Science News & Technology News: CBSNews.com

Crash Tests Raise Questions About Pickups

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:00:04 EDT

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that several small pickup trucks in the 2008 model year offered dismal protection in side crashes.

Plasma TVs Paved The Way For Electric Cars

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:00:04 EDT

The electricity drawn by plasma televisions is easing the minds of utility company executives as they plan for what is likely to be a conversion of much of the country's vehicle fleet from gasoline to electricity in the coming years.

Cancer Docs Warn Staff Of Cell Phone Risks

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:00:02 EDT

The director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Centers plans to warn about 3,000 faculty and staff about the possible health risks associated with cell phone use.

Internet Protection Law Unconstitutional

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:00:06 EDT

A federal appeals court agreed with a lower court ruling that struck down as unconstitutional a 1998 law intended to protect children from sexual material and other objectionable content on the Internet.

Gulf "Dead Zone" Threatens Ocean Life

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:00:05 EDT

A "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas-Louisiana coast this year is likely to be the biggest ever and last longer than ever before, with marine life affected for hundreds of miles, a scientist warned.

Fighting Negative Online Items On You

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:30:04 EDT

Daniel Sieberg points out that there are companies that help people and businesses combat such postings, by helping to push them way down on search results pages.

Texas Oilman: Clear Path For Wind Power

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:30:06 EDT

Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens asked Congress to "clear the path" for his plan to boost use of wind and natural gas in the U.S.

Astronauts To Test New Technology On Moon

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:30:03 EDT

Before NASA astronauts rocket to Mars, they're supposed to return to the moon in a sweet new ride to test-drive everything from high-tech maps and buggies to new spacesuits and next-generation power sources.

New Windshield An Improved Set Of Eyes

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:00:04 EDT

General Motors Corp. researchers are working on a windshield that combines lasers, infrared sensors and a camera to take what's happening on the road and enhance it, so aging drivers with vision problems are able to see a little more clearly.

Rare Giant Tortoise May Become Father

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:30:04 EDT

Lonesome George, the long-living Galapagos Islands giant tortoise thought to be the last of his kind, might soon be a father.

McCain's Peers Click With The Internet

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:00:04 EDT

Senior citizens are learning to use the Internet more, which leaves Sen. John McCain in the minority of those who are not web proficient.

School Says Forget About Friending Teacher

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:30:03 EDT

A new school district policy in southern Mississippi prohibits teachers from texting or communicating with students through Internet social network sites such as MySpace.

Dead Penguins Washing Ashore In Brazil

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:30:04 EDT

Hundreds of baby penguins are washing up on the tropical beaches of Rio de Janeiro.

"Unlocked" iPhones Thrive In Russia, China

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:00:04 EDT

Russia and China view the iPhone as a hot commodity, but it is not officially allowed to be sold there. And yet analysts estimate that only the U.S. has more iPhone users than Russia and China.

Drinking, Driving And Facebook Don't Mix

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:30:03 EDT

Online hangouts like Facebook and MySpace have offered crime-solving help to detectives and become a resource for employers vetting job applicants.

"Blade Runner" Falls Short Of Olympic Bid

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:53:57 EDT

Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius was not chosen to be on South Africa's Olympic team for Beijing. Besides failing to meet the qualifying standard to run in the 400 meters, Pistorius was left off the 1,600-meter relay team.

Gore Sets 10-Year Clean Energy Goal

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:00:03 EDT

Al Gore is challenging the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources within 10 years, an audacious goal he hopes the next president will embrace.

Singing For Sex: Even Ugly Fish Do It

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:30:04 EDT

Many animals communicate vocally - birds chirp, frogs thrum, whales whistle - and comparing the nerve networks in a variety of vertebrates suggests that making sounds originated in ancient fishes, researchers report in the journal Science.

Texas Approves Massive Wind Power Project

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:00:05 EDT

Texas officials gave preliminary approval to the nation's largest wind-power project, a plan to build billions of dollars worth of new transmission lines to bring wind energy from gusty West Texas to urban areas.

AIDS Vaccine Trial Scaled Back

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:30:03 EDT

Plans for a large-scale trial of a potential AIDS vaccine are being dropped in favor of a smaller, more focused study, the National Institutes of Health said.

