Very Interesting Stuff

Very Interesting Stuff The links on this site lead almost entirely to articles I have written on very interesting science topics. They may talk about recently announced research findings, new discoveries, cool new high-tech stuff, or whatever I found in the world of sciecne that was interesting enough to write about. Do you find something interesting, but don't see it here? Drop me an email , if I find it interesting too, I'll write about it.

Outer Space Matters

Outer Space Links and Info.
Links and information related to outer space. So much space information that it needed its own page.

Slowing or Reversing the Effects of Aging/ Living Longer

Making your Skin Young Again
These techniques work to make your skin young again, not just in appearance, but in function and structure, really. A new study shows how it happens and what they all have in common. Younger skin is possible and three techniques that work.

Meteorology (Weather and Climate)

Article about Tornado Trackers
A new website offers tornado tracking in almost real time. See where tornadoes have struck in the USA today or the history of tornadoes in your town.

Horticulture (Gardening Science)

How to Control Aphids in your Garden
Information about the aphid and an organic method for keeping aphids off your vegetable plants. I tried it, it works for me.
How to Clone Tomatoes
An informative article that tells you how to clone tomato plants. Clone hybrid varieties or expensive heirloom varieties. Simple techniques, no secret lab or genetic engineering is required.
Kids & Vegetables
This study shows how parents can get their kids to enjoy eating vegetables and fruit, and even prefer them to other snacks.
Sylvan Gardens Website
A website about my gardening experiences. Offering information about what works and what doesn't as we strive to grow as many or our own vegetables as we can on a mountainside in New Hampshire.
Japanese Beetles
the Japanese Beetle is an invasive species that causes millions of dollars in damages to crops in the US each year. The Japanese beetle larvae also wreak havoc on lawns.

Computers and the Internet

Google's Lively Virtual Chat Rooms
This article explains what that big virtual room at the top of this page really is, and better yet, how easy it is for you to add one to your web site or travel around in this new virtual world created by Google's Lively.com.
Zone Alarm and Microsoft's kb951748 DNS Security Update
These two bits of software don't play nicely together. In fact, in some cases your computer may lose the ability to reach the internet. This article tells why and how to prevent the trouble.
3G iPhone and Error Code 9838
Did you rush out and buy a new iPhone on the first day of release and now you can't get your fancy new iPhone to activate? this article explains why and what to do about it? It's more simple than you think.

Health and Wellness

Tilapia is a Bad Fish for Heart Health
Tilapia has become very popular because of its low cost and the American Heart Association's emphasis on eating fish, but Tilapia may be worse for your heart than eating bacon! Inflammatory agents in tilapia may aggarvate conditions related to inflammation. These include heart diease, arthritis, and asthma.
Tilapia Industry Insider Responds to "Worse than Bacon" Study
I had a chance to personally interview a Vice President of Rain Forest Aquaculture regarding their operations, tilapia farming industry, and his initial reaction to the Chilton "Eating tilapia is worse for your heart than eating bacon or a hamburger" comment and study (referenced in more detail in the above article). One article in a continuing series on the topic of farm-raised tilapia.
The Macrobiotic Diet
The macrobiotic diet makes a lot of claims about the preventing and even curing diseases through diet. With ten stages of the diet that offer increasing restrictive food choices, serious nutritional deficiencies can be a problem.
New Tinnits Treatment Shows Promise
This article describes the condition of tinnitus, possible causes, conventional tinnitus treatments, and the results of a newly published case study. In the case study, maintentance therapy sessions of transcranial magnetic stimulation reduced problem tinnitus substantially to the point where the subject reported that it was no longer a problem in his daily life.
LIFT Cancer Cure Tests
Scientists have discovered a new treatment for cancer that has demonstrated 100% success in destroying existing cancers and preventing new cancers in mice. They are now starting human trials. This is potentially a very important development in cancer research and it's all due to an accidental discovery in the unique cancer fighting abilities of one single mouse who refused to die.
Salmonella Germs are Clever
New research shows how Salmonella enters the body in stealth mode in order to get a head start on the immune system. With the recent focus on Salmonella due the outbreak caused by fresh produce, this is very interesting stuff.
Vitamin D Studies
Two recent headlines contradict each other on whether Vitamin D has any benefit in lowering the risk of contracting certain types of cancers. This articles examines both studies and reaches a conclusion based on the soundness of the evidence.
Measles Outbreaks in the USA
With more that 120 cases of measles in the United States already this year, vaccination is more important than ever. Did you know that roughly 250,000 little children under the age of 5 die of measles every year? Are you at risk?

Family Studies

Birth Order Study
Now you can tell your older sibling that they aren't so smart. A new study finds that Birth Order is not a predictor of intelligence once confounding factors such as family size have been properly removed as variables. On the other hand, only children and other children of smaller families have certain advantages.

Scientific Tourism

The Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne State Park
A detailed review of the Seacoast Science Center and Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH. The Seacoast Science Center focuses on the history of the area and the marine life present in the Gulf of Maine. Odiorne Point State Park also contains WWII military fortifications and gun placements used to defend Seacoast NH against foreign invasion. It is also full of winding walking trails through seven different habitat types.
A Billion Monarch Butterflies All in One Place
It's true, just about a billion monarch Butterflies congregate each winter in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. Monarch butterflies spend four generations migrating up to the summer breeding grounds and back down to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve every year.
Coolest Fossil Place on Earth? Maybe.
The Joggins Fossil Cliffs are in Nova Scotia, Canada. This unique place has a high concentration of 300 million year old fossils left in situ just as they would have been arrayed while still alive. Fossilized trees remain upright in the cliff face, animals lie curled in their dens with half-eaten fossilized meals laid out before them. This Nova Scotia landmark is an important World Heritage Site and a great place to visit.

Miscellaneous Science Stuff

Water For Gas
Is it possible that about a quart of water in a plastic mason jar can increase your car's gas mileage by 50% or more? Frankly, I'm skeptical. Read more about why I don't believe the water for gas hype in this article I wrote on the subject.
Flatfish Flattens Creationist Argument
As predicted by evolutionary theory, a long- missing link between fish with symmetrical skulls and the flatfish with both eyes on the same side fo the head has been found. The lack of such a link between the two has often been cited by creationists as a basic flaw in evolutionary theory. And so another link in the creationist argument is now missing.
Explosives Camp for Future Mining Engineers
A University of Missouri Professor teaches at a hands-on explosives camp for high school students. The week long session allows campers to blow up stuff and construct their own fireworks. A deep underground blast is set-off in the Universtity's experimental mine to show how it feels to be near a major explosion.
Should Companies Encourage Medication for Increased Productivity?
A new study suggests that people with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD have 21 fewer productive days than other employees. The study's author suggest companies step in and do something about this problem. Where might this lead? What other medications might companies provide to get more work out their employees?