Saturday, May 12, 2012

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 20th, 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.

Friday, May 11, 2012

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 9th.  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. 



Saturday, May 5, 2012

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

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

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

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

"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?

Sunday, April 22, 2012

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


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


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.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Lab Chimps- A New Found Life

Reference: http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/20/us/rescue-chimp-migration/index.html?hpt=he_t3 Summary: an organization called Save The Chimps Just released these poor lab survivors into the wild recently. Out of many of their monkey friends, few survived the labs and tests. Save The Chimps gave them a home and helped them to learn how to be real monkeys. It is a very touching story and everyone should go and read this article at the link above. Critique: testing animals is cruel, immoral and inhumane. These chimpanzees were in labs since birth, never feeling grass or the sun or swinging from tree to tree. It's wrong and horrible. These poor chimps were robbed of their childhood by heartless scientists and I am happy that Save the Chimps got ahold of them to set them free. Impact: maybe these heartless scientists will realize the pain they caused these monkeys and will help the cause of stopping animal tests.

Friday, April 20, 2012

A Raven's Memory

Summary: Scientists from the Department of Cognitive Biology have done some research on ravens previously. They have discovered that ravens can memorize different relationships based on previous encounters. They also remember how things went and how the relationship is categorized, just like people. For people, you categorize different people you meet into mean, nice, weird, smart, all of the above or can’t-figure-this-person-out. Ravens do the same sort of thing, just not as complicated. It is even said that they have a different call for friends and enemies. For example, if a friendly call is heard, they will respond with another friendly call. If a “mean”, aggressive one is heard, however, the response will be just as mean and arrogant if not more. Critique: There’s not really much I can say other than “it’s cool”. Because it is cool. Ravens have always been the equivalent of crows except they’re not a bad omen and a sign of death. It’s hard to imagine that their memory is as good as ours, because their brains aren’t as big as ours. The scientists weren’t even saying that in their article, I just thought of it myself, but then I realized the above. See, mammals had been known to remember things like humans, but apparently this new research shows that ravens have more memorization skills than any other of their avian friends. Impact: There’s really no impact, but while on the topic of memory, I had the most amazing revelation that probably won’t ever work. What if there was some way to cure Alzheimer’s Syndrome with the memory of an animal? It sounds crazy, but if a raven has more memory potential than we thought, what other animals have that that we don’t know of? We could maybe study the brain or find some way to connect that memories to ours. It could be possible or impossible, but I think it would be interesting to see how their memories are really that different from ours. I mean, hasn’t anyone seen “Planet of the Apes”? but I guess they just tested it on animals and didn’t use their memories . . . http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419132558.htm

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Dogs are Proven to Act Like Humans!

Summary: On April 2, 2012, a woman named Holly Miller and a couple other “colleagues” tried to see if dogs would do riskier things when they lost self control like humans do. An example of a human who looses self control is, joining gangs, or jays walking like teens do. To see if this would happen to dogs, Miller took ten dogs and made them sit still for ten minutes or go into a cage where they can walk around. afterwards. The dogs were put into a building with a barking growling caged dog with many rooms around him. Most dogs chose to walk up to the growling dog which obviously was the riskier choice. 59% of the dogs that sat still for ten minutes walked up to the growling dog while only 49% of the dogs that were put in a cage where they could walk around, walked up to the growling dog. This concluded in Millers experiment, that dogs like humans, do riskier things when they loose self control. Impact: This discovery can help us understand more on how humans’ and animals’ think and act in certain situations. The more we understand this stuff too, the better we can cure an illness or help people through problems and rough times. Critique: I think learning about stuff that can be proven as factual is cool. This experiment really didn’t need to be done because hanging around a dog all the time makes me figure things out like how my dog does some stupid things when I know he is not cautious. If people are willing enough to do this (like rich people will), people should teach their dog protection skills like people teach their children! One more comment on this, we need to stop doing studies that make us think animals are more like humans every day or we will all become Vegan!!! Other than the cannibals hahaha. Oh that’s a good way though to help endangered species to not die off though!!! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402093940.htm

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Coral reef winners and losers


