Jackie Koppell

Read the latest articles by Jackie Koppell at Seeker

Contributor

Artificial Intelligence

Space & Innovation

Will AI Destroy All Humans, or Help Us Build a Better Future?

Vanity Fair - <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/news/tech/2014/11/artificial-intelligence-singularity-theory">Enthusiasts and Skeptics Debate Artificial Intelligence</a>Stanford - <a href="http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/blog/2013/12/human-error-cause-vehicle-crashes">Human Error as a Cause for Vehicle Crashes</a>The Guardian - <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/30/rise-of-robots-evil-artificial-intelligence-uc-berkeley">The Rise of Robots </a>Wired - <a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/06/ai-healthcare/">Artificial Intelligence Is Now Telling Your Doctor How To Treat You</a>NPR - <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/03/16/470011574/what-artificial-intelligence-could-mean-for-education">What Artificial Intelligence Could Mean For Education</a>

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster has been regarded as the worst nuclear accident in history.

Chernobyl's Massive Radiation Shield Is Preventing Nuclear Fallout

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster has been regarded as the worst nuclear accident in history. The fallout from the event has affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, and left behind one of the most radioactive sites in the world. Shortly after the accident, construction crews and clean-up personnel known as "liquidators" risked their lives to construct and concrete and steel sarcophagus to seal in radioactive material. This sarcophagus still stands today, but is unstable due to years of erosion.This issue led over 40 countries and multiple organizations to work together to build a better, larger solution. The New Safe Confinement (NSC) has moved into place to cover Chernobyl's decomposing tomb. Weighing in at 35,000 tons, the structure is taller than the Statue of Liberty and longer than two jumbo jets. The purpose of the structure is to encapsulate the contaminated sarcophagus and close it off from the environment with an airtight seal. Once the NSC is sealed, crews will then begin the long process of dismantling the old enclosure to prevent it from collapsing.Thanks to the hard work of the crews and backers of this project, an additional nuclear disaster has been averted. Although this is a tremendous feat, it cannot go without mentioning that due to the nature of radioactive material, the site will remain contaminated for the foreseeable future. We would like to thank The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for providing us with video assets for this episode. For more information on their involvement with the New Safe Confinement, visit: http://www.ebrd.com/what-we-do/sectors/nuclear-safety/chernobyl-new-safe-confinement.html

Read More: Caltech - Herschel Discovers Infrared LightNASA - What Wavelength Goes With a Color?

This Invisible Light Shows Us What Our Eyes Can't See

Read More: Caltech - <a href="http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/classroom_activities/herschel_bio.html">Herschel Discovers Infrared Light</a>NASA - <a href="https://science-edu.larc.nasa.gov/EDDOCS/Wavelengths_for_Colors.html#invisible">What Wavelength Goes With a Color? </a>NASA JPL - <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/infrared-astronomical-satellite-iras/">Infrared Astronomical Satellite</a>Space.com - <a href="http://www.space.com/25732-redshift-blueshift.html">What Are Redshift and Blueshift?</a>

Conservation

Earth & Conservation

This is the face of an American environmentalist.

When Did Environmentalism Become So Political?

This is the face of an American environmentalist. Richard Nixon, former republican President of the United States. You see, not that long ago, environmentalism was a fairly bipartisan issue. But all that changed.

Learn More: Al Jazeera: Ismail Guelleh wins fourth term as Djibouti presidentNPR: In Reversal, Gambian President Rejects Loss And Calls For New ElectionBBC: Equatorial Guinea profile - Leaders

Why African Leaders Are Refusing To Give Up Power

Learn More: Al Jazeera: <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/04/ismail-guelleh-wins-fourth-term-djibouti-president-160409042824002.html" target="_blank">Ismail Guelleh wins fourth term as Djibouti president</a>NPR: <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/10/505103338/in-reversal-gambian-president-rejects-loss-and-calls-for-new-election" target="_blank">In Reversal, Gambian President Rejects Loss And Calls For New Election</a>BBC: <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13317176" target="_blank">Equatorial Guinea profile - Leaders</a>

Learn More:NY Times: Phyllis Schlafly's Lasting Legacy in Defeating the E.R.A.LA Times: 'Equal rights' for women: wrong then, wrong nowUS News: Ginsburg: Make ERA Part of the Constitution

Are Women Standing In The Way Of Their Own Equality?

Learn More:NY Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/12/us/phyllis-schlaflys-lasting-legacy-in-defeating-the-era.html" target="_blank">Phyllis Schlafly's Lasting Legacy in Defeating the E.R.A.</a>LA Times: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/la-op-schafly8apr08-story.html" target="_blank">'Equal rights' for women: wrong then, wrong now</a>US News: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2014/04/18/justice-ginsburg-make-equal-rights-amendment-part-of-the-constitution" target="_blank">Ginsburg: Make ERA Part of the Constitution</a>

It's generally agreed that 2016 will go down in history as a titanic bummer of a year.

You Now Have A New Organ: Meet The Mesentery!

