Science & Technology

Jesse Feiler - Intimate Objects

Joe Donahue — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:35:00 +0000

Ask our tech guru, Jesse Feiler, what he wants to talk about this morning and he will tell you – Intimate Objects. Our job is to find out what they are and what they are not. Jesse is here to provide answers to both questions.

"The New Digital Age" by Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen

Joe Donahue — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:35:00 +0000

In an unparalleled collaboration, two leading global thinkers in technology and foreign affairs give us their widely anticipated, transformational vision of the future: a world where everyone is connected—a world full of challenges and benefits that are ours to meet and to harness.

Cyber Attacks Can Happen Anywhere

Dave Lucas — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:29:45 +0000

America's "War on Terror" goes beyond the streets. Battles are being fought on a regular basis over the internet, from Chinese or Korean cyber attacks to hacks from groups and individuals within the United States.

As technology evolves and we become more reliant on the internet, the web presents a frontier of opportunity for mischief-makers, criminals and terrorists.

Scientists Sequence Genome Of 'Living Fossil' Fish

Scott Neuman — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:25:00 +0000

Scientists have unraveled the genome of the coelacanth, a rare and primitive fish once thought to be extinct, shedding light on how closely it's related to the first creatures to emerge from the sea.

The coelacanth, a fish that can reach up to 5 feet long and lives in deep ocean caves, had only been seen in fossils and was thought to have gone extinct some 70 million years ago. That was until 1938, when fishermen from the Comoros islands off the coast of Africa captured one in a net.

Environmental reporter Michael Behar on fracking and earthquakes

Ian Pickus — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:48:37 +0000

One of the most contentious areas of debate over the expansion of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas concerns a spike in seismic activity in unlikely areas that have begun fracking nearby. Some alarmed scientists say containment wells are putting undue pressure on faults deep underground. But industry interests disagree – that is, when they say anything at all.

Jesse Feiler - Do Not Track

Joe Donahue — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:35:00 +0000

How should a company respond if a consumer asks it to stop tracking his or her behavior on the company’s website? And what role should a browser play in helping consumers communicate their preferences regarding online tracking? These are questions we will look to answer with our tech guru, Jesse Feiler.

Jesse is a developer, consultant, and author specializing in iOS, FileMaker databases, and technologies for small businesses, nonprofits, and municipal governments. His most recent books are iWork for Dummies, Sams Teach Yourself Core Data in 24 Hours, and its companion Objective-C in 24 Hours.

His app, Minutes Machine for iPad, is available on the App Store. It helps nonprofits, homeowner associations, and small businesses manage meetings and generate minutes in real-time. His website is northcountryconsulting.com.

Brian Shields with concerned scientist Jeff Deyette

Brian Shields — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:26:59 +0000

WAMC's Brian Shields spoke with Jeff Deyette, senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists. He is the author of Cooler Smarter: Practical Steps for Low-Carbon Living and toured New York this week to discuss how people can reduce their carbon footprints, including stops at the Ithaca Sustainability Center, Cornell University, and Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings’ Office of Energy and Sustainability.

RPI student 7th recipient of Lemelson-Rensselaer Prize

Dave Lucas — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:40:00 +0000

We're all familiar with LED technology - Light-emitting diodes are used in applications as diverse as aviation lighting, automotive lighting and traffic signals. LEDs have allowed new text, video displays, and sensors to be developed, while their high switching rates are also useful in advanced communications technology.

An RPI student has been named the winner of a national competition for technological innovation...

Yahoo Redesign Aims to Make Site More Inviting

Associated Press — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:32:20 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Yahoo is renovating the main entry into its website in an effort to get people to visit more frequently and linger for longer periods of time.

The long-awaited makeover of Yahoo.com's home page is the most notable change to the website since the Internet company hired Marissa Mayer as its CEO seven months ago. The new look will start to gradually roll out in the U.S early Wednesday.

Future Science: Using 3D Worlds to Visualize Data

Associated Press — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:02:45 +0000

CHICAGO (AP) -- Take a walk through a human brain? Fly over the surface of Mars? Computer scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago are pushing science fiction closer to reality with a wraparound virtual world where a researcher wearing 3D glasses can do all that and more.

In the system, known as CAVE2, an 8-foot-high screen encircles the viewer 320 degrees. A panorama of images springs from 72 stereoscopic liquid crystal display panels, conveying a dizzying sense of being able to touch what's not really there.