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"Discovery Files" Features from the National Science Foundation
"Paddle-Bots"
Fully produced report in MP3 format:
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(75 seconds)
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READER SCRIPT
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"PADDLE-BOTS"--DIVING FOR ANSWERS. THE "DISCOVERY FILES": NEW ADVANCES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. "MADELINE" GLIDES QUIETLY AND GRACEFULLY THROUGH THE WATER--ON A QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE. "MADELINE" IS AN UNDERWATER ROBOT. SHE LOOKS LIKE A TRICKED-OUT SEA TURTLE--WITH FOUR MECHANICAL FLIPPERS--AND IS CONTROLLED BY A REMOTE JOYSTICK. SHE LIVES IN AND OUT OF THE POOL AT VASSAR--WHERE RESEARCHERS HOPE THAT UNDERWATER VEHICLES LIKE THIS CAN HELP UNLOCK SOME EVOLUTIONARY SECRETS. EARLY ANCESTORS OF ANIMALS LIKE PENGUINS AND SEALS USED FOUR FLIPPERS TO PROPEL THEMSELVES; TODAY, THEY USE ONLY TWO. "MADELINE" SHOWED THAT--WITHOUT THE TURBULENCE CREATED BY THE FRONT FLIPPERS--YOU COULD GO JUST AS FAST AS WITH ONLY TWO REAR FLIPPERS. BY PUTTING "MADELINE" THROUGH THE PACES, RESEARCHERS CAN DOCUMENT WHY CERTAIN TRAITS MAY HAVE SURVIVED OVER OTHERS. SHE'S ALSO TESTING THE WATERS FOR FUTURE UNDERWATER VEHICLES. "MADELINE": A "ROW-ROW-ROBOT" THAT'S GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF SOME DEEP MYSTERIES. THE "DISCOVERY FILES" COVERS PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU! LEARN MORE AT "N-S-F"-DOT-GOV.
For additional "Discovery Files" features from the National Science Foundation, click here.
