Science Dork Alert!

There is an awesome article how engineers are retrofitting UC Berkley's stadium. Why?

Memorial Stadium was built in 1923 atop the Hayward Fault, which the U.S. Geological Survey said has a 70 percent chance of hatching a 6.7-magnitude or greater quake by 2030. The earth could move up to 6 feet horizontally and 2 feet vertically, presenting a challenge to engineers charged with saving the stadium and the football fans who might be inside.

While plenty of buildings around the world sit atop earthquake faults, Memorial Stadium is unique because of the sheer quantity of people it holds: 75,662. It's also unique because seismologists know exactly where the fault lies - under Section LL, through both end zones and out Section XX.

Cool.

(HT: Instapundit)

Homeschooler Powers Activate: Name the Bug

My friends over at The Weave were taking pictures at the park on Saturday and found this bug. While you can't really see the wings, it was flying. As The Weave describes it, it is a cross between a spider and a June Bug but they don't know what it is.

Well, I have faith in all you homeschooling families and I think it is a great time to show off your science knowledge. What is this bug? Let's knock the socks off this public school teacher(Who is a great guy, even though;). Leave your guesses or narrowing knowledge in the comments.

Allergy Gene?

Apparently Munich scientists have found the gene that may be responsible for many people's allergies. The FCER1A gene controls the lgE receptor. It appears that the lgE receptor is what fights off parasites (in people who need that). Maybe now a gene therapy drug can be developed to treat allergies once and for all.

Fun with Chemistry

Check out the fun to be had with Sulfur Hexaflouride.

(HT: The Weave)

Its Hip to be Nerdy

Queen's guitarist Brian May finished his PhD in Astronomy last year from Imperial College in London. Now his doctoral thesis is being published. Apparently he was working on his doctorate when Queen began to take off so he put the PhD on the back burner.

As a stay at home mom it brings me joy to see someone who took a 30 year break in education getting critical acclaim for their research. It brings me hope that someday I may actually go back to school.

As a nerd it brings me joy to see a rock legend say things like this:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my years playing guitar and recording music with Queen,” said May, 61, who earlier this summer received his doctorate in a ceremony at the Albert Hall. “But it’s extremely gratifying to see the publication of my thesis. I’ve been fascinated with astronomy for years.”

You don't have to collect knowledge for the sake of making money in it but the pure joy!

(HT: Physorg.com)

YouTube and Homeschooling

Does anyone else remember the animated science show on PBS called Eureka? Well, it is probably not surprising that bother NerdDad and I loved this show as kids. So NerdDad set to searching this out for the Nerdlings and Eureka! he found them. There are 30 pieces of episodes over at YouTube. We have downloaded them and uploaded them to the Tivo. NerdBug and NerdPie are loving them. They may not understand all the complex science but they ask to watch them over and over. So I am sure that the science will sink in! So I don't know who BubbleBear83 is but I appreciate the effort. Now that is using the Internet to our advantage!

Aqua Dots Kill!

While that may sound like an inflammatory title it is true. The AquaDots toy was made with substandard chemicals that turn into a date rape job when activated by water. (Those with toddlers read when eaten.) This can lead to come, seizures and possibly death.

Chemically what is going on is:

The toys were supposed to use 1,5-pentanediol, a nontoxic compound found in glue, but instead contained the harmful 1,4-butanediol, which is widely used in cleaners and plastics.

The Chinese online trading platform ChemNet China lists the price of 1,4 butanediol at between about $1,350-$2,800 per metric ton, while the price for 1,5-pentanediol is about $9,700 per metric ton.

What I find especially scary is that I was looking at buying these Wednesday morning at SuperWalmart and didn't get them because I was waiting for a sale.

Four minutes to a nerdier you!

Here at the nerdFamily blog, we like to celebrate all things nerdy. And believe me when I tell you that there isn't a scientific subject more nerdy than string theory. (It's nerdier than quantum physics and non-Euclidean geometry combined!) And so, we present Discover Magazine's pick, and viewers' pick for best String Theory in Two Minutes or Less video:

Their pick - String Ducky:


Viewers' pick - The Problem with Math:


You are now significantly nerdier than you were four minutes ago. You're welcome.