Science & Technology

The USDA says it’s officially ending a controversial experiment that involves kittens. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, Oregon lawmakers and animal welfare advocates are delighted.

After nine days, some McKenzie Bridge residents are seeing the first flickers of electricity following a power outage caused by last week’s snow storm.  For some, the loss of power created a serious risk. But for those river inhabitants secure with “the basics” to survive (warmth, water, food,) some found hidden joys in letting go of extras and just taking it easy.

A new license plate featuring a gray whale and her calf will be available in Oregon as of February 1st. Sales will help fund whale research.

The next generation of high-tech adhesives may get a jump-start from the science behind sticky frog tongues. New research led by Oregon State University’s College of Engineering finds the chemical makeup of frog mucus could guide design for glues used in mechanics and medicine.

As part of their 150th Anniversary Celebration, Oregon State University is hosting a free, day-long symposium Tuesday on “the promise and peril of artificial intelligence and robotics.”

Lane Bloodworks, a non-profit blood service in Eugene, is rolling out a new app today that’s intended to increase blood donations from millennials.

It’s common for kids to do headstands and blow bubbles. But whales? Marine researchers are seeing these creatures in a different light thanks to unmanned aerial systems, better known as drones. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.

In the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning, the Parker Solar Probe blasted off from Cape Canaveral.  Among those watching was an astrophysicist who worked on the unique spacecraft…who’s also a Springfield native and survivor of the 1998 Thurston School Shooting. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.

The Eugene Science Center is getting some new equipment after successfully matching a challenge grant for an updated planetarium.

Spring. A time when many Oregonians’ thoughts turn to…fresh, locally-grown produce.  And now a state organization says there’s an app for finding the grower closest to you, even while traveling. KLCC’s Brian Bull explains.

A Springfield boy will soon get his first prosthetics thanks to a clever collaboration between University of Oregon students and advocates for people with disabilities. As KLCC's Tiffany Eckert reports, the project is building more than limbs. It's creating opportunities to learn and use new technology for a greater good.

An epic, worldwide battle of robots has drawn local high schoolers to Texas. KLCC’s Brian Bull caught up with one robotics team as it prepared to leave this morning.

Last weekend’s 75 mile per hour winds brought an unexpected visitor to the region…more than a thousand miles away from its likely home. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.

Eugene is receiving $90,000 in grant money. The Mozilla  Foundation – the non-profit arm of Firefox – is providing the funds, for what it calls “tech for good” projects.  KLCC’s Brian Bull reports. 

Oregon is one of the top ten states in the nation for scientific innovation, according to a new report.  KLCC’s Brian Bull has more.

Tonight, commissioners with the Eugene Water and Electric Board discussed so-called “smart meters”. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, EWEB hopes to get more customers using the devices.

What started as an experiment to bring women to a conversation about technology has become its own entity. “Redefining Women in Tech” has big plans for the future, including taking advantage of a recent grant.

The role of unmanned aerial systems – or drones – in urban combat situations is being developed by the U.S. Defense Department, with the help of an Oregon State University professor.  KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.

Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is ceasing all medical and surgical services for horses, llamas, and alpacas for at least two weeks.  As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, it’s because they’ve isolated a horse infected with a potentially harmful virus. 

An outbreak of a bacterial disease has caused sick or dead sea lions to wash up on Oregon and California beaches.  KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.  

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fleet of research vessels travel the globe. In the case of the Fairweather, it’s been charting the waters around Alaska since it left NOAA's Newport facility in May. Before it pushed off, KLCC's Brian Bull got a quick tour with the ship’s commander, Mark VanWaes. 

This audio postcard is part of KLCC’s ongoing 50th Anniversary tour. 

Excitement is building among scientists and the general public about the upcoming solar eclipse which passes through Oregon Monday August 21st. KLCC's Rachael McDonald speaks with a University of Oregon Astronomer.

The University of Oregon has hired a Nobel laureate in physics, to join their faculty this fall.  KLCC’s Brian Bull reports. 

One month from today, more than a million visitors are expected to be in Oregon for the total solar eclipse. Planning has been going on for years and is kicking into high gear. On the coast there are special concerns – and opportunities – for residents and tourists.

Oregon State University has received funding for a new class of research vessel for the U.S. Academic Fleet. The $122 million grant from the National Science Foundation is the largest in the university’s history.

The total solar eclipse is 2 months away. Scientists shared their excitement at a NASA briefing Wednesday, but transportation officials in Oregon, and other states the eclipse will pass over, are bracing for cosmic traffic jams.