Technology and Engineering

Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Medical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Biotechnology, Green Tech, Information Science, Nanotech

Who’s to Blame for the Californian Fires

savi Environmental and Earth Sciences, Technology and Engineering
Unfortunately, the wildfires have become a norm for California residents which do not only affect the forests of the state but also the quality of living. I became more aware of the fires when my brother recently moved to California. As I listened to him recount his day of finding ways to avoid going outside into the smog and the several precautions he had to take to simply go out on a grocery run, I…

Continue reading

Taxonomies (classification schemes) rouse passions

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
There seems to have been some lively debate among biologists about matters most of us treat as invisible: naming, establishing, and classifying categories. These activities can become quite visible when learning a new language, e.g., French which divides nouns into two genders or German which classifies nouns with any of three genders. A July 26, 2020 essay by Stephen Garnett (Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Australia), Les Christidis (Professor, Southern Cross…

Continue reading

Nanoparticles and the gut health of major living species of animals

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
A July 27, 2020 news item on Nanowerk announces research into gut health described as seminal (Note: A link has been removed), An international team of scientists has completed the first ever study into the potential impact of naturally occurring and man-made nanoparticles on the health of all types of the major living species of animals.Conceived by researchers at the University of Plymouth, as part of the EU [European Union] Nanofase project, the study assessed…

Continue reading

Bio and neuro inspiration at Metro Vancouver’s (Canada) 2020 Zero Waste Conference (ZWC)

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
For anyone not familiar with Metro Vancouver (and before I launch into the 2020 Zero Waste conference [ZWC] news and discuss why this year is particularly interesting [to me, anyway]), here’s a description from the Metro Vancouver About Us webpage, Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities [including Vancouver, Canada], one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Its core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment…

Continue reading

Optical fibers made from marine algae

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Apparently after you’ve finished imaging with your marine algae-based optical fibers, you can eat them. A July 24, 2020 news item on Nanowerk announces the new research, An optical fiber made of agar has been produced at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. This device is edible, biocompatible and biodegradable. It can be used in vivo for body structure imaging, localized light delivery in phototherapy or optogenetics (e.g., stimulating…

Continue reading

Workshop programme announced for ISEA (International Symposium on Electronic Arts) 2020: Why Sentience?

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
From an August 28, 2020 ISEA 2020 notice (received via email), DISCOVER THE ISEA2020 WORKSHOP PROGRAMME!Montreal, August 28 â€” Montreal Digital Spring (Printemps numérique) unveils the workshop programme for ISEA‘s 26th edition, featuring a range of exciting workshops happening on October 17th and 18th. Facilitated by practitioners, artists and researchers who will focus on the themes and techniques related to their practices and expertise, the workshops will adopt hands-on approaches, experimentations, and discussions on themes raging from…

Continue reading

Arc’teryx performance apparel and University of British Columbia (Canada) scientists stay green and dry

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
As rainy season approaches in the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the US, there’s some good news about a sustainable water- and oil-repellent fabric. Sadly, it won’t be available this year but it’s something to look forward to. An August 10, 2020 news item on phys.org announces the news from the University of British Columbia (UBC) about a greener, water-repellent fabric, A sustainable, non-toxic and high-performance water-repellent fabric has long been the holy grail of…

Continue reading

Ingenium increases Canada’s Museum of Science and Technology’s virtual outreach?

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Something hopeful was in my email box this morning (August 27, 2020), it’s a survey from Ingenium, the portmanteau for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Have you ever asked yourself how the Canada Science and Technology Museum might improve its outreach to those of us outside Ottawa and the southern regions of Ontario and Québec? (To be fair, they do have…

Continue reading

Improving neuromorphic devices with ion conducting polymer

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
A July 1, 2020 news item on ScienceDaily announces work which researchers are hopeful will allow them exert more control over neuromorphic devices’ speed of response, “Neuromorphic” refers to mimicking the behavior of brain neural cells. When one speaks of neuromorphic computers, they are talking about making computers think and process more like human brains-operating at high-speed with low energy consumption.Despite a growing interest in polymer-based neuromorphic devices, researchers have yet to establish an effective…

Continue reading