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TOPIC   SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2007 DECEMBER
Dec. 25, 2007
Report
Intel Works on Faster Computer Chip Technology
Intel's new computer chip, due out later this year, uses hafnium rather than silicon in its transistors. This innovation will double the number of transistors that can fit on a chip, Intel says, leading to faster and more powerful computers.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Dec. 24, 2007
Report
Greenland Residents Detect Sea Changes
Residents of Greenland's west coast say they are feeling the effects of rising sea temperatures in the fishing and tourism industries. NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports on the research into whether the changes are climate change-related.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Dec. 19, 2007
Update
Recommendation Nears for Listing Polar Bear as 'Threatened'
One year ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took up a proposal to list the polar bear as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act -- a decision that enjoys public support but also stands to impact a range of players.


Dec. 18, 2007
Report
Biologists Struggle to Save the Spotted Owl
Lee Hochberg reports on the battle between biologists and loggers over the northern Spotted Owl. The animal has been on the Endangered Species List for the past 17 years, but is not recovering as expected.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Dec. 18, 2007
Slide Show
Astronomers Uncover Galactic 'Black Hole Bully'
In a "truly extraordinary act of violence," a black hole at the center of a galaxy 1.4 billion light years from earth is shooting out a jet of radiation and particles that's slamming into another nearby galaxy, according to new research by NASA astronomers.


Dec. 17, 2007
Analysis
Bali Climate Conference Ends With Compromise
The U.N. climate change conference ended in Bali Saturday with a last-minute deal that sets the terms of a "roadmap" for a new climate change treaty. The talks were described as emotional, with discontent directed toward U.S. objections to specific emissions caps. A U.S. negotiator and a climate analyst assess the talks.

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Dec. 14, 2007
Report
The NewsHour Switches to High-Definition Broadcasting Format
The NewsHour is moving from standard-definition video to the higher-definition HD video format. Jeffrey Brown goes behind the scenes at The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer to explain the technology and its impact on viewers.

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Dec. 14, 2007
Update
Senate Passes Energy Bill Without Oil Tax Hikes
The Senate passed a pared-down energy bill Thursday night that raises fuel economy standards for the first time in more than three decades and mandates a six-fold boost in ethanol use by 2022.


Dec. 12, 2007
Report
GPS-based System May Improve Air Travel
The Federal Aviation Administration has unveiled a new air traffic control system, ADS-B, that incorporates the Global Positioning System to more accurately track airplanes in flight. Tom Bearden examines ADS-B, which the FAA has promised will make air travel safer and easier.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Dec. 11, 2007
Report
Experimental Malaria Vaccine Shows Promise in Africa
Malaria kills one African child about every 30 seconds. Now, a vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation shows promise in reducing the rate of severe malaria by as much as 50 percent. Susan Dentzer reports from Tanzania.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: Robert Wood Johnson


Dec. 7, 2007
Report
Engineers Lend Technical Aid to Developing Countries
Spencer Michels reports on how the 8,000 members of the non-profit group Engineers Without Borders are using their technical skills to bring clean water, sanitation and other engineering projects to communities in developing countries.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation

NOVEMBER
Nov. 30, 2007
Update
Bali Talks to Set Stage for Further Climate Negotiations
Nearly 20,000 policymakers, activists and journalists will gather on the island of Bali, Indonesia Monday to open talks aimed at crafting a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations treaty on climate change.


Nov. 26, 2007
Forum
Experts Detail Concussion Treatment
A test that measures cognitive impairment after a concussion is helping coaches and doctors realize that young athletes are sometimes sent back to the playing field too quickly after suffering a head injury. Two neuropsychologists and an athletic trainer answered your questions on concussions.


Nov. 22, 2007
Conversation
Laptops Offer High-tech Hope in Developing Countries
The goal of the One Laptop per Child organization is to provide specially designed, low-cost laptops to children in the developing world. Organization founder Nicholas Negroponte details the campaign and the "Give One Get One" effort in the United States and Canada.

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Nov. 20, 2007
Report
Fierce Competition Adds Verve to Growing Smart Phone Market
Powerful cell phones with Web and multimedia capabilities - dubbed "smart phones" - are part of a new generation of mobile phones earning a loyal following. Spencer Michels reports on smart phones and how top industry contenders plan to offer the technology.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Nov. 20, 2007
Analysis
Breakthrough Set to Radically Change Stem Cell Debate
Scientists reported Tuesday that they had succeeded in making human skin cells mimic embroynic stem cells, potentially bypassing the ethical debate over embryonic stem cell use. A cell biologist discusses the research behind the advance.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Nov. 20, 2007
Newsmaker Interview
Extended Interview: Google Executives Discuss Smart Phones
Eric Schmidt is the Chairman of the Board and CEO of Google. Andy Rubin is Google's director of mobile platforms, in charge of overseeing the development of a Google operating system for smart cell phones. The two executives discussed smart phone technology with Spencer Michels.


