Is the technology going too fast for us?
For 10 years, the Apple iPod has evolved. It is now smaller, thinner and lighter. But, if we look 10 years from now, was is the same? Was the shape, the colour the same? Were the people buying it the same? No. Now, it is rare that someone doesn't have an Ipod, any other music reader of that kind. Apple is a huge company, and a huge producer.
Scientists of today are now wondering if it is going too fast. Every months\two months a new product is on sale. With new applications, new possibilities. This is way too fast. Why? Because if, for example, you buy an Ipod in October. It is the fourth generation, there is a camera, and you get the Wi-Fi on it. The price is starting from 200$ to 400$. But, who knows if there is going to be another I pod, in two weeks? 200 $ for something that you will use, but that will cost 100$ in a month.
This is why people are now confused with those big companies like Apple, Sony, Windows. Every time they buy a product, something new is coming directly after.
Also, technology is a problem because we cannot do without it, and our use of it clearly makes us both better and worse.
When was the last time you looked into a book or a dictionary to research information, for a project at school?How many times, in a day, do you go on Google or Yahoo or any other research program?
How many times in a day do you use your I pod, or your cellphone?
As I am talking, you are on a computer. The technology is in front of your eyes, the future is too. What is this gonna be like in 30 years or 50 years?
1- What is the future of technology?
2-What are the things you use everyday(I pod, Cellphone, Computer, Laptop,Etc.)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Chlorine Accidents Take a Big Human Toll
Five workers were fatally injured and two others were seriously injured when an explosion occurred in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production unit at Formosa Plastics in Illiopolis, Illinois, east of Springfield. Image: U.S. Chemical Safety Board
Beverly Martinez was sitting at her desk in the office of a California scrap metal recycling plant when she felt the blast rattle her window.
One of her co-workers, Leonardo Morales Zavala, rushed through her door, struggling to breathe. “Run!” he yelled. He had just cut into a one-ton tank to recycle it in the yard – a football field away – and out poured a noxious substance. He didn't know what it was.
The workers ran as fast as they could toward the street. But they couldn't escape the giant, greenish-yellow cloud. A couple dozen people – workers and customers – dropped to the ground, gasping for air. Martinez fell, too.
"I couldn't get up. I felt like I was being strangled. I thought, 'I'm going to die. I'll never see my granddaughter grow up,’ ” Martinez said.
As she struggled to reach the building across the street, she heard a voice. "Bev, Bev, help!" It was Ricky Mejia, a 23-year-old inspector, calling to her from the ground.
"Ricky couldn't breathe, he couldn't walk. I'm stocky, and I told him to grab my side. Myrna Navarro was already hanging on my shoulder. She was praying enough for everyone. In my head, I was getting to the Firestone tire warehouse across the street. It seemed like an eternity,” she said.
“Then, I couldn't do it anymore. I said to Ricky, 'Your wife is pregnant. You've got a baby coming. Get up!' " They finally made it to the warehouse, where Mejia collapsed.
More than a year later, the ghost of a chlorine cloud lingers like a vivid nightmare at Tulare Iron and Metal Inc., located in the heart of California’s Central Valley.
On that June afternoon in 2010, 23 people were taken to hospitals and six were kept for treatment, including Mejia, who was hospitalized for 11 days, two of them on life support. Sixteen months later, the workers are still beset with health problems, including lung, stomach and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders.
Over the past 10 years, chlorine has been involved in hundreds of accidents nationwide, injuring thousands of workers and townspeople, and killing some, according to federal databases. It is second only to carbon monoxide when it comes to the percentage of accidents that cause injuries, according to the newest federal data.
Chlorine is one of the most widely used industrial chemicals in the world today, with 13 million tons produced annually in the United States alone.
An element that is abundant in the Earth’s crust and oceans, the powerful, corrosive substance is considered essential to an array of products. It is used in manufacturing plastics, synthesizing other chemicals, purifying water supplies, treating sewage and making refrigerants, varnishes, pesticides, drugs, disinfectants, bleaches and other consumer products.
In recent years, accidents have occurred when chlorine leaked or spilled, pressurized tanks were punctured, train cars derailed or when other chemicals were improperly – and often unknowingly – mixed with it. In some cases, thousands of people have been evacuated after an accident at a factory or during transport of liquefied chlorine. Janitors, housekeepers and others also have been exposed when they mix acidic household chemicals with bleach or swimming pool chemicals.
