"About PhysOrg.com in 100 Words - PhysOrg.com™
is a leading web-based science, research and technology news service which
covers a full range of topics. These include physics, earth science, medicine,
nanotechnology, electronics, space, biology, chemistry, computer sciences,
engineering, mathematics and other sciences and technologies. Launched in 2004,
PhysOrg’s readership has grown steadily to include 1.75 million scientists,
researchers, and engineers every month. PhysOrg publishes approximately 100
quality articles every day, offering some of the most comprehensive coverage of
sci-tech developments world-wide. Quancast 2009 includes PhysOrg in its list of
the Global Top 2,000 Websites. PhysOrg community members enjoy access to many
personalized features such as social networking, a personal home page set-up,
RSS/XML feeds, article comments and ranking, the ability to save favorite
articles, a daily newsletter, and other options.
Mission - The PhysOrg.com™ staff mission
statement is to provide the most complete and comprehensive daily coverage of
the full sweep of science, technology, and medicine news. Sci-tech readers will
find coverage of relevant and interesting current events. We strive to bring
our readers a large assortment of stories, catering for scientists,
researchers, engineers, academia, tech geeks, students, and graduates alike. With
a highly educated and sophisticated readership and target audience, PhysOrg.com
stories go beyond mere catchy jargon. We find out the who, the what, the where,
the how, and the why of a story - and the why not. Our job is to find the
interesting science and technology stories, uncover the details, and give our
readers their daily dose of news at a single source.
12 Reasons for reading daily sci-tech news on
PhysOrg.com
1. Publishing around 100 articles every
business day, PhysOrg offers the most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on
the web.
2. PhysOrg offers the fastest news delivery to
end-readers. We typically publish news 1-2 days before other news services.
3. Our stories originate from diverse
information sources: PhysOrg exclusive feature stories are original and not
found elsewhere on the web. Produced by our professional writers, these
articles are linked from lots of esteemed websites. For example, the American
Physical Society (APS) displays PhysOrg's feature article headlines on its home
page. Licensed sci-tech news from all major news agencies is published on
PhysOrg. PhysOrg PR has established relationships with major university
research centers and private sector research and development centers, both in
the U.S.
and world-wide for breaking developments in science and technology.
4. All news stories are hand-processed and
sorted out by qualified editors, obviating the problems of feed or bot
aggregation. This ensures that high-quality, targeted sci-tech news stories are
published on PhysOrg.
5. PhysOrg utilizes advanced programming
technology to present news in clear and unambiguous classifications to create
intuitive category and sub-category designations. Readers are able to identify
news topics easily.
6. PhysOrg provides a comprehensive site search
and sort feature. Readers may sort news stories by date, editor ranking,
live-rank, popularity ranking, and most e-mailed news story.
7. The unique 'Live-rank' feature was
specifically developed by the PhysOrg team to handle vast amounts of daily
news. Live-rank combines artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms which
determine the popularity of the story among readers, editor ranking, time
relevancy, and other factors. Live-rank shows the best up-to-the-minute stories
because it combines two factors: recency and reader appeal. In practice, (Al)
Live-rank displays the most recent interesting stories in real time.
8. Reader input is particularly important to
PhysOrg. Each article appearing on the site has a comment section for readers.
This feature is designed to allow readers to ‘speak up’ about content appearing
on PhysOrg, from which we can rectify errors and oversights. If we miss
something or overstate a scientific principle, for example, our readers let us
know very quickly. These readers keep the PhysOrg community vibrant and lively.
9. PhysOrg recognizes that every reader is
unique and is looking for a unique experience. So, we provide customizable news
filters and a variety of RSS/XML feeds. Our readers can track news specific to
their interest areas and customize a personal PhysOrg home page and their RSS
feed reader.
10.
A
personal PhysOrg Account opens up a host of useful features. Account holders
can subscribe to our daily newsletter, track site activity, save favorite
articles to bookmarks, set up their own homepage news filters, view new stories
since last visit, instant message other users, and more.
11. Sharing sci-tech news with friends and
colleagues is easy on PhysOrg. Convenient news sharing buttons for Digg,
Delicious, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Facebook, Twitter, and many other sites may be
accessed with a single mouse-click. Send your favorite stories via e-mail or
publish them on your personal blog. Articles are also available in PDF format
for your personal use.