Nov. 20, 2007
Newsmaker Interview
Extended Interview: Microsoft CEO Discusses Smart Phones
Steve Ballmer is the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corp. He discussed the company's smart phone technology plans with Spencer Michels.


Nov. 19, 2007
Analysis
U.N. Panel Warns on Climate Change in Report
The U.N. panel on climate change has issued a new report outlining troubling scenarios if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced. The report will be the basis for U.N. climate talks in December. Michael Oppenheimer, a member of the panel, details the report.

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Nov. 15, 2007
Analysis
Scientists Reach Breakthrough in Cloning Monkey Embryos
Oregon scientists announced the successful cloning of monkey embryos this week, a major breakthrough in the field of stem cell research. NewsHour Health correspondent Susan Dentzer details their findings.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: Robert Wood Johnson


Nov. 13, 2007
Analysis
Documentary Explores Key Case on 'Intelligent Design'
The PBS series NOVA airs a documentary Tuesday about a 2005 landmark Pennsylvania court case that found it unconstitutional for schools to teach "intelligent design" as an alternate theory to evolution. The judge who decided the case reflects the legal battle.

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Nov. 7, 2007
Analysis
Astronomers Spy New Planet in Distant Solar System
Scientists announced Tuesday that they had discovered a new planet orbiting the star 55 Cancri, 41 light years from Earth, making it the most crowded solar system identified outside of our own. Astronomer Geoff Marcy talks about the new planet find.

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Nov. 7, 2007
For Teachers
Facebook, MySpace Launch New Targeted Ads
MySpace and Facebook have created tools that allow advertisers to target users based on their interests and personal information, a shift that concerns some privacy experts.

OCTOBER
Oct. 30, 2007
Report
Chemical Used in Household Plastics Sparks Concerns
The chemical bisphenol A, known as BPA, is used to make many common plastic products used in U.S. homes, including baby bottles. Scientists and expert panels have been tasked with determining whether BPA has adverse effects on human health.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Oct. 30, 2007
Forum
Experts Discuss Bisphenol A
The chemical bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make many plastic products used in American homes, including baby bottles. Recently, two expert panels examined whether BPA is likely to have adverse effects on human health. Two scientsts answered your questions on BPA.


Oct. 23, 2007
Report
Competition Puts Energy-Efficient, Solar-Powered Homes on Display
The U.S Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon brought teams from 20 universities to the National Mall to showcase their designs for a modern, solar-powered home. Interest in the event has grown amid new concerns over energy costs and climate change.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Oct. 23, 2007
Slide Show
Slide Show: Solar Decathlon Homes
Twenty college and university teams competed in the Department of Energy's third Solar Decathlon. Each team's challenge was to design and build a fully functioning energy-efficient solar-powered house on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.


Oct. 23, 2007
Update
Discovery Launches on Space Station Construction Mission
The space shuttle Discovery launched on time Tuesday morning despite worries that rainy weather and ice buildup on the craft's fuel tank might delay the launch.


Oct. 22, 2007
Analysis
New Outbreaks of Drug-resistant Staph Infection Reported in Schools
Over the weekend, there were more reports of students being diagnosed with a dangerous antibiotic-resistant staph infection known as MRSA. A medical expert from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine explains the risks of the sometimes-deadly bacteria.

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Oct. 9, 2007
Report
Ethanol Boom Aids Farmers, but Stirs Environmental Concerns
The high cost of oil and a national push toward alternative fuels has pushed ethanol production and corn prices to skyrocket. In eastern Colorado, corn farmers and other stakeholders contemplate the future of ethanol, which some researchers fear may not be the ideal alternative to gasoline.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Oct. 9, 2007
Update
Corn vs. Cattle in Energy Bill Proposals
As America strives for energy independence, Congress is working renewable fuels into its energy legislation.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Oct. 9, 2007
Interactive
How Does Your Car Stack Up?
Compare your vehicle's emissions and fuel costs to the closest comparable alternative fuel vehicles.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Oct. 9, 2007
Update
Physics Nobel Prize Goes to Nanotechnology Researchers
Two scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics Tuesday for their discovery of an electromagnetic phenomenon that has led to modern hard disks, like the kind used in laptops, iPods and other devices.


