Science

May 21, 2013

Books about learning from failure have been trendy the last couple years; Tavis Smiley published Fail Up, for example. And, there’s a new book for managers, The Wisdom of Failure.

Web Extra: Our conversation with Mario Livio about his book "Is God A Mathematician?"

Last month, a fireball exploded over Russia, destroying buildings and injuring more than 1,200 people, the result of a meteor hitting the Earth's atmosphere. The same day, an asteroid half the size of a football field came within 17,200 miles of the planet. So what's the risk of the human race going the way of the dinosaurs? What technology do we have in place to track giant space rocks?

Henrietta Lacks' story became well-known after the book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" was published in 2010. The book, written by Rebecca Skloot, featured several members of the Lacks family. The discussions that followed after the book's release were focused on ethics, patient consent and racial disparities. But, a new question has been raised: Who gets to tell the family story?

With the national political conventions behind us, Midday contributor and science educator John Monahan lays out how Republicans and Democrats regard science education, climate change, stem cell research and space exploration.

Mucus serves as a barrier against bacteria--and it does a good job. To some degree, too good of a job. Because while it’s keeping the bad stuff out, it also keeps good stuff out, like drugs that can cure or prevent the diseases that do make it through. Now, scientists say they may have figured out a workaround.

Johns Hopkins physicist Bruce Barnett joins Midday Science contributor John Monahan to explain the discovery of the Higgs boson, or "God particle," for those who still don't get it. Also, on the heels of the recent derecho and heat wave, a look at extreme weather cycles as they relate to global warming, with University of Maryland climate scientist Raghu Murtugudde. Plus, taking electric lines underground to avoid outages like those that left hundreds of thousands of BGE and Pepco costumers without power for several days.

Midday’s science contributor John Monahan shares the latest news - from smart grid systems to the link between Mad Cow and Alzheimer’s disease.  Plus, the stranger side of science.

A sneak peek at the Maryland Stem Cell Symposium.

Maravene Loeschke the new president of Towson University.

Our theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck has been to see both theatrical productions in Baltimore — she brings us these reviews.

A new artistic director for Single Carrot Theater.

Maryland’s Department of Transportation is working with the transportation company CSX to create an intermodal transfer facility south of Baltimore. DOT is considering placing the transfer station in Beltsville, Hanover, Jessup, or Montevideo. Some citizens in the area are concerned about that — we present their thoughts to CSX.

By the end of this century, people may be able to control their appliances and cars with their minds. Scientists may be able to grow new kidneys and livers. Take a peek at life in the year 2100, with science guru Michio Kaku, author of Physics of the Future.