In The News: College of Sciences
The whole concept of an electromagnetic pulse sounds like science fiction, but they are very real.
No one enjoys boarding an airplane. It’s slow, it’s inefficient, and often undignified. And that’s without even getting into the ethical quandary of so-called gate lice, the anxious passengers who cluster at the gate before their group is called. But at least one part of the process doesn’t need to be disrupted. When it comes to shunting slow-moving passengers to the front of the queue, such as those requiring assistance or with small children, the airlines have it exactly right.
Commercial airlines often prioritize boarding for passengers traveling with small children, or for those who need extra assistance—in other words, those likely to be slower to stow their bags and take their seats—before starting to board the faster passengers. It's counter-intuitive, but it turns out that letting slower passengers board first actually results in a more efficient process and less time before takeoff, according to a new paper in Physical Review E.
Dr. Ming-Wei Wu drives his son and daughter to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and escorts them to and from classes.
Dr. Ming-Wei Wu drives his son and daughter to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and escorts them to and from classes.
Molecules containing noble gases shouldn’t exist. By definition, these chemical elements — helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon — are the party poopers of the periodic table, huddling in the rightmost column and refusing to make molecules. Indeed, no one has ever seen any naturally occurring noble gas molecules on Earth. Earlier this decade, though, astronomers accidentally discovered one of these aloof elements in molecules in space.
Molecules containing noble gases shouldn’t exist. By definition, these chemical elements — helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon — are the party poopers of the periodic table, huddling in the rightmost column and refusing to make molecules. Indeed, no one has ever seen any naturally occurring noble gas molecules on Earth. Earlier this decade, though, astronomers accidentally discovered one of these aloof elements in molecules in space.
When John Hiatt moved to southwest Las Vegas in 1976, the water level for his domestic well was 115 feet below the surface. A decade and a half later, it dropped to 140 feet.
Improving the airplane boarding experience has become something of a holy grail over the years, especially after a 1998 Boeing study suggested that airlines could increase profits by decreasing airplane turnaround time. Since then, airlines have invested significant time and money into seeing if they can speed up one of the most frustrating parts of air travel—and that’s saying a lot, considering the other frustrating elements of flying.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) maintains a list of more than 500 species of trees and plants adapted to the region’s harsh desert climate. Drought tolerance, water use, growth rate and other qualities associated with each species are included on the list, helping municipalities and property owners make responsible landscape choices.
There is no question that carbon dioxide levels are rising to unprecedented levels, at least compared to the prior 800,000 years.
Boarding is one of the more stressful parts of a plane journey. The current ways most airlines board their planes leave a lot to be desired when it comes to efficiency. But there are some options which could make the whole process a lot easier.