Summary
There are winners and losers when it comes to the impact on coral reefs due to the impact of climate change, according to a new scientific study.  A new study made by marine biologists are stating that the test that they have been conducting on coral reefs have came back the same after drastic climate change. 
Impact 
This new study that has been conducted may help scientists find the truth on why everyone thinks that climate change effects coral reefs. 
Critique 
My critique on this article is that I think that it is good that scientists are looking into this, because it could help us understand about life underwater. Because it is always good to gain more knowledge on the life underwater. 
References
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/04/16/coral_reef_winners_and_losers_in_a_warmer_world.html

Goat Kids Can Develop Accents

rreference:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216095032.htm

Summary: Humans benefit from an extreme form of vocal plasticity which allows us to produce a wide range of sounds and accents, but in most other mammals, except, for example, bats and whales vocalisations were thought to be genetically determined, with very limited flexibility and ability to learn. Dr Briefer explains: "We found that genetically related kids produced similar calls, which is not that surprising. But the calls of kids raised in the same social groups were also similar to each other, and became more similar as the kids grew older. This suggests that goat kids modify their calls according their social surroundings, developing similar 'accents'."

Critique: It was very interesting and unusal.

Impact: It would be cool to have an accent from a goat kid if that is even possible, and could help the people who are trying to learn a new language instead of taking a couple of weeks or a month to learn you might be able to learn from a goat.

How to Make High-End Perfumes Without Whale Barf

Refernce: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405075357.htm

Summary: When sperm whales consume sharp objects, such as seashells, and fish bones, their gut produces a sticky substance, to protect their digestive organs. then the whales regulate the mixture just like a cat with a fur ball and their vomit that reacts with the seawater and turns into rock like objects that wash ashore. Ambergris is the scented compound is added to high-end perfumes to help the fragrance stay on the skin longer. "The use of ambergris in the fragrance industry has been controversial," says Bohlmann, who is a professor of Botany and Forest Sciences. "First of all, it's an animal byproduct and the use of such in cosmetics has been problematic, not to mention it comes from the sperm whale, an endangered species."

Critique: I never knew that there was whale ambergris in perfume. i just think that it is disgusting.

Impact: The whale ambergis could be more useful than the other things they use in perfume or not.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Greenland May Be Slip-Sliding Away Due to Surface Lake Melting

Resource:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416135056.htm

Summary:
A new study by the University of Colorado Boulder-based Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences suggest that the Greenland Ice Sheet may be sliding at a faster rate into the ocean due to large releases of melt water from surface lakes.  Such an event like this affects the rising sea water level.  Scientists say this is the first time these findings have been discovered.  During the summer, the melt water rate is much higher. What happens is when enough water pressure builds up, the ice underneath the lake breaks creating an area for water to run into.  Over a ten year period, researchers used satellite images to monitor over 1,000 lakes.  They found that as the climate warms the rate for lake drainages increases.   This would increase the sea level rise related to climate change.  This phenomena may also have some positive effects.  By the water draining out into a fixed area, it would create an efficient way to route water to the ocean.  This would also slow down the ice sheet's migration into the ocean and decelerate sea-level rise.

Critique:
I think this is very interesting, it shows just one of the millions of effects global warming has on our planet.

Impact:
Hopefully this will show people what an issue global warming is and that we need to take action in order to save our planet.

Parasite Arms Race Spurs Color Change in Bird Eggs

Summary: The eggs laid by two African bird species have evolved different color patterns over a pattern of just 40 years! Cuckoo finches, like the one in the picture, are called brood parasites. These birds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds so that the other birds will be tricked into raising the cuckoo finches as their own. In order to keep their eggs from being evicted, the cuckoo finch eggs have evolved to look more like its most common target, the tawny-flanked prinia. The prinia eggs have also evolved as a defense mechanism so that the prinias won't be tricked by the cuckoo finch eggs.

Critique: Firstly- those sneaky birds! Secondly, it's incredible that this has happened in such a short time.

Impact: It's really cool and maybe the prinias won't be tricked into raising the cuckoo finches as often.

