Author Archives: fredbortz

New Facebook Page To Move Kids from Facts to Questions

Posted on May 7, 2012 by fredbortz

Fred Bortz, a noted author of books about science and technology for young readers, has launched a new Facebook page he calls SciFact Central that uses “fun” facts about science to inspire children and teens to follow their questions. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Science Education, Technology | Leave a comment

Pioneer Anomaly is no longer anomalous

Posted on April 19, 2012 by fredbortz

Thanks to funding from the Planetary Society, of which I am a proud member, the “Pioneer Anomaly” has been definitively resolved. Physics has prevailed over speculation. Over the past 20 years, some people, including a few scientists, have looked at … Continue reading →

Posted in Physics, Planetary Science, Space and Astronomy, Technology | 2 Comments

Subtle and not so subtle biases shape assessment of Fukushima

Posted on April 17, 2012 by fredbortz

As readers of this blog may have figured out, I like to discuss political issues related to science and technology. Although I am personally a bit to the left of the American center, my ideology, if I have one, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Energy, Science and Public Policy, Science Books, Science Technology and Society, Technology | 17 Comments

Great book about worms reissued in time for spring gardening

Posted on March 26, 2012 by fredbortz

Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill has just reissued a book that may give readers a not unwelcome taste for worms. Here is my review of the book from 2004. The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms by Amy … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Earth Science and Weather, Life Science and Evolution | Leave a comment

Should we call the Fukushima meltdowns a nuclear disaster?

Posted on March 22, 2012 by fredbortz

A year ago, in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima meltdowns, I prepared a proposal for a middle grade book called “Lessons from Fukushima: The Promise and Risks of Nuclear Power.” My editor at Twenty-First Century Books accepted it, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Science and Public Policy, Science Technology and Society, Technology | Leave a comment

Review of Wired for Culture by Mark Pagel

Posted on March 20, 2012 by fredbortz

Review of Wired for Culture by Mark Pagel Wired for Culture: Origins of the Human Social Mind by Mark Pagel (Norton, 432 pages, $29.95, February, 2012) Reviewed by Dr. Fred Bortz (Copyright 2012 by Alfred B. Bortz, all rights reserved) … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Life Science and Evolution, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Return of the Prodigal Science Blogger

Posted on February 28, 2012 by fredbortz

It’s been several months since I contributed here, but I expect to be back with regular blogs in about a month and shorter posts before then. I have been busy writing my newly released middle-grade book, Meltdown! The Nuclear Disaster … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Entry, Book Reviews, Climate Change, Physics, Science and Public Policy, Science Books | Leave a comment

Review of Book About 2011 Physics Nobelists and Their Work: The 4% Universe

Posted on October 4, 2011 by fredbortz

I reviewed this book here in January. Here’s the link: http://fredbortz.scienceblog.com/34765/34765/

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

More on Pioneer Anomaly

Posted on July 22, 2011 by fredbortz

This new information makes it pretty clear that the cause of the Pioneer Anomaly, that is the deviation of the Pioneer spacecraft from the trajectories dictated by gravity alone, is due to thermal sources internal to the spacecraft. A satisfying … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Entry, Physics, Space and Astronomy | Leave a comment

James Webb Space Telescope on Chopping Block

Posted on July 6, 2011 by fredbortz

URGENT from Heidi Hammel: “The House Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee has proposed termination of the James Webb Space Telescope. Now is the time to contact your representatives in Washington, as well as members of the Appropriations Subcommittees, if … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Entry, Planetary Science, Science, Science and Public Policy, Science Technology and Society, Space and Astronomy | 5 Comments