Your vote may not count as much as you think
As we enter the traditional, post-Labor Day sprint in the campaign season, voters may want to consider how much their vote really counts. Continue Reading Your vote may not count as much as you think
The Conversation
Drones to track one of the largest dam removals on the Eastern Seaboard
The restoration of Maryland’s Blode Dam is a one-of-a-kind natural experiment that will help test how relatively inexpensive drones can help scientists understand the integrity of streams and rivers. Continue Reading Drones to track one of the largest dam removals on the Eastern Seaboard
How to conserve half the planet without going hungry
Every day there are roughly 386,000 new mouths to feed, and in that same 24 hours, scientists estimate between one and 100 species will go extinct. That’s it. Lost forever. Continue Reading How to conserve half the planet without going hungry
Why fewer kids work the kind of summer jobs that their parents used to have
Back in the day, most teens had some sort of job lined up for the summer. Recently, however, that seems to be no longer the case. Continue Reading Why fewer kids work the kind of summer jobs that their parents used to have
Weaponized information seeks a new target in cyberspace: Users’ minds
The Russian attacks on the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the country’s continuing election-related hacking have happened across all three dimensions of cyberspace – physical, informational and cognitive. Continue Reading Weaponized information seeks a new target in cyberspace: Users’ minds
A cooler ocean predator than sharks? Consider the mantis shrimps
When you think about fearsome predators in the ocean, the first thing that pops into your mind is probably a shark. Sure, sharks are OK, with their sleek, menacing shape and their gaping jaws with rows of jagged teeth. But if you were a fish living on a coral reef or cruising along the shore over the sands of a tropical island, you would fear a far more terrifying predator. Continue Reading A cooler ocean predator than sharks? Consider the mantis shrimps
Americans distrusted US democracy long before Trump’s Russia problem
Historic surveys reveal a deep, long-lasting and bipartisan dissatisfaction with the U.S. government that started over three decades ago. Continue Reading Americans distrusted US democracy long before Trump’s Russia problem
School safety commission misses the mark by ignoring guns
F. Chris Curran, Assistant Professor of Public Policy University of Maryland, Baltimore County A federal school safety commission that formed after the Parkland, Florida, school massacre won’t be focusing on guns. That’s according to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who stated recently that firearms were “not part of the commission’s charge per se.” She made the remark in response to a U.S. senator who asked if the commission would consider the role of firearms in school violence. Of course, if the commission were to focus on just guns, they would miss the mark. But as a scholar who studies school… Continue Reading School safety commission misses the mark by ignoring guns
Jurassic Park’ made a dinosaur-sized leap forward in computer-generated animation on screen, 25 years ago
With 25 years of hindsight, “Jurassic Park” marks a pivotal point in the history of visual effects in film. Continue Reading Jurassic Park’ made a dinosaur-sized leap forward in computer-generated animation on screen, 25 years ago
The next big discovery in astronomy?
The next big discovery in astronomy? Scientists probably found it years ago – but they don’t know it yet Continue Reading The next big discovery in astronomy?
Local governments’ cybersecurity crisis in 8 charts
Experts from UMBC’s School of Public Policy and Department of Computer Science & Electrical Engineering work together to understand how local governments practice cybersecurity. Continue Reading Local governments’ cybersecurity crisis in 8 charts
Making Skis Strong Enough for Olympians to Race on
What’s inside Olympians’ skis? AP Photo/Luca Bruno by Marc Zupan, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Olympians expect top-notch performance from their minds and bodies, but they get crucial advantages from the very best equipment for their sports and the weather conditions they’re competing in. Skis, for example, must stand up to near-constant changes in stress during races. The ideal ski provides a stiff and rigid platform for skiers’ boots to attach to, flexes to carve through turns, doesn’t break under the pressure of jumps and landings and is light enough not to slow the athlete down. But that’s not all: Skis… Continue Reading Making Skis Strong Enough for Olympians to Race on