Science and Technology Archives - Page 8 of 9

What do Robots, Fast Food, & Guaranteed Income Have in Common?

By Bill Clontz April 19, 2019 April 19, 2019 5 Comments

More in common than you might think. Interesting how different things intersect in life.

I read an article recently that noted something like 90,000 fast food jobs go unfilled daily. I can believe it – every such place I pass has signs out advertising jobs. Many proclaim free meals, signing bonuses, and other enticements. The industry is in a hurt for hires everywhere it seems.

Automation and Fast Food. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

I stopped off at a McDonalds to get a snack recently while on a trip and I saw one potential solution.

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Science News You Should Know About – and It’s All Good News

By Bill Clontz April 11, 2019 April 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

Part of Our Hey! Look at THAT! Science Series

I enjoy bringing you some of the delightfully amazing stories I come acres in the world of science. That is the plan for today, and happily, it is all good news for this round. We could all using some cheerful news, could we not?

Science and technology can be two edged swords, bringing both risk and reward. But overall, much of what ails us as a species and as a planet stand the best chance of being resolved by science. Equally important,

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There is a Killer Out There, Stalking Us All

By Bill Clontz March 13, 2019 March 15, 2019 Leave a Comment

The superbug MRSA is killing patients in American Hospitals. In Europe? Not So Much

We are at Risk

By now, most have heard of MRSA, or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.This is a bacterial infection, most commonly referred to as a staph infection, that is often fatal. It is highly resistant to the drugs we have available to us and is getting more so over time.

How bad is this? Take a look at the numbers. Each year, about 90,000 Americans are infected with MRSA. Many are children and others with weak immune systems.

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Medical Science Brings Us an Unimaginable Opportunity

By Bill Clontz March 10, 2019 March 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

A Story of Great Possibilities and a Mind-Blowing Opportunity

I came across a remarkable story in recent days from medical science. It left me awe struck, and hopeful. Not a combination we get to experience very often, is it?

During the Clinton Administration we learned that the human genome project had come to fruition. We had in our grasp the roadmap, the architecture to the human creature. It was, and is, a stunning scientific achievement. We knew then that the possibilities were endless with such precious information. Still, we could not forecast what all those possibilities might be.

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It’s a Grab Bag Blog Today! Something for Everyone

By Bill Clontz March 5, 2019 March 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

Enjoy a Collection of Assorted News, Human Interest, and Other Tidbits. Part of our Hey, Look at That! Series.

Today I am pleased to share an assortment of articles and information that I have come across. I found them fascinating. Sometimes fun, sometimes infuriating, but consistently good to know. This like going through your garage to organize a yard sale. I found some items to share.

I am constantly collecting bits of information and entertainment. Every once in a while, its’ time to share a few. Today is such a day.

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Sometimes Modern Medicine Really is Miraculous

By Bill Clontz February 19, 2019 February 22, 2019 4 Comments

How We Organize, Pay For, and Integrate Medicine in This Country is a Mess.

The Actual Practice of Medicine, However, Can Be Pretty Impressive.

This is Not Your Parents Surgery

My wife went through a major surgical procedure replacing a hip a few days ago. We are both fortunate to have good health, so this sojourn into the medical culture is a new experience for us. It has been educational and, in many ways, encouraging. We learned some things that might be of interest to anyone facing major medical engagements.

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YOU are in Cybersecurity Danger – From FOUR Directions – Part I

By Bill Clontz December 25, 2018 December 26, 2018 Leave a Comment

The Risks are Far Worse Than Most of Us Think. But There is Hope

This is the first part of a two-part post. Today’s blog lays out the primary dangers we face individually and as a country. Part II looks at ways out of this mess.

We are all aware that a lot seems to be amiss in the world of cybersecurity. What may have gotten lost for some of us is how deep and wide the threats run. There is an overarching framework that makes this all exceptionally dangerous. The attacks come from four different threats,

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Let’s Fire Daylight Savings Time – Forever!

By Bill Clontz November 13, 2018 November 14, 2018 Leave a Comment

Time Measurement Should be Scientific. Instead, it’s a Global Hodge-Podge.

“What time is it?” may turn out to be more of a trick question than one might think.

For quite a while, the world, for the most part, had a pretty good approach towards time. Ground Zero for time keeping was set up at Greenwich, England. Twenty-four one-hour time bands spread out from there around the world. These matched the 24-hour cycle in the dance between the Earth and the Sun.

Simple, right? But of course, we could not leave well enough alone.

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Is My Self-Driving Car Here Yet?

By Bill Clontz October 24, 2018 October 26, 2018 Leave a Comment

I Have Good News and Bad News

Regular readers of this blog know I have an abiding interest in self-driving cars. They have significant potential in many areas beyond convenient transportation. The technology is scalable and adaptable for many applications. I can see revolutions in transportation for the handicapped, elderly, the blind. Public transport could be completely reinvented. Accident rates can be dramatically reduced (but not eliminated. More on that later in this posting).

But all is not perfection around the corner. There are challenging technical issues still to be resolved.

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The Relationship Between Science and Science Fiction

By Bill Clontz October 3, 2018 October 3, 2018 8 Comments

An Ideal Partnership That Nourishes Both Partners

For as long as I can remember, I have loved science. Not to say I always understand it. A good case in point: a couple of years ago I watched a program about string theory. It looked fascinating. I understood almost 5% of it. Five more repeats of the program and I understood enough to grasp the essentials. By the next day, much of that was gone. But I loved it anyway!

One of the things I really like about science is scientists. As a group,

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