Cool science products for kids

I was poking around in Fry’s Electronics yesterday, and found a bunch of interesting science products aimed at kids, from The Wild Goose Company. Browsing its Website led me to find Steve Spangler Science, which also makes some interesting science products.

—by Pete at 2:57 PM {PermaLink}

Saving fish may kill Benicia bridge

In a news segment aired today, KRON-TV reports that the fish protections have trippled the cost of the Benicia bridge, and may kill it entirely. According to the report, local agencies funding the project are considering halting all funds unless construction resumes soon. [streaming video] Update: the Contra Costa Times published an article Friday with more information, including breaking out the details of the extra costs.

—by Pete at 12:33 PM {PermaLink}

Dead fish stall Benicia bridge

Some more details on the halt to the construction of the bridge that Bill discusses in the preceeding item. Back in September of 2002, the Contra Costa Times reported the details of when the dead fish were discovered, and a solution that Caltrans came up with using air-bubble curtains that has yet to be implemented—even though it is being used on the Bay Bridge.

—by Pete at 11:17 PM {PermaLink}

Million-Dollar Fish

A few pompous federal bureaucrats are forcing at least a three-year delay and 200 million dollar cost overrun for the new Benicia Bridge now under construction. California taxpayers will pay for this out of their family budgets taken for state taxes. The pompous feds in their green suits claim that enormous numbers of fish will be killed by the noise generated by the piledrivers. But where are the numbers? Why didn't this happen in all previous bridge projects? Did it ever occur to these eco nazis that hundred of times more fish are caught by fishermen every day for the dinner table then can possibly be harmed by the noise from the piledrivers. Why not just give any fish harmed to the fishermen and save the cost of fishing poles, boats, beer cans, and pollution of the waterways. And did it occur to these idiots that fish are not stupid. They naturally swim away from and stay away from any troubling noise. Any that might be near a piledriver when it starts up could be hurt. But the answer to that is to start the piledriver in slow motion in a fashion that the sonic signals are low in the beginning and then build up to full operation. This way, the fish get a warning and can move away. For 200 million they could trap all the fish that swim up the river and transport them in Cadillacs around the noisy area. But this is your federal government—where the D students run your world.

—by Dr. Bill at 8:49 AM {PermaLink}

Fed and state governments own 1/2 of Calif.

According to the chart State by State Government Land Ownership on the National Wilderness Institute’s website, 52.1% of California is owned by either the state (2.2%) or the federal (49.9%) governments.

—by Pete at 12:38 PM {PermaLink}

All-Natural Carcinogens Galore in Holiday Foods

Dr. Elizabeth Whelan, president of ACSH says, The widespread presence of natural carcinogens in our food is clear evidence of why trace levels of man-made chemicals that cause cancer in lab animals should not be a concern. The orginization provides a sample menu showing the natural carcinogens in holiday food, including hydrazines (a toxic rocket fuel) Cream of Mushroom Soup.

—by Pete at 11:53 AM {PermaLink}

The President vs. science?

A caller on the show a few weeks ago questioned Bill about an article claiming political bias at work in the selection of scientists to review panels. But the American Council on Science and Health has a different perspective—that nothing serious is amiss and the industry experience some of the appointees have will let the panels make better decisions.

—by Pete at 11:43 AM {PermaLink}

Acrylamide in foods: Not a real cancer risk

Scientists associated with the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) find no compelling evidence that acrylamide (a rat carcinogen in large doses) formed in fried foods causes a risk of cancer in humans.

In my mind, this should not be suprising. After all, humans have been cooking food long enough that it is quite possible that we have evolved to tolerate these and other chemicals caused by heating food.

Steven Milloy (of Junk Science) put it more succinctly in his column on FoxNews.com—that someone of average body weight would have to eat 35,000 potato chips (about 62.5 pounds) per day for life to get an equivalent dose of acrylamide as the lab animals!

—by Pete at 11:29 AM {PermaLink}