Common Science Archives - Page 12 of 25

The Physics of Your Fireplace

Posted by Jeff Danner | Nov 3, 2013 | Common Science

If you have a gas fireplace in your house, I have something surprising to tell you about it. The switch on the wall which turns on the flame is not connected to the electricity in your house. Understanding how this switch works...

The Uncommon Core of the New Math

Posted by Jeff Danner | Oct 27, 2013 | Common Science

In the early 1990s I was working at ARCO Chemical Company in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Times were good at ARCO, although that would change. We were making money, dress was formal, and we devoted time and resources to...

How Engineers Spend their Spare Time

Posted by Jeff Danner | Oct 20, 2013 | Common Science

Since I started writing Common Science in April of 2011, I have averaged 50 columns a year. Most weeks I have my topic selected by Monday, a first draft done by Wednesday and am ready to submit to my editor (she’s not hard to...

Common Science: Fungi of the Future

Posted by Jeff Danner | Oct 13, 2013 | Common Science

Last week in Part I of this series, I discussed some of the unique properties of fungi – yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. This week, I’ll explain why you will be hearing more and more about fungi in the future, particularly...

Your Sister the Mushroom

Posted by Jeff Danner | Oct 6, 2013 | Common Science

I previously published a column called “Your Mother the Plant” in which I discussed the nearly identical structures of chlorophyll, which absorbs carbon dioxide for plants, and hemoglobin, which absorbs oxygen for animals like...

Bacteria and Obesity, A Surprising Link

Posted by Jeff Danner | Sep 29, 2013 | Common Science

As a chemical engineer, I am naturally drawn to write columns about energy and manufacturing. However, if you have been reading my columns for a while you will have noticed that I keep coming back to topics concerning the vital...

A World Without Fossil Fuels

Posted by Jeff Danner | Sep 23, 2013 | Common Science

Our world is dominated by fossil fuels. They make our electricity, heat our homes, power our cars, and are changing our climate. As a student of both science and history, I sometimes wonder what the world would be like today if...

The Butterfly Effect

Posted by Jeff Danner | Sep 16, 2013 | Common Science

For a system to exhibit “chaos” as defined by physicists, four elements must be present.

The Rise and Fall of US Infrastructure Part III: Conclusion

Posted by Jeff Danner | Sep 8, 2013 | Common Science

In Parts I and II of this series I covered the history and impact of the construction of infrastructure in the United States, as well as the dynamics behind its slide into its current state of decay. In the near future we will...

The Rise and Fall of U.S. Infrastructure Part II: The Fall

Posted by Jeff Danner | Sep 1, 2013 | Common Science

In Part I of this series I reviewed the rise of infrastructure in the United States. This week we will explore the fall and how it came to be that the ASCE.

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