EPA Sued Over Florida Water Pollution

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:30:05 EDT

Five environmental groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, claiming the federal government is violating the Clean Water Act by failing to set standards for farm and urban runoff that is polluting Florida's waterways.

Al Gore: Energy Crisis Can Be Fixed

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:30:03 EDT

Al Gore is challenging Americans to produce all electricity through wind, sun and other green energy sources within 10 years. Katie Couric spoke with the former vice president about his plan - and whether he'd join Barack Obama's staff.

EU: Ringtone Web Sites Rip Off Consumers

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:16:19 EDT

Eight out of 10 Web sites selling mobile phone ring tones and graphics are tricking consumers with hidden fees or false advertising for free products, the EU said.

XM-Sirius Merger Gets Conditional Go-Ahead

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:30:06 EDT

The FCC commissioner holding the potential deciding vote says he'll decide in favor of the merger if the two companies agree to tougher conditions.

S.F. Claims IT Worker Hijacked Passwords

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:00:04 EDT

A city computer engineer accused of tampering with San Francisco's new computer network to give himself exclusive access was ordered held on $5 million bail.

Simply Ways To Cut Your Power Bill

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:00:04 EDT

Susan Koeppen's ideas don't even include buying new appliances!

New York City Taxis Going Green

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:30:03 EDT

Three major auto makers are promising to reserve 300 new hybrids each month for the city's yellow cab fleet.

Gaming Companies Wow 'Em With Upgrades

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:30:03 EDT

During their flashy press conferences, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony all announced plans for more games, more sequels, more exclusives, more connectivity and more ways for gamers to use their systems for stuff other than gaming.

Blue Crab Blues: Seafood Business Drowning

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:04 EDT

It's an anxious summer for watermen harvesting the Chesapeake's best-loved seafood, the blue crab. The way some see it, the crabbing business here isn't just dying. It's already dead.

The High Price Of A Well-Wired Life

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:44:14 EDT

Still recovering from last week's iPhone 3G fever, Larry Magid has been thinking about the annual cost of using all our technological gadgets. After contemplating past and present, his verdict: Today's hi-tech lifestyle sure isn't cheap.

Zoo Heating Malfunction Kills 16 Stingrays

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:00:06 EDT

An apparent malfunction in the heating and cooling system of a pool killed 16 stingrays at a suburban Chicago zoo, officials said.

Beijing Readying For Air Pollution D-Day

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:00:03 EDT

As the Olympics approach, authorities are working feverishly to clear the air. They're closing factory doors, stopping cars - and, if that doesn't work, they'll just shoot down the smog from the sky. Seriously. Barry Petersen reports.

Plutonium Spill Prompts Training Review

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:04 EDT

The use of radioactive material has been suspended following a plutonium spill at a Boulder, Colo., laboratory.

Nuclear Highway: Radioactive On The Road

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:00:02 EDT

Motorists across the South could soon be sharing the highway with nuclear waste generated decades ago in developing the first atomic bomb.

Surprise Visitor Flies Into London Museum

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:00:02 EDT

A tiny, unidentified red-and-black bug has appeared in London's Natural History Museum's own gardens.

Ill-Tempered Devils Evolve To Beat Cancer

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:30:03 EDT

Faced with an epidemic of cancer that cuts their lives short, Tasmanian devils have begun breeding at younger ages, according to researchers at the University of Tasmania in Australia.

Russian Ravers Blinded By Concert Lasers

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:00:03 EDT

A laser show at a music festival injured more than 30 people, Russian news reports said.

1 Million iPhones Snapped Up In 3 Days

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:00:05 EDT

Apple Inc. said it has sold 1 million iPhones in the three days following the release of the latest model.

Can The New iPhone Revolutionize Radio?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:56:24 EDT

The new Apple 3G iPhone has received a lot of attention, but the more important story isn't about the new hardware, but Larry Magid says the real story is the software that could make the device a key weapon in the radio revolution.

Governors Look Beyond Corn-Based Ethanol

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:00:03 EDT

Governors from the coal fields of West Virginia to the corn fields of Iowa talked at their summer meeting about moving beyond ethanol produced just from food sources.

The Problem With Biofuels

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:04 EDT

Skyrocketing food prices have caused some to rethink the wisdom of using crops as fuel. Mark Phillips reports.

