Engineering
Everyday Engineering: The Marvels that Surround Us
In many ways, the products of modern engineering that have the most substantial influence on our lives are the ones we almost never think about… […]
Science
Biology
Popular Brain Myths We All Thought Were True: The Torch Podcast
On this episode of The Torch, we examine what we have learned from neuroscience about several brain myths including – do we really only use 10% of our brain, can we multitask effectively, are male and female brains different? […]
Biology
Our Electric Mind: The Neuron Doctrine
How do neurons communicate with each other? If there is a gap between them, how is communication possible? Understanding this phenomena took a giant step forward with the discovery that axons actually generate electricity. […]
Biology
The Balance between Predators and Prey
By Stephen Nowicki, PhD, Duke University The life-and-death balancing act between predator and prey is complicated and fascinating. Read about Ecologist Josh Van Buskirk’s classic […]
Astronomy
Ancient Astronomy—From Stonehenge to the Great Pyramids: The Torch Podcast
On this episode of The Torch, we examine the pioneering efforts of ancient people, whose inquisitive nature led them to create the science of Astronomy. […]
Astronomy
Stonehenge: A Remarkable Relic of Archeoastronomy
Ancient astronomers achieved remarkable feats that were built on many thousands of years of watching the sky. How did they accomplish so much without using the technology we have available today? Welcome to the study of archeoastronomy. […]
Chemistry
Coal: A Lesson in Economic Geology
Economic geology is the use of materials for the benefit of society. Two such materials, coal and petroleum, comprise 90% of all the energy budgeted in the United States. […]
Chemistry
Building the Periodic Table
The periodic table is the chemist’s playground—an icon of science that’s found on classroom walls around the world. It’s one of the most powerful conceptual tools in all of science, yet it didn’t spring forth all at once. […]
Astronomy
Great Moons of Our Solar System
By Frank Summers, Ph.D, Space Telescope Science Institute Everyone memorizes the names of the eight planets. But how many of us have memorized the seven […]
Biology
Genetic Engineering: Cutting and Reassembling DNA
By David Sadava, Ph.D., City of Hope Medical Center, Claremont Colleges The very first step in a brave new world of genetic engineering was to learn […]