The worst chlorine gas accident in the country occurred in 2005, when 18 freight train cars derailed and released 120,000 pounds of chlorine gas in the mill town of Graniteville, S.C. Nine people were killed and at least 1,400 people were exposed, resulting in more than 550 people treated at hospitals, including some with serious lung injuries. More than 5,000 people were evacuated from their homes.
Chlorine gas is particularly insidious. Even small exposures can trigger coughing, choking and wheezing, and burn the eyes, skin and throat. Inhaling large amounts constricts the airways by inflaming the lining of the throat and lungs. At the same time, fluid accumulates in the lungs, making it doubly hard to breathe. People can literally drown in their own body fluids. At high exposures, a few deep breaths are lethal.
1. Why do chlorine is dangerous for human people?
2. How can we control the management of this gas so we can avoid the risks?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
No shortage of dangerous DNA
MONTREAL — A Dutch woman who lived to 115 years old credited her longevity to pickled herring, refraining from smoking and limiting alcohol. But scientists are looking to the woman’s genetic blueprints, hoping to uncover the secrets of successful aging.
Any genetic secrets are still buried in the DNA that makes up the woman’s genome, but it has become clear that she did not lack genetic variants that may predispose other people to heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other aging-related illnesses, geneticist Henne Holstege of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam said October 14 at the International Congress of Human Genetics. Instead, the woman may have carried variants that protected her from the ravages of age.
What those protective variants might be remain a mystery. “We cannot say anything about the genome pieces that have to do with longevity,” Holstege said. The researchers will have to compare the woman’s genetic makeup with that of other extremely long-lived people, as well as average Joes and Janes, to find potential keys to long life.
The woman, Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, agreed to donate her body to science at age 112. At that time, Holstege’s father, neuroscientist Gert Holstege of the University of Groningen, performed mental tests and found van Andel-Schipper to be at least as mentally sharp as a person nearly half her age.
After van Andel-Schipper’s death from a stomach tumor in 2005, researchers examined her brain and blood vessels for signs of disease that often accompany aging. They found nothing: She had no sign of the plaques or other degenerative proteins that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, and her arteries were clog-free.
Holstege and her colleagues hope to finish the complete genetic blueprint from van Andel-Schipper by the end of the year and make the data available to other researchers.
Any genetic secrets are still buried in the DNA that makes up the woman’s genome, but it has become clear that she did not lack genetic variants that may predispose other people to heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other aging-related illnesses, geneticist Henne Holstege of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam said October 14 at the International Congress of Human Genetics. Instead, the woman may have carried variants that protected her from the ravages of age.
What those protective variants might be remain a mystery. “We cannot say anything about the genome pieces that have to do with longevity,” Holstege said. The researchers will have to compare the woman’s genetic makeup with that of other extremely long-lived people, as well as average Joes and Janes, to find potential keys to long life.
The woman, Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, agreed to donate her body to science at age 112. At that time, Holstege’s father, neuroscientist Gert Holstege of the University of Groningen, performed mental tests and found van Andel-Schipper to be at least as mentally sharp as a person nearly half her age.
After van Andel-Schipper’s death from a stomach tumor in 2005, researchers examined her brain and blood vessels for signs of disease that often accompany aging. They found nothing: She had no sign of the plaques or other degenerative proteins that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, and her arteries were clog-free.
Holstege and her colleagues hope to finish the complete genetic blueprint from van Andel-Schipper by the end of the year and make the data available to other researchers.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Groups Sue After E.P.A. Fails to Shift Ozone Rules
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/science/earth/12epa.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Five health and environmental groups sued the Obama administration on Tuesday over its rejection of a proposed stricter new standard for ozone pollution, saying the decision was driven by politics and ignored public health concerns.
The groups said that President Obama’s refusal to adopt the new standard was illegal and left in place an inadequate air quality rule from the Bush administration. Near the end of his presidency, George W. Bush overruled the Environmental Protection Agency’s scientific advisory panel and set the permissible ozone exposure at 75 parts per billion.
The current E.P.A. administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, wanted to set the standard at 70 parts per billion, near the maximum level recommended by the advisory panel. But President Obama rejected the proposal on Sept. 2, saying that compliance would be too costly and create too much regulatory uncertainty for industry. He ordered the E.P.A. to conduct further scientific studies and come up with a new proposal in 2013.
