Landslides

As we were reminded over the weekend, "Landslide" is not just a catchy tune written by Stevie Nicks.  Landslides "occur in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and cause $1-2 billion in damages and more than 25 fatalities on average each year." The U.S. Geological Survey monitors landslides and offers a great deal of information about them on their Landslide Hazards Program page: 

http://landslides.usgs.gov/current/

Take a look and be prepared in case a rain-soaked hillside tries to strangle you.

Irish-Americans

It's fortunate that the U.S. census isn't conducted on March 17, because on St. Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish.  That raises the question, how many people claim to be Irish the rest of the year?  According to the Census Bureau's "Facts for Features" page for this month, 34.1 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry.  That's more than seven times the population of Ireland itself.  Learn more fascinating facts about Irish-Americans and St. Patrick's Day by visiting the page yourself: 

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb14-ff02.html

And, as the Irish would say, slainte!

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

Many people know about the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), but have you heard of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES)?  NCSES was established within the National Science Foundation in 2010 and is "the nation's leading provider of statistical data on the U.S. science and engineering enterprise:"

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/

Through their site you can find information about "research and development, the science and engineering workforce, the condition and progress of STEM education, and U.S. competitiveness in science, engineering, technology, and R&D."  If you want to do a scientific study of science or scientists, this would be the place to start.

Ukraine

Whether you call it "Ukraine" or "The Ukraine," there's no doubt that tensions are high in this former part of the Soviet Union.  If you'd like to keep track of the rapid developments in Ukraine, the U.S. Department of State maintains a page on the country:

http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/up/

In addition to highlighting the latest diplomatic news, the page provides links to fact sheets, remarks, major reports, and other information.  There are similar pages available on other countries, so you may want to brush up on the region in case the Russian Army decides to extend its tour.

Carbon Monoxide

Recently one person in a New York restaurant was killed and several others were hospitalized due to inhaling carbon monoxide.  How can you avoid exposure to dangerous levels of this colorless, odorless, poisonous gas?  The Consumer Product Safety Commission has several tips in its Carbon Monoxide Information Center: 

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/

At home you need to keep a close eye on any equipment or appliance that burns fuel.  In a public building like a restaurant you can inquire about their most recent safety inspections, but you may also want to consider the charms of dining on the patio.

Bermuda Triangle

Many ships and planes have disappeared over the last several years in an area of the Atlantic Ocean commonly referred to as The Bermuda Triangle.  Speculation about the causes of these disappearances has ranged from aliens, to sea monsters, to wormholes.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a few theories to offer which are somewhat more firmly rooted in science: 

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/bermudatri.html

Although, "oceanic flatulence" is certainly something I wish was science fiction rather than science.

Surgeon General's Report on Smoking

1964 was an important year for America.  It brought us not only the Beatles, but also the Surgeon General's first report on the dangers of smoking.  In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the original report, a new report has been issued to review the progress we've made: 

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/index.html

The report reveals that in 1964, 42% of the adult population smoked.  In 2014 that number has dropped to 18%.  Still, "5.6 million children alive today will ultimately die early from smoking if we do not do more to reduce current smoking rates."  George Harrison died from lung cancer.  Let's hope the mega-talents of tomorrow will avoid the pitfalls of smoking and survive to see the 50th anniversaries of their legendary bands.