Lessons from shuttle Columbia disaster could stave off next tragedy
"Never again" is the phrase echoed among NASA leaders recalling the last major tragedy in the space program that occurred 20 years ago this week, when Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart over Texas on Feb. 1, 2003, never making its way back home to Fl.....»»
High-quality microwave signals generated from tiny photonic chip
In a new Nature study, Columbia Engineering researchers have built a photonic chip that is able to produce high-quality, ultra-low-noise microwave signals using only a single laser. The compact device—a chip so small, it could fit on a sharp pencil.....»»
Killer whales use specialized hunting techniques to catch marine mammals in the open ocean
Killer whales foraging in deep submarine canyons off the coast of California represent a distinct subpopulation that uses specialized hunting techniques to catch marine mammals, Josh McInnes at the University of British Columbia and colleagues report.....»»
10 years after the deadliest US landslide, climate change is increasing the danger
After the mountainside collapsed, obliterating a neighborhood and 43 lives in the worst landslide disaster in U.S. history, Jessica Pzsonka made a promise -– to herself, to her bereft parents and to her late sister, who was buried along with two yo.....»»
The secret to building a large follower base on social media: Harness the power of nearby influencers
Researchers from Reichman University and Columbia University, University of Basel, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and University of Mannheim have published a new article that examines why individuals and firms aiming to build a large follower ba.....»»
How ghost streams and redlining"s legacy lead to unfairness in flood risk in Detroit and elsewhere
In 2021, metro Detroit was hit with a rainstorm so severe that President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration at state officials' request......»»
How buying the wrong gaming PC can go horribly wrong
Prebuilt PCs have their merits, but buying the wrong one can end in disaster. Here are some of the worst ones I've dealt with over the years......»»
My worst prebuilt PC horror stories — and how I averted disaster
Prebuilt PCs have their merits, but buying the wrong one can end in disaster. Here are some of the worst ones I've dealt with over the years......»»
Migration of hominins out of Africa may have been driven by the first major glaciation of the Pleistocene
A pair of planetary scientists, one with the University of Milan, the other with Columbia University, has found evidence that the exodus of hominins out of Africa approximately 1 million years ago may have been driven by the first major glaciation of.....»»
Massive whale slowly dies off Florida coast as helpless beachgoers watch, photos show
A tragedy played out along Florida's Gulf Coast during spring break as a stranded 44-foot whale slowly died while stuck in the surf......»»
New technique may help scientists stave off coral reef collapse
In a bit of biological magic, some tiny, jellyfish-like creatures learned eons ago how to weave seawater into durable, life-sustaining, rocky coral reefs, which provide billions in economic benefits......»»
How countries in conflict zones can recover from floods—lessons from Pakistan
More than 6,000 people died and at least 11,000 reportedly disappeared in the aftermath of the destructive flood that hit Libya on September 10 2023......»»
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is already punishing me for my negligence
We learned a lot of hard lessons in our three hours with Dragon's Dogma 2, which ended with a whole lot of tragic escapades......»»
Tiny worms tolerate Chornobyl radiation, new research shows
The 1986 disaster at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant transformed the surrounding area into the most radioactive landscape on Earth. Humans were evacuated, but many plants and animals continue to live in the region, despite the high levels of radiat.....»»
3 underrated movies on Hulu you need to watch in March
Check out these three underrated movies on Hulu to watch in March. Our picks include an off-the-rails biopic and a modern adaptation of an iconic tragedy......»»
Using light to precisely control single-molecule devices
In a new Nature Communications study, Columbia Engineering researchers report that they have built highly conductive, tunable single-molecule devices in which the molecule is attached to leads by using direct metal-metal contacts. Their novel approac.....»»
Yemen faces "environmental disaster" as sunken ship threatens Red Sea
The sinking of a bulk carrier off Yemen after a Huthi missile attack poses grave environmental risks as thousands of tonnes of fertilizer threaten to spill into the Red Sea, officials and experts warn......»»
Apple to pay $14.4M to settle Canadian "Batterygate" lawsuit
A court in British Columbia has given its approval for a settlement that will see Apple pay out up to $14.4 million, to end a class-action lawsuit over alleged iPhone throttling.An iPhone batteryThe class-action lawsuit alleged that Apple's software.....»»
How psychology can help people live more climate-friendly lives—lessons from around the world
Quick and easy interventions that inspire people to take direct climate action are the holy grail. Behavioral scientists and policymakers are keen to learn which small steps can make the biggest difference. One of the largest experiments ever conduct.....»»
Piracy Shield Cloudflare Disaster Blocks Countless Sites, Fires Up Opposition
Experts warned that a radical site-blocking program without proper checks and balances would end badly in Italy. On Saturday, at least one Cloudflare IP address was added to the Piracy Shield anti-piracy system. According to an expert, that ended up.....»»
Online platform to improve disaster preparedness using community-sourced data, resource mapping, AI
The report "Towards Resilient Communities," released today (Feb. 29), provides details on the platform developed by researchers at the ARC Center of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) at Swinburne University in partnership w.....»»