Powerful NASA Telescope Discovers New Exoplanet
Is there life outside of Earth? That question has fascinated people for thousands of years. Books, movies, television shows, and radio programs have theorized and fantasized about the existence of life on other planets and in other galaxies. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists hope that the powerful James Webb Space Telescope gets them […]
Rebuilding Notre Dame
A team of designers is turning to their history books to figure out the best way to rebuild the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The building caught fire in 2019. A French group called Carpenters Without Borders has argued that the medieval cathedral should be repaired and restored using medieval materials and […]
Perseverance Rover Lands on Mars
After travelling 470 million kilometers and spending nearly seven months in space, NASA’s Perseverance rover finally landed on Mars on February 18. This is the first NASA mission sent specifically to search for signs of past microbial life on the “Red Planet” since the 1970s. Here, btw takes a closer look at the specifics of […]
Finding Your Way(band)
Running a marathon is extremely difficult, even under the best of circumstances. But runners with disabilities may face a whole host of additional challenges. Here, btw takes a look at the unique story of a runner named Simon Wheatcroft, and how new technology helped make it possible for him to run the New York City […]
Smartphones: The Future of Voting?
Last week, btw took a closer look at the new use of smartphones in the Iowa caucus: for the first time ever, Iowans will be able to vote for their favorite candidate in the Democratic primary election from the comfort of their own homes, using an app on their phones. But Iowa isn’t the only […]
California Takes a Stand on Fracking
You’ve heard of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing–the process by which oil and natural gas are removed from the earth by shooting a high-pressure water, sand, and chemical mixture into the rock deep inside the earth, pushing the oil and natural gas to the surface. It’s a highly controversial drilling technique with potentially serious environmental consequences. […]
To Recycle or Not to Recycle
Recycling is great: it saves energy and helps prevent the Earth from becoming one giant landfill. Right? Unfortunately, it might not be that simple. Before you pat yourself on the back for remembering to recycle that plastic water bottle in your hand, there are a few facts about recycling that you might want to keep […]
New Plan(t) to Fight Climate Change?
The battle against climate change may feel overwhelming at times. But a company called Northwest Innovation Works LLC has come up with a plan that it thinks could help: building a new clean-energy plant in the Pacific Northwest. Here, btw takes a closer look at the proposal, the possible benefits, and some of the criticism […]
Super Bacteria?
Over the past decade or so, hand sanitizers have become a growing trend. You’ve probably seen the little bottles clipped to purses and backpacks, or given out as freebies at fairs and other events. They’re also very common in hospitals and doctors’ offices. Often, the dispensers are installed in every room so that health care […]
Wave Power
You’ve heard of solar power and wind-generated power. But what about power that comes from ocean waves? That’s right: the U.S. government is spending up to $40 million to build a new wave energy test facility six miles off the coast of Newport, Oregon. But wave-generated power may be more complicated than it initially seems. […]