The Spectator
Current Issue Home News Insights & Ideas Editorial Science & Technology Features Arts & Entertainment Sports The Spectator Meet Our Staff Contact Us Send a Letter to the Editor

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

THE SPECTATOR
April 18, 2008
 
 

A new method for space hibernation

by Nick Berry '09

    The next time you smell the signature stench of rotten eggs or flatulence, you may be taking a whiff of scientific history.  Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the gas that gives rise to the odors described above, has been shown to dramatically increase the lifespan of nematodes and induce a reversible state of near suspended animation in mice.  Both of these discoveries could have a profound impact on medicine and space travel. More. . .
 

Did You Know That?

Wacky Facts: A Few Fishy Factoids

by Kate Tummarello '11

  • The world's biggest clam weighs almost 500 pounds.
  • Starfish have eight eyes; one at the end of each leg.
  • Sharks have no air bladders, so they must swim constantly or they'll sink.
  • A jellyfish is 95 percent water.
More. . .
 

Donated drugs saving lives

by Kate Tumarello '11

    With the cost of medication increasing, many people are unable to afford health care.  To combat this, some states have instated programs that give unused medication to people who need it, rather than letting it be destroyed. More. . .
 

GEEK OF THE WEEK

Kurtis Magee '08


Elijah LaChance:Where is home for you? Growing up, were there any experiences you remember that first made you interested in science?

Kurtis Magee:I grew up in Corvallis, Oregon (Ore-gen, not Ore-gone).
    During my freshman year of high school, my physics teacher had me calculate the velocity and trajectory of a punt during a football game merely from the ball's hang time and yardage.  To me, things like that have always been pretty interesting.

More. . .
 

Gorillas afflicted with heart diseases in captivity

by Alyssa White '11

    It's always been difficult not to anthropomorphize gorillas.  They have our agile hands, our pensive eyes, our communicative skills — and our susceptibility to heart disease.  Just like humans, gorillas — especially middle-aged males — have an extraordinary rate of heart failure. More. . .
 

Oncoming beer shortage traced to global warming

by Elijah LaChance '10

    Scientists have held global climate change as an established fact since the turn of the millennium, and yet, in a recent Gallup poll, over 50 percent of Americans say they are "unconcerned" about global warming. It seems the projections of rising oceans, thousands of extinct species, and crippling heat waves have yet to make an impact on people's daily lives. New facts, however, might make the U.S. sit up and take notice. That's right: global warming is going to affect beer. More. . .