Decoded Science

Hexagonal Ferrites: From Fridge Magnets to High Tech Uses

Clara Piccirillo, PhD — Sun, 27 May 2012 13:37:47 +0000

Hexagonal ferrite ceramics have well-known abilities and properties, and are used in everything from magnetic notepads on your fridge to high-tech applications. Now, scientists have discovered room-temperature multiferroic hexaferrites, which extends the capabilities of these magnets tremendously.

Engine Failure in a Cessna – 172: What Not To Do

Junaid Ali — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:42:57 +0000

If you're in a Cessna - 172 (a single-engine plane) and that one lone engine fails, what do you do? First and foremost, don’t panic - just focus on getting to the ground in one piece.

Dendrochronology and Anthropology: What Trees Can Teach Us About History

Val Williamson — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:30:12 +0000

Anthropologists use dendrochronology to date structures and improve other dating methods. Tree ring data is more reliable than you'd think!

Coming Storms: The 2012 Hurricane Season is Here

Tricia Edgar — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:11:56 +0000

As Northerners enjoy the warmth of the late spring, those in the southern Atlantic region are looking to the skies, wondering what the 2012 hurricane season will bring.

Obama Up in New Poll, but Were Republicans Fairly Represented?

Marissa Selner — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:30:31 +0000

A poll released this week by ABC News/Washington Post has Obama leading Romney in a hypothetical matchup, 49 to 46 among U.S. adults - but the number of Republicans in the sample was dramatically smaller than the normal turnout. Is this a sign of polling bias?