The decision infuriated environmental groups, who called it a betrayal, but cheered business leaders, who said that the ozone rule was one of the most onerous of the administration’s proposed environmental regulations.
Ground-level ozone is the main ingredient in smog, which is linked to premature deaths, heart attacks and lung ailments, including childhood asthma.
The standard rejected by Mr. Obama would have thrown hundreds of counties out of compliance with air quality regulations and imposed costs of $19 billion to $25 billion, according to E.P.A estimates. But the resulting health benefits would have been $13 billion to $37 billion, the agency calculated.
1. If you were one of the lawyers sueing the Obama Administration, what would be some of the reasons to do so, and why?
2. Do you think that this proposal, had it been passed, would have helped or worsened Americas Health care crisis? Why ?
Thanks, Matt
Five health and environmental groups sued the Obama administration on Tuesday over its rejection of a proposed stricter new standard for ozone pollution, saying the decision was driven by politics and ignored public health concerns.
The groups said that President Obama’s refusal to adopt the new standard was illegal and left in place an inadequate air quality rule from the Bush administration. Near the end of his presidency, George W. Bush overruled the Environmental Protection Agency’s scientific advisory panel and set the permissible ozone exposure at 75 parts per billion.
The current E.P.A. administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, wanted to set the standard at 70 parts per billion, near the maximum level recommended by the advisory panel. But President Obama rejected the proposal on Sept. 2, saying that compliance would be too costly and create too much regulatory uncertainty for industry. He ordered the E.P.A. to conduct further scientific studies and come up with a new proposal in 2013.
The decision infuriated environmental groups, who called it a betrayal, but cheered business leaders, who said that the ozone rule was one of the most onerous of the administration’s proposed environmental regulations.
Ground-level ozone is the main ingredient in smog, which is linked to premature deaths, heart attacks and lung ailments, including childhood asthma.
The standard rejected by Mr. Obama would have thrown hundreds of counties out of compliance with air quality regulations and imposed costs of $19 billion to $25 billion, according to E.P.A estimates. But the resulting health benefits would have been $13 billion to $37 billion, the agency calculated.
1. If you were one of the lawyers sueing the Obama Administration, what would be some of the reasons to do so, and why?
2. Do you think that this proposal, had it been passed, would have helped or worsened Americas Health care crisis? Why ?
Thanks, Matt
Friday, September 30, 2011
Afghanistan Holds Enormous Bounty of Rare Earths, Minerals
Geologists have found a huge deposit of rare earth elements in Afghanistan. There is enough there to supply the earth's needs for 10 years says Robert Tucker, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist who is the lead author on a report about the findings released on September 14.
There are many chemicals such as lanthanum, cerium and neodymium 1 million metric tons are known of at this point, these chemicals can be used to make explosives.
This discovery ranks Afghanistan in the top ten of the countries that have these elements. China is first and has the biggest export in this area in the world, currently holding 97% of the worlds supply. U.S. reserves are around 12 million metric tons.
Mr. Tucker was flown in, with a team of geologists, he arrived in black hawk helicopters with high security soldiers. He said that it was quite an experience looking for these elements in 14 pounds of protective gear. The deposit was near the border of Pakistan in a war zone.
This discovery is the most important part of the USGS's 2000 page report of the mineral deposit in Afghanistan. the deposit is valued at $420 million dollars, the report will be was delivered on September 29, 2011 to the Afghanistan embassy in Washington D.C.
On the second excursion to the site they learned that one of the minerals was ore, a canary yellow very rare element. The value of this element alone is thought to be 7.4 billion dollars.
The geologists will unfortunately not be able to make any more investigations because the USGS's funds have run out, so the deposit will remain untouched.
1. Do you think that the elements should be tapped, considering that they could be used for violence?
2. Would you go to the site, even if it was in a war zone?
There are many chemicals such as lanthanum, cerium and neodymium 1 million metric tons are known of at this point, these chemicals can be used to make explosives.
This discovery ranks Afghanistan in the top ten of the countries that have these elements. China is first and has the biggest export in this area in the world, currently holding 97% of the worlds supply. U.S. reserves are around 12 million metric tons.
