By Dr. Luis Alberto Muñoz Ubando

A Randy (q.e.p.d) y Alice: Randy Pausch, ganador del premio 2007 de la ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award, mejor conocido por su conferencia denominada “Última Clase” (Last Lecture), murió el viernes 25 de julio a la edad de 47 años.

Su manera de enfrentarse a la vida ha sido considerada cómo una gran lección al dejar un legado importante tanto en su obra académica como en su trayectoria personal. (more…)

By Sheril Kirshenbaum and Chris Mooney

Amid a flurry of last minute rule changes introduced by President George W. Bush on his way out of office came last week’s announcement of a plan to sell the rights to oil and gas off Virginia’s coast.

This attempted policy change doesn’t represent a big surprise, given the strong influence of fossil fuel interests during Bush’s two terms. These last minute regulations are plainly motivated by the desire to reward the President’s campaign contributors and corporate interests. The Virginia plan provides no benefits, royalties, or choice to residents. Furthermore, the state does not have much energy available off its coast to begin with; rather, Bush’s decision was largely intended to serve as an example. Offshore platforms in the Old Dominion would be a kind of gateway regulation, opening the door to similar measures across the U.S. east and west coasts.

The principal problem with all of this is that the ‘Drill Baby Drill’ mentality addresses supply rather than demand. Many continue to portray offshore development as a means to make America energy independent, but the truth is that it will not result in much difference. Our current supply of drilling ships means extracted offshore oil won’t make it to the market for seven years. Furthermore, what is available won’t meet our consumption needs for more than a handful of years.

But don’t lose heart: Barack Obama is expected to to reverse this action before it takes effect. Still, Bush’s latest move is a reminder that we must stay vigilant about protecting our environment as the outgoing administration seeks to enact an onslaught of last minute rule changes.

My choice of presidential candidate has been unambiguous for several months, but it was still very fascinating to learn a few months ago that presidential candidates had answered 14 questions on science posed by the Science Debate 2008 team. I was so super-interested in the whole thing because I’ve been wondering exactly how we’re planning on making a turnaround in the science world, and out came the September 25 issue of Nature, featuring McCain and Obama on the cover, with questions posed in the issue. There was only one problem: Most people don’t get Nature. Scientists get Nature.

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The Astronaut Farmer should have never taken off: the movie is a dud. Billy Bob Thorton plays the lead character, Charles Farmer, who was once an astronaut-in-training but never left Earth…instead, he was forced to leave his prestigious position after a mental break-down when his father committed suicide.

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Rain. Just because it falls on your roof doesn’t mean it’s yours. At least not in Colorado or Utah.

In these states, citizens or businesses that attempt to collect or store rainwater are in fact breaking the law. The overriding rule here is that of prior appropriation i.e. in order to have any rights to water you have to gain a state water right. (more…)

Picture this: You’re a cell.

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