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Solar Eclipse of May 20: How to See the Sun's 'Ring of Fire'

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/solar-eclipse-may-20-see-suns-ring-fire-105219623.html

Summary: On May 20^th, there should be a solar eclipse that can be viewed by most of the Western Hemisphere.  The moon will block out most of the sun but leaves a ring of light visible around the circumference of the moon.  The moon passes between the Earth and the sun every 29.5 days.  There is no solar eclipse when this happens because the moon is either above or below the sun. 

Critique: This will be a very cool thing to experience.  I hope it is not a folk like some of the other things that were said to happen but never did. 

Impact: This is a positive impact because this could be a once in a lifetime event.

Hidden Alien Planet Revealed by Its Own Gravity

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/hidden-alien-planet-revealed-own-gravity-180918022.html

Summary: Astronomers have discovered at least one, if not more, unseen alien planets.  It has the mass of abut Saturn and orbits its sun once every 57 days. 

Critique: I think that this was very interesting to know that there are other planets that are circling the same sun and we didn’t even know it! 

Impact: This is a neutral impact because it can be both good and bad.  It can be good because maybe the planets have an effect on us, but it can be bad because we don’t know very much about the planet, and it was just discovered. What else is out there in our solar system that we haven’t discovered?

Our Sun Is Moving More Slowly Than Thought

Reference:  http://news.yahoo.com/sun-moving-more-slowly-thought-183631909.html

Summary: Researchers thought that the sun was moving fast enough in space for our heliosphere to generate a shock wave for about a quarter of a century.  The shock wave that would have been created was known as a bow shock.

Critique: This is very good because it’s moving slower than researchers thought.  If it were moving faster that would be bad because the huge shock wave would be sooner than expected

Impact: This is a positive impact because now we don’t have to worry about the shock wave and we might even live longer

Far Out! Jupiter-Bound Probe Snaps Photo of Big Dipper

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/far-jupiter-bound-probe-snaps-photo-big-dipper-181720358.html

Summary: A NASA spacecraft was on its way to Jupiter when it snapped a picture of what might be the farthest-flung photo ever taken of the Big Dipper.  When the photo was taken, the Juno Probe was already beyond the orbit of Mars.  NASA released the image on Thursday May 10.  The Big Dipper is one of the most popular Northern Hemisphere celestial landmarks.  In England, the Big Dipper is called “Plough” and in Germany it is called “Great Cart”. 

Critique: I thought this was very interesting because I the Big Dipper is one of my favorite constellations.

Impact: The impact of this is very positive because now, we can see what the Big Dipper looks like from space and what kind of pictures a space probe can take. 

Huge Dead Satellite May Be Space Junk for 150 Years

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/huge-dead-satellite-may-space-junk-150-years-153552260.html;_ylt=Aj6ZHnjveVb259kuAG4xN4.HgsgF;_ylu=X3oDMTRlajcwZm44BG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YgU3BhY2VBc3Ryb25vbXlTU0YEcGtnAzcxYjRmMGY2LTQxZmMtMzg0Mi04Njk2LWE2MzhiZGRlOTc3OARwb3MDMwRzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgNkOWNjNzU4MC05YjgwLTExZTEtYWRmZi0wNjIzODYxNjY3ZDY-;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Summary: An enormous spacecraft about the size of a school bus went silent about a month ago, after 10 successful years of working.   It was officially claimed dead on Wednesday May 9^th.  It is predicted that it will stay in orbit for the next 150 years, posing a threat to other spacecrafts zipping around our planet.  It is now one of the biggest pieces of space junk after the announcement was given. 

Critique: This was a very interesting article to read because it has a big effect on other spacecrafts in our orbit as well.

Impact: the dead satellite has a negative impact because it could destroy other satellites in our orbit and that could cause NASA a lot of money. 

Ancient Egyptian Mummy Suffered Rare and Painful Disease

Summary- About 2,900 years ago, an ancient Egyptian man, approximately in his 20s, died after suffering from a rare, cancer-like disease that might have left him with a type of diabetes. Scientists are not really sure what caused the disease, but they do know that it is very rare. it only affects about one in 560,000 young adults, mostly males.

