|
Science
Friday > Archives
> 2000
> July
> July 14, 2000:
Hour Two: Power Grid
/ Alzheimer's
| How's your power? As the summer heats up, the nation's
aging power grid is being put to the test -- and often, it's failing.
Millions of Americans relying on power-hungry air conditioning systems
have stressed the power system to its limits in many communities
this summer. In the past weeks, communities from New York to Chicago
to San Francisco have experienced brown-outs, power rationing, and
even blackouts. |
EPA image.
|
Where does the problem lie? Many experts say that there's plenty of
power, and that building more power plants isn't the answer. Rather,
it's the network of transmission lines that help shuttle electrons from
place to place around the country that needs work. On this hour of Science
Friday, we'll find out how the grid system works, and what can be done
to make power distribution more reliable.
|
We'll also take a look at ongoing research into Alzheimer's disease,
a degenerative condition of the brain that affects some 4 million
people in the U.S.
The condition was first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906.
It is characterized by a gradual, progressive loss of memory,
often leading to confusion and problems with judgement. There
is no cure, though some medications exist that may hold back the
symptoms of the disease temporarily.
We'll find out about the latest research into the disease, including
new clinical trials for potential Alzheimer's medications, findings
about the causes of the condition, and a look at the genetics
behind Alzheimer's.
|
Development of plaques and tangled neurons like these is thought
to be a cause of the disease. (Washington University School of
Medicine image)
|
Guests:
Thomas Overbye
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois
Dr. Steven DeKosky
Chairman, Medical and Scientific Advisory Council
Alzheimer's Association
Director, Alzheimer's Disease Research
Center
Division of Geriatrics and Neuropsychiatry
University of Pittsburgh
Professor--Psychiatry, Neurology, Neurobiology, Human Genetics
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
How Stuff Works: Power
Distribution Grid
American
Scientist: Reengineering the Electric Grid
Edison Electric Institute
Sandia
National Laboratories - Electric grid reliability
EDF
Power Calculator - find out where your power comes from
NIH
Funded Alzheimer's Research (search)
NINDS: Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's
Association
Alzheimer's
Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR Center)
ClinicalTrials.gov
Produced By: Annette Heist
Web Producer: Charles
Bergquist
|