Oct. 9, 2007
Report
Venture Capitalists Look to Fuel Alternative Energy Revolution
Betting on how America will wean itself off oil has become a business opportunity for entrepreneurs and financiers eager to stake a claim in the country's energy future.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Oct. 8, 2007
Report
California Takes Lead in Stem Cell Research, Scientist Recruitment
Since California passed a $3 billion bond measure for stem cell research, recruitment of top scientists has outpaced every other state. The new funding has sparked the building of state-of-the-art facilities and a push for stem cell innovations.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Oct. 8, 2007
Conversation
Nobel Prize Winner for Medicine Details Gene Modification Work
This year's Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded Monday to a trio of scientists who modify genes in mice. One of the recipients, Mario Capecchi, professor of biology and human genetics at the University of Utah, discusses his award-winning work.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: Robert Wood Johnson


Oct. 8, 2007
Forum
Stem Cell Scientist Takes Questions
Dr. Irving Weissman, head of Stanford University's Institute for Stem Cell Biology, answered your questions on stem cell research in California in light of the state's $3 billion bond on the issue - funds which have sparked a research "gold rush" among stem cell scientists.


Oct. 3, 2007
Analysis
Fifty Years Ago, Sputnik Launched Space Age
Fifty years ago this week, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite, into space. On the anniversary of the turning point in space exploration, a NASA historian and a science reporter assess the impact and legacy of the world's first satellite.

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SEPTEMBER
Sept. 28, 2007
Conversation
Myanmar Government Attempts Information Control with Internet Block
Myanmar's junta government has cut off Internet access throughout the country in effort to prevent the flow of information on its violent reaction to mass protests. Two democracy and media advocates discuss the move.

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Sept. 13, 2007
Report
Norwegian Arctic Islands Hold Biodiversity Bank
A vault in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Norway, contains samples of the world's most important seeds, protecting the world's biodiversity in the event of a major disaster. Independent Television News reports on the project.

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Sept. 13, 2007
Slide Show
Opportunity Explores Victoria Crater
As the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity rolls into Victoria Crater, MER team scientists are developing new strategies for future missions including Phoenix and the Mars Science Laboratory, which will search for traces of life.

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Sept. 10, 2007
Report
Companies Race for Gas in Arctic
Norway's state-owned oil company, Statoil, recently opened Europe's first large-scale liquefied natural gas plant in Hammerfest, Norway. As global warming melts Arctic ice and makes reserves more accessible, companies are racing to the Arctic to stake their claims.


Sept. 6, 2007
Update
Virus May Be Cause of Disappearing Bees
A virus from Australia may be the culprit in the mysterious deaths of tens of millions of honeybees in the past year, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.


Sept. 4, 2007
Conversation
Geneticist Discusses Decoding His Own DNA
Researchers have made new discoveries about genetic complexity by decoding one man's DNA. Geneticist Craig Venter, whose DNA was decoded, talks about the significance of the findings.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Sept. 4, 2007
Update
Scientists Map Entire DNA Sequence of One Person
Scientists announced Tuesday that they had taken genome mapping to the next level by sequencing the entire DNA of an individual -- geneticist Craig Venter.

AUGUST
Aug. 29, 2007
Report
Reporter's Notebook: Karachi Residents Experience Extremes
In their third report, Margaret Warner and producer Simon Marks witness extreme wealth and poverty -- and a technological boom -- in Pakistan's business capital, Karachi.

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Aug. 23, 2007
Forum
Physicist Seeks Alternative Fuels
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu is leading the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's efforts to develop cleaner forms of energy, including new types of solar cells and new biofuels. He answered viewer questions about his research and the future of alternative fuels.


Aug. 13, 2007
Report
India Works to Shield Traditional Knowledge from Modern Patents
A new digital library in India is safeguarding ancient knowledge from patents, which can force royalty payments for knowledge that is common in that part of the world. NewsHour correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from New Delhi.

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Aug. 13, 2007
Forum
Astronaut Recounts Experiences
Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., the first American female astronaut to walk in space, answered your questions on the challenges and rewards of space travel.


Aug. 13, 2007
Report
Bridge Inspections Under Scrutiny After Minneapolis Collapse
The collapse of a highway bridge in Minneapolis highlighted the need for better inspections of U.S. infrastructure. Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser explains the inspection process and improvements some are demanding.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Aug. 13, 2007
Update
Astronauts Install Gyroscope on Space Station; Engineers Inspect Tile Gash
Two astronauts performed a spacewalk Monday to replace one of the International Space Station's gyroscopes, as engineers on Earth studied a 3-inch tear on the shuttle's underbelly left by a wayward piece of foam during liftoff.