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/04/16/parasite_arms_race_spurs_color_change_in_bird_eggs.html

Evolutionary history of what mammals eat

animals have adapted over the years by changing their diets, but it wast as easy as you think. animals couldn't go from eating a ripe peach to a slimy bug over night. these changes took years and years to happen. back in the cave man days omnivores ( animals that eat both meat and plants) didn't even exist, animals either ate meat or plants. it was hard for them to change into eating both because a carnivores sharp teeth weren't meant for chewing bark, or eating roots. An herbivore's flat molars couldn't tear through flesh like the carnivore's could. and their digestive systems were completely different. it took thousands of years before a new species could handle both of these very different foods.

I thought this article was very informative. i didn't realize herbivores and carnivores were so different. 

this has a slight impact on the world. if omnivores never existed things could have been completely different,  we might all be vegans!
 

Dolphins cultivate loose alliances

in Shark Bay, Australia male dolphins have began to form alliances with other male dolphins. Why would male dolphins need to form alliances in the first place? Well these alliances form between 2 or 3 males, together they isolate females during mating season from other males, so they get "dibs" on females first, or these alliances will steal females from other alliances, so they can also be some of the first to find a mate.

I thought this article was both interesting and informative. it shows how similar humans are to animals, by forming alliance, but humans don't form alliances to seal off females.

This affect the world by helping the dolphin population, i'm not sure exactly how it helps but it must have some positive effect. this doesn't particularly help the human race, but it does help us understand dolphins a bit better.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120329101510.htm

Sunday, April 15, 2012

PMU


Summary:
                What are PMU Horses? PMU stands for pregnant mare's urine, which is used to make hormone replacement drugs for women. Drugs such as Premarin, PremPro and PremPhase are taken by millions of women every day.
Critique:
                PMU mares are subjected to a horrible life. They are kept pregnant and forced to stand in pee lines for most of their lives. A mare normally stays pregnant for 11 months. Six to seven months out of their pregnancy, they are confined to very small stalls and hooked up to pee lines. In  the pee line, pouches are attached over their urethra to collect their urine. While attached, the pmu horses cannot turn around, lie down or even groom themselves. Some mares are forced to stand for the entire 6 or 7 months. 
Impact:
                I wonder, if women actually knew how this drug is made; would they still take it? I wonder, if they knew that this drug is responsible for the deaths of over 1 million horses; would they still take it?

Minerals


Summary: Minerals are inorganic nutrients that keep the body healthy and alive.  Minerals help treat and prevent severe illnesses.  Minerals can only perform their function when inside the body.  Minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium, and iron are a big role to the body.  These different minerals help the skin, the red blood cells, and the bones to stay healthy.  The way to get a lot of minerals is by doing a diet that consists of eating a lot of vegetables and fruits. 

Critique: One of the things that minerals do is that it keeps our bones strong and healthy.  There are so many vegetables and fruits out in the world that we can eat to gain so many vitamins and minerals. 

Impact: Not only do you gain minerals when you eat fruits and vegetables, but you also gain vitamins.  Vitamins and minerals are one the greatest things that our body can have.  Both of these will keep our bodies healthy and strong.     

Chromium


Summary: A lot of people don’t usually get enough chromium in their diets.  To get about 200 micrograms in a diet is having over 12,000 calories daily according to the department of agriculture.  Dieting is not the best to get chromium.  The best is by supplementing chromium.  There are a lot of good things that chromium does.  It normalizes blood sugar levels (making it a diabetes fighter) and it controls insulin, raises good cholesterol, lowers bad cholesterol levels, lowers blood pressure, reduces the chance of having heart disease, increases immune system functioning, and even boosts levels of DHEA. 

Critique: As you can see, chromium is a good mineral to have.  This is not the only mineral that is good for the body.  But make sure that you have your daily vitamins and minerals to keep the body healthy. 

Impact: I think gaining over 12,000 calories is not worth it.  There a lot of other minerals out there that is easier to have.  Gaining 12,000 calories is not worth it either.         

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Buy Coal? New Analysis Shows Purchasing Fossil Fuel Deposits Best Way to Fight Climate Change

Buy Coal? New Analysis Shows Purchasing Fossil Fuel Deposits Best Way to Fight Climate Change

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120411161628.htm

Summary- Environmental policy has historically been driven by a demand side mindset attempting to limit consumption of precious fossil fuels through pollution permits, taxation, and multi-national climate change treaties. However research from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University suggests that buying coal, oil and other dirty fossil fuel deposits still in the ground could be a far better way to fight climate change. One of the biggest challenges for multi-national climate agreements is the role of non-participating countries. If climate coalition reduces demand for fossil fuel the world price of oil goes down and non-participating countries find it profitable to consume and pollute more.

