Science seeks alternatives to expensive, rare catalysts
By strict definition, a catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. Read more
Latest Stories by Richard Brill
Machines can be intelligent but they will never be human
Thinking machines are here, or not. The debate continues while developments in artificial intelligence create more and more sophisticated machines that are becoming more and more humanlike. Read more
Evaporation, not wind chill, leaves us cold on blustery days
The blustery winds over the past month have made us feel as if winter has set in for real. It is Hawaii, and the temperature rarely drops into the 60s, but we have “thin” blood and feel the cold more than our temperate-climate counterparts who might welcome 70 degrees in February as a cause for celebration. Read more
Radiation can cause harm, but it also has myriad uses
Most radiation is not harmful; in fact, most of it is useful. People discover new uses and new methods every day for use in health, industry, business, entertainment and scientific research. Read more
Solar energy creates wind, planet’s rotation deflects it
The gusty weather over the past couple of weeks piqued my interest in where wind comes from. Read more
Avogadro’s Law explains why humid air is deceptively heavy
As intuitive as that may sound, the muggy air fools our senses. The fact is that humid air is lighter than dry air. Read more
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Calculating link between calories, joules took time
Twice-yearly solstice marks sun’s switch in direction
The December solstice occurs at 12:44 a.m. Hawaii time Wednesday. At this instant the sun will reach its southernmost point on the ecliptic and start northward again. Read more
Many factors affect moon’s trip around Earth
Just about everyone knows that the moon orbits Earth once every month. What we do not commonly know is that the moon’s orbit is not circular; it is elliptical. Read more
Definition of standard meter length has changed over centuries
You might not realize it, but certain fundamental units are the basis for all of our everyday measurements as well as those of the most precise scientific experiments. Read more
Improved nano-satellite technology makes space accessible
The big news in satellites today is small. With cellphone-size electronics in place, minisatellites called nano-satellites or CubeSats are instrumental in a new space revolution. Read more
Trendy LEDs are created with ‘doped’ materials
The hottest lights on the market today are cool light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. LEDs are made from semiconductors, which differ from conductors in the way their crystal structure holds electrons. Read more
Fermentation plays key role in muscles, variety of foods
It’s nearly certain that each of us consumes some fermented food or beverage daily. Bread, cheese, yogurt, beer, cured salami, cocoa and pickled foods such assauerkraut and kim chee are some examples of fermented products. Read more
Massive power of lightning as erratic as it is impressive
Electricity is a strange phenomenon. Since Benjamin Franklin’s time, we have learned a great amount about it. Read more
Gravitational waves noted from ancient crash in space
According to general relativity, gravity is not a force that pulls on matter through empty space. Read more
Macronutrients comprise 3 essential groups of food
Our unique microbiomes are crucial to good health
Old satellites, their debris permeate our planet’s orbit
Measures of light intensity illuminate complex subject
CRISPR gene editing offers promise for treating defects
A new gene editing technique called CRISPR-Cas9 has turned the biology world upside down and will have an immeasurable effect on genetic and molecular biology research in the coming years. Read more
Ice cream cons aren’t tasty, so watch the ‘e’ in ‘silicone’
Among the many mistakes that I see in media is the confusion of silicon and silicone. That “e” on the end looks benign, but it makes a big difference in the material. Read more
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