Aug. 7, 2007
Report
Shuttle Endeavour Carries Teacher into Space
Teacher Barbara Morgan joins the Endeavour crew for a planned Wednesday launch. She was selected as the backup candidate to Christa McAuliffe in the ill-fated 1986 Challenger mission. Idaho Public Television reports on her story.

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Aug. 1, 2007
Report
Greenland Residents Detect Sea Changes
Residents of Greenland's west coast say they are feeling the effects of rising sea temperatures in the fishing and tourism industries. NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports on the research into whether the changes are climate change-related.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation

JULY
July 31, 2007
Report
Common Grassland Birds Disappearing in Midwest
Some of the most common grassland birds in Illinois, including the meadowlark, are decreasing in numbers. Correspondent Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW-Chicago reports on efforts to restore and preserve their prairie habitat.

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July 25, 2007
Forum
Pilots Discuss Use of Osprey
The V-22 Osprey, an airplane that can land and take off like a helicopter, is expected to deploy to Iraq in September, although critics contend it has design flaws. Two pilots answered your questions about the aircraft.


July 19, 2007
Report
Viking Treasure Unearthed in Northern England
A significant collection of Viking artifacts was unearthed by a father-son team in northern England. Independent Television News reports on the discovery.

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July 18, 2007
Report
Marine Tilt-rotor Aircraft Set for Deployment Despite Problems
The V-22 Osprey, a new tilt-rotor aircraft, is expected to be deployed to Iraq in several months, but critics say it has operational and design problems. Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reports on the controversy surrounding the new aircraft.

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July 17, 2007
Report
Social Web Sites Emerge as Way to Generate Supporters, Funds
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and long-shot Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas may not be leading in national polls, but their use of social networking Web sites tops their presidential rivals.


July 16, 2007
Report
Book Showcases Previously Unseen Sea Creatures
French wildlife journalist Claire Nouvian has put together a book of newly discovered sea life called "The Deep." Her work demonstrates new techniques scientists are employing to discover and document these creatures.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


July 16, 2007
Slide Show
Biologist Studies Bioluminescence in Deep Ocean
Biologist Edith Widder discusses studying and photographing the bioluminescent animals that live in the deep ocean.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


July 12, 2007
Report
Scientists Explore Physics of Baseball Feats
A home run is one of the biggest crowd-pleasers in baseball. A physicist, physics teacher and pitching coach talk about the physics behind a home run, a 90-mile-per-hour fastball and other baseball feats.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


July 9, 2007
Update
Wildfires Rage Across Parts of Western U.S.
Recent droughts and temperature spikes have sparked fires in California, Utah and other western states. An expert discusses the dangerous weather conditions.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


July 5, 2007
Report
FAA Reconsiders Pilot Retirement Age
Current law requires American pilots to retire once they turn 60, but the federal government is considering changing the age to 65. The NewsHour reports on the law's impact on the airline industry.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


July 3, 2007
Report
Iraqi Insurgents Use Internet to Spread Message, Influence Media
The Internet has become a weapon wielded by insurgents in Iraq. They have access to more information about U.S. equipment and weapons, and the ability to share technical and strategic information instantaneously.

JUNE
June 28, 2007
Report
Bald Eagle Removed from Endangered Species List
America's national symbol, the bald eagle, has officially been taken off the endangered species list 40 years after coming close to extinction. The NewsHour reports on how and why this iconic bird is thriving once again.

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June 22, 2007
Update
Polar Research on Earth Assists with Mars Study
As scientists continue to explore the poles as part of the International Polar Year, hoping to better understand the Earth's most extreme environments, some researchers are looking for answers even farther off -- toward the north pole of Mars.


June 21, 2007
Conversation
Wildlife Thrives in Southern Sudan, Surveys Reveal
The first aerial wildlife survey of southern Sudan in 25 years revealed that the herds of migrating gazelles, antelopes and other animals have managed to survive the country's decades of civil war. The Wildlife Conservation Society's Michael Fay discusses the survey.

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June 21, 2007
Report
Oregon Global Warming Skeptic Finds Controversy
Oregon state climatologist George Taylor does not believe that global warming is due to human activity. Now, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski wants him to stop using the state climatologist title. NewsHour correspondent Lee Hochberg reports from Oregon and Washington on the controversy.

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June 19, 2007
Update
Shuttle Undocks from Space Station After Construction, Computer Glitch
The space shuttle Atlantis moved away from the International Space Station Tuesday after a nearly 10-day stay during which astronauts installed a truss and pair of solar arrays, and experienced a temporary computer meltdown.