12. PhysOrg is hi-tech. We love to stay on the
cutting edge of web development. Unique artificial intelligence algorithms help
sort out our news stories, Google IG Module and toolbar button, Facebook page
and Twitter feeds, and much more. All these features allow PhysOrg go with the
flow of internet innovation. Read more about PhysOrg’s hi-tech features and
developments here.
Organization - PhysOrg.com is wholly owned by
Omicron Technology Limited, headquartered in Douglas, Isle Of Man, United Kingdom.
The website was founded in March 2004 by two PhD students motivated by the void
in hard science news designed for informed and educated readers. The initial
idea behind PhysOrg was to cover physics, nanotechnology, and engineering news.
While maintaining this focus, PhysOrg has expanded its coverage to other
relevant science and technology fields. PhysOrg has filled the void and created
a unique niche in science and technology daily news reporting. As proof of
this, the site immediately soared in popularity on the web. Today, PhysOrg is a
comprehensive sci-tech news portal for all major research disciplines. In 2005,
Omicron Technology acquired PhysOrg, allowing a good idea to become even
better. PhysOrg has seven full-time staff and six contributing writers working
around the clock to keep the site fresh and up to date.
Key editors and writers
John Benson (Editor-in-Chief) - John joined
PhysOrg.com in 2006. His academic roots lie in bio-chemistry from the
University College London (UCL). The UCL motto is, "Let all come who by
merit deserve the most reward." Taking these words to heart, John has
devoted over 25 years of his life to science consulting. John's guidance since
joining PHYSorg in 2006 is invaluable in creating reliable and trustworthy
science and technology stories for PhysOrg.
Andrew Zinin (Managing Editor) - Andrew has a
life-long interest in scientific news. As a youth he contributed science and
technology news to local school magazines. Andrew achieved a Master's degree in
physics with post-graduate work as a research assistant for five years,
conducting scientific research. Throughout his career he has never forgotten
the thrill and excitement of capturing the dreams of a young child through
scientific discovery. Andrew is an accurate editor whose earnest efforts and
youthful zeal play a major part in the success of PhysOrg.
Alexander Pol (Managing Editor) - Alex holds a PhD in nano-engineering from
Delft University of Technology, (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. He is an author and
co-author of numerous scientific publications. Alex served as a reviewer for
various peer-reviewed scientific journals before launching his career in
scientific journalism. PhysOrg values Alex's thoughtful and careful scientific
insight in developing policy and creating standards for content.
Candace Ganger (Assistant Editor) - Candace
Ganger is a copy editor, spelling judge and avid blogger whose articles and
excerpts have been featured on various websites. She's an author of young adult
books and was a winner in the 2010 Sourcebooks/Teenfire Writing Competition.
Prior to her career in writing, Candace worked for five years as a musician,
publicist and small town socialite. When she's not covered in peanut butter and
toddler stickers, she enjoys reading, writing, rock n' roll and everything nanotechnology
has taught her!
Lisa Zyga (contributing author) - Lisa graduated from the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts degree in rhetoric in 2004. She
subsequently completed a science writing internship at Fermilab, followed by a
communications internship at Caterpillar. Since then, she has been writing in a
freelance capacity for a variety of science, technology, and other
publications. Lisa began writing for PhysOrg in 2005, providing engaging and
interesting editorials about scientific developments. Lisa‘s stimulating and
accurate science and technology articles have made her very popular among
PhysOrg readers.
Miranda Marquit (contributing author) - Miranda
has a M.A. in journalism from Syracuse
University and is a life-long
lover of science who now enjoys writing about it. A technology columnist for
her local newspaper, Miranda has also had her work published in a range of
print and online publications including Discover magazine. Miranda joined
PhysOrg in 2005. Her passion for science and technology shows through in her
writing, making her contributions lively and incisive.
Stuart Mason Dambrot (contributing author) - As
a Consilientist, Mr. Dambrot analyzes deep-structure interconnections between
multiple areas of knowledge and creativity, focus on the synthesis of a precise
conceptual language that communicates the common neocortical foundations of
human intellectual expression. As a Futurist, Mr. Dambrot identifies, monitors,
and extrapolates convergent and emergent trends in a wide range of areas,
including computing, communications, energy, neuroscience, nanotechnology,
biotechnology, synthetic biology, molecular electronics, artificial
intelligence, robotics, quantum computing and communications, and quantum neurobiology.
Mr. Dambrot speaks and writes about a wide range of topics, many of which are
covered in his blog Critical Thought. He has written for PhysOrg.com,
MedicalXpress.com, Nature, Science, Nature Biotechnology, New Scientist,
Scientific American, IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, Columbia University
21stC, Economist, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Japan Times,
EE Times, Photonics Spectra, ChemicalWeek. Mr. Dambrot holds a degree in
Physiological Psychology.
