News Notes
Toni Feder
Abstract not available. [Phys. Today 62, 30 (2009)] published Mon Nov 2, 2009.
Congress rejects most of Chu's energy `Bell Lab-lets'
David Kramer
Just days before this year's Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Willard Boyle and George Smith for work they performed at Bell Labs, lawmakers dealt a blow to Energy Secretary Steven Chu's vision of creating Bell Lab-lets to tackle key research challenges blocking the way to a carbon-free energy ... [Phys. Today 62, 27 (2009)] published Mon Nov 2, 2009.
Visualization of communities in networks
Amanda L. Traud, Christina Frost, Peter J. Mucha, and Mason A. Porter
Abstract not available. [Chaos 19, 041104 (2009)] published Tue Oct 27, 2009.
News Notes
Toni Feder
Abstract not available. [Phys. Today 62, 26 (2009)] published Thu Oct 1, 2009.
US government agencies work to minimize damage due to helium-3 shortfall
Toni Feder
Helium-3 is becoming scarcer and pricier because of a huge jump in demand paired with a dwindling supply. A US government multiagency panel is prioritizing allocation of He and seeking alternative technologies to reduce demand for the gas. ... [Phys. Today 62, 21 (2009)] published Thu Oct 1, 2009.
Are Most People Too Dumb for Physics?
Nathaniel Lasry, Noah Finkelstein, and Eric Mazur
In last month's issue of TPT, Michael Sobel turns our attention to the increasing number and broader population of students taking physics courses and urges us to reconsider how to better cater to their needs. We applaud the author for focusing our attention on this important issue. However, we find ... [Phys. Teach. 47, 418 (2009)] published Mon Sep 21, 2009.
Science Educators Can Help Shape Our Debate
Rep.Bill Foster
As a nation, we are facing great challengesa troubled economy, high rates of unemployment, a dependence on foreign sources of energy, and a health care system in desperate need of reform. The answers to some of these problems will be complex, but to be sure, we are working to enact solutions to buil ... [Phys. Teach. 47, 406 (2009)] published Mon Sep 21, 2009.
Meta-analysis of Planetarium Efficacy Research
Bruce D. Brazell and Sue Espinoza
In this study, the instructional effectiveness of the planetarium in astronomy education was explored through a meta-analysis of 19 studies. This analysis resulted in a heterogeneous distribution of 24 effect sizes with a mean of +0.28, p<.05. The variability in this distribution was not fully expla ... [AER 8, 010108 (2009)] published Wed Sep 16, 2009.
News Notes
Toni Feder
Abstract not available. [Phys. Today 62, 30 (2009)] published Tue Sep 1, 2009.
Gathering Asian sky stories
Toni Feder
The three stars known in the West as Orion's belt represent, according to various myths of the East, a bamboo shaft or three deer that have escaped a hunter. Such stories of the heavens are being gathered in an International Year of Astronomy 2009 project, Asian Myths and Legends of Stars and the Un ... [Phys. Today 62, 29 (2009)] published Tue Sep 1, 2009.
Physicist Steven Koonin takes on a new role as DOE's `technical conscience'
David Kramer
According to the Department of Energy's organizational chart, Steven Koonin, the undersecretary for science, is responsible only for the Office of Science, the basic research arm of the agency. But the theoretical physicist, whom BP lured away from Caltech to become the oil company's chief scientist ... [Phys. Today 62, 26 (2009)] published Tue Sep 1, 2009.
Increasing Physics Enrollment in Your School
Earl Barrett
Forty-one years of teaching nearly every science course offered in high school has given me a pretty good perspective on science teaching. All physics teachers who are practicing a teaching style that actively engages students know that they teach a course of great value to young people. Active enga ... [Phys. Teach. 47, 399 (2009)] published Wed Aug 19, 2009.
From the AAPT Executive Officer
Warren Hein
Figure 8b in the print version of the journal is an unintended repeat of Fig. 8a. The correct version of the figure appears below and is also correct in the online version of the paper. We apologize for the error, which was introduced during the production process. ... [Phys. Teach. 47, 329 (2009)] published Wed Aug 19, 2009.
US public likes scientists, poll finds
David Kramer
While scientists rank near the top of the professions that Americans admire the most, a large fraction of the public chooses to ignore what scientists have to say on evolution and human-caused climate change, according to a study released last month. The US public also holds highly favorable views o ... [Phys. Today 62, 22 (2009)] published Fri Jul 31, 2009.
Divisions heat up as Senate mulls carbon caps
David Kramer
By a thin margin, the US House of Representatives passed a bill in late June that would mandate the first-ever reductions in US emissions of carbon dioxide. Climate-change politics then moved to the Senate, where Democratic leaders decided against earlier plans to put a bill to a full vote before th ... [Phys. Today 62, 20 (2009)] published Fri Jul 31, 2009.
Special report: Obama proposes big increases for energy, climate change, and basic research
David Kramer
With a new administration taking charge at the White House, the increased funding for federal science and technology that began with the economic stimulus bill could be just a down payment on much bigger investments to come. Calling science more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health ... [Phys. Today 62, 29 (2009)] published Wed Jul 1, 2009.
Votano named director of underground lab
Toni Feder
In September, Lucia Votano becomes director of Italy's Gran Sasso National Laboratory, the world's largest underground laboratory. She is the first woman to hold the post. Her predecessor, Eugenio Coccia, plans to return to research in astroparticle physics and teaching after two three-year stints a ... [Phys. Today 62, 27 (2009)] published Wed Jul 1, 2009.
Lunar spaceflight history on the block
Toni Feder
On 16 July, 40 years to the week after the first manned Moon landing on 20 July 1969, lunar spaceflight memorabilia are being offered at auction in New York City by Bonhams New York. The auction includes artifacts from all the Apollo manned missions. ... [Phys. Today 62, 26 (2009)] published Wed Jul 1, 2009.
Need for clean energy, waste transmutation revives interest in hybrid fusionfission reactors
Toni Feder
Fusionfission hybrids, in which fusion acts as a neutron source for a fission reactor, would not only produce power but also burn nuclear waste and could produce fissile fuel. That's what attracts proponents, but skeptics worry that the complications and costs of combining the two technologies outwe ... [Phys. Today 62, 24 (2009)] published Wed Jul 1, 2009.
News Notes
David Kramer
Abstract not available. [Phys. Today 62, 26 (2009)] published Mon Jun 1, 2009.
Nuclear museum reopens in New Mexico
Toni Feder
A naval surface-to-air missile launcher graces the entrance of the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, which reopened this spring in a new location in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ... [Phys. Today 62, 25 (2009)] published Mon Jun 1, 2009.