Physical Science

From the polymers in baby diapers to paint and paper, the list of common household items that are manufactured using acrylic acid is endless. Ever since acrylic acid was first used to produce superabsorbent polymers that can absorb up to…
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The early space pioneers of the Soviet and American programs never knew if they would survive the next mission. Today, with plans for space tourism, orbiting hotels, and even lunar and Martian colonies over the next few decades, the danger…
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Everyone comes into contact with a wide range of chemicals on a daily basis, many of which they may be unaware even exist. Some are completely benign and pose no harm. But many others may have adverse health affects. Until exposure to…
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Scientists tell us that the oceans are becoming more acidic as a result of increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (written as CO2.) But how does what’s in the air affect the oceans, and why should CO2 make them acidic?…
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Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS) is a type of Spectroscopy that uses light or other energy for “photo” and sound for “acoustic.”  Spectroscopy, by itself, deals with emitting and absorbing light, matter and energy.  PAS translates optical energy to mechanical energy through…
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In 2005 The Royal Society published a report titled “Ocean acidification due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide”. This bleak analysis described how increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are altering the makeup of the oceans. Driving this change…
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Warnings have been voiced for the last two years: the sun is waking up and it could be very destructive. Recently, the strongest solar flare in four years hit Earth a glancing blow and caused havoc in China, splashed a…
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It’s something the ancient Greeks could have only wished for: the Olympic torch being carried to the gods in Olympus and being lit by Apollo, the sun god. Now, Russia may fulfill the Greek’s ultimate Olympic dream. Vitaly Davydov, deputy…
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German teenager Gerrit Blank may be the unluckiest person on Earth…or maybe he’s the luckiest. What some astronomers claim is a “trillion to one chance” has happened again, a meteorite has hit a human being. Although the odds are certainly…
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Jupiter is the fifth planet in our solar system.  It is a gas giant, and considering it is the largest planet in our system, giant is an appropriate term.  Galileo, the famous astronomer, is given credit for first viewing and recording the existence of the…
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