Featured image: Todd Neff’s new book shows how Lidar has, for example, revolutionized Aztec archeology by making it possible to map the rainforest floor underneath the trees. (courtesy Todd Neff)
This week is the first of a series of book giveaways we are bringing to our show (look out for more in coming weeks), thanks to Kelsey Ockert of the Princeton Public Library! Kelsey describes to us the history and future of Lidar, a laser imaging technology that’s enabling new research and technology in many unexpected ways. The book we discuss is “The Laser That’s Changing the World: The Amazing Stories behind Lidar, from 3D Mapping to Self-Driving Cars” by Todd Neff.
In other news:
- Red dwarfs have very violent solar flares that might make life impractical on planets nearby.
- It’s not easy to save species on the brink of extinction, but scientists are hypothesizing how we should optimize conservation budgets to preserve nature’s diversity.
- Dogs really can learn words, or at least their brain activity changes when they hear old versus new words.
Thanks for listening! The playlist can be found online at WPRB.com or below.
These Vibes Are Too Cosmic 