• Science

    The Science Behind Unseen Phenomena

    By Catherine Schwanke Posted on 3.20.2009 47 Comments

    During the early 1930s, Duke University went against the grain and opened a parapsychology lab. J.B. Rhine, who actually coined the term parapsychology, along with his colleagues sought to uncover the truth about various phenomena using scientific methods. In Unbelievable, author Stacy Horn chronicles the decades of research done in the lab. PopSci.com's Catherine Schwanke recently spoke with Horn by phone to discuss her new book, and the unbelievable. Plus: Got a question for Stacy Horn? Ask away! We've devoted a forum to your queries here. Ms. Horn will answer as many of your questions as possible, also in the forum, during the week of March 22-27. Feeling lucky? Leave a comment (any comment) below. Ten commenters, randomly chosen on March 31st, will win a free copy of Unbelievable

    3.26.2009 at 12:42pm - Comment by generic_me01

    It's interesting to think of the point where science and imagination intersect. This seems like that point to me.

  • DIY

    Blowing (Up) Hydrogen Bubbles

    By Theodore Gray Posted on 4.13.2009 13 Comments

    Living in the Midwest, where heating homes with propane is common, I periodically see reports in the local paper that yet another unoccupied house has exploded. They often note that the roof was found in the basement, while the walls were spread some distance into the neighboring fields.

    2.20.2009 at 10:32am - Comment by generic_me01

    Gaffe Alert: "You could light a match inside a propane tank, and nothing would happen." But would a match light in the first place with no oxygen present?

  • Technology

    Obama Clashes With NASA Moon Program

    By Dawn Stover Posted on 12.11.2008 18 Comments

    NASA Administrator Michael Griffin is not playing nice with the Obama transition team, according to a post by Robert Block of the Orlando Sentinel. He reports that Griffin is resisting efforts by former NASA associate administrator Lori Garver, who heads Obama's space transition team, to "look under the hood" of the space program.

    1.9.2009 at 10:28am - Comment by generic_me01

    To cyberscriberofalabama: I don't think a railgun is the greatest idea. What happens when you accelerate a man from zero to gravitational escape velocity in a second or less? One very messy crew capsule.

  • Science

    A Conversation with Len Fisher

    By Laura Silver Posted on 1.15.2009 69 Comments

    Chances are you've played Rock, Paper, Scissors, but how do you calculate your strategy, if you have one at all? In Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life, physicist Len Fisher points out that putting yourself in your opponent's mindset is a key to success in the game.

    1.8.2009 at 12:37pm - Comment by generic_me01

    You know, it's really quite amusing that I've been using this type of thinking to get out of household chores for years, but only today learned what it actually was. Three cheers for game theory! (Now use the theory to deduce which will be the loudest.)

  • Science

    This Machine Might* Save the World

    By Posted on 1.5.2009 38 Comments

    The source of endless energy for all humankind resides just off Government Street in Burnaby, British Columbia, up the little spit of blacktop on Bonneville Place and across the parking lot from Shade-O-Matic blind manufacturers and wholesalers. The future is there, in that mostly empty office with the vomit-green walls -- and inside the brain of Michel Laberge, 47, bearded and French-Canadian.

    1.5.2009 at 01:15pm - Comment by generic_me01

    To occfan001: None whatsoever. There's not enough mass present to reach critical density of 2 x 109 g/cm3. Or at least, that's the density required in stars.

  • Technology

    Weaponizing MP3s

    By Posted on 11.26.2008 12 Comments

    If you're looking to attack a pirate ship, forget cutlasses and cannon balls. Go full speed ahead with an MP3 sonic blast. At least that's the latest method being used in sea warfare, as highlighted last week when a sonic blast was used to scare away Somali pirates from attacking a chemical tanker close to the Horn of Africa.

    12.5.2008 at 10:24am - Comment by generic_me01

    The article didn't state it, but I'm under the assumption that the soundwave is very precise, somewhat point-and-shoot. Probably not much in the way of collateral damage.

  • Science

    What's Good and What's Bad

    By Posted on 12.1.2008 3 Comments

    Also, laying off makeup, slurping up bottled water, and more, in today's link roundup.

    12.2.2008 at 10:42am - Comment by generic_me01

    Not too sure, but the Pittsburg Tribune seems a more objective institution than Field & Stream. I'm sure there are other ways of contaminating meat other than sloppy butcher work.



Download Our iPhone App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed



Become a Fan On Facebook

Share links with friends, comment on stories and more


December 2009: Best of What's New

In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.

Check out the best of what's new here.

Popular Science Photo Pool


Share your photos in the Pop Sci pool at www.flickr.com!
tags_sprite.png
POP_embeddedForm_cover_May09.jpg