/oss/taxonomy/term/2345/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking-technology/digital-amnesia-has-been-exaggerated <p>Do you know your best friend’s phone number? In the 1990s, I had my best friend’s phone number memorized, and I’m pretty sure I remembered it just now after thinking about it for a minute. But the phone numbers I use today? They don’t live in my head. They live on my phone.</p> Fri, 24 Feb 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9416 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-general-science/it-really-dangerous-use-your-phone-plane <p>The fear behind the rule of ‘no phones on planes’ is that portable electronic devices could potentially interfere via electromagnetic radiation with the measurement and navigation tools on board. Modern planes, however, are built incredibly resistant to electromagnetic radiation, they can actually withstand a lightning strike without instrument problems, and so the small amounts of radiation from your devices aren’t likely to bring down the plane. </p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/adamcvean">@AdaMcVean</a></p> Thu, 11 May 2017 21:46:06 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2441 at /oss /oss/article/technology-you-asked/microwave-fears <p>I get all sorts of interesting questions. "How do you wash microwaves out of socks?" I didn't quite know what to make of this. Quickly, though, we established that the gentleman who posed the question was not worried about having trodden on some stray microwaves, but had heard about a device being marketed to reduce the risks of cell phone use. First of all, we need to understand that there is very little scientific evidence to suggest that the use of cell phones is dangerous, other than their use while driving. But that has not stopped the inventive marketers.</p> Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:33:57 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1675 at /oss