June 14, 2007
Update
'Landmark' Study Changes Long-held DNA Beliefs
A four-year international study of the human genome has prompted scientists to rethink some of their most basic ideas about how DNA functions.


June 7, 2007
Analysis
Scientists Convert Mouse Skin Cells to Stem Cells
In new studies published by three independent teams of scientists, skin cells of mice were successfully converted into stem cells. Specialists explain what the findings mean for human stem cell research and the potential for bypassing the controversial use of embryonic stem cells.

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June 1, 2007
Report
Pet Food Scare Raises Questions About Food Safety
The recent cases of tainted pet food have raised concerns about food consumed by humans. Agriculture companies are taking new precautions to sterilize food supplies, but some experts say more regulations are needed.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation

MAY
May 31, 2007
Report
NASA Develops Plans for Moon-Mars Mission
NASA has unveiled plans for crew and launch vehicles to return humans to the moon as the first steps toward building an outpost there and eventually traveling to Mars. NewsHour correspondent Tom Bearden takes a closer look at NASA's space vision.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


May 31, 2007
Update
One of World's Top E-mail 'Spammers' Arrested
A Seattle man accused of being one of the world's top spammers through a business that generated millions of junk e-mails was arrested Wednesday following a 35-count federal grand jury indictment last week.


May 31, 2007
Update
President Bush Urges Nations to Set Emissions Targets
President Bush, in a counter-offer to European leaders, said Thursday that 15 nations with the world's largest economies should set common targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2008.


May 31, 2007
Update
Nanotechnology Tapped to Boost Hybrid Car Efficiency
A day after President Bush instructed his Cabinet to develop a plan to improve fuel efficiency in cars and trucks, Nissan opened a facility to explore cutting-edge science like nanotechnology in its quest for environmentally friendly vehicles.


May 25, 2007
Analysis
Web Site Provides Millions of Military Records
The family history Web site Ancestry.com contains 90 million military documents dating back to the first English settlement in Jamestown, Va. Company CEO Tim Sullivan and genealogist Craig Scott discuss the possible uses of the records.

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May 25, 2007
Forum
Scientists Study Space Storms
High school students and teachers are helping collect data for NASA's THEMIS mission to study space storms. THEMIS principal investigator Vassilis Angelopoulos answers your questions.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


May 24, 2007
Update
Regulatory Questions Continue to Plague Cape Wind Project
For six years, Cape Wind -- a proposed 130 turbine wind energy project in Nantucket Sound -- has polarized residents of Cape Cod and mobilized advocacy groups both for and against what would be the nation's first offshore wind energy project.


May 21, 2007
Report
India Works to Shield Traditional Knowledge from Modern Patents
A new digital library in India is safeguarding ancient knowledge from patents, which can force royalty payments for knowledge that is common in that part of the world. NewsHour correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from New Delhi.

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May 17, 2007
Update
New Antarctic Marine Species Surprise Scientists
An international team of researchers has found more than 700 new species in the extreme depths of Antarctica's Weddell Sea, surprising scientists who had thought the region was largely devoid of life.


May 16, 2007
Report
Scientists, Students Study Space Storms in THEMIS Project
High school students and teachers in Alaska are helping NASA scientists collect data for a mission that aims to learn more about the space weather that causes the aurora borealis, or northern lights.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


May 14, 2007
Report
Archeologists Unearth More Nuanced History of Jamestown
The first settlers arrived at Jamestown in Virginia 400 years ago and established the first permanent English colony in America. The NewsHour reports on archeologists' efforts to uncover the settlement's past.

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May 10, 2007
Conversation
Professor Touts Fossil Fuel Alternatives
In the last installment of a series on climate change, a New York University physics professor who advocates carbon-free energy explains his perspective on wind power, solar fission and other technologies.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


May 10, 2007
Report
Collapse of Overpass in California Becomes Lesson in Construction
An overpass near the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge collapsed last month after a gasoline truck crashed into a guardrail and burst into flames. For an engineering professor, the incident has turned into a lesson for building safer structures.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


May 8, 2007
Report
FAA Reconsiders Pilot Retirement Age
Current law requires American pilots to retire once they turn 60, but the federal government is considering changing the age to 65. The NewsHour reports on the law's impact on the airline industry.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


May 7, 2007
Report
Intel Works on Faster Computer Chip Technology
Intel's new computer chip, due out later this year, uses hafnium rather than silicon in its transistors. This innovation will double the number of transistors that can fit on a chip, Intel says, leading to faster and more powerful computers.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


May 4, 2007
Update
U.N. Panel Outlines Plan to Reduce Global Warming
The world needs to significantly change its use of energy resources and cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to stem rising global temperatures, according to a U.N. climate report issued Friday.


