Science
Amid the clacking of keys and the slurping of Red Bull energy drinks, about 30 computer hackers recently gathered in Oakland. Their goal: to make solar energy easier, cheaper and more fun to use. The hackers –- mostly web developers, engineers and solar energy entrepreneurs –- descended last weekend on the sprawling 12,000-square-foot headquarters of SfunCube LLC in Jack London Square. The solar energy incubator and accelerator nurtures enterprising young solar ventures and shelters startups in the industry. Its mission…
A rash followed by itchy, fluid-filled blisters all over a child’s body, usually tells parents their child has chickenpox. The illness was once a standard part of growing up—and many have the scars to prove it—but since a vaccination became common practice, fewer kids contract the virus. In 1995, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of medical and public health experts at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who recommend which vaccines should be used routinely…
It is easy to think of hackers as criminals. It’s intuitive, maybe because of Hollywood’s depiction of hackers as invasive, ninja-like evil geniuses, who can download all of your personal data in a few minutes and ruin your life.
The East Bay Economic Development Alliance celebrated creativity and innovation at its first annual awards ceremony Thursday. The event, held in Oakland at the Fox Theater, honored East Bay organizations that do work in the fields of clean technology, advanced manufacturing, food, information and communication technology, life sciences, engineering, design and education.
Ever find yourself frustrated with the back and forth group messaging, conference calling and group emailing that often precede decision-making in small groups? An Oakland-based startup seeks to end that with a social decision making application they say is designed to deliver “social democracy” in group decision making, based on a concept they call dynamic voting. From small-group decisions about whether to watch the Oakland Raiders or the San Francisco 49ers to more complex political decisions about whether Barack Obama…
“Space is my middle name,” said elementary school student Cameron Weignant on Friday morning at the Chabot Space and Science Center as his mother adjusted the tinted visor on his helmet. While about a hundred people of all ages had come up to the observatory above Oakland hoping for a glimpse of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on its final flyover of California, only Cameron had arrived in a full astronaut costume. “He’s been interested in space since he was 2,”…
On Monday afternoons, African American high school students can be seen walking to 1750 Broadway Avenue in downtown Oakland headed to a summer program. But instead of being taught remedial lessons on what was missed during the school year, the students spend their time learning technology skills and software development through a mentoring program called the Hidden Genius Project. This June, the Hidden Genius Project launched its first summer program for young black men in Oakland who range in age…
“I am Hawaiian, Russian Jew, Italian, Portuguese, Native American, and I’m pretty sure, English. I am a mutt.” That’s how Lani Riccobuono, one of the newly registered donors on the National Bone Marrow Program’s Be The Match Registry described herself as she signed up to be a donor two weeks ago.
Software developers and web designers from allover the country met in Oakland Friday through Sunday for 48 hours of non-stop competitive design and programming to develop applications that could solve some of the most crucial challenges in the adoption and utilization of solar energy.