John Desmond Bernal, a leading figure in molecular biology, is known as the father of the Science of Science. His book, The Social Function of Science, laid the groundwork for this field. Let's dive into four key aspects of his ideas: the historical and social viewpoint, theoretical models, combinin
Some lawmakers in the U. S. are digging deeper into NASA's plans for the Chandra X-ray Observatory. This telescope has been around for 25 years and its budget is in trouble. In a letter sent to the Chandra X-ray Center director, Patrick Slane, six members of Congress asked for more details about the
Entrepreneur John McQuillan is putting $10 million towards an exciting new venture — the McQuillan Institute for Science, Technology, and the Human Future. This institute, with roots at Harvard, aims to explore how science and society interact. Sheila Jasanoff, a Harvard professor, is the scientific
China has big plans for space exploration, stretching all the way to 2050. This includes a mission to grab a piece of the Venusian atmosphere. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, China National Space Administration, and China Manned Space Engineering Office announced these plans together. Their goal is
Robert Roberson's execution was halted in Texas due to a law aimed at stopping wrongful convictions based on faulty science. This law, passed in 2013, allows inmates to challenge their conviction if the evidence used against them is no longer credible. However, Roberson's case highlights issues with
In a dramatic turn of events, Texas's highest civil court halted the planned execution of Robert Roberson late on Thursday. Roberson was sentenced to death in 2003 for the murder of his two-year-old daughter Nikki, with medical professionals blaming "shaken baby syndrome." However, this diagnosis ha
The California Science Center is celebrating a big achievement: the new home for space shuttle Endeavour has hit a new high! On Thursday, three steel beams were raised nearly 200 feet in the air to top off the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. This puts the center closer to its goal of being finis
Imagine a place where young women can explore the fascinating worlds of DNA, robotics, and coding. This is exactly what happened during the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program held at North Idaho College. Organized by the University of Idaho's Colleges of Engineering and Science, the eve
NASA's small satellite missions have come a long way. They've learned from past failures and now do amazing science at a low cost. Take TEMPEST-D and RAINCube, for instance. Launched just minutes apart in 2018, they helped create the first near-real-time 3D model of storm evolution. Impressed by the
Imagine a film that mixes science and art in an exciting way. That's what the new Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize is all about! This prize, announced by Sandbox Films and the CPH:DOX festival in Copenhagen, will give $25,000 to the best science documentary project pitched at the CPH:FORUM event. T
