igross's blog

A recent article in the Economist examines the professional paths that lead to high-ranking political positions in different countries. Take China for example, where leaders tend to have an engineering background. This stands in contrast to the United States where law degrees are more common.

The spread of swine influenze continued today with a report of the first case in Asia. This most recent case followed an announcement by the World Health Organization that the global spread of the disease is highly likely.

Discussions about investing in the future are increasingly popular with the passage of the economic stimulus package. Much of those discussions have focused on investments in green technologies. The argument goes that investments made now by the United States to combat global warming can save money later.

How is "web 2.0" straining second-tier universities during a time of financial uncertainty?

Election fever is sweeping through India. Voting starts this week in a marathon series of elections that will run through May 13. In this upcoming election, young people in India are poised to assert influence like never before. This assertion of influence is being propelled by a large youth population, a new sense of civic engagement among young people in India, and the increased use of technology.

Returning from major holidays in Christianity (Easter) and Judaism (Passover), it is an opportune time to reflect on the future of religion in the United States, drawing on historical data from 1990-2008. Let's examine three trends shaping the future of religious engagement in America.

Last week, the World Affairs Council of America (WACA) hosted the 6th Academic Worldquest competition. High school students from across the country came to compete. The team game tested competitors' knowledge of international affairs, geography, history and culture with categories ranging from Germany to transnational crime. Shaping the content of the categories was the Seven Revolutions project.

Since the 1950s, many in science have claimed that human-like robots are right around the corner. But, even with the technology today, it seems as though our society is far from being able to create a robot that can fully mimic a human. The hold-up is a result of the current inability to produce a "computer-based brain" which is powerful as those we posses. But, this article argues human-like computation in robots will be realized within 30 years or less.

Today marks the debut of the Tata Nano. Produced by Tata, an Indian motor company, the Nano will be the cheapest car in the world costing only $2,000 (100,000 Rs). Called the “people’s car”, the inexpensive Nano, Tata hopes, will bring motoring to the masses in India.

On March 7, the USNS Impeccable, a U.S. navy vessel, was operating about 75 miles off the coast of Hainan in the East China Sea (in international waters). Reports indicate that the Ocean Surveillance Ship was approached by five Chinese boats, one of which came within 25 feet of the USNS Impeccable. Despite several warnings by the U.S. naval vessel, the Chinese ships persisted in their hostile maneuvers.