Salem-News.com Science articles

Army Announces Independent Body Armor Review

The NRC will perform an independent assessment of ongoing body armor testing.

(WASINGTON D.C.) - Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced today that the National Research Council (NRC) will perform an independent assessment of the Army's body armor testing, following last month's recommendation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for an independent review.

The NRC functions under the auspices of the National Academies, a private, nonprofit institution that provides science, technology, and health policy advice to the federal government and the public on critical national issues.

Morality and Law

Legislative law is nothing unless it is based on true law.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - In life and in business compliance with the law is an important part of one's decision making process. The relationship between law, morality, and individual action essentially defines how society functions. Law and morality are not the same.

If moral and legislative laws are two different things, then the possibility arises that they can be in conflict. If the moral and the legislative law come into conflict, then you are faced with a choice of which to follow.

Descartes` Disaster

All Science and no Spirit makes life sterile, meaningless and pathological. It's long past the time for Mankind to reclaim the essence of his humanity.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Have you ever looked back on your life and thought how much different, better perhaps, it would be today if you had done A instead of B, or B instead of A? Can humankind do the equivalent? We can’t redo, but we can undo.

Before you can solve a problem, you must first understand it. When we look at the evolution of the human race, at the history of violence, warfare, and man's inhumanity to man, there seems to be no pattern or a single thing onto which we can place our focus.

Greenscam: Cap & Trade

A review of climate science, economics, and public policy: thoughts from EPA lawyers opposed to Cap & Trade proposals.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Climate change is a big issue for government at the State, Federal, and International levels.

Climate change is a difficult issue because there is broad disagreement as to whether or not it is real, what causes it, and who should pay for mitigating actions. The Oregon Senate, in SB 80, proposed implementing a Cap & Trade program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Oregon. The Federal government is currently considering similar legislation.

NASA`s LCROSS Mission Will End With A Bang...On The Moon

The Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission is seeking a definitive answer as to whether or not there is water on the moon.

(CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.) - Earth’s closest neighbor is holding a secret. In 1999, hints of that secret were revealed in the form of concentrated hydrogen signatures detected in permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles by NASA’s Lunar Prospector.

These readings may be an indication of lunar water and could have far-reaching implications as humans expand exploration past low-Earth orbit.

Discovery Suggests Humans didn`t Evolve from Chimpanzee-Like Ancestors (VIDEO)

Scientists said the findings suggest that hominids and African apes have each followed different evolutionary paths, and that we can no longer consider chimps as "proxies" for our last common ancestor.

(Washington D.C. Xinhua) - An international team of scientists reported Thursday that the skeleton of an early human who lived 4.4 million years ago shows humans did not evolve from chimpanzee-like ancestors.

The 17-year investigation into the discovery of the extremely fragile remains of the small "ground ape" found in the Afar region of Ethiopia will be described Friday in a special issue of the journal Science. The journal will also contain 11 papers about the discovery.

Ocean Task Force Needs Input from Oregon, Too (AUDIO)

According to the Pew Environment Group, there are 20 U.S. agencies and about 140 laws related to ocean management.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - Oregon is working to create a system of marine reserves along the coast, and now, a national Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force is meeting around the country, charged with creating the first national policy for managing oceans. The group is hearing people's ideas on protecting and restoring oceans, coastlines, and the Great Lakes.

From the effects of climate change to fish conservation, to water quality along the coasts, many ocean areas are in trouble. Elliott Norse, who heads a Northwest group, the Marine Conservation Biology Institute, thinks a national policy will bring a fresh approach to the problems.

Falling Down

The psychology of ”Falling Down” is the story of so much of America today. If ignorance is bliss, why are so many Republicans angry?

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Every once in awhile, I’ll remember a line from a movie that’s only an elusive, tantalizing fragment. I don’t remember who said it, or even the movie. It happened a few days ago when I was writing “Whither, America?”

I’ve always been a great movie fan, but not obsessive. Because it’s been about 15 years since I’ve watched any TV, I don’t see the runners for new movies. I get my movie news from newspapers I read online. So, there are lots of movies released that I’ve never even heard of.

Whither, America?

What every thinking, humanly caring American (which rules out Republicans as a class) needs to do is open the window or go out on their balcony or front step and shout as loud as they can: I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - After 9/11, the civilized world rallied around America. The tragic thing, though, is that America never rallied around itself.

The headline alone in today’s New York Times filled me with anger and frustration because the only thing I can do is write this article.

Maslow Effect Amok

What has happened to America the free?

(CALGARY, Alberta) - It was only yesterday that I published my article explaining the Maslow Effect. Today, the New York Times has a story egregiously demonstrating it.

The story is about some conservative parents in Houston (and around the nation), who are absolutely opposed to President Obama’s speech next Tuesday from a school in Virginia being streamed live on the White House website to classrooms nationwide where their children will be exposed to it. They see it as political propaganda.