May 2, 2007
Report
Physicist Searches for Alternative Fuel Technologies
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu and his team of scientists received $500 million in February from energy company BP to develop clean biofuel technologies. As part of a series on climate change, the NewsHour profiles Chu's search for solutions to fuel problems.

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May 1, 2007
Debate
Energy Experts Debate Future Use of Coal
In the fifth part of a series about how to deal with climate change, a coal industry advocate and the author of a book critical of the coal industry debate whether new coal technologies hold promise or peril.

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APRIL
April 26, 2007
Conversation
Biographer Discusses Einstein's Life, Legacy
Journalist Walter Isaacson discusses his new biography of Albert Einstein and historians' recent, more nuanced views of the scientist's life and achievements.

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April 25, 2007
Conversation
Author Says Redirect Resources Against Climate Change
Danish author and statistician Bjorn Lomborg discusses his proposal to redirect resources from a general fight against carbon emissions to specific efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change in vulnerable areas.

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April 24, 2007
Report
Thermal Inversion: Reading the Sky for Signs of Climate Change
From the thinning Arctic sea ice to the softening permafrost and the northern migration of indigenous animals, scientists and Arctic dwellers are taking note of the gradual impacts of climate change.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


April 18, 2007
Report
Technology Helped Virginia Tech Students Connect After Tragedy
In the wake of shootings that left 33 members of their community dead, Virginia Tech students went to Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace to memorialize friends and make sense of the carnage.

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April 13, 2007
Conversation
Author Promotes Lifestyle Changes in Global Warming Fight
A writer and environmentalist explains how lifestyle changes can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help mitigate America's contribution to global warming as part of a NewsHour series on ways to deal with climate change.

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April 11, 2007
Conversation
Carbon Tax Aims to Cut Greenhouse Gases
The NewsHour's series of conversations about approaches to deal with global climate change continues with a discussion of carbon taxes -- levies that would aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by taxing activities that burn fossil fuels.

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April 11, 2007
Report
New Cell Phone Technology Can Track Users
With Global Positioning System chips now installed in some cell phones, parents can use phones to keep tabs on their children and businesses can track the whereabouts of delivery truck drivers. But the new tracking systems leave some privacy advocates dismayed.

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April 10, 2007
Conversation
Climate Change Experts Look to European Model for Curbing Emissions
An international panel of scientists issued a report last week on the potential impacts of global warming. In the first part of a series on climate change, an advocate for an emissions cap-and-trade system used in Europe explains how it could work in the United States.

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April 6, 2007
Analysis
Climate Change Will Hit Poor Hardest, U.N. Panel Says
Changes to Earth's climate and ecosystems will hit the world's poor the hardest, according to a report released Friday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Two of the report's lead authors, Michael Oppenheimer and Joel Smith, discuss the science and politics behind the findings.

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April 3, 2007
Report
Honeybee Disappearance Puzzles Scientists
Beekeepers and farmers around the country are worried this year as the honeybees used to pollinate crops have been vanishing from their hives, a phenomenon known as "colony collapse disorder."

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April 2, 2007
Analysis
Supreme Court Says EPA Can Regulate Greenhouse Gases
In a defeat for the Bush administration, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency can regulate carbon dioxide emissions from cars under the Clean Air Act.

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MARCH
March 29, 2007
Update
New Study Finds Dinosaurs' Extinction Had Little Impact on Mammal Evolution
The extinction of dinosaurs over 65 million years ago did not foster a breeding ground for ancestors of modern-day mammals, as scientists had previously thought, according to a study released Thursday in the journal Nature.


March 28, 2007
Report
Researchers Seek Ways to Find Early Signs of Cancer
Biomarkers, changes in a protein that indicate the progression of a disease, hold promise for different fields of medicine. NewsHour health correspondent Susan Dentzer reports on the use of biomarkers in the early detection of cancer.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: Robert Wood Johnson


March 28, 2007
Conversation
Extended Interview: Janet Woodcock Discusses Cancer Biomarkers
Dr. Janet Woodcock, chief medical officer of the Food and Drug Administration, discusses how cancer biomarkers may change cancer screening and treatment.


FUNDED IN PART BY: Robert Wood Johnson


March 28, 2007
Conversation
Extended Interview: Dr. Anna Barker Discusses Cancer Biomarker Research
Dr. Anna Barker, deputy director of the National Cancer Institute, discusses how cancer biomarkers -- changes in the body's cells that can indicate cancer -- may improve cancer screening and treatment.


