LEDs

LEDs are interesting and promising because scientists can now produce wavelenghts throughout the visible spectrum as well as UV light with them.  UV light could be used to kill microbes on objects or in water to prolong the life of food or make water safer to drink.  Certainly UV light can be generated now (without LEDs), but LEDs make it possible to power these “lamps” with much lower voltages.  This opens up the possibility of using solar power to run these devices.  An interesting article I just read follows – this could improve the efficiency of these LEDs:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070302082821.htm

Science Authority?

I recently listened to a podcast on what it means to be a science authority.  Often, an authority quoted in a newspaper or on the daily radio show is the “expert” who happens to be available during the creation of the piece.  The podcast mentioned the benefit journals or shows that have time to research the “experts” perspective.  When a journal publishes monthly, they might have time to verify or look up the validity of a quote.  This certainly isn’t the trend in our society though, we want information quickly… and sometimes I worry that speed is more important that truth.