White House: No Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:00:04 EDT

The Bush administration rejected regulating greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, saying it would cause too many job losses.

EPA: Smog May Worsen With Global Warming

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:01 EDT

Government scientists predict smog, typically a summer pollution problem, will stretch into the spring and fall.

Glitches Bug New iPhone's Debut

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:00:04 EDT

The launch of Apple Inc.'s much-anticipated new iPhone turned into an information-technology meltdown, as customers were unable to get their phones working.

La Niña Easing, Reduced Storm Risk

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:30:03 EDT

La Nina, the cooling of water in the tropical Pacific ocean, is fizzling out. This may be beneficial to the East and Gulf coasts with hurricane season underway.

Swept Up In The Winds Of Change

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:00:03 EDT

With so much hype about - and so much invested in - wind power, Daniel Sieberg wanted to find out how it actually worked. So he went to America's other Windy City, Sweetwater, Texas, where fields of wind turbines power farms.

Second iPhone Struts Its Stuff

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:30:03 EDT

The upgraded device was being rolled out worldwide, generating buzz, and eager buyers were lining up. CBS News Science and Technology Correspondent Daniel Sieberg took a look.

Life Not Worth As Much, Says Gov't Agency

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:30:03 EDT

The EPA calculates the "value of a statistical life" at $6.9 million, down from $7.8 million five years ago.

Spacemen Handle Explosives During Mission

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:00:04 EDT

Two Russian astronauts removed explosive bolts from their descent capsule during a daring spacewalk. If mishandled, the bolts could have blown off their hands.

"Touch DNA" Cleared JonBenet's Kin

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:30:03 EDT

The new technology analyzes skin cells left behind when someone touches something. It was explained on The Early Show by the scientist who led the touch DNA work in the Ramsey case.

Child Porn "Discussion Groups" Purged

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:30:03 EDT

Two of the largest U.S. Internet providers have eliminated access to discussion groups that featured child pornography, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said.

That Stinks! Bronx Residents Sue NYC

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:00:06 EDT

Residents of a polluted neighborhood in the Bronx sued New York City and a waste recycling company, saying that putrid odors emanating from two nearby sewage facilities are ruining their lives.

Prius May Begin Using Solar Panels On Roof

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:30:03 EDT

Toyota's ecological Prius gas-electric hybrid will become even greener next year with solar-powered air conditioning on some high-end models, The Nikkei reported.

Sustaining iPhone's "Cool Factor" Not Easy

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:30:03 EDT

To sustain its momentum and keep fickle consumers and Wall Street happy, Apple needs a dramatic second act with the next generation of iPhones, which roll out with faster Internet access and lower retail prices.

Prescription For Drug Danger Online

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:30:02 EDT

A new study released shows how the Internet has become an uncontrolled marketplace for what are supposed to be tightly controlled drugs. You don't need a prescription - just a computer, John Blackstone reports.

Google Stakes Virtual Reality Claim

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:46:49 EDT

The Internet search leader unveiled a three-dimensional service called "Lively" as an answer to the 5-year-old virtual reality site Second Life.

Artists Get Creative In "Vomit Comet"

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:00:06 EDT

Three British artists tried to make art in zero gravity - one used a cat and a mouse for a performance piece - aboard an aircraft used to train cosmonauts, but only one completed his work. The other two artists felt ill.

In Silicon Valley, A Sea Lion Rescue

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:00:05 EDT

A wayward sea lion showed up in an office park stream, three miles from San Francisco Bay. John Blackstone reports on his arrival and eventual rescue.

Keeping Text Messaging Bills In Check

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:00:03 EDT

Recent price hikes are making it tougher, but CNET's Natali Del Conte had tips to help you, on The Early Show.

Is Solar Power Really Practical?

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:00:04 EDT

Solar-thermal technology, while promising, is practical only in the sunny Southwest and requires all the expensive infrastructure and transmission lines of standard power plants. Bill Whitaker examines whether it's really worth it.

Microsoft Backs Play To Dump Yahoo Board

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:00:02 EDT

Microsoft Corp. threw its weight behind investor Carl Icahn's effort to dump Yahoo Inc.'s board, saying that a successful shareholder rebellion would encourage the software maker to renew its bid to buy Yahoo's Internet search engine.