Critique- This is interesting. I wonder if actual cancer existed in ancient Egyptian times.

Impact- We now know that even in ancient Egyptian times they had and died from rare diseases. They may have found the early version of cancer.

Resource- www.foxnews.com

'Iceman' Mummy Holds World's Oldest Blood Cells

Summary- The oldest red blood cells ever discovered were found among the body of Otzi the Iceman, who is a 5,300 year old mummy that was found in the Alps in 1991. This magnificent find was a first for Otzi's mummy, which had been under harsh scientific critique since a group of hikers came across the frozen body in ice on the Austrian-Italian border. This finding found by new research helped confirm how Otzi died.

Critique- I think that this finding is interesting and quite remarkable. It just blows my mind that they were able to determine that this mummy had red blood cells with the condition that he is in.

Impact- Scientists now have red blood cells from a person that is about 5,300 years old. Now they can examine them and get more information on that time peroid.

Resource- www.foxnews.com

Wind Farms are Warming the Earth, Researchers Say

Summary- Recent research found that wind farms are actually warming up the surface of the area underneath them during the night, which could put a damper on efforts to expand wind energy as a energy alternative. Satellite data, that researchers used, from 2003-2011 to examine the surface temperatures across a large area of west Texas, which has four of the world's largest wind farms. The data researchers discovered, showed a direct correlation between night time temperatures increase of 0.72 degress C or 1.3 degrees F and the placement of the farms.

Critique- I don't understand why this is happening at night instead of all day, that is the only thing that is curious to me.

Impact- This will impact all of the states that are home to this form of alternative energy.

Resources- www.foxnews.com

First camera trap photos of rare leopard in China

Summery:

Talk about right place at the right time."He first-known camera trap photos of an Amur leopard in China have recently been taken by protected area staff in Hunchun Amur Tiger National Nature Reserve in Jilin Province according to the Wildlife Conservation Society" Says science biology news network. They set up 16 picture traps for observations. 


Critque:


Good timing on the pictures.


Impact:


Nothing.

Cute Super Ants Help Each other!

Summary: On April 4, 2012, a team of scientists from Austria put a micro infection in a non disease ant colony to see how the other ants would react. They found out that the other clean ants would lick the diseased ants to take out the harmful poison. This did cause the other ants to get infected but only a minor infection because they built up a strong “social” immune system to fight off diseases. Impact: From learning how ants can fight off diseases and help other ants with their diseases, this can help scientists figure out more ways to fight diseases and viruses in humans. Also from learning more about the social ways of organisms, (in this case the ant) this can help us understand more on how organisms’ minds work, adapt to different climates, and survive against the world. Critique: I think it’s so cute when I picture teeny tinny ants helping each other out when they are sick! California ants don’t harm you but invade your homes more than the ones in Arizona. When I first came here, I looked at cute little ants and picked one up and it bit me! I wonder what kind of ants these scientists studied on because that can affect the outcome of benefits from this experiment. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120404102303.htm

"Chimpanzee"

Summary: Recently I saw the movie "Chimpanzee" and I learned a lot about these extraordinary animals. They use rocks and sticks as tools to break open nuts that they eat. They chew up fruit and suck the juice out of it to absorb nutrients. There is also a distinct social hierarchy. The leader of the group will groom his allies to make sure that they support him instead of overthrowing him. In the movie the young chimp named Oscar's mom dies after she is injured when a rival chimpanzee group leads a raid of the nut tree grove and is eaten by a predator after nightfall. Oscar desperately searches for her and struggles to survive without her. Almost on the verge of death, Oscar is adopted by leader of his chimpanzee group, Freddie.

Critique: It was an incredible movie and I learned a lot about chimpanzees and the way they live. Watching the chimps hunt monkeys was a bit disturbing for me. I have no problems watching a lion eat a gazelle, but there was something about one primate eating another. It was beautifully filmed and I would strongly recommend it- especially to those interested in biology.

Impact: This movie has the potential to educate a lot of people about chimpanzees.

Reference: "Chimpanzee"

Diamond threaded fish poop!?

