Discovery

I’ve just started working on an article for Washington State Magazine about the changing role of the library. Without even interviewing a librarian yet, I’ve found the questions quickly accumulating.

Among the really fundamental library sources I used to use for background when delving into a subject or article were the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature, Essay and General Literature Index, and Encyclopedia Britannica.  It’s been years now since I’ve visited a physical library to open a paper version of either.

Britannica, of course, has been online for some time now. I’ve gravitated to other online indexes—as well, I admit, as general Google searches. As most of the more specialized information for whatever I’m working on tends to come from actual interviews with experts and other primary sources, that’s about the extent of my library use any more. In fact, these days, about the only reason I go to the actual library, which is a three-minute walk up the hill from my office, is to check out books.

Books? you say. How quaint. Not yet quaint, I reply. In spite of Kindle and Google digitalization and Bartleby, I plan to buy and read paper books for a long time to come. And I suspect they will be available. Much as I like online reference, other than for reference purposes, I’ve never read a book online or on a machine. (more…)

I’ve always been drawn to high-quality science and science fiction writing, and sometimes it hasn’t been hard to see the lines blurring between the two genres. Science is about experimentation, trial, questioning, and re-testing. But it’s also about imagination and creativity.

The technology of Star Trek and the discoveries throughout the galaxy seem to be on the far edge of that imagination. Yet, the concepts of antimatter and positrons–and the ability to harness that energy–are the subjects of researchers Kelvin Lynn and Marc Weber at WSU. The very idea  grabs my imagination and makes me want to re-watch old episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Becky Phillips of WSU Today captured the two scientists discussing their work on a video: Antimatter – harnessing the power of positrons.

You can read her story, watch the video, and learn more here at WSU Today.