FUNDED IN PART BY: Robert Wood Johnson


March 28, 2007
Conversation
Extended Interview: Dr. Lee Hartwell Discusses Cancer Biomarker Research
Nobel laureate Dr. Lee Hartwell, president and director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses the future of cancer research and cancer biomarkers.


FUNDED IN PART BY: Robert Wood Johnson


March 28, 2007
Conversation
Extended Interview: Dr. Nicole Urban Explains Clues of Cancer
Dr. Nicole Urban of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center talks about the "holy grail" of biomarker research and explains the clues to cancer that doctors seek in patients.


FUNDED IN PART BY: Robert Wood Johnson


March 16, 2007
Conversation
Oceanic Expedition Uncovers Vast Genetic Diversity
A two-year study of the world's oceans revealed an unprecedented level of genetic diversity in marine microbes. Expedition leader J. Craig Venter discusses the study and its significance.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


March 15, 2007
Report
Dogs Shed New Light on Cancer Genes in Humans
Cancer researchers are finding that purebred dogs may help provide answers about the genetic basis of cancer -- in dogs and humans -- because the dogs' small genetic pool makes it easier to isolate cancer-causing genetic mutations. The NewsHour provides a report.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


March 14, 2007
Update
NASA Spacecraft Discovers Possible Seas on Saturn's Moon
Visual and radar images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft have revealed what seem to be several seas -- probably filled with liquid methane and ethane -- on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.


March 14, 2007
Update
Oceans Study Reveals 6 Million New Genes
Scientists spent two years trawling the oceans for bacteria and viruses, and in the process discovered 6 million new genes, doubling the number known on Earth and holding promise for new antibiotics and alternative energy sources.


March 1, 2007
Analysis
TVs Prepare for Transition to Digital Signals
All new televisions made in America will have to be able to receive digital signals starting Thursday, as part of a campaign to transition the country to digital TV broadcasting by Congress' Feb. 17, 2009, deadline. A technology journalist explains the switch.

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FEBRUARY
Feb. 23, 2007
Report
International Agreements Hallmark of Antarctica
It's the least hospitable place on Earth with its extreme cold and wind, and sovereign claims have been disputed for decades, yet Antarctica has become a model for international cooperation.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 23, 2007
Report
Polar Year Explores How Earth Systems Interact
The icy Arctic at the top of the world and the penguin-inhabited Antarctica at the bottom help keep the planet cool and contain much of the Earth's fresh water locked up in ice sheets.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 23, 2007
Slide Show
Slide Show: Dry Valley Organisms
The dry valleys of Antarctica appear to be devoid of life, but digging in the ground reveals a startling discovery -- roundworms, which tell the tale of climate change.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 23, 2007
Report
Profiles in Science: Matthew Druckenmiller
Matthew Druckenmiller's work in the Arctic involved measuring sea ice and talking to local residents about what they observed.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 23, 2007
Report
Profiles in Science: Cristina Millan
Cristina Millan drilled into rock in Antarctica for 12-hour shifts to research climate change and even plate tectonics.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 23, 2007
Report
Profiles in Science: Liz Miller
Liz Miller helped map Antarctica's terrain, laying the groundwork for future researchers.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 23, 2007
Report
Changes at Poles Drive Global Warming
Global warming is causing temperatures to rise, and sea and land ice to shrink, in the Arctic and parts of Antarctica. These and other changes pose an obvious threat to the polar regions. But, climate scientists say, they also signal changes to come around the globe.


Feb. 23, 2007
Update
U.S. Government Looks to List Polar Bear as Threatened
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the polar bear -- a species whose survival depends on the sea ice that is melting as the Earth's temperature rises -- as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.


Feb. 22, 2007
Update
IAEA Finds Iran Continuing to Enrich Uranium
Iran has continued to develop its uranium enrichment program, failing to meet a Feb. 21 U.N. deadline to halt the operation, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report issued Thursday.


Feb. 20, 2007
Interactive
Mars Rover Tools
The first geologist on Mars isn't human, but a 380-pound automaton called Spirit. View a NASA animation of Spirit's journey from launching pad to Mars, and learn about the instruments on the robotic explorer.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 20, 2007
Slide Show
Slide Show: Images From Mars
After their seven-month journeys through space, Spirit and Opportunity began recording the most detailed images of Mars' surface ever captured.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 19, 2007
Report
Electronic Waste Adds to Pollution in India
Electronic waste, composed of heated and discarded metals from computer parts, is accumulating quickly as India's computer recycling industry rapidly expands. NewsHour reports on government regulation of computer recycling and the health threat posed by improper recycling of computer parts.