Mr. Tucker was flown in, with a team of geologists, he arrived in black hawk helicopters with high security soldiers. He said that it was quite an experience looking for these elements in 14 pounds of protective gear. The deposit was near the border of Pakistan in a war zone.
This discovery is the most important part of the USGS's 2000 page report of the mineral deposit in Afghanistan. the deposit is valued at $420 million dollars, the report will be was delivered on September 29, 2011 to the Afghanistan embassy in Washington D.C.
On the second excursion to the site they learned that one of the minerals was ore, a canary yellow very rare element. The value of this element alone is thought to be 7.4 billion dollars.
The geologists will unfortunately not be able to make any more investigations because the USGS's funds have run out, so the deposit will remain untouched.
1. Do you think that the elements should be tapped, considering that they could be used for violence?
2. Would you go to the site, even if it was in a war zone?
Monday, September 26, 2011
Super Power Spiders!
Summary
We have all seen spider webs – on the trails we walk on or in the corner of our bedrooms catching flies and other insects. Author Rachel Ehrenberg writes about the other known and possible uses of animal silk. The material insects use to spin webs or create cocoons is called silk.
Silk from insects like spider or silkworms is extremely strong and natural. Researchers are looking into ways to use natural silk for additional uses. Bulletproof vests and parachute cords are two possible ways. But the silk could also be used inside our body – to protect cells, like bone or nerve cells while they regrow and repair themselves.
Spider silk is so valuable that scientists are trying to find additional ways to produce it – like altering the DNA of a goad so that it produces silk proteins in it’s milk. I suppose that this would make it a lot easier to harvest than getting it from the spiders.
I think this is a really interesting topic – but I think I would be nervous to let them plant silk producing spider genes into my body no matter what the possible positives are!
Read the article and see what you think for yourself.
Discussion Questions:
1. Can you think of additional ways that strong and stretchy fibers could be used to help us on the outside of our body?
2. If the science was mastered – do you think you would use silk fibres to help your body from the inside? Say it could help repair a broken bone?
We have all seen spider webs – on the trails we walk on or in the corner of our bedrooms catching flies and other insects. Author Rachel Ehrenberg writes about the other known and possible uses of animal silk. The material insects use to spin webs or create cocoons is called silk.
Silk from insects like spider or silkworms is extremely strong and natural. Researchers are looking into ways to use natural silk for additional uses. Bulletproof vests and parachute cords are two possible ways. But the silk could also be used inside our body – to protect cells, like bone or nerve cells while they regrow and repair themselves.
Spider silk is so valuable that scientists are trying to find additional ways to produce it – like altering the DNA of a goad so that it produces silk proteins in it’s milk. I suppose that this would make it a lot easier to harvest than getting it from the spiders.
I think this is a really interesting topic – but I think I would be nervous to let them plant silk producing spider genes into my body no matter what the possible positives are!
Read the article and see what you think for yourself.
Discussion Questions:
1. Can you think of additional ways that strong and stretchy fibers could be used to help us on the outside of our body?
2. If the science was mastered – do you think you would use silk fibres to help your body from the inside? Say it could help repair a broken bone?
Monday, September 19, 2011
Science 8 Blogging Assignment
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY – GRADE 8
SCIENCE BLOG ASSIGNMENT
The purpose of this assignment is two-fold: to have students research current scientific topics occurring in the media and, to create an environment wherein students can engage in a healthy discussion related to science.
Please Note – Participation in this assignment occurs on two levels.
Level One: Each week, ONE designated student will be responsible for choosing a scientific issue currently covered in the media (a list will be provided indicating each students designated date). After reading the article, the student will create a summary of the information presented and create TWO thought-provoking questions for the rest of the class.
On the blog, you will find links to numerous media sources for scientific information. You can use these sources, or identify your own, for your respective article.
Due Date: Your summary and questions are due on the Sunday, at 8:00pm of your specified week (please consult the schedule for details).
Level Two: Once the designated student has read the article, summarized the information, and posted the two questions, each remaining student in the class will be responsible for commenting upon the questions.
You MUST comment at minimum ONCE each week. However, bonus marks may be given if you discuss and respond more frequently.
SCIENCE BLOG ASSIGNMENT
The purpose of this assignment is two-fold: to have students research current scientific topics occurring in the media and, to create an environment wherein students can engage in a healthy discussion related to science.
Please Note – Participation in this assignment occurs on two levels.