Diamonds found in fish poop

Summary- Recently scientists discovered that a type of deepsea fish would poop out condinced carbon. Or in other words diamonds. It is only a small strand like formation. Oddly enough this diamond fecal matter is similar to spider web. it actually is a strand of diamonds that are digested in the fish and is woven into a string like material. The researchers said that "if we can harvest this somewhat rare material and make useful objects out of it such as diamond woven blankets or diamond thread!". But it is still very hard to make and also expensive still.

Critique- Although it is rare i could imagine that it could make things like bullet proof vests or maybe bullet proof windows or something.

Impact- Stronger materials?

Freeing Loggerhead Turtles Come At A Price

Summary:

The Loggerhead Turtle has become an endangered species so, they took the turtles in to re-populate. But releasing them back into their natural habitat was not working as they had planned. Different turtles had different problems, some causing death. Spanish scientists have put 12 devices on the turtles to track them.

Critique:

When taking in the Loggerhead Turtle, you should give it a habitat that is really, really close to their natural habitat that way they don;t run into these problems.

Impact:

I think that the turtles will find their way back up to the list, and hopefully won't become endangered.

Diabetes

Reference: http://www.cbn.com/health/weightloss/diabetes_risk_Galland.aspx

Summary: Many people eat a lot of unhealthy foods.  Eating too much unhealthy foods can give anyone diabetes.  What also gives diabetes is being overweight.  These two things are the biggest ways of getting diabetes. There are over 21 million diabetics and over 41 million people have a chance to become diabetic.  One of the best ways of reducing the chances of having diabetes is by staying lean, fit, and healthy.  This will reduce the chance of getting diabetes by 90 percent. 

Critique: Many people, as you can see, have diabetes.  Everyone that doesn’t have diabetes but may have a chance of getting them, just stay fit and watch what you eat.  This will reduce your chance of getting diabetes by a lot. 

Impact: The main impact to this is to stay healthy and fit.  It doesn’t mean you can’t have dessert or you have to work out all the time.  It means to stay healthy and fit to the point where your chance of getting diabetes will be low.  

A Disease Fighting Fruit

Reference: http://www.cbn.com/health/weightloss/appleaday_Galland.aspx

Summary: Apples are really healthy.  Research shows that apples may be able to affect heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and high cholesterol.   Apples have a bunch of phytonutrients in them.  They lower type 2 diabetes, they have a lower incidence of coronary for both men and women, and it can prevent asthma.  Apples also hold a good food source called pectin that is a dietary fiber. 

Critique: Apples are a wonderful, delightful fruit to eat. Apples help the body a lot.  Eating apples is one of the greatest ways of staying healthy. 

Impact: I love apples.  I can eat them all the time.  To stay healthy, I believe that everyone should have at least one apple a day.  

How Exercise Could Lead to a Better Brain

Resource: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/magazine/how-exercise-could-lead-to-a-better-brain.html?_r=1&ref=brain# Summary: Researches have been looking at ways they can make the brain smarter in a simple way. They have been looking at animlas and how the more they move and exercise the smarter they get. For example they took rats and put some in 4 different cages that all had different things in them. The first and second cages had great food, colorful beds and mirrors and bunches of toys, but no running wheel. The 3rd cage had less fun things but still somewhat good food and a running wheel. The fourth cage didnt have anything but crappy food and a wheel in it. Though before they put the mice in the cages they injected them with a substance that could tell how their brain increased, and it turned out that the mice that had the exciting toys and yummy food didnt get any smarter but the ones that had the wheel did because they were running and exercising more. Thereofre if you run or go for a swim you can be making your brain smarter. Impact:The impact that this could have on people is huge because if people know that just walking everyday and as much as they can could make their brain smarter it could help everyone a lot. Critique: I dont have any problems with this article i think that anyone that is interested should definitly read it because it is very interesting to learn about and could help you in your everyday life.

