I love the ways that science lets us see through seeming impenetrable walls. Let’s say, for instance, that you have a nuclear fission plant that has suffered some catastrophe. Let’s get more specific: you’re responsible for the clean-up for the Fukushima power plant in Japan, which was badly damaged in … Continue Reading →

There are ancient myths about lost cities in Central America, and from time to time adventurous people with lots of money have set out to find them. The lure of possible treasure is strong, but mostly it’s the desire to discover what those before them have not been able to. … Continue Reading →

People who work in search and rescue are constantly addressing the problem of how to search through a pile of rubble (or a fire, or a river) and find living victims that need rescuing. In the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake on April 25 (2015), a new device was used … Continue Reading →