Level One: Each week, ONE designated student will be responsible for choosing a scientific issue currently covered in the media (a list will be provided indicating each students designated date). After reading the article, the student will create a summary of the information presented and create TWO thought-provoking questions for the rest of the class.
On the blog, you will find links to numerous media sources for scientific information. You can use these sources, or identify your own, for your respective article.
Due Date: Your summary and questions are due on the Sunday, at 8:00pm of your specified week (please consult the schedule for details).
Level Two: Once the designated student has read the article, summarized the information, and posted the two questions, each remaining student in the class will be responsible for commenting upon the questions.
You MUST comment at minimum ONCE each week. However, bonus marks may be given if you discuss and respond more frequently.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
paola New Snub-Nosed Monkey Discovered, Eaten
National geographic's team has discoverred a new specie ! It's called the snub-nosed monkey because of his rarely distinguished nose, that is literally just two holes in his face ! The scientists had named him as the snubby, and they say that even rainfall makes him sneeze.
This rare creature discovered in Myanmar, it's said that even if it just been discovered, it is now now endanger.
The monkey was founded deand and just the leftovers that some careless hunters left, after shooting the creature and eating him.
The hunters found the creatures in one of the jungle at Myanmar, in rain season why? because when the rain comes this poor animal has no choice than tug his face into his legs, because of his rare nose.
Based on talks with the Lisu hunters, scientists estimate tahat only about 300 of these monkeys remain, few enough to qualify as in "critical endanger".
MY QUESTIONS?
-the hunters, should they receive consecuences for this act ?
-do you think this specie remain by a long time, should the gevrnment act against the endanger of this rare specie ??
This rare creature discovered in Myanmar, it's said that even if it just been discovered, it is now now endanger.
The monkey was founded deand and just the leftovers that some careless hunters left, after shooting the creature and eating him.
The hunters found the creatures in one of the jungle at Myanmar, in rain season why? because when the rain comes this poor animal has no choice than tug his face into his legs, because of his rare nose.
Based on talks with the Lisu hunters, scientists estimate tahat only about 300 of these monkeys remain, few enough to qualify as in "critical endanger".
MY QUESTIONS?
-the hunters, should they receive consecuences for this act ?
-do you think this specie remain by a long time, should the gevrnment act against the endanger of this rare specie ??
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Predators gone, small fish get bolder
This article is about little fishes that naturally are scared and timid of predators.
But for the fault of human fishing Tuna and Sharks (the principal predators) shrink. Little fishes become bolder: what means that now they take bigger excursions to feed or to go find mates.
In waters untoched by humans, the researches found that the little fish were spotty in their feeding habits.
Using snorkels, scuba equipment and video cameras, a group of scientists captured the behaviour of more than 600 small fishes.
Some parts of the coral reefs, where fish fed on seaweed, where heavily grazed. In other areas, perhaps where predators lurked, there were large tufts of untouched seaweed.
But where fishing was happening, their grazing formed a more even patter across the reefs.
Questions:
Why if humans know about this, they still fishing where there are no supposed to?
Why are not rules in the counties where this happens?
But for the fault of human fishing Tuna and Sharks (the principal predators) shrink. Little fishes become bolder: what means that now they take bigger excursions to feed or to go find mates.
In waters untoched by humans, the researches found that the little fish were spotty in their feeding habits.
Using snorkels, scuba equipment and video cameras, a group of scientists captured the behaviour of more than 600 small fishes.
Some parts of the coral reefs, where fish fed on seaweed, where heavily grazed. In other areas, perhaps where predators lurked, there were large tufts of untouched seaweed.
But where fishing was happening, their grazing formed a more even patter across the reefs.
Questions:
Why if humans know about this, they still fishing where there are no supposed to?
Why are not rules in the counties where this happens?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Global Warming
This article is about how global warming is doing to the earth and what it did in Antarctica, and that the global warming is coming fast, It’s already in all 7 continents, it only take 3 years to get to all seven continents and that Google is now find out a lot more things on global warming.
Also in the picture of the penguins in Antarctica, it’s now too warm there and they couldn’t/wouldn’t be able to live in the environment. And so if they can’t some would die or try to live in the environment.
