News Briefs

It is no secret that Americans enjoy certain luxuries by virtue of our geographical location. Our forests, fertile plains, and fresh water reserves contribute to a bountiful land. However, we should never forget that other environments are not so hospitable to their inhabitants.
A new study has shown that around eighty percent of the earth’s population faces some risk of water scarcity. The results of the study may seem direr than the reality of the situation. The statistical analyses consider everything from draught and precipitation patterns to factors like pollution and water management. However, some places do face legitimate threats to their potable water supplies.
In New York City , citizens enjoy not only plentiful, cheap water, but it is of a very high quality. Illustrated in the picture above, inhabitants of NYC get their water from a large watershed spanning a swatch of upstate. From there, the water goes through a rigorous filtration process, before it is treated with fluorine, which is good for dental health.
That said, the United States is not immune from watery woes. The western states are continually thinking up ways to recycle and reduce their water consumption. Moreover, the survey places the U.S.A. at risk for water scarcity, not due any imminent threat to its population, but, rather, because the country’s animals and plants could face water shortages if the weather is not favorable for an extended period.
The upshot of all this is that people who can simply turn a knob to get water should be thankful. Those that can are in the minority, and if their water supplies were ever significantly diminished, they would be in serious trouble.

-Joseph Fritsch

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11435522


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Cars That Drive Themselves





We are another step closer to living the life of the Jetsons. The flying car part—not yet. But the self-driving car part—totally.
With the exponentially growing rate of technology, we, the human race, are anther step closer to the futuristic world that many sci-fi writers dream about. Google, with the help of expert engineers, has designed a car that can drive itself. Using GPS technology, 360-degree motion detectors, and programmed rules of the road, which already exist for the average civilian’s convenience, the automated car can drive in regular traffic without drawing attention to empty driver’s seat.
While still in it experimental stages, the prototype excites its creators, who expect to revolutionize life on the road as drastically as the Internet changed the way we communicate, conduct research, and receive news. The hands-free car is completely legal due to its override feature, in which the passenger may simply push a button to regain total control of the vehicle. Engineers hope that this car will prevent accidents, be built lighter (and in turn be more fuel efficient), allow more cars to be on the road in closer proximity to one another, and of course, facilitate society’s need to eat, drink, phone, and text on the road.
However, we must ask ourselves if this type of artificial intelligence is read to walk let alone drive. As wonderful as it would to take a nap while driving to work, we won’t be all too happy if these cars crash as often as our internet connections do. In addition, while this computer cabbie may have a robotic reaction time, the mere mortal driving behind him may crash himself, if the robotic car stops suddenly to spare a squirrel’s life on the I-95.
So while it’d be nice to text twice as much and get a nap during rush hour, we may want to spend today’s car ride thinking about tomorrow’s cool cruisers, all strings attached.

- Sun Mei Liu

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/science/10google.html?_r=1&ref=technology

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Japan's Obesity Ban

In an attempt to preempt the obesity epidemic weighing down so many other industrialized nations (read: the United States), Japan has taken action. Through new legislation, Japanese businesses are now subject to fines for each of their employees in excess of the mandated waist size – 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women. With these new incentives for a slimmer staff, businesses have taken to offering gym memberships and pedometers to their portly personnel.

Japan's effort to curb the calories isn't just cosmetic, however. The legislation for leaner employees stems from the rationale that a less overweight a population will incur lower healthcare costs.

While the new law may seem radical to some, and might also complicate matters for some of Japan's rounder residents (Sumo wrestlers, for starters), any intention to end an epidemic before it begins should be commended.

-James Rodriguez

Source: http://current.com/news/91443187_its-illegal-to-be-fat-in-japan.htm?ref=nf
Image Source: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/06/13/world/metabo.01.650.jpg