Bringing Industry Back: Taking a Second Crack at Ethane
By Maribeth Anderson Most West Virginians are familiar with Marcellus Shale, the underground energy powerhouse that lies beneath the northern part of the state. This rock formation, located between 5,000 and 7,000 feet beneath parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, contains enough natural gas to run the country for more than 20 […]
Forced Pooling: Both Sides of the Story
Anywhere there is the potential for growth—the human body, the natural world, the business community—there also exists the reality of growing pains, and West Virginia’s thriving energy industry is no different. As the Marcellus Shale sector grows by leaps and bounds, it sees its share of growing pains, and this might be most evident in […]
Moving Mountains: Mining’s Potential for a Sustainable Economy
By T.L. Headley In the minds of many Americans, West Virginia is known for its mountains, its coal, its majestic scenery—and its poverty. There is no doubt that the state’s mountains provide the backdrop for some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. However, the stereotype of people enduring pervasive poverty while barefoot in […]
The Invention of Hope: Finding the Silver Lining
By Andrew Beckner Your wife could be sick, the doctors say. Really sick. The worst kind of sick you can be. It could be cancer. It’s a scary word. Maybe the scariest. Your heart beats faster, just as you wonder how many heartbeats she has left. You might cry or refuse to believe it. Maybe […]
Medicine of the Future
Science fiction has made the existence and progression of robotics both a powerful and somewhat frightening possibility for the future. In novels and movies, robots have been known to override computer systems to gain control of humans or extinguish the human race in its entirety in an effort to take over the world. In reality, […]
Providing Hope: Clinical Trials in West Virginia
West Virginia has a long history of being on the medical forefront. In fact, the first person ever treated with a full course of penicillin was being treated at Fairmont General Hospital in 1944. With a foundation in medicinal research, the Mountain State maintains a tradition of excellence in medical research and patient care by […]