Questions:
1. If we didn’t/ don’t fix what’s going to happened to the world, what do you think is going to happen?
2. What can we do to prevent this?
3. How can we make other people do the same? Like as in how could we make people prevent this from happening?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Lyanne Carruthers
The Caqueta tiki monkey
The scientific name is callicebus caquetensis. This new species of monkey was discovered in Columbia. This is not the first time they’ve been seen, they where first spotted by a biologist named Martin Moynihan in 1976 in the southern Caqueta part of Colombia. Scientist could not confirm it’s existence until now because of frequent armed conflicts in that region. They estimate that less than 250 still exist because of the cutting of the forests which is their home. This is one of 20 different species of Titi monkeys. Thomas Defler, a primatologist, says that it is possible that there are other species that we don’t know about. The Caqueta Titi monkey has been recommended to be classified as critically endangered.
Questions:
-Can you think of ways that could help save them?
-How many new species do you think scientist discover
each year?
The scientific name is callicebus caquetensis. This new species of monkey was discovered in Columbia. This is not the first time they’ve been seen, they where first spotted by a biologist named Martin Moynihan in 1976 in the southern Caqueta part of Colombia. Scientist could not confirm it’s existence until now because of frequent armed conflicts in that region. They estimate that less than 250 still exist because of the cutting of the forests which is their home. This is one of 20 different species of Titi monkeys. Thomas Defler, a primatologist, says that it is possible that there are other species that we don’t know about. The Caqueta Titi monkey has been recommended to be classified as critically endangered.
Questions:
-Can you think of ways that could help save them?
-How many new species do you think scientist discover
each year?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Algae
This article talks about how algae is so hard to classify, because there are so many forms of it. For example it come in green, red, yellow and brown some algae is huge and some you need a micro scope to see also some are made of one cell and some and made of multiple cells but the strangest thing is that some are like animal cells and some like plants, by that i mean the plant cell algae uses photosynthesis to make its food and the animal cell ones eat other organisms. This is why algae is so hard to classify scientist want to stop even using the word algae witch would be really hard because that word has been around for a long time.
Q1: How would you classify algae?
Q2: Why do you think some algae acts like animal cells and some act like plant cells?
Q1: How would you classify algae?
Q2: Why do you think some algae acts like animal cells and some act like plant cells?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
THE CYTOPLASM
The Cytoplasm is the part of a cell that is enclosed within the cell membrane.
All the contents of the cells of prokaryote organisms (which lack a cell nucleus) are contained within the cytoplasm. Within the cells of eukaryote organisms the contents of the cell nucleus are separated from the cytoplasm, and are there called the nucleoplasm.
In eukaryotic cells also, the cytoplasm contains organelles, such as mitochondria, which are filled with liquid that is kept separate from the rest of the cytoplasm by biological membranes. It is within the cytoplasm that most cellular activities occur, such as many metabolic pathways including glycolysis, and processes such as cell division. The inner, granular mass is called the endoplasm and the outer, clear and glassy layer is called the cell cortex or the ectoplasm.
The part of the cytoplasm that is not held within organelles is called the cytosol. The cytosol is a complex mixture of cytoskeleton filaments, dissolved molecules, and water that fills much of the volume of a cell. The cytosol is a gel, with a network of fibers dispersed through water. Due to this network of pores and high concentrations of dissolved macromolecules, such as proteins, an effect called macromolecular crowding occurs and the cytosol does not act as an ideal solution. This crowding effect alters how the components of the cytosol interact with each other.
All the contents of the cells of prokaryote organisms (which lack a cell nucleus) are contained within the cytoplasm. Within the cells of eukaryote organisms the contents of the cell nucleus are separated from the cytoplasm, and are there called the nucleoplasm.
In eukaryotic cells also, the cytoplasm contains organelles, such as mitochondria, which are filled with liquid that is kept separate from the rest of the cytoplasm by biological membranes. It is within the cytoplasm that most cellular activities occur, such as many metabolic pathways including glycolysis, and processes such as cell division. The inner, granular mass is called the endoplasm and the outer, clear and glassy layer is called the cell cortex or the ectoplasm.
The part of the cytoplasm that is not held within organelles is called the cytosol. The cytosol is a complex mixture of cytoskeleton filaments, dissolved molecules, and water that fills much of the volume of a cell. The cytosol is a gel, with a network of fibers dispersed through water. Due to this network of pores and high concentrations of dissolved macromolecules, such as proteins, an effect called macromolecular crowding occurs and the cytosol does not act as an ideal solution. This crowding effect alters how the components of the cytosol interact with each other.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The secret power of youtube.
