Fluoridation of Water Not a Cut and Dried Matter
For approximately 60 years, many cities in the country have been adding fluoride to drinking water for the primary purpose of preventing tooth decay. Fluoridating public drinking water, however, remains somewhat controversial, with its critics claiming at best it provides little to no benefit and may do more harm than good. →
'Petoskey Stone': Michigan’s State Stone
The Hexagonaria coral is a colonial marine animal that lived in warm shallow salt water tropical seas. To paleontologists, this coral truly does not become a “Petoskey stone” until someone slices and polishes it (and charges lots of money for it). In its natural form, it is really a piece of Hexagonaria coral. Scattered along the northern Lower Peninsula shorelines of Lakes Huron and Michigan, this fossil holds natural attraction for people. One can sometimes see this coral, rounded by relentless waves, worn smooth and showing its beautiful internal structure. It is easy to see that rock hounds, jewelry makers and almost everyone would be taken by this striking fossil. →
State Law Requires the Killing of Unlicensed Dogs
Simply not paying as little as $10 for a dog license could result in your local county government being forced to kill your dog, according to an antiquated Michigan state law that dates back to 1919. →
Forecast: Cloudy
Most of us know someone who has a second home or spends a significant amount of time in a warm-weather state during the winter. What do they have that many of us don’t? Aside from a really nice condo in Naples, they have more sunshine to brag about.
Several Michigan cities are on the list of the 10 cloudiest in the Midwest. There are meteorological reasons for this, but there are also side effects that may affect everything from your attitude and mood to your health. →
Environmental Regulation in Michigan: A Blueprint for Reform
Michigan needs a sensible regulatory system more than ever, as technology provides businesses more flexibility in locating and moving their operations. Much is made of loss of jobs to foreign competition, but the bigger threat facing Michigan is job loss to other states, such as Indiana, that have fewer regulatory barriers. For example, Michigan’s wetland statute and implementation of federal wetland law are more stringent than in other states that Michigan competes with for jobs.
The good news is Michigan’s uncompetitive regulatory bureaucracy can be fixed with common-sense reform.
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AN ADVISORY council will study the feasibility of a limited moose hunt in the Upper Peninsula. Former Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation in late December allowing for the study, which is tasked with studying the sustainability of the herd if hunting is allowed.
AMERICAN OIL production could increase 20 percent by 2015 as drilling companies invest billions of dollars to drill new wells in North Dakota, Colorado, California and Texas.
COLD WATER temperatures appear to be the cause of death for about 2 million fish in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay
INVERTED PENDULUMS
Now Open
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Ann Arbor
Students can use a computer to control this inverted pendulum, created by University of Michigan students. The inverted pendulum demonstrates many key aspects of science and technology, and uses the same circuitry as Segways and other fascinating innovations.
COLLECTIONS, SCIENCE, AND SCHOLARSHIP
Open through July 31, 2011
University of Michigan Museum
Ann Arbor
"The exhibit showcases collections research... that any researcher can use to test previous research, conduct new studies, and compare newly collected material to earlier discoveries."
MONARCH BUTTERFLY AND CECROPIA MOTH
Now Open
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Ann Arbor
"Experience Monarch caterpillar metamorphosis first-hand. Observe dozens of Cecropia caterpillars feeding on apple leaves and busily spinning their cocoons. You might even see a Monarch Butterfly emerge from a chrysalis and released into the wild by our staff."
