In The News

The Controversial Search for the God Particle

September 10, 2008
Throughout history, science has inspired awe in some and fear from others; skeptics scoffed at Galileo Galilei for pointing out that the earth rotates the sun, Charles Darwin for offering a theory on evolution, and NASA for putting men on the moon. A large hadron collider, switched on in Geneva today, entailing the work of thousands of scientists from 80 countries, draws similar fear and even...

Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the US

John Markoff September 4, 2008
The internet, invented by US scientists, has no central point of control. More users are emerging beyond US borders and shaping the system: The US has less than 5 percent of the world’s population, but is responsible for about 25 percent of all internet traffic while Asia represents about 40 percent of all internet traffic. As a result, more internet data flow outside the US, explains John...

New Energy Frontiers Expand Global Connections – Part I

Adriana Valencia August 14, 2008
Electricity is essential for any who care to participate in globalization, and huge numbers of the world’s rural poor still long for this basic tool at a time of tight supply and climbing prices. This two-part series examines two frontiers – the energy demands of the rural poor and the increasing supply of alternative-energy sources in the developing world. In the first article, Adriana Valencia...

American Tech Companies in China: Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't

August 12, 2008
: A US senator convinced US technology firms to agree on an internet freedom code of conduct. But companies like Google, Yahoo! And Microsoft have not made great strides in China while Chinese internet firms flourish. The number of internet users in China now exceeds the US total. “If they left China, these American technology companies would have fewer market entry headaches, but the...

The Furor Over Genetically Modified Foods

Laura H. Kahn July 22, 2008
With the world's population booming and the food prices skyrocketing, biotechnologists suggest that genetically modified foods could boost supplies. However, genetically modified foods are greeted with wariness in many regions, particularly Europe, for many reasons. Some question whether such food products pose a safety hazard for humans, while other critics express concern about the...

Privacy on the Web: Is It a Losing Battle?

July 14, 2008
The internet was conceived and designed to securely convey military secrets. But it has since evolved into a treasure chest of information – unlocked and open to all. Now an inexpensive way to store loads of data, the internet is easily tapped by consumers, businesses and even thieves. Businesses track consumer concerns for marketing purposes, and some consumers are disturbed to learn just how...

In the Internet Age, a New Cultural Revolution: Chinese Fans Follow American TV Online – for Free

Laura Sydell June 25, 2008
The Chinese government does not allow US television shows on Chinese television networks. But that has not slowed their popularity and could even add to their allure. China has more people online than any other country, and citizens with internet access can download translated shows, available soon after the original broadcast. Volunteer translators provide Chinese subtitles including extra...