It's generally agreed that 2016 will go down in history as a <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2016/07/is_2016_the_worst_year_in_history.html" target="_blank">titanic bummer</a> of a year. But on the bright side, we each got a new internal organ. That's something, right? It's all about classification, really. It seems that the grouping of tissues known as the <a href="http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/fundamentals/the-human-body/organ-systems" target="_blank">mesentery</a> was recently upgraded to organ status, by those who get paid to classify such things.The Organ Formerly Known as a Tissue is a fold in the inner lining of your torso that suspends and attaches intestinal organs to the abdominal cavity. So how does a grouping of cells get promoted from tissue to organ? It's pretty interesting, actually. In today's DNews report, <a href="http://www.seeker.com/community/trace_dominguez/" target="_blank">Trace Dominguez</a> breaks down medical classification systems and profiles our proud new organ, the mesentery.Read More:Seeker: <a href="http://www.seeker.com/a-brand-new-human-organ-has-been-identified-2177481699.html">A Brand-New Human Organ Has Been Identified</a>Eureka Alert!: <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-12/uol-isi121616.php">Irish surgeon identifies emerging area of medical science</a>Nature: <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v523/n7560/full/nature14432.html">Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels</a>

Read More:Get 15% off Domain.com's domain names and web hosting when you use coupon code DNEWS at checkout

You Don't Even Want To Know About Bacteria On The Space Station

Read More:Get 15% off <a href="http://www.domain.com" target="_blank">Domain.com's</a> domain names and web hosting when you use coupon code DNEWS at checkout!NASA: <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-research-collaboration-explores-microbiome-of-the-space-station">New Research Collaboration Explores Microbiome of the Space Station</a>Scientific American: <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-does-ultraviolet-ligh/">How does ultraviolet light kill cells?</a>Nature: <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/npjmgrav20167">Four-year bacterial monitoring in the International Space Station-Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" with culture-independent approach</a>

Read More:TIME: What We Know About When Jesus Was Actually BornEarth Sky: Was the Christmas Star real?Space.com: Was the Star of Bethlehem a Star, Comet ... or Miracle?

Can Science Determine When Jesus Was Actually Born?

Read More:TIME: <a href="http://time.com/4157162/jesus-born-christmas/">What We Know About When Jesus Was Actually Born</a>Earth Sky: <a href="http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/was-the-christmas-star-real">Was the Christmas Star real?</a>Space.com: <a href="http://www.space.com/14036-christmas-star-bethlehem-comet-planet-theories.html">Was the Star of Bethlehem a Star, Comet ... or Miracle?</a>

Read More:Discovery Wildlife: Why do female reindeer grow antlers

If Antlers Are So Heavy, Why Do Animals Have Them?

Read More:Discovery Wildlife: <a href="http://www.discoverwildlife.com/animals/mammals/why-do-female-reindeer-grow-antlers">Why do female reindeer grow antlers?</a>Britannica: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/runaway-selection-hypothesis">Runaway selection hypothesis</a>Phys: <a href="http://phys.org/news/2016-11-evolution-phenomenon-puzzled-darwin.amp">Study explains evolution phenomenon that puzzled Darwin</a>

Japan's economy has been struggling for decades.

What's Life Really Like For Women In Japan?

Japan's economy has been struggling for decades. Due to an aging population and fewer people working, they're now facing their second recession in two years. As a solution to this, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for more women to join the workforce. But Japanese society has long upheld the tradition of women caring for the home and children, while men work to earn money. What does this shift mean for the future of women in the country? Today's Seeker Daily video has more on what life is really like for women in Japan.  <a href="http://smart.link/57ae195b47796">Check out Discovery GO!</a>Learn More:Wall Street Journal: <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/lack-of-workers-hobbles-japans-growth-1447635365">Lack of Workers Hobbles Japan's Growth</a>NPR: <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/01/05/460801951/will-more-day-care-help-boost-japans-sluggish-economy">Will More Day Care Help Boost Japan's Sluggish Economy?</a>CNN: <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/30/news/economy/japan-women-senior-positions/index.html">Japan's program to boost senior women in work is a dud</a>

Jackie Koppell

Latest Posts From Jackie

Will AI Destroy All Humans, or Help Us Build a Better Future?

The debate over the impact of artificial intelligence won't go away any time soon. So, which side are you on?

Chernobyl's Massive Radiation Shield Is Preventing Nuclear Fallout

Chernobyl's New Safe Confinement is protecting the world from another nuclear disaster.

This Invisible Light Shows Us What Our Eyes Can't See

Infrared light is all around us even though we cannot see it. Find out how this invisible radiation impacts our everyday lives.

When Did Environmentalism Become So Political?

When you think of environmentalism, does Richard Nixon come to mind?

Why African Leaders Are Refusing To Give Up Power

Many African leaders extend their presidential terms beyond reasonable limits, ruling for decades. So how did it get this way?

Why African Leaders Are Refusing To Give Up Power

Many African leaders extend their presidential terms beyond reasonable limits, ruling for decades. So how did it get this way?

Are Women Standing In The Way Of Their Own Equality?

With the first female president within reach of the White House, 42% of women voted for Trump. When did American women become so divided?

You Now Have A New Organ: Meet The Mesentery!

Why did it take us so long to identify a new human organ? What does the mesentery do and how often are we "discovering" new organs?

You Don't Even Want To Know About Bacteria On The Space Station

Think the ISS is squeaky clean...think again! Bacteria like Staphylococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae absolutely thrive in space stations!

Can Science Determine When Jesus Was Actually Born?

What was the 'Star of Bethlehem' and was it really shining on Jesus' birthday? Astronomers offer some theories.

If Antlers Are So Heavy, Why Do Animals Have Them?

Sure, Rudolph has a red nose, but does it have antlers? Is ornamentation even beneficial to any species?

What's Life Really Like For Women In Japan?

With the economy struggling, Prime Minister Abe proposed increasing the role of women in Japan's traditional society. So has it worked?