Meat Eating Behind Evolutionary Success of Humankind, Global Population Spread, Study Suggests

Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120420105539.htm

Summary: Carnivory is behind the evolutionary success of humankind. Earlier humans started to eat meat and hunt their new and higher quality diet, which meant that woman could wean their children early. The woman could then give birth to more children during their reproductive life, is a possibility contribution to the population, that gradually spreads over the world. "This has been known for a long time. However, no one has previously shown the strong connection between meat eating and the duration of breast-feeding, which is a crucial piece of the puzzle in this context. Eating meat enabled the breast-feeding periods and thereby the time between births, to be shortened. This must have had a crucial impact on human evolution," says Elia Psouni of Lund University.

Critique: It was good, just different that humans had to hunt for their higher quality diet that was meat.

Impact: Im not quite sure how this could inpact people or the world, but it probably will in the future.

New Genes Contributing to Autism Discovered

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419121525.htm

Summary:
 A new approach to investigating hard-to-find chromosomal abnormalities has identified 33 genes associated with autism and related disorders, 22 for the first time. Several of these genes also appear to be altered in different ways in individuals with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, symptoms of which may begin in adolescence or adulthood. Results of the study by a multi-institutional research team will appear in the April 27 issue of Cell and have been released online.


Critique:
What can this new discovery of genes help to do with people with autism?


Impact:
This could lead to new discoveries about autism.

Accelerating Climate Change Exerts Strong Pressure On Europe's Mountain Flora

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419143115.htm

Summary:
A pan-European study published in Science shows that mountain plants across the continent are moving to higher altitudes. This often results in raised species numbers on mountain tops, when colonizers from lower down start to dwell on the summits. This study, however, also shows that upward shifts can lead to a reduction in species richness. The paper is based on detailed surveys of 66 mountain summits distributed between the north of Europe and the southern Mediterranean Sea. An international research group, led by the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the University of Vienna, mapped all plant species at each site in 2001 and 2008 using the same standardized procedures.


Critique:
Would the raised amount of species be bad?


Impact:
More species would be on higher mountain tops.

Aspirin: New Evidence Is Helping Explain Additional Health Benefits and Open Potential for New Uses

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419142932.htm

Summary:
 New evidence is helping explain additional health benefits of aspirin. Researchers in Canada, Scotland and Australia have discovered that salicylate, the active ingredient in aspirin, directly increases the activity of the protein AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), a key player in regulating cell growth and metabolism. AMPK which is considered a cellular fuel-gauge is switched on by exercise and the commonly used anti-diabetic medication metformin.


Critique:
What other health problems could aspirin help?


Impact:
Could lead to more health problems being fixed.

Key Genes That Switch Off With Aging Highlighted as Potential Targets for Anti-Aging Therapies

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419191709.htm

Summary:
Researchers have identified key genes that switch off with aging, highlighting them as potential targets for anti-aging therapies.


Critique:
How where these genes found? what do they do to help anti-aging?


Impact:
Could help people not look like they have aged.

New Monitoring System Clarifies Murky Atmospheric Questions

New Monitoring System Clarifies Murky Atmospheric Questions Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419163557.htm Summary- A university of Colorado Boulder-led team has developed a new monitoring system to analyze and compare emissions from human made fossil fuels and trace gases in the atmosphere. The research team looked at atmospheric gas measurements taken every two weeks from aircraft over a six year period over the northeast United States to collect samples of CO2 and other environmentally important gases. Their method allowed them to separate CO2 derived from fossil fuels from CO2 being emitted by biological sources. Critique- The method allowed them to separate CO2 derived from fossil fuels from CO2 being emitted by biological sources. Impact- A new monitoring system to analyze and compare emissions from human made fossil fuels and trace gases in the atmosphere.

Mild Winters Are Detrimental to Butterflies

Mild Winters Are Detrimental to Butterflies Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120420123859.htm Summary- Researchers studied caterpillars of the Propertius Duskywing butterfly. Which feed on Gary Oak Trees. This species of caterpillar like many insects has a higher metabolic rate and burns more fat during mild winters. A butterfly needs to conserve as much energy as it can during the winter months. The caterpillars that are exposed to warmer and more variable conditions are better to withstand the warmer conditions. Critique- The butterflies need to conserve as much energy as it can in the winter months. Impact- The caterpillars that are exposed to warmer conditions are better to withstand the warmer conditions.