Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Some puzzles

Posted by Bruce Fields on 18. July 2008

Here’s something a little out-of-the-ordinary for your weekend:

Scientific American recently published an article by UM mathematician Igor Kriz and his REU student Paul Siegel introducing some original puzzles, two of them with flash implementations playable online:

They’re similar to the classic fifteen puzzle or Rubik’s cube in that they require taking a randomized configuration and returning it to its original order. But they each also represent one of the sporadic simple groups, fundamental mathematical structures with important Ann Arbor connections: the largest of them, the Monster Group, was first constructed by UM mathematician Robert Griess.

(Fortunately for us, as it has

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elements, the Monster group is not among those which Kriz and Siegel attempted to base a puzzle on!)

See the full article for more background.

Comment [1]

Local

Ecology center fights back against effort to "stifle public debate"

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 18. August 2006

The Ann Arbor News reports that the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center is fighting back against a lawsuit by Morton Grove Pharmaceutical.

From what I hear, they think they have a very good case. They certainly have their message down. They are criticizing pharmeceutical use of lindane, which has been banned in 52 countries and California.

I don’t know how the courts will rule, but how can you beat Ecology Center Executive Director Mike Garfield’s quote, ” “It makes no sense that lindane can’t be used on pets or plants or persons serving in the military, but it can still be used on children.”

Comment [11]

Campus

Solar car blog from down under

Posted by Matt Hollerbach on 27. September 2005

I stumbled across the blog for the U-M Solar Car Team who are competing at the World Solar Challenge in Australia—they’re currently in 3rd, after placing 1st in North America.

The sun has just peeked out from behind the last of the clouds giving us some decent charge before sundown. Tomorrow’s run toward Adelaide will test the limits of both the teams’ cars and strategy. Many teams are within minutes of each other and any mistake could cost them their standings. The team remains upbeat and confident about tomorrow’s run and we look forward to seeing the welcome signs of Adelaide.

GO BLUE!!

Best of luck.

Comment [1]

Environment

Biodiesel Tour!

Posted by MarkDilley on 12. April 2005

I was suprised to learn that the Carpenter Road Meijer now has a “B20 biodiesel pump at (its) gas station.”

The Michigan Biodiesel Bus Tour was actually quite an exciting and interesting event. The bus was almost completely full, meaning probably 50 people took part. The first stop was at the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Geagley Motor Fuel Quality Lab, on the MSU campus in East Lansing.

via Bob’s Links and Rants