FUZZY QUADROS
A FRIEND passed along an amazing video of two flying robots balancing a rod—and tossing it back and forth! “Could this be a hoax?” my friend asked. Amazing though it … Continue reading
LE MÉTRO
THE PARIS Métro is one of the oldest—and most grand—of the world’s subterranean transportation systems. Its construction encountered ancient catacombs and other caverns even more unexpected. Its stations are exemplary … Continue reading
THIS RECTANGLE IS GOLDEN
WHICH RECTANGLE do you think is aesthetically more pleasing? Most people believe it’s the one on the left. The rectangle on the left is an example of the “golden rectangle,” … Continue reading
OWLS AND WRINKLY FINGERS
TWO COMPLETELY unrelated items jumped out of recent Science magazines, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. One details how owls can twist their heads so far … Continue reading
EFFICIENT BULBS, BUT….
I CONTINUE to encounter neat tidbits in Science magazine, published weekly by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The 25 January 2013 issue has two related pieces on … Continue reading
POWER PLAY
EVERY SO often, it’s good to think about basic physics and engineering matters such as torque, horsepower and, these days, their electrical equivalents. Being the internationalists we are, let’s discuss … Continue reading
BENOIT B. MANDELBROT
I’LL BET you never thought about fitting an infinite length onto something the size of a postage stamp. However, this is today’s topic, thanks to Benoit B. Mandelbrot, the Polish-born … Continue reading
DATA MINING
CALL ME Big Data. Several years ago—never mind how long precisely—computers became potent enough to analyze huge collections of information. These metastudies of data mining have included everything from medical reports … Continue reading
48 VOLTS
JOHNSON CONTROLS, a major automaker supplier, has announced it’s developing a 48-volt lithium-ion battery for automobile applications. According to Automotive News, January 21, 2013, an unnamed European automaker (spelled Mercedes-Benz?) … Continue reading
SCIENCE DUO
IT’S GREAT being a science dilettante, learning just enough about a topic to be fascinated without having to roll up one’s intellectual sleeves and actually do the science. The weekly Science … Continue reading
