Pipe dream.
In early July, the city of Los Angeles was about to approve the use of Optiflex, a new kind of plastic pipe, in residential and commercial construction. Made of a heat-resistant version of polyethylene, the plastic used in milk and soda bottles, Optiflex does not corrode or rust. Unlike copper,...

Launching pad.
A lightbulb didn't go off in Kelsey Bohman's head, but she did get hit in the noggin with a marshmallow. The 18-year-old knows a little fun can brighten up a hospital room. At 11, she was diagnosed with leukemia and spent nearly a year at Denver Children's Hospital. Now,...

Start the year off right: get a jump on the growing season.
Spring is just around the corner, and what better way to start it than with seeds? Flipping through seed catalogs all winter has got me dreaming of crisp green lettuce and big, juicy tomatoes. I just can't wait any longer. It's time to get out the trays and potting...

Potential air and groundwater pollution from continuous high land application of cheese whey.
INTRODUCTION Cheese whey is a greenish liquid by-product of the cheese making industry. About 9 kg of whey are produced for each kilogram of cheese. The whey contains approximately 5% lactose, 1.5 % nitrogenous compounds, 0.8% minerals and small amounts of vitamins (1). It has been estimated...

Ultimate raised bed: it's inexpensive and easy to build in a weekend.
Raised beds make gardening easy. Filled with soil mix, they provide the excellent drainage needed to grow picture-perfect vegetables and flowers. You can build the basic raised bed pictured above in a few hours, then add versatility by mounting PVC pipes inside to hold hoops that elevate bird netting...

Picky-eater termites choose good vibes.
Termites are fussy eaters. Some go for twigs and branches. Others favor logs and trunks. Vibrations in the wood may help all these termites choose what to eat, according to Theodore Evans of CSIRO, Australia's national research agency, in Canberra. Evans had noted that termites are also...

Investigation on the behavior of rigid polyvinylchloride pipes subjected to uniaxial compression loads.
Abstract: The objective of this research was to investigate the capability of rigid Polyvinylchloride (PVC-U) pipes to sustain axial loads. The behavior of PVC-U pipes specimens subjected to short-term uniaxial compression loads was experimentally investigated. Results of the load-displacement tests on pipes of different wall thickness, diameter and specimen...

A crafty exploration of ancient Egypt.
Tara Ingersoll led her three 6th-grade social studies classes at Ankeny, Iowa's Parkview Middle School on an elaborate exploration of ancient Egyptian burial customs recently, the Des Moines Register reports. After researching the burial practices, kids spent nearly three weeks on projects that included making a hieroglyphics-decorated...

Use ultrasound to monitor quality.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (P.O. Box 999, MS K9-09 Richland, WA 99352) have cooked up a new way to help food processors solve some sticky, gooey or lumpy problems. They're adding a little ultrasound to the mix. Researchers are putting...

PNNL cooks up ultrasound recipe.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a way to help food processors solve sticky, gooey or lumpy problems by adding some ultrasound to the mix. "... we've developed ultrasonic measurement techniques to assist DOE at its Hanford site...