June 28, 1996

U.S. FIRST – The Mission

The U.S. FIRST competition is a sort of Super Bowl of science, a way to show young people that science can be as exciting as sports.

June 27, 1996

U.S. FIRST – The Game

An annual sporting event pits teams of engineers and students against each other to find out who can build the best robot.

June 26, 1996

U.S. FIRST – The Robots

Every year since 1992, a diverse group of robots have met on a playing field for a game of skill and strategy.

June 21, 1996

ELECTROSTATIC FIELD SENSING

As computers get smaller, people may need new ways to interact with them.

June 20, 1996

ELECTROSTATIC FIELD SENSING – Music

A wave of the hand – instead of a click of the mouse – may be one way you communicate with your computer in the future.

June 17, 1996

COMMUNICATING WITH CHAOS – The Butterfly Effect

Here’s a question that intrigues some scientists who study chaos: If a butterfly flaps its wings in China, could that tiny action eventually affect weather around the globe?

June 14, 1996

COMMUNICATING WITH CHAOS

Controlling chaos seems like a paradox, but a chaotic system may form the basis for more efficient communications.

June 11, 1996

COMPUTERS LEARN LANGUAGE – Natural Communication

Using a few pointers and a lot of examples, a scientist is trying to help a computer teach itself to use language.

June 10, 1996

COMPUTERS LEARN LANGUAGE

A researcher is trying to teach a computer what we humans learn in early childhood – to use language.

June 6, 1996

CONTRABAND DETECTOR – Analyzing with Radiation

A portable accelerator orginally designed for particle beam weapons is the basis for a new kind of contraband detector.

June 5, 1996

CONTRABAND DETECTOR

A new device that uses radiation – but not x-rays – to detect contraband like drugs and bombs.

June 4, 1996

WATER CAR

A new kind of fuel that’s about half water could be able to run many kinds of engines – including those in most cars and trucks.