Critique- If the world prices of oil goes down and non-participating countries find it profitable to consume and pollute more.

Impact- If the climate coalition reduces demand for fossil fuel the world price of oil goes down it would then be cheaper.

Resurfacing Urban Areas to Offset 150 Billion Tons of CO2

Resurfacing Urban Areas to Offset 150 Billion Tons of CO2

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120413101341.htm

Summary- Researchers created a scenario to see what effect a global increase in surface reflectance would have on global temperature and our own carbon dioxide emissions. They estimated that increasing the reflectance of every urban area by 0.1 will give a CO2 offset between 130 and 150 billion tons. This is equivalent to taking every car in the world off road for 50 years. This is assuming a single car gives off around 4 tons of carbon dioxide each year. Albedo is measured on a scale from 0 from a non-reflecting, perfectly black surface to 1 for a perfectly white surface. The albedo of all roofs can be increased on average by 0.25 and all paved surfaces can be increased by about 0.15. Researchers believe this will increase a city’s overall albedo by about 0.10.

Critique- Are these approximate measurements accurate to give an estimate that this will increase a city’s overall albedo by 0.10.

Impact- The city’s albedo would increase by about 0.10.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Majority Rules!

Summary: A new study shows that toddlers around 2 years old and chimpanzees are more inclined to do the same as everyone else when more than three friends or members of the group are doing it. They would rather follow three or more of their friends than one of their friends who does something over three times. The experiment was that there was a box with three different colored holes. The objective was to drop a ball into one of the holes and then receive a treat. (Orangutans were also tested). They went one after another, and were allowed to watch their friends to see which ones they picked. The studies showed that the 2-year-olds and the chimpanzees picked the color hole that were most favored by their associates. The orangutans chose at random – they didn’t care who chose what. Critique: Personally, I think it is interesting how toddlers and chimpanzees have the same range of thinking. This is another example of how they’re just like humans. Recently, things like this about animals who behave like humans are fascinating to me. It’s also common sense, though isn’t it? If your building is on fire and you see everyone else running, you’re going to run too, regardless of whether or not you’re aware that anything’s wrong. The fact is that if you see everyone else running with a panicked look on their face, you’ll understand that something is wrong. This is different from if one person runs fearfully away from something three times in one day. At that point, you just think they’re out of their mind and leave things at that. Impact: When you’re a toddler, you basically have no idea what’s going on. You do what you want unless someone tells you otherwise. I would think it relatively easy to follow other people because it’s more work to lead. We all know we’re lazy deep inside, and that we’d rather be sleeping or watching some show on TV rather than working. Toddlers usually know in the back of their mind where everything comes from. If they see three people using blocks or something, they’re going to think that there must be something cool about what they’re doing. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120412121353.htm

Losing control over sugar

when ever you consume a sugary beverage or sweet snack your body produces a hormone called in insulin. this hormone helps break down sugar. too much consumption of sugar can even lead to diabetes and high blood pressure. when too much sugar is present the body has a hard time keeping blood sugar levels in balance.

this article wasn't that eye opening. i already knew sugar can cause damage to your body, i also know your body produces insulin  to balance out sugar levels.

this will help people a little i guess, but you can't stop the world from eating sugar considering that there is sugar in healthy foods like, fruits. many people know how bad sugar, and have heard and read countless articles just like this one, and they didn't listen to those. so i don't think they are going to listen to this article either.

The sinking city

Venice Italy is slipping into the sea at an alarming rate. Venice is settled on the Adriatic sea, but as the water level drops every year so does the city. it sinks about 1 millimeter a year, which is a lot considering its been happening sense the city was built. but there has also been a rise in water, because some ice caps have been melting. this mean that the city is basically sunk. when the city sinks down a bit, it doesn't always rise back up. now Venice is exposed to flooding.

i think this article is sad because I've always wanted to visit there, so it stinks thinking that it might be gone in a few years!

hopefully this will open the worlds eyes to see that things aren't perfect. this will definitely affect the world if ones of its most beautiful cities fulls into the sea. 

