Recently, I had the occasion to ponder the principle of fail-safe while whirling around at breakneck speeds 20 feet off the ground. Since nothing works perfectly forever—including terrifying carnival rides—it's reassuring to know that the principle of fail-safe takes this simple fact of life into account.

Whenever cancer is discussed, a familiar phrase is often heard: the earlier it's caught, the better the chances of survival. Early detection is the next best thing to avoiding cancer altogether, and now researchers are hoping to have discovered a safe, new method of detection that relies on a newcomer in the fight for early detection: the nanoparticle. More specifically, MIT's Tech Review reported last week that researchers are beginning early-stage clinical trials on infrared-emiting nanoparticles that they hope will prove effective in detecting early-stage melanoma.

It really bothers me when I see engineering students working on homework that rely upon computer-based references for equations.

Tom Beddard, a web developer and designer with a PhD in laser physics, has combined his math and science expertise with his visual abilities in a new Web-based program that creates gorgeous 3D fractal worlds. Take a look at the sample video in the panel to the right.

The ongoing saga of the Air Products attempted hostile takeover of Airgas has come to a conclusion—for now. Late Tuesday night, a year after this battle began, a Delaware Court ruled against Air Products and did not force a redemption of Airgas’s "poison pill."