Articles written by Dr. E. Kirsten Peters
Sorted by date Results 1 - 10 of 10
Climate change effects date back to ancient times
Climate is always changing. That’s one truth that stands out from the record around the world of natural samples of Earth materials, of tree rings, ice layers, and so much more. But how much has past climate change influenced... — Updated 12/31/2014
Getting behind the humming science of electrical power
Think about the most complicated machine you’ve dealt with in the past year. Was it a beeping monitor tethered to a high-tech device in an emergency room? Or was it a super fast computer you used at work? Actually, the most... — Updated 6/20/2014
Gas or Electric: A tale of two stoves
My elderly aunt recently came into some money. She decided — very generously — to send part of it to each of her nieces and nephews. This gave me the task of choosing how I wanted to spend an unexpected $1,000. I decided to buy... — Updated 6/5/2014
Engineering different ways to make biofuel
When you fill your tank, you likely see a little sticker on the pump saying part of the fuel is ethanol. Ethanol is a biofuel, which means it comes from plants like corn, rather than from fossil fuel — ancient carbon that’s bee... — Updated 5/29/2014
Keep tabs on your vitamin D levels, diet may be insufficient source
My mother lives with me and I’m involved in her medical care. She’s a tough cookie. But like many 88-year-olds, she has several health problems. We visit her doctor at least once a month to report what’s working and what isn... — Updated 3/27/2014
Termites and better biofuels
By Dr. E. KIRESTEN PETERS Contributor Every time I fill my gas tank, I see the notice on the pump that explains part of the fuel I’m buying is ethanol. Ethanol is alcohol, a type of biofuel rather than fossil fuel. While... — Updated 3/6/2014
A step forward in predicting volcanic eruptions
There are two main things most people would like to know about particular volcanoes: when is the next eruption and how big will that eruption be? Scientists in Iceland have taken another step forward in monitoring volcanoes to... — Updated 2/27/2014
Those small, short-lived but splendid snowflakes
Those of us living in the northern half of the country can be forgiven for being tired – at this stage of winter – of shoveling snow. I enjoy the brightness snow can bring to... — Updated 2/13/2014
A brisk walking pace is better
One of the things my mutt from the pound and I like to do together is go on long walks. Sometimes on weekends Buster Brown and I stroll at the bottom of the Snake River Canyon where dogs can be off-leash (as Mother Nature... — Updated 2/6/2014
New ice cores may shed some more light on past climate change
Late in the last century scientists published reams of data about Earth’s climate derived from ice cores taken from Greenland and Antarctic. By drilling down into the polar ice with hollow bits, workers were able to pull columns... — Updated 6/26/2013