Category Archives: Cool Science

Best Book of January – Ashfall

Posted on February 6, 2013 by

Today, YA Highway’s Road Trip Wednesday asks What’s the best book you read in January? I’ve actually read a few quite good books this month, but there’s a clear winner–Ashfall by Mike Mullin. This post-apocalyptic YA novel starts with a … Continue reading →

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RTW – Best Book Read in September

Posted on September 26, 2012 by

As it’s the last Wednesday of September, YA Highway asks what’s the best book we’ve read this month. It’s a bit of a blur as to what books I read in September. I might have finished a Lois McMaster Bujold … Continue reading →

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RTW – Doing the Groundhog Thing

Posted on July 25, 2012 by

This week on YA Highway, the prompt asks, If you could be reincarnated as any fictional character, which would it be? Which made the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day, pop into my mind, hence the title of my post. Moving … Continue reading →

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Programming DNA

Posted on May 26, 2012 by

In the world of my book Tankborn, Genetically Engineered Non-humans (GENs) are controlled via electronics installed in their nervous system and brain. I read an article this week which describes an intriguing study whose results I might just have to … Continue reading →

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Brain-Digital Interface

Posted on May 18, 2012 by

Sometimes science is stranger–and creepier–than fiction. In my young adult science fiction book, Tankborn, genetically engineered non-humans (GENs) are grown in a tank with circuitry implanted along their nervous systems, including within their brains. An interface installed on their cheek … Continue reading →

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Physics Professor Extraordinaire

Posted on February 26, 2012 by

I just found out that my favorite physics professor–actually, my favorite college professor, period–passed away last July. Dr. James Imai was instrumental in me changing my minor from English to physics. He was a fantastic lecturer and as astounding as … Continue reading →

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Gender Bias in Children’s Books?

Posted on May 5, 2011 by

There’s been some discussion on Twitter (and I imagine elsewhere) about a recently released study revealing gender inequality in children’s literature. The study looked at nearly 6000 children’s books published from 1900 to 2000. They discovered that even in children’s … Continue reading →

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Phantom Limbs

Posted on February 28, 2011 by

As I’ve mentioned before, I share my home with three cats. The oldest, Casper, who turns 14 this year, has always been a grump. As he’s moved into his golden years, he’s become even more of a sour puss. He … Continue reading →

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Hablando en español

Posted on February 20, 2011 by

I have been studying Spanish for a long, long time. For decades, if you start counting from the third grade when I was first exposed to el caballo, el gato, and el perro. In elementary school, we would watch a … Continue reading →

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Galactic Sweet Tooth

Posted on February 14, 2011 by

I love sweets. Candy is number one, rich dense stuff like dark chocolate, nut-free fudge, See’s bordeaux chocolates (love those sprinkles). I adore Junior Mints and Peppermint Patties, Kit Kat bars, 3 Musketeers (which used to come as three bars, … Continue reading →

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