Astronomy’s 10-Year Wish List: Big Money, Bigger Telescopes and the Biggest Questions in Science
Chris Impey, University of Arizona It takes expensive tools to learn about the universe, but projects like the Very Large Array for radio astronomy in New Mexico and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which orbits Earth, have pushed scientific knowledge forward in ways that would not have been possible without these instruments. Every 10...
How To Learn To Code: A Beginner's Guide
Coding can be a fulfilling hobby or a full-blown career, and people of all ages have the opportunity to learn the skills it requires, and to get to grips with the tools needed to master it. If you are a complete novice, it helps to learn a little about the ins and outs of coding so you can decide how to take the next steps down the...
Turning Girls Loose to Build in STEM
The 2021 version of Rosie Riveters, named for the iconic World War II poster, allows school girls to build, create and practice critical STEM life skills. It’s a typical Pre-COVID Saturday morning. We’re starting a Rosie Riveters four-week STEM program and after a quick, interactive lesson on a scientific concept, our new cohort...
Science, Science Wherever You Go: SciFest All Access
The second running of the virtual SciFest All Access was a spectacular success, featuring the laughs, hands-on programs, personalities and diversity of programs that said one thing: ‘This is your future. And it’s going to be both very important and fun.’ Imagine waking up one morning knowing you’re going to play all day, and...
Fanara and Robertson Combine Superpowers to Empower STEM Students
Tracy Fanara remembers the day she knew what she wanted to do with her life. An elementary teacher was talking about the 1978 Love Canal disaster, in which barrels of chemicals from a toxic landfill dislodged and bled into the Niagara Falls, New York water table, and leached into backyards, basements and a schoolyard. The disaster...
Why the Volcanic Eruption in Tonga Was So Violent, and What to Expect Next
The Kingdom of Tonga doesn’t often attract global attention, but a violent eruption of an underwater volcano on January 15 has spread shock waves, quite literally, around half the world. The volcano is usually not much to look at. It consists of two small uninhabited islands, Hunga-Ha’apai and Hunga-Tonga, poking about 100m above...
How the Earth’s Tilt Creates Short, Cold January Days
Deanna Hence, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Above the equator, winter officially begins in December. But in many areas, January is when it really takes hold. Atmospheric scientist Deanna Hence explains the weather and climate factors that combine to produce wintry conditions at the turn of the year. How does the...
Why Can’t We Throw All Our Trash Into a Volcano and Burn It Up?
Emily Johnson, US Geological Survey Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why can’t we throw all our trash into a volcano and burn it up? – Georgine T. It’s true that lava is hot enough to burn...
Sports Card Explosion Holds Promise for Keeping Kids Engaged in Math
John Holden, Oklahoma State University When it comes to collecting sports cards, people often focus on the cards’ financial worth. And understandably so. After all, when a small piece of cardboard that originally cost just dollars or even cents is suddenly worth more than a million bucks after the featured player rises to fame,...
Both the Public and Private Sectors are Scrambling for STEM Workers
Each week we see concerning reports about the STEM skills gap continuing to widen in the United States. The good news is Congress and the Biden Administration have a unique chance to help move things in the right direction. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, there were 1.4 million open tech vacancies in 2020 and only 400,000...
Karan Bajaj on the Future of AI and Teaching Kids How to Code
Whitehat Jr. Founder and perennial business innovator Karan Bajaj developed Whitehat’s cutting-edge edtech program as a coding learning tool for children and adolescence. Bajaj was interviewed recently on Mashable about AI and more. Here’s a summary of that interview, his thoughts on AI, and the future of coding...
The Public and Private Sectors Need More STEM Talent – Here’s How They Can Get It
By Rick White and Alexander Kirillov Each week we see concerning reports about the STEM skills gap continuing to widen in the United States. The good news is that Congress and the Biden Administration have a unique chance to help move things in the right direction. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there would...
How to Achieve Accessibility through Inclusive Design
Unfortunately, many of today’s developers and manufacturers still rely on the “band aid” approach to achieving consumer accessibility for most of their products. All too frequently, products, websites, and various technologies pass through all phases of design and development before anyone with significant influence considers...
In-Demand Tech Jobs that Don’t Require A Degree
College isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay because there are plenty of options you can explore with a high-school diploma or a certificate. Since the tech sector is clamoring for more high-quality job performers, they tend to overlook credentials if you have a great portfolio. The following in-demand tech jobs offer excellent...
Autism Students' Ability to Maneuver the World With Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) and other forms of assistive technology in the classroom are seeing positive results with autism students.
Wearables Might Be Powered by Sweat Sooner Than You Think
The future of wearables is here. These devices have been around for a few years but have recently taken off as hot commodities. Whether it's for exercise or health, wearable technology is becoming increasingly valuable. Though these devices usually use battery power to operate, new wearable technology now has a biological option —...
Post-Pandemic SUVs Head Two Different Directions
New Models Introduced This Week Offer Electric or High-Horsepower Gas Choices The automotive market is not always clear in the direction it’s taking at any given moment. This week was one of those weeks. Future SUV buyers are going to be able to choose from a very green path or one emphasizing horsepower and off-road proficiency.
Big Wheels Keep on Turning...Quietly
While headlines have showcased a dip in the light-duty car sector, big trucks, commercial vehicles, over-the-road, and short-haul semis have seen a surge in recent technology deployments.