These examples illustrate how an interesting story may lead to a topic.
Roman Aqueducts
The ancient Romans’ skill in civil engineering
helped make them one of the most advanced civilizations of their
time. One engineering marvel was the development of a sophisticated
water distribution system. In any large city, the supply of water
and the removal of sewage are critical issues. The Romans solved
this problem with a system of large canals, called aqueducts.
Engineers chose a water source from which water flowed naturally,
such as a spring, then they built aqueducts to bring the water
to the city. Within the city, water was carried to different areas
using a series of tanks, pipes, and valves. Water would flow out
of the city and into a river as sewage. The entire system used
a constant gradient (slope) that was carefully calculated so that
water would flow at just the right speed. Ancient Rome's aqueducts
delivered 38 million gallons of water to the city every day, supplying
1,200 public fountains, eleven large public baths, two man-made
lakes, and hundreds of thousands of homes.
Thinking Questions: Is ancient Roman technology in practical use today?
How have we built upon their knowledge of engineering? What kinds
of science underlie contemporary public works projects? How can
science and new technologies enable us to use natural assets sustainably?
What public work projects are necessary for the future?
Other Possible Categories: Mathematics, History & Government,
Social Science & Culture, Business & Industry
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Most vehicles today depend on gasoline fuel that is made from
petroleum, a limited natural resource. Many scientists are trying
to develop alternative energy sources. One such alternative is
the hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen fuel is usually manufactured
in a process called “electrolysis,” in which the hydrogen
atoms in water are separated from the oxygen atoms and then compressed
into fuel cells. When hydrogen is burned, it recombines with oxygen
(creating water again) and releases energy. Proponents say that
hydrogen fuel is better for the environment than gasoline because
its byproduct is water, not smog and pollutants. However, critics
argue that hydrogen fuel is not efficient because it is not a
primary energy source. Manufacturers must use energy from other
sources to create hydrogen fuel through electrolysis; because
manufacturers must use energy to make more energy, some of the
efficiency is canceled out.
Thinking Questions: What are other energy alternatives to petroleum
and fossil fuels? What are their pros and cons? How is the burning
of fossil fuels affecting our planet? How can scientists, government
leaders, and industry make alternative energy more available?
How can public transportation be improved?
Other Possible Categories: Business & Industry, History
& Government
Smart Materials & Textiles
Many jobs require special clothing. Firefighters need clothing
that prevents them from getting burned. Professional athletes
need light, cool clothing to run comfortably. Deep-sea divers
need suits to keep them warm underwater. Throughout history, inventors
have created materials and textiles to meet these special needs.
Today, modern inventors are using nanotechnology to get materials
to do more than ever before. Nanotechnology is the study of things
that are smaller than 100 or 200 nanometers (a piece of your hair
is about 80,000 nanometers across!). Researchers are trying to
create new materials by using very tiny components of nature as
building blocks. Nano-Tex, a company based in California, U.S.,
makes fabric that can repel stains, eliminate wrinkles, and shed
water. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) are trying to make special, reactive material for military
uniforms. The material would transform into armor or provide emergency
medical care when needed. In the future, researchers could develop
weather-responsive clothing that would warm up or cool down, depending
on the surrounding climate.
Thinking Questions: How else could nanotechnology be used in the future?
What other kinds of technology might be used to create the clothing
of the future? How could new types of clothing help people do
their jobs better and improve their quality of life?
Other Possible Categories: Business & Industry
Citations:
- King, Jay. “Supplying Fresh Water to
Roman Cities.” Roman History, Coins, and Technology
Back Pages. College of Education, San Jose State University.
10 Mar. 2004 <http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/engineer/art5a.htm>.
- “About Hydrogen.” 4hydrogen.com. Environmental Media Northwest. 27 Jul. 2004 <http://4hydrogen.com/about.html>.
- “Fuel cell.” WordIQ Encyclopedia. 23 Aug. 2004 <http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Fuel_cell>.
- “Burlington Notes Progress in New Technology
Initiative.” Home page. 27 Jun. 1999. Nano-Tex,
LLC. 3 Aug. 2004 <http://www.nano-tex.com/news/
press_releases_6_27_1999.htm?document_id=3341>.
- “Soldier of the Future.” Home page. Jan. 2004. MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies.
22 Jul. 2004 <http://web.mit.edu//isn/aboutisn/isnvideo.html>.
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