I'll cast my vote for computational physics. As a physics grad student myself, I find myself writing and reviewing code for simulations. And you don't need a phd to do this.

If you get any sort of training in computational physics you could be invaluable. Computational physicists are in demand in almost all fields: nuclear, atomic (simulating system-bath interactions), high energy, biophysics (protein folding sims), astrophysics, etc.

In my department, we have collaborated with the cs department in writing software for some of our sims.

I don't get it. I mean I don't get why you were modded up. I myself might get modded down for saying this, but the quality of modding has gone down here on /.

Are you suggesting NASA is trying to scare us for profit? Are you bloody serious? If you took the time to read the literature, solar storms happen with a roughly well determined periodicity. No one is suggesting this is a world-ender but electronics are at risk; to just ignore it as a NASA conspiracy is amazingly irresponsible and completely ignorant.

Allow me to strongly disagree with you for a second. While I think private space flight will be a good thing in the future, it's not now. The technology is there, but funding, logistics and safety guidelines probably are not up to par with NASA's

I abhor your suggestion that we could sacrifice people to get private space flight off the ground. Reminds me of the Star Trek Enterprise episode where the Klingons kidnap Dr. Phlox in order for him to help cure or restore the genetically altered Klingons who were dying. He didn't have time and the Klingon general wanted to sacrifice some of his people as test subjects. Phlox refused because it was unethical, but relented when given the option of millions of lives verses a few, and pressure from the Klingons.

The point is it was unethical, but did it, for what was at the time, the only winning option

Sacrificing even a few lives for private space flight at this point in time would be irresponsible (and might turn off many people to privitization) and it stinks of the old Robber Baron's lives for profit attitude (sounds Ferengi, no?).

So instead, if you want to go the private route, let me suggest a better short-medium term plan, which could be our winning option: Streamline NASA. Keep it's budget big, but dedicate it to ONLY spaceflight (and maybe atmospheric research) so as to try and have it waste less by setting goals for only that. And have private companies haul cargo, like satellites and rovers into space. That is something they are already capable of doing, and are doing it safely. Now, it won't save as much money as privatizing manned-missions so soon, but it will save money and definitely save lives.

While this very well could be true, I'd just like to point out that a computer simulation is no substitute for an actual experiment.

Also, while I'm no expert in the subject of string theory, if one could reach the Plank energy, wouldn't it then be possible to find these supposed strings about which everyone's been talking?

...when we rely so heavily on China for its exports. If they want to play this, levy tariffs on products coming from China (if they aren't going to ship anyway might as well show them how expensive their strong arming can be), and while we're at it, restrict their students coming to the US for education so they can't go back and show their countrymen how to process mined quantities or engineer mining safety equipment or safe mines.

Hold them to higher standards also when it comes to mine safety. There are probably some human rights violations going on in those "illegal" mines.

A lot of people here are talking about H1bs and the cost of education and one person even said the size of our population somehow correlates to a lack of amazing scientific progress. If that's true, India and China should have warp drives already.

Let's stop with the nonsense, especially with regard to immigrant workers.

While some companies do abuse H1bs it's not the cause of the decline of US scientific leadership, not even close! Einstein, Fermi, Godel et al were all foreigners! Please take the immigration debate elsewhere!

The realize the real root of the problem: culture. We have created a culture that loves to watch celebrities and make money. We have not instilled in our students the value of science education. And this should be seen as the biggest tragedy going into the second decade of the 21st century. People lack basic scientific literacy and they seems to be ok with not understanding a great many things. Just the other day I read about a high school that wanted to cut science labs because too many white students were overachieving while the minority students were not. This should be obvious to anyone with common sense that this is absurd. Taking away resources from achieving students and directed them to non-achieving students won't help anyone. There are a lot of factors why students don't perform well in school, particularly in the math and science fields. But I think the main reason is culture. The under-achieving students haven't had it beaten into them that their education, particularly in science, is invaluable. And while these are often minority students, they are not exclusively so. My grandfather came to this country with a PhD in physics but less than $6.00 in his pocket and no family, but managed to work his way up to solidly middle class with a comfortable life and his kids are in engineering. The idea that education is paramount has been drilled into me from birth and now I'm a graduate physics student and I enjoy doing physics.

So my point is, you must hammer into the psyche of the populace that science and math are not inaccesible and can be quite enjoyable if some hard work is put into study. Not everything is about money and getting the MBA (but yes, increased funding would go a long way to help advance STEM). And even though some companies do probably abuse H1bs, it's not the reason we're lacking and neither is the size of our population (a silly idea in my humble opinion, it's obvious to see why).

So, even thought Tyson makes a weak link between the shooting of Apophis and American science, the point he raises is still a valid one and is a valid concern and requires an honest attempt at a cultural shift as I pointed just mentioned that requires us, especially scientists, to show the population that evolution is fact, the reasons for it, why it's important, and how spectacular learning about it is.

If there is one movie you see all year, see District 9. There's action, aliens, a little romance and one very well written story with some nicely animated cgi. I'm usually picky about sci-fi and almost never wanted to see the latest cool new release, but this movie really is tops. I was even more surprised that parts of the movie brought forth some relatively strong emotions. Also, I think the movie does try to send a message and does a good job of it. Ok, I don't want to be anymore of a movie reviewer here so go see it for yourselves.

Why?

The tools used to evaluate a genome are there to do so objectively. Adding in supposed safe-guards might compromise this. More importantly, what you're asserting is the kind of thing for which we have laws. I know this is hyperbole but do you also want to install privacy controls and security measures into people's eyeballs so we don't treat them differently based on their race or any apparent affliction?

Just my two cents...

I see your anger and I agree. However, I don't believe the space program, particularly Mars exploration is bullshit that won't play to "ignorant audiences". Look how excited the nation got after the Apollo, Gemini and other projects. And I don't think people back then were much more enlightened than they are now.

Yes, I know we were competing with the Soviets and were trying to one-up them, but national humiliation can't be the only motivation, can it? There just needs to be a new national motivation. I know, easier said than done, but still doable, I beleive

I'm not sure you can find books for laypersons about specific math topics like you can for other subject like "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene or books of the sort (maybe I'm wrong). Besides you say you want to know the techniques an implement them in your programming. That tells me you are probably headed in the textbook direction. But don't get scared, contrary to your belief, they aren't all boring and tough to read

Some I recommend:
-Contemporary Abstract Algebra by Gallian (used it in my Group Theory class as an undergrad, has some math history)
-Linear Algebra with Applications (there is a student solution manual) by Brestcher
-Introductory Combinatorics by Brauldi (I would think this subject is especially useful to someone in CS or someone who does programming)
-A History of Pi by Beckman; has an interesting history of pi and there might be some old numerical methods in there (haven't read it in a while and maybe not the subject, but type of book you might be looking for)

Other people here might be able to recommend some books that are from a more CS standpoint.

(Source: rising physics grad student with background in physics/math)

...I'm glad to see Republicans standing up the tyranny of the increasingly repressive American Gov...wait....

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I guarantee you these are the same people who want to restrict freedom of information to protect the children here in the USA.