Common Science Archives - Page 5 of 25

Common Science Fourth Anniversary

Posted by Jeff Danner | Apr 19, 2015 | Common Science

This week is the fourth anniversary of Common Science®. I published my first column, An Introduction to Your Host, on April 25, 2011 and last’s week’s column was my 200th. This means I have averaged 50 columns per year! Since...

Toxic Substances Control Act: A Redo After 40 Years

Posted by Jeff Danner | Apr 12, 2015 | Common Science

While the 1970s are better known for leisure suits and (in my opinion) great music, they were also a bit of a golden age for environmental regulation. The 1970s brought us the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, and in 1976...

Please Stop Rotating the Scrabble Board

Posted by Jeff Danner | Apr 5, 2015 | Common Science

Several years ago, I took a test at the Museum of Life and Science designed to determine whether I was better at remembering things that I hear or things that I see. The results were what I expected: my visual memory is far...

Salt and South Florida

Posted by Jeff Danner | Mar 30, 2015 | Common Science

In the spring of 2012, I wrote a five-part series on water. In Part IV: When the Well Runs Dry, I explained the process by which salty ocean water can infiltrate subsurface, fresh water aquifers and the problems that creates. Over the last couple of weeks, I have encountered several stories about salt water infiltration in South Florida’s Biscayne Aquifer.

STEM Jobs for the 21st Century

Posted by Jeff Danner | Mar 22, 2015 | Common Science

Lately I have noticed a growing trend to encourage people to pursue careers in STEM, an acronym which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I find this acronym, developed by the National Science...

Life on Mars? It’s All About That Methane

Posted by Jeff Danner | Mar 15, 2015 | Common Science

The tantalizing possibility that life may exist on Mars has inspired both scientific exploration and popular culture for a long time. The question of whether we are alone in the universe has recently been reignited by some...

State of Science, Technology and Industry from 1909

Posted by Jeff Danner | Mar 8, 2015 | Common Science

My wife recently gave me a book titled Outlines of Industrial Chemistry that was published in 1909. It provides a fascinating look at the state of science, technology, the economy, and everyday life from 106 years ago. The book...

Drug-Resistant Bacteria: Part II

Posted by Jeff Danner | Mar 1, 2015 | Common Science

Last week, in Part I of this series, I reviewed the major issues associated with drug-resistant bacteria and discussed the fascinating history of the discovery and uses of bacteriophages. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect and...

Drug-Resistant Bacteria: Part I

Posted by Jeff Danner | Feb 22, 2015 | Common Science

For this week’s column, I am going to presume some knowledge on the reader’s part regarding the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. If you are not familiar with this issue, let me recommend that you open a new...

Woolly Mammoths and the Voyage of the U.S.S. Jeannette: Part II

Posted by Jeff Danner | Feb 15, 2015 | Common Science

Last week, in Part I of this series, I told you the incredible story of the Arctic journey of the U.S.S. Jeannette in 1879. After their ship was trapped in the ice for 21 months and then sank, the crew dragged their food and...

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