Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser

Goodbye Electricity

Much of the western world assumes electric power to be available 24/7 with an unlimited supply to boot. Indeed, “Hydro” (still) is and was a readily available energy source for every household, office and industry in most of the developed nations.

Wooly Times to Come

The New York Times recently had a lengthy article on The Mammoth Cometh by Nathaniel Rich. It describes current efforts to recreate extinct species, from the Woolly Mammoth (gone for about 5,000 years) to New Zealand's Great Auk and North America's Passenger Pigeon. The latter found its demise exactly 100 years ago this year.

Fuddle-Duddle Cold

Several decades ago, a then-Prime Minister of Canada used the F-expletive to describe his displeasure with a political opponent. The official transcript used the term “Fuddle-Duddle” instead.

Counting the Medals

With the 22^nd Olympic Winter Games in Sochi concluded, the media here and there are doing a simple medal count by country to come up with a country ranking. Is that a fair system to count the medals or are there better ways? Needless to say, I think so!

A Lesson from the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) along Australia' s northern coast has long been considered one of the world' s natural wonders. It stretches for over 1,000 miles along Australia' s northeastern coast and is home to many species of marine organisms.

From Jade to Junk

China’s moon rover called Yutu or Jade Rabbit may have turned into junk. Launched on the Moon’s surface on December 15, 2013, it was the pride and joy of China’s fledgling space program. Yutu was the first rover to be landing there since 1973. However, the excitement did not last long; a few days ago the Jade Rabbit suffered a malfunction and has been in a semi-dormant state since. As of yesterday, it is tweeting new messages to its millions of followers but may not be quite its former self. In any event, its design life span is three months only.

The Hunt for Water on Mars

Every other week or so we are treated to news about the hunt for water on Mars. Each time a find seems ever so close, but no cigar yet.

Are Paper and Pencils Passé?

When I talk to young people these days I often ask "do you still know what a pencil is?"

The Need for Eggs -- Beyond Culinary Satisfaction

In the kitchen, eggs and ice don't mix too well but in map-making they do; more specifically in preparing charts of ice coverage, commonly also known as "egg charts."

The Good, the Bad, and the Inverse

You may have noticed, the media is reporting a steady stream of “new science” that turns everything you knew topsy-turvy. What was known to be good for you is suddenly touted as bad and vice-versa.

How to Tell Good and Bad CO2 From One Another

All life on earth depends on CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere. Its concentration is currently around 400 ppm (parts per million) or 0.04%. Life would cease to exist if the CO2 level were to drop to half of that. At 200 ppm, the partial pressure of CO2 in the atmosphere would be too small for most plants to take up the CO2 and convert it to plant matter.

Voices in the Wilderness

From one groundhog to another, it is time for some correspondence about what has been happening in the world. Punxsutawney Phil shares some thoughts with his cousin:

Canadian Oil Sands

First described by Canadian explorer Alexander MacKenzie (1764 -1820), the Athabasca oil sands region in northern Alberta is increasingly providing vital oil to the world.

Flexible Glass, A New Way To Exercise

Had enough of your treadmill, weightlifting, and similar exercise activities? Then you will happily embrace the latest technology: flexible smart and/or not phones and television screens. To make it easy for you at least the TVs are said to come with “power assist.”

Antarctic Pleasure Cruise

A letter published by Chris Turney in the journal Nature under the title "This was no Antarctic pleasure cruise" tries to defend the scientific basis of the expedition and its abandonment. He is talking about the "The Spirit of Mawson," the "Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 2013-2014."

Sex, all the same

Who would have thought it, them flowers did it 100 million years ago, just like today. A new study by Oregon State University scientists, George Poinar Jr. and colleagues, of a piece of amber from the mid-Cretaceous period found in Myanmar shows it. Amber fossil flower from the Cretaceous period

Blame it on the ‘Polar Vortex’

This is just in case you are wondering about the current state of “negative global warming.” Relax; it’s just the polar vortex creating some mayhem; everything else is just fine.

The Invisibility Cloak

The Khaleej Times reports that you'll soon be able to hide - perhaps even make your shadow invisible - with the headline: Coming soon: Invisibility cloaks! But that's not all. The article's writer goes on to say the new research "may in the not too distant future protect a building from earthquakes by bending seismic waves around it."

The Lithium Squeeze

You will be familiar with lithium-ion batteries, the little knob-sized things that keep your wrist watch and other small electronic devices going for years. Slightly larger lithium batteries power cell phones, cameras, walkie-talkies, and other small portable devices. So, why should such batteries not be able to power your electric car as well?

Freedom – at last?

“Freedom” from oppression, taxes, and liabilities – you name it – is in sight or at least on the drawing board.