Bob Yirka (contributing author) - Bob Yirka has
always been fascinated by science and has spent large portions his life with
his nose buried in textbooks or magazines; he has Bachelor of Science Degree in
Computer Science and a Master of Science in Information Systems Management.
He’s worked in a variety of positions in the telecommunications field ranging
from help desk jockey to systems analyst to MIS manager. Recently, after nearly
twenty years in the business, he’s decided to move to what he really loves
doing and that is writing. In addition to writing for PhysOrg, Bob has also
sold several short-stories and has written three novels.
Nancy Owano (contributing author) - Nancy Owano
has a Master of Science degree from Columbia University School of Journalism.
She has written about new technologies for online sites including WiMAX Day,
Quantum Networks, and The Linux Line. Before that, she was a correspondent in London for Chemical
Marketing Reporter and India Abroad. She also worked as reporter and desk
editor for the Daily Nation and Sunday Nation in Nairobi, Kenya.
Nancy’s
Monday-through-Sunday schedule for PhysOrg has her on a daily roll of
informative scientific and technology reports.
Mary Anne Simpson (contributing author) - Mary
Anne has an undergraduate degree from the University of California,
Irvine in
social ecology with an emphasis in multi-cultural human development, legal
system development and environmental factors. She was conferred a J.D. degree
from Western State College of Law, Fullerton, California and was distinguished
with American Jurisprudence Awards in Labor Law and Criminal Procedure. She has
argued and briefed a variety of cases in the Appellate Courts. In recent years
however, she has returned to her first love - writing about science,
technology, ecology and the environment. Mary Anne always digs to the source
and as a consequence her stories are cutting edge and detailed.
Lin Edwards (contributing author) - Lin has a Bachelor's degree in
Chemistry/Biochemistry from the University of Sydney, and a Diploma in Freelance
Journalism from the Australian College of Journalism. After many years as a
technical writer, writing mainly in fields such as chemistry, electronics,
heavy engineering, RFID, robotics, and lasers, Lin decided to return to
university and has just completed a BA in Literature and Composition. She has
also been working as a freelance writer and academic editor, and while she
enjoys writing on many topics, science and technology are her first love. Lin
began writing for PhysOrg in 2009.
Laura Mgrdichian (contributing author) - Laura is a physical sciences writer, covering
physics, nanoscience, astronomy/astrophysics, and materials science for
PhysOrg.com. She began her career as a reporter covering local events on Long Island, New
York and later worked at Brookhaven National
Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She has been
freelancing since 2005. She has B.S. degree in physics from Stony Brook University and currently lives near Boston, Massachusetts.
Laura's association with PhysOrg began in 2006. Believing wholeheartedly that
‘the devil is in the detail’, Laura creates accurate and thought-provoking
science articles.
John Messina (contributing author) - After a
35-year professional career in the telecommunications industry, John's
second-life career began in 2006. He has flourished as a freelance writer for
various websites. John's passion is researching and writing electronic
technology and science stories. He graduated from RCA Institutes in 1970 with
an Associate Degree in electronic technology. John knows his stuff and readers
appreciate his practical insights.
Ted Goodman (contributing author) - Ted Goodman
is a versatile writer, who covers many subjects from symphony orchestras to
tournament bridge. Somehow, soon after graduate school, he landed a free-lance
job with the National Institutes of Health, editing medical research papers and
re-creating their texts to publish for lay audiences. That was a tough way to
get his feet wet, but the experience led him to similar assignments in other
government offices. "So many folks are afraid of science and new
technologies; I like to bring that knowledge home to them so that they can love
it like I do." Though Ted's degrees from George
Washington University
(Washington, DC) are in speech and hearing science, his
own research stopped after graduate school. He has spent his career either
teaching or writing (or playing bridge!).
Ben Mathiesen (contributing author) - Ben
graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics,
earning Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honors. Ben received his Master’s and
Doctorate degrees from the University
of Michigan. He is a
research astrophysicist specializing in X-ray astronomy, the numerical
simulation of astrophysical fluids, and the evolution of the universe. In
addition to writing and publishing numerous journal articles in astronomy and
astrophysics, he has designed and taught several courses in physics, applied
math, technical writing, and scientific programming. Ben tilts the world on its
axis and back again with interesting stories hell bent on accuracy."