An important step toward high-temp superonductors

There was a lot of buzz a few years ago about the possibility of room-temperature superconductors. Didn’t work out as fast as some people hoped, but an important step has been taken along the necessary research road.

Iraq becoming a normal society?

Deep divisions? Loud arguments? Demonstrations? Sounds promising.

A Friendly Drink in a Time of War

I don’t post much about politics here…yet. But read this. It says a lot I agree with.

This week’s science column…

Snowplow Science Copyright 2004 by Edward Willett There’s nothing like a good blizzard to bring home to Canadians the importance of that otherwise seldom-heralded piece of technology known as the snowplow. The first highway snowplows were developed early in the 20th century, shortly after there were enough automobiles around to require them. (Michigan claims to …

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The FIRST Edward Willett who wrote

Here’s a brief biography (and even a writing sample!) of a previous author named Edward Willett. He was born 129 years before I came around, but we’re probably at least distantly related, from what little I know of Willett genealogy.

Say what?

Howard Dean in the Democratic candidates’ debate: “‘You know, my words are not always precise, but my meaning is very, very clear.’” Gee, I wish that worked for me as a writer…

SF Canada Website updated

I’ve just updated the SF Canada Website; there’s an interview with editor John R. Douglas, a short story by Steven Mills, and, of course, lots of news from Canadian SF writers. Check it out!

Adapting to the Cold

Here’s this week’s science column… *********** ADAPTING TO THE COLD By Edward Willett Every January, we residents of Saskatchewan ask ourselves the same question: why are we here, instead of in the tropics? There’s a scientific version of that same question: how have humans, who evolved in the tropics, managed to survive in the even-icier-than-Saskatchewan …

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Adapting to the cold

Every January, we residents of Saskatchewan ask ourselves the same question: why are we here, instead of in the tropics? There’s a scientific version of that same question: how have humans, who evolved in the tropics, managed to survive in the even-icier-than-Saskatchewan climes of the far north? The January 9 edition of the scientific journal …

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A Modest Proposal (

Another good response to the proposed Moon/Mars focus for NASA.

It just ain’t good English

I get very tired of seeing this particular grammatical error, from an ABC story: “After receiving a friendly reception at the church, more than 100 demonstrators chanted ‘Down with Bush’ from behind barricades a block away from the D-Day Museum, where Bush attended a fund-raiser.” This says, of course, that the demonstrators received a friendly …

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We’re going back…

And, as often, James Lileks writes what I feel, too.