Heroes should never be forgotten, but unfortunately too many of them in the field of science go missing from our classroom textbooks. Equally disturbing is that a disproportionate number of these heroes overlooked are women and minorities.

While the average American young person will likely have no trouble detailing the...

The answers to some of the biggest challenges facing us this century lie waiting to be discovered in the laboratories and institutions of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. But we must remember, scientists do not operate in a vacuum in such endeavors.

Increasingly, policy makers -- often working in the...

In what started out as a hopeful trickle more than four years ago has seemingly evolved into a full-blown trend: Suddenly it's cool and hip to be a scientist in Hollywood. Ranging from such blockbuster films as The Amazing Spiderman, Battleship, The Avengers, and Iron Man 2 to TV hits...

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan

The excitement, the rigors and the risk of scientific discovery: Sagan loved and shared these emotions more effectively and openly with us than perhaps any other contemporary scientist. And in the process he helped catapult "science outreach" into the...

It's strange but true: some of the most prodigious innovations in technology are often not born in the corridors of rational thought and reality, but on the wings of fantasy.

I was reminded of this recently while reading the various tributes to legendary science fiction writer Ray Bradbury who died...

Similar to what the legendary Woodstock Festival did in gathering and celebrating the best and the brightest in the world of rock, the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival hosted by Lockheed Martin, the nation's largest celebration of science and engineering, has assembled some of the country's...

In our world of high-tech bravado, I often wonder where we'd be without explorers -- those undaunted heroes and heroines of the past and of today whose achievements, like an unforgettable song or movie -- form a lasting impression in the brain over what the human spirit can accomplish with...

A visit to Washington, DC in the spring is always exciting, but this season the 'wow" factor in the nation's capital goes up a notch with the 100th Celebration of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Saturday, April 14.

Always a must-see event with its spectacular array of...

The world runs on science and math, but let's face it, to get this across effectively to young students we sometimes have to get a little, well... messy.

No one knows this better than math and science author Sean Connolly who's gained a reputation with kids and...

Planet Earth -- that fragile blue marble in space that we call home -- deserves better from all of us, I think we would agree.

And for good reason. With such issues as energy, pollution, conservation and sustainability, and climate becoming rising worldwide concerns, it behooves everyone to do...

When searching for a prime, real-life example of how science and technology are making a difference in the world right now, my thoughts lately turn to a small but feisty green-tech startup that you may never have heard of: Kurion, Inc.

Based in Irvine, CA with 15 employees,...

With the human genome decoded, science is poised now to set sights on a more ethereal realm: human consciousness, one of the least understood facets of human cognition.

Deep within this frontier where brain and mind intersect, lie a host of questions and mysteries yet to be fully examined,...

It's both funny and remarkable how some of the most simple and natural acts we do each day are teeming in science.

Take for example, the kiss.

A kiss, especially a passionate one, sets off a cascade of emotions and chemical reactions in our brain and body that would surprise...

Encouraging and motivating kids early in science and engineering via exciting, hands-on interactions in discovery may be one of the most important steps to boosting their interest and performance in these fields.

But if you think this job falls to teachers alone, you're wrong. Parents can, and should, play...

Tinkering -- that hands-on, garage-based tradition which sparked inventions ranging from the airplane and electric light bulb to the Apple computer -- is making a comeback among average Americans, promising to change our lives for the better on several fronts.

Known by such monikers as DIY (Do It Yourself) and...

George Whitesides, president and CEO of Virgin Galactic -- the pioneering U.S.-based space tourism company -- made a thought-provoking statement recently that does a great job of crystallizing just how far we have come in space travel and exploration.

Said Whitesides: "It's important for children...

Ahh celebrities. From music and acting to the world of supermodeling and sports -- they are respected, admired, even worshiped, for their talent and magnetism. But herein lies the danger when these stars publicly espouse or endorse viewpoints and products in health and medicine without first thoroughly exploring the scientific...

They say New Year's resolutions are meant to be broken. But as another year begins, here is a national challenge we cannot afford to ignore, and should resolve to address without delay: the declining number of young Americans entering the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The next time we feel dubious over whether today's young people possess the talent, courage, drive and commitment to assume mantles of leadership in innovation for tomorrow's competitive global arena, let's remember stories such as this:

In winter 2010, three recent college grads -- all in their early 20s --...

Most movies that bring robots to the big screen do so in heavy sci-fi, big budget fashion, such as the Transformers franchise or I, Robot. What about robots in a contemporary documentary, one that inspires STEM education? Bots High is a film that does so, following high school...