The secret power of youtube :
Ideas worth spreading.
Everyone thinks or at least almost everyone that youtube is a website for teenagers idiocy, mindless narcisism, watching funny videos making fun of other people.
But not everyone knows that it has now becamed a new form of communicating people news, its called : crowd-accelerated innovation. Which means that like before people have been innovating new types of communication such as printing (books, newpapers, magazines) internet is now one of them, not just youtube. What is really impressing about this new type of communication is that is now allowing the rest of the worlds talents (not just news)to be shared digitally, Justin Bieber is one example. Online video is driving astonishing innovation in thousands of different fields from the ultra-niche to the sharing of truly world-changing ideas.
Questions :
Do you think youtube should be used only for entertainment ?
Can you think of other to come forms of communicating ?
Ideas worth spreading.
Everyone thinks or at least almost everyone that youtube is a website for teenagers idiocy, mindless narcisism, watching funny videos making fun of other people.
But not everyone knows that it has now becamed a new form of communicating people news, its called : crowd-accelerated innovation. Which means that like before people have been innovating new types of communication such as printing (books, newpapers, magazines) internet is now one of them, not just youtube. What is really impressing about this new type of communication is that is now allowing the rest of the worlds talents (not just news)to be shared digitally, Justin Bieber is one example. Online video is driving astonishing innovation in thousands of different fields from the ultra-niche to the sharing of truly world-changing ideas.
Questions :
Do you think youtube should be used only for entertainment ?
Can you think of other to come forms of communicating ?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Super power spiders
Summary
We have all seen spider webs – on the trails we walk on or in the corner of our bedrooms catching flies and other insects. Author Rachel Ehrenberg writes about the other known and possible uses of animal silk. The material insects use to spin webs or create cocoons is called silk.
Silk from insects like spider or silkworms is extremely strong and natural. Researchers are looking into ways to use natural silk for additional uses. Bulletproof vests and parachute cords are two possible ways. But the silk could also be used inside our body – to protect cells, like bone or nerve cells while they regrow and repair themselves.
Spider silk is so valuable that scientists are trying to find additional ways to produce it – like altering the DNA of a goad so that it produces silk proteins in it’s milk. I suppose that this would make it a lot easier to harvest than getting it from the spiders.
I think this is a really interesting topic – but I think I would be nervous to let them plant silk producing spider genes into my body no matter what the possible positives are!
Read the article and see what you think for yourself.
Discussion Questions:
1. Can you think of additional ways that strong and stretchy fibers could be used to help us on the outside of our body?
2. If the science was mastered – do you think you would use silk fibres to help your body from the inside? Say it could help repair a broken bone?
We have all seen spider webs – on the trails we walk on or in the corner of our bedrooms catching flies and other insects. Author Rachel Ehrenberg writes about the other known and possible uses of animal silk. The material insects use to spin webs or create cocoons is called silk.
Silk from insects like spider or silkworms is extremely strong and natural. Researchers are looking into ways to use natural silk for additional uses. Bulletproof vests and parachute cords are two possible ways. But the silk could also be used inside our body – to protect cells, like bone or nerve cells while they regrow and repair themselves.
Spider silk is so valuable that scientists are trying to find additional ways to produce it – like altering the DNA of a goad so that it produces silk proteins in it’s milk. I suppose that this would make it a lot easier to harvest than getting it from the spiders.
I think this is a really interesting topic – but I think I would be nervous to let them plant silk producing spider genes into my body no matter what the possible positives are!
Read the article and see what you think for yourself.
Discussion Questions:
1. Can you think of additional ways that strong and stretchy fibers could be used to help us on the outside of our body?
2. If the science was mastered – do you think you would use silk fibres to help your body from the inside? Say it could help repair a broken bone?
Monday, September 13, 2010
Blogging Assignment 2010
The purpose of this assignment is two-fold: to have students research current scientific topics occurring in the media and, to create an environment wherein students can engage in a healthy discussion related to science.
Please Note – Participation in this assignment occurs on two levels.
Level One: Each week, TWO designated students will be responsible for choosing a scientific issue currently covered in the media (a list will be provided indicating each students designated date). After reading the article, the student will create a summary of the information presented and create TWO thought-provoking questions for the rest of the class.
