Here you have
an ordered list of science stories classified by topics and with
a brief description of their contents.
Science,
Technology and Society
-
The
flight of Daedalus. The flight of Technology. Old
as well as modern mythology warns us against the power derived from knowledge;
but when it comes to story-telling we can always see the other side of
the story.
-
Mad
scientists never die. Or
so it seems when we analyze characters like Frankenstein and Dr. Jeckyll.
They aren't isolated examples born in gothic novels.
-
Darwinless.
The trip of Charles Darwin around the world was the result of many lucky
coincidences. Things could have been quite different from what they turned
out to be. How would it be living in a Darwinless society?.[NEW]
-
Serendipi..WHAT?.
Serendipity is a rare word for a very common occurence in science. Find
out amazing examples of what and how things were discovered by accident.
[NEW].
Nature
-
Hexagons
Forever !. Honeycomb shaped
beehives were a sure bet. When I searched for examples of hexagonal close
packing arrays in nature I was not expecting the many surprises now collected
in this story.
-
Snow
Crystals in Snow Flakes.
An invariable symmetry combined with an endless variation of shapes lead
to the unique beauty of snow crystals. Find out the origin of this symmetry.
Evolution
-
Evolution
never sleeps. Evolution
is not only a matter of the past, taking place over huge periods of time.
There are interesting examples of its working here and now. [NEW].
-
Metaevolution.
The very word of evolution sparks our memories of animal species hanging
on a tree of life. But evolution has not always been working on living
systems. This story tells you about the evolution of evolution. [Coming
soon].
-
qwerty: evolution at
your fingertips. Did you know
why in the world your keyboard (or typewriter) has the letters arranged
as they are?. Neither did I, but I found out. This is a great story about
social evolution. [Coming soon].
-
Darwinless.
The trip of Charles Darwin around the world was the result of many lucky
coincidences. Things could have been quite different from what they turned
out to be. How would it be living in a Darwinless society?.[NEW]
Molecules
& Materials
-
HOT
Molecules: Fullerenes. A
new form of carbon, prepared at high temperatures was discovered in 1985,
a highly symmetrical cluster of 60 carbon atoms in the shape of a soccer
ball. Since then the family has grown and applications are being found
for these molecules born from basic research. Includes a view in 3-D.
-
COOL
Materials: High-Tc Superconductors.
These oxides started a revolution in physics and engineering thanks to
their remarkable magnetic and electrical properties. They are made hot
but their superconductivity is only maintained at still pretty cool temperatures.
-
Is
this a molecule?. Frontiers between molecules and extended solids.
Benzene is a molecule with 6 carbon atoms arranged as an hexagon and graphite
has billions of those hexagons fused together. What is in between and what
properties could be expected for nanosized materials?.
Energy
-
Rechargeable
Lithium Batteries. An alternative to toxic Lead and Cadmium.
Lithium technology is the newest and most promising in the field of rechargeable
batteries. It provides more charge and energy (longer duration) in a lighter
battery. And contrary to present lead or nickel-cadmium batteries, lithium
batteries do not contain toxic metals. This article includes an animation
of the working mechanism of these batteries.
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