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Feb. 16, 2007
Interactive
Earth 2100: The Effects of Greenhouse Gases
Explore possible rises in temperature and sea level -- and those changes' effects around the globe -- in this interactive based on data from the 2001 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.


FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 16, 2007
Update
Next Generation of Emissions-Cutting Bills Emerges
Over the last few months, new legislation has been introduced in Congress that aims to reduce the effects of global warming by midcentury.


Feb. 15, 2007
Report
DNA Testing Reunites Families Separated by War
Thousands of children were kidnapped during a civil war in El Salvador in the 1980s, but new DNA procedures are helping reunite parents with their now grown children.

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Feb. 8, 2007
Report
FDA Weighs Approval of Irradiating Produce
In the wake of last fall's E. coli outbreaks, some scientists and businesses are encouraging the Food and Drug Administration to approve the use of bacteria-killing radiation to treat produce such as spinach and lettuce.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 5, 2007
Report
Music Provides Window into Brain Function
Studying how the brain processes music allows researchers to better understand how the human brain evolved, and how different parts of the brain communicate with each other, according to cognitive neuroscientist and former record producer Daniel Levitin.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Feb. 2, 2007
Analysis
U.N. Panel Says Humans 'Very Likely' Causing Global Warming
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report Friday saying temperatures and sea levels will continue to rise for centuries even if greenhouse gas emissions stabilize. An expert and a report co-author discuss the findings.

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Feb. 2, 2007
Update
Humans to Blame for Global Warming, U.N. Report Says
The evidence for global warming is "unequivocal" and it is "very likely" that human actions are to blame for rising temperatures, an international panel of climate experts said Friday.

JANUARY
Jan. 31, 2007
Update
Archaeologists Find Workers' Village Near Stonehenge
A team of archaeologists has uncovered the remains of a village they believe dates from the same time as -- and is located a mere two miles from -- Stonehenge, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. A project director explains the implications.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Jan. 31, 2007
Report
Astronomers Debate Pluto's Planetary Status
Members of the International Astronomical Union voted in August to reclassify Pluto as a "dwarf planet." Many astronomers, however, are unhappy with the demotion -- they question its scientific validity and the way the decision was made.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Jan. 30, 2007
Analysis
Microsoft Releases Latest Windows Platform
After more than five years and $6 billion in development, Microsoft's newest operating system, Vista, went on sale Tuesday. Two technology experts discuss Microsoft's software overhaul and the company's future.

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Jan. 22, 2007
Update
Businesses Press President Bush, Congress on Climate Change
The chief executives of 10 major organizations joined environmental watchdog groups Monday to urge President Bush and Congress to enact mandatory caps on carbon dioxide emissions, which most scientists believe contribute to global warming.


Jan. 19, 2007
Update
Spirit, Opportunity Test New Software Capabilities
The NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity, which began their fourth year on Mars this month, are testing new software as they continue to investigate the planet's hills and craters.


Jan. 12, 2007
Report
Generation Next Project Probes Views, Lives of America's Young People
Judy Woodruff and the Generation Next team criss-crossed the country last summer to gauge and document the views of 16-25 year olds. NewsHour presents excerpts from the documentary.

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Jan. 11, 2007
Update
Despite Threat of Veto, House Votes to Expand Stem Cell Research Funding
The House voted Thursday to expand taxpayer-funded research on embryonic stem cells, but fell short of the two-thirds majority the measure would need to override an expected presidential veto. The bill passed by a vote of 253 to 174.


Jan. 10, 2007
Update
Apple Introduces Highly Anticipated iPhone
On Tuesday, Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the company's latest product, the much-anticipated iPhone, at the annual MacWorld conference in San Francisco. A business journalist talks about smartphone technology and Apple's future as a whole.

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Jan. 9, 2007
Report
Airplane Production Evolves with New Technology
When Boeing unveiled its latest jet, the 787 Dreamliner, there was no actual airplane -- it was a virtual rollout. The NewsHour reports on how virtual technologies are changing the airplane manufacturing process.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Jan. 8, 2007
Update
Amniotic Fluid Yields New Type of Stem Cell
Stem cells drawn from amniotic fluid can be used to develop muscle, bone, nerve and other cells in the laboratory, researchers have found. Study author Dr. Anthony Atala explains.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: National Science Foundation


Jan. 1, 2007
Analysis
New Media Develops Rapidly
New media products and programming developed rapidly in the past year. Jeffrey Brown takes a look at the largest media stories of 2006, including the rise of YouTube and the ongoing struggles in the newspaper business.

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