
Hate Daylight Savings, N.H.? Blame Massachusetts!
If you, dear reader, are annoyed that your sleep got messed up because you had to change clocks on Sunday, you can follow the greatest of New Hampshire traditions and blame Massachusetts. Daylight Saving Time was instituted in this country during World War I to save...
N.H. patents through Nov. 5
(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. 5. *** System and Method for Powering a Device DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED...