http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/category/sci_tech sci_tech news from TucsonSentinel.com - Tucson's independent nonprofit online news en Copyright 2012 2012-02-04T07:23:02+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/nws_radar/live-weather-radar/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/nws_radar/live-weather-radar/ 21:14:00Z TucsonSentinel.com Live weather radar for Tucson and the rest of Southern Arizona from the National Weather Service. 2012-02-03T21:14:01+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/020212_red_cross_fine/red-cross-hit-with-10m-fine-over-bad-blood-handling/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/020212_red_cross_fine/red-cross-hit-with-10m-fine-over-bad-blood-handling/ 16:39:00Z Lena Groeger The FDA has hit the American Red Cross with a nearly $10 million fine for safety violations, lax oversight and faulty testing of its blood services. The fine is just the latest of more than a dozen the Red Cross has racked up in the last decade. 2012-02-02T16:39:38+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020212_electric_cars/farley-drivers-electric-vehicles-should-help-pay-roads/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020212_electric_cars/farley-drivers-electric-vehicles-should-help-pay-roads/ 16:26:00Z Ivy Morris A Democratic state lawmaker is proposing that owners of electric vehicles pay a penny-per-mile tax for each mile they drive. “One of the only ways we pay for our roadways is through gas tax. We need to find a way of closing that loophole.” (with videos) 2012-02-02T16:26:08+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/020112_xrays/drive-by-x-rays-security-screeners-expanding-radiation-use/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/020112_xrays/drive-by-x-rays-security-screeners-expanding-radiation-use/ 20:49:00Z Michael Grabell U.S. law enforcement agencies are exposing people to radiation in more settings and in increasing doses to screen for explosives, weapons and drugs. In addition to the controversial airport body scanners,  X-ray devices have proliferated in prisons, on the streets of New York and at our borders. 2012-02-01T20:49:56+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020112_tep_solar/tep-add-solar-booster-irvington-electric-plant/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020112_tep_solar/tep-add-solar-booster-irvington-electric-plant/ 20:05:00Z Dylan Smith Tucson Electric Power is adding a 5-megawatt solar energy system to boost capacity at the utility’s Tucson generating plant, the company announced Tuesday. 2012-02-01T20:05:19+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/013012_nuclear_risks/loophole-nuclear-bill-may-create-risk-terrorist-bomb/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/013012_nuclear_risks/loophole-nuclear-bill-may-create-risk-terrorist-bomb/ 21:31:00Z Aaron Mehta Nuclear experts have told Congress that a loophole in a bill meant to limit the use of bomb-grade uranium in medical isotopes could undo years of work to curb the risk of a terrorist nuclear bomb. 2012-01-30T21:31:25+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012812_romney_space_vets/space-veterans-endorse-mitt-romney/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012812_romney_space_vets/space-veterans-endorse-mitt-romney/ 21:34:00Z Samantha Stainburn The last man to walk on the moon and the first space shuttle pilot are among the eight space leaders who endorsed Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Friday. 2012-01-28T21:34:54+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/012712_themoonpranos/the-moonpranos/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/012712_themoonpranos/the-moonpranos/ 05:41:00Z Roberto De Vido Seriously, Newt? A moon colony? That can apply for statehood? Seriously? That’s your idea for intelligently spending $1 trillion? (Yes, that’s what it would cost.) 2012-01-28T05:41:42+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_buckmaster/buckmaster-nuclear-recycling-good-arizona/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_buckmaster/buckmaster-nuclear-recycling-good-arizona/ 22:13:00Z Buckmaster Show Today on Buckmaster - It’s the Friday Focus interview with state Sen. Al Melvin. Also, the Friday Reporters’ Roundtable with Dylan Smith of TucsonSentinel.com and Mark Evans of TucsonCitizen.com. Plus, “The Culinary Cruiser” Matt Russell has the Weekend Watch. 2012-01-27T22:13:33+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012612_fbi_social_networks/is-fbi-monitoring-your-twitter-facebook/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012612_fbi_social_networks/is-fbi-monitoring-your-twitter-facebook/ 04:10:00Z Jennifer Mattson The Federal Bureau of Investigations is seeking to develop an early-warning system based on material “scraped” from social networks. 2012-01-27T04:10:09+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012612_gingrich_moon/gingrich-promises-moon-base-by-2020/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012612_gingrich_moon/gingrich-promises-moon-base-by-2020/ 17:45:00Z Tim Fitzsimmons Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich promised Wednesday to build a base on the moon by the end of his second term in 2020. 2012-01-26T17:45:45+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_az_algae_bills/bills-would-help-establish-az-as-center-algae-farming/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_az_algae_bills/bills-would-help-establish-az-as-center-algae-farming/ 05:19:00Z Jessica Testa Anticipating a day when Arizona becomes a leader in producing algae for biofuel, a Tucson lawmaker is pushing to have algae farms and related facilities defined — and taxed — like any corn field or packing plant. 2012-01-26T05:19:49+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_obama_intel_chandler/obama-talks-tech-jobs-az-campaign-swing/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_obama_intel_chandler/obama-talks-tech-jobs-az-campaign-swing/ 03:43:00Z Mariana Dale In the shadow of a $5 billion Intel plant being built in Chandler, President Obama said Wednesday that high-tech manufacturing can get the U.S. economy on track. He touted a simple plan to “build stuff, make stuff and sell stuff all over the world.” 2012-01-26T03:43:04+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_pcso_911_policy/pinal-county-changing-way-it-handles-911-hangups/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_pcso_911_policy/pinal-county-changing-way-it-handles-911-hangups/ 00:38:00Z Rachel Cabakoff Misdialed or mistaken 911 hang-up calls from cell phones will no longer be followed up by Pinal County sheriff’s deputies in a move to save on fuel costs 2012-01-26T00:38:52+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012412_solar_storm/solar-storm-hits-earth-after-huge-flare/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012412_solar_storm/solar-storm-hits-earth-after-huge-flare/ 15:37:00Z Global Post A solar storm is hitting Earth on Tuesday following a huge solar flare eruption Sunday that sent radiation hurtling towards our planet. The resulting geomagnetic storm, the biggest since 2005, could disrupt GPS and satellite communications, although the threat is said to be low. 2012-01-24T15:37:38+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012312_buckmaster/buckmaster-scramble-begins-congressional-special-election/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012312_buckmaster/buckmaster-scramble-begins-congressional-special-election/ 04:34:00Z Buckmaster Show Today on Buckmaster — It’s the Monday Political Face-off featuring commentators Vince Rabago and John Munger. Also, Arizona’s water supply for the next 100 years. We hear from water expert Sharon Megdal. Plus, what’s going on with the boom in new planet discoveries? Mark Sykes, head of the Tucson-based Planetary Science Institute has the answers. 2012-01-24T04:34:23+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012112_mex_drug_war/mexico-drug-war-survival-guide/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012112_mex_drug_war/mexico-drug-war-survival-guide/ 16:25:00Z Ioan Grillo While Mexico’s merciless drug war has scared off tourists and investment dollars, it has fed one niche industry: private-security services. 2012-01-21T16:25:00+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011912_sopa_global_internet/state-department-vs-sopa/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011912_sopa_global_internet/state-department-vs-sopa/ 23:16:00Z Corbin Hiar If done wrong, anti-piracy legislation could restrict the rights of Internet users across the country – and put U.S. diplomats in a very awkward position. 2012-01-19T23:16:53+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011912_sopa_internet/sopa-has-internet-won/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011912_sopa_internet/sopa-has-internet-won/ 18:34:00Z Jeb Boone Internet activists may have won this round in the battle over SOPA. But the fight ain’t over yet. 2012-01-19T18:34:24+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011912_sky_survey/ua-sky-survey-captures-hundreds-millions-stars/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011912_sky_survey/ua-sky-survey-captures-hundreds-millions-stars/ 17:53:00Z Mariana Dale The images and data for over 200 million celestial bodies — from stars to supernovas — are now available to the public thanks to the work of astronomers from the University of Arizona and the California Institute of Technology. 2012-01-19T17:53:13+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011912_kodak_bk/eastman-kodak-storied-camera-maker-files-bankruptcy/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011912_kodak_bk/eastman-kodak-storied-camera-maker-files-bankruptcy/ 17:09:00Z Freya Petersen Eastman Kodak Co., which brought photography to the masses with the first hand-held camera — the $1 Brownie Camera — almost a century ago, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York on Thursday. 2012-01-19T17:09:13+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011812_sopa_pipa/sopa-pipa-losing-steam/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011812_sopa_pipa/sopa-pipa-losing-steam/ 22:07:00Z Kyle Kim The Wednesday blackout protests by SOPA and PIPA protesters have been the latest pressure against lawmakers to stop the anti-web piracy bills – and it seems to be working. Sens. Marco Rubio and John Cornyn are changing course in the debate. 2012-01-18T22:07:47+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_buckmaster/buckmaster-new-world-aging-living-beyond-100/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_buckmaster/buckmaster-new-world-aging-living-beyond-100/ 20:49:00Z Buckmaster Show Today on Buckmaster — We kick off the show with a newsmaker interview with UA College of Science Dean Joaquin Ruiz. Also, Arizona State University Vice President Virgil Renzulli talks about the “Sun Corridor” economic development concept. Plus, Downtown Tucson Advocate Fletcher McCusker looks ahead to next month’s Tucson centennial celebration. 2012-01-18T20:49:22+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_ua_black_hole/ua-scientists-organizing-first-ever-black-hole-photograph/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_ua_black_hole/ua-scientists-organizing-first-ever-black-hole-photograph/ 18:01:00Z Mariana Dale In what was once possible only in “complete science fiction,” scientists at the University of Arizona are organizing the creation of a virtual super-telescope that will take the first photographs of a black hole, and test Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. 2012-01-18T18:01:52+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_giffords_solar/giffords-office-hold-solar-power-workshop/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_giffords_solar/giffords-office-hold-solar-power-workshop/ 17:11:00Z Ryan Kelly Homeowners and businessowners interested in the benefits of solar energy will have the chance to learn about leasing rooftop systems at a workshop presented by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ office Thursday. 2012-01-18T17:11:50+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011612_google_plus_ftc/ftc-investigate-google-/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011612_google_plus_ftc/ftc-investigate-google-/ 00:29:00Z Tim Fitzsimmons The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Google for modifying its iconic search to include results from its new social network, Google+. 2012-01-17T00:29:08+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011612_new_dinosaur/new-dinosaur-discovered-china/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011612_new_dinosaur/new-dinosaur-discovered-china/ 20:50:00Z Jessica Phelan Scientists have identified a new species of dinosaur, Yueosaurus Tiantaiensis or “Tiantai Yue Dinosaur,” from a fossilized skeleton found in eastern China. 2012-01-16T20:50:57+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011312_sion_basf/german-chemical-giant-invests-50-million-tucson-battery-maker/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011312_sion_basf/german-chemical-giant-invests-50-million-tucson-battery-maker/ 19:11:00Z Dylan Smith A German chemical company has invested $50 million in Tucson-based Sion Power Corp., a manufacturer of lithium-sulfur batteries. 2012-01-13T19:11:21+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011212_paper_airplanes_preview/kids-hope-launch-paper-planes-into-history/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011212_paper_airplanes_preview/kids-hope-launch-paper-planes-into-history/ 04:05:00Z Mariana Dale Children will have the chance to compete Saturday to see whose paper airplane will fly the farthest and stay aloft the longest in the hopes of gaining a spot on a team building a paper plane to challenge the Guinness World Record. 2012-01-13T04:05:22+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/011212_solar_goldwater_op/ending-solar-subsidy-fiasco/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/011212_solar_goldwater_op/ending-solar-subsidy-fiasco/ 19:27:00Z Clint Bolick It’s not every day that the New York Times makes a compelling case against government giveaways. But a recent page-one article underscored that the Solyndra scandal was only the tip of the solar-subsidy iceberg. 2012-01-12T19:27:25+00:00