On the blog, you will find links to numerous media sources for scientific information. You can use these sources, or identify your own, for your respective article.
Due Date: Your summary and questions are due on the Sunday, at 8:00pm of your specified week (please consult the schedule for details).
Level Two: Once the designated student has read the article, summarized the information, and posted the two questions, each remaining student in the class will be responsible for responding to or commenting on the questions.
You MUST comment at minimum ONCE each week. However, bonus marks may be given if you discuss and respond more frequently.
Please Note – Participation in this assignment occurs on two levels.
Level One: Each week, TWO designated students will be responsible for choosing a scientific issue currently covered in the media (a list will be provided indicating each students designated date). After reading the article, the student will create a summary of the information presented and create TWO thought-provoking questions for the rest of the class.
On the blog, you will find links to numerous media sources for scientific information. You can use these sources, or identify your own, for your respective article.
Due Date: Your summary and questions are due on the Sunday, at 8:00pm of your specified week (please consult the schedule for details).
Level Two: Once the designated student has read the article, summarized the information, and posted the two questions, each remaining student in the class will be responsible for responding to or commenting on the questions.
You MUST comment at minimum ONCE each week. However, bonus marks may be given if you discuss and respond more frequently.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Whales may round up squid for dinner
if you were swiming in the ocean, it would be hard for you to miss a sperm whale swimming by. they're no longer than the average of a school bus. males can grow as long as 62 feet and once every or so they come to surface and breath.
sperm whales usually feast for squid, but to catch these animlas the whales sometimes have to dive thousand of feet below the ocean surface.
the whales take turns doing the deep dives because is very difficult to dive that deep.
how do you think whales keep their breath that long?
sperm whales usually feast for squid, but to catch these animlas the whales sometimes have to dive thousand of feet below the ocean surface.
the whales take turns doing the deep dives because is very difficult to dive that deep.
how do you think whales keep their breath that long?
Monday, February 1, 2010
What is a ipad?
You must all have heard about the new apple machine and think that it was good and you it's was better than a ipod touch but it's almost the same thing it's just that it's bigger and it use more batterie than the ipod touch. The batterie is good only during 10 hours because you need to recharge it after 10 hours. Almost every body are asking there self the same question `How many dollars does it cost ?' the answer is that it cost $499 for each ipad. I think that it's to expansive because we canhave almost the same thing for only $299 or something like that.
QUESTION:
What do you think about the ipad?
When it's going to come out are you going to buy one ?
QUESTION:
What do you think about the ipad?
When it's going to come out are you going to buy one ?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Dino-bite!
Questions:
1) How do you think that this information about dinosaurs could help scientists?
2) Do you believe that there may have been other kinds of dinosaurs that held pockets of venom in their teeth?
1) How do you think that this information about dinosaurs could help scientists?
2) Do you believe that there may have been other kinds of dinosaurs that held pockets of venom in their teeth?
Dino-bite!
A paleontologist called David Burnham and his team were studying a kind of dinosaur called Sinornithosaurs that had feathers and looked like a turkey.After a careful study, his team concluded that the dinosaur was probably poisonous.
They were trying to prove that, so they started examinating the teeth, in the upper jaw. The scienctists observed small pockets in the bone. These pockets probably held special glands that made venom (poison).
They also saw that their teeth were long and narrow. Burnham said that the long teeth were probably used for them to bite and hold their prey (an animal hunted pr caught for food).
By studying the shape and size of the teeth and jaw, the paleontologists were able to learn a lot about how Sinornithosaurs probably ate. Of course, there's no chance this turkey-size dinosaur ever ate a human, since dinosaurs and humans never lived on Earth at the same time. Thank God!
They were trying to prove that, so they started examinating the teeth, in the upper jaw. The scienctists observed small pockets in the bone. These pockets probably held special glands that made venom (poison).
They also saw that their teeth were long and narrow. Burnham said that the long teeth were probably used for them to bite and hold their prey (an animal hunted pr caught for food).
By studying the shape and size of the teeth and jaw, the paleontologists were able to learn a lot about how Sinornithosaurs probably ate. Of course, there's no chance this turkey-size dinosaur ever ate a human, since dinosaurs and humans never lived on Earth at the same time. Thank God!
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