Ask Science

Ever wondered if we could identify someone by their breath? How fast you can propel a rocket using fusion power? If you can shoot at a plane with lasers and cause the pilot to burst into flame? Watch AskScience Live! Despite some technical hurdles with the G+ event, I'd say it went well last night. If you weren't able the join us live, the video is now up on youtube. It's my birthday today, and if you didn't get me anything, you can make it up for me by just watching this :-)
I'm trying something new. For several years now, I've been contributing to an online community called r/askscience. It's a place where curious people can ask questions, and have them answered - often with great, yet understandable detail - by expert scientists that have a passion for explaining their work. It's an amazing forum, and I'm continually astounded that so many scientists are so willing to donate their time and expertise to educate people, and that so many people are interested in hearing them do so. Unfortunately, not everyone that would appreciate this sort of thing are using…