Can't touch this: unusual venomous creatures

You many already know about some venomous animals like a rattle snake or a black widow spider, but there are some animals you many not expect to have poisons in them. imagine your walking and come across a beautiful bird that's all black and looks as if it wearing and orange shirt. your first instinct maybe to sit and watch the bird, but keep in mind this bright orange color is a warning to you and the other animals that this bird is very venomous. this is none other than the the hooded Pitohuis. of course not all brightly colored birds have venom but this special little bird can and will stop your heart, it even eats toxic beetles. animals although beautiful can kill if consumed.

i thought this article was very informative and interesting. i don't think i will ever come across a hooded Pitohuis, but it was an informative read.

this article will be very helpful to people who hunt exotic birds. just holding the hooded Pitohuis can cause runny nose and itchy eyes. hopefully you don't come in contact with these deadly killers. this is not the only bird with venom, so i wouldn't eat any strange birds.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

SAndstorms in space

Sandstorms in space
Summary- The scientists in Chile were looking at red giants (type of star) and a headlight from a car down the street of the telescope flashed in a certain way and the scientists discovered that they were able to see a large amount of dust around the star. It is basically dust particles that evaporate before they can ever really leave the star. But recently they discovered they are growing to a much larger quantity. About as much as the dust on a shelf you haven’t dusted in a few weeks. Its allot like a mixture of sand and dust when it’s in a large enough quantity. This is the first time heat can make a gas into a solid.
Critique- So I thought that we could only make liquids into gases and solids into liquids but this is completely skipping that. It seems like it goes from a gas and skipping a liquid and going straight to a solid particle.
Impact- All the elements and the way we look at them.
Humans began to walk upright so they can carry rare resources
Summary- We walk upright because when we were in the early stages of being a more monkey like species we used four limbs instead of the modernized two. But in some cases we only used 4 limbs for the common resources. But when we found any rare resources we walked upright on two limbs carefully holding the resource. But basically researchers and scientists discovered that we actually do not what so ever use all four limbs to hold things any more. We only use our hands and sometimes are mouth (not a limb).
Critique- I thought it was just spine growth or seeing other animals do it.
Impact- Understanding why we walk upright and also a different way you can look at humans and monkeys and see the differences.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Pollution

Summary: Environmental pollution is the release of environmental contaminants, generally resulting from human activity.
Critique: Unfortunate truth.
Impact: Giving hippies something to complain about.

Agriculture

Summary: Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock).
Critique: Interesting.
Impact: Just a system of humanities consumption of indigenous plants and animals.

Americans and their weight loss and how it plays a role in migraines and headaches

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110328161846.htm

Summary- Some researchers say that Bariatic surgery can help with the problem with obesity. It also can do one more trick, it can help with the hurting migraines. Yes I said it and so did the researchers. People that were obese got this surgery and they said that they used to get headaches and it has decreased for them, mostly 6 months after there surgery. Most of the patients that got this surgery lost about 60 something pounds, thats alot of weight and stress off your back. So the bigger you are the more headaches and migraines you get. Weight plays apart of inner being.
Researchers have estimated people for this migrain thing. They have estimated 28 million americans suffer from migraines, they have said mostly women though. So the key is to lose weight and you wont get that bad of aching headaches or migrains.


Critique- Good article and I like how its usually women that get migrains, that was pretty funny.


Impact- This didnt impact me, I'm not obese. But I do want to eat better.

Babies have Chronic pain

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111209105129.htm

Summary- More and more children or should I say Adolescence are getting pretty common in babies. I guess gender does count because the girls seem to get more pain than the boys. But they don't believe that entirely, they say it might happen because of age. Some variables vary and might happen like low self esteem, anxiety, and depression. Most children suffer from some kind of pain. The most common pain is the headache, 23 % of children estimated said that.

This means that most people have headaches.

Critique- This article is good, I have to agree with the headaches because I know how that feels.



Impact- No impact at all.

Holding a Gun Makes You Think Others Are Too

Summary: Notre Dame Associate Professor of Psychology James Brockmole, who specializes in human cognition and how the visual world guides behavior, did a study with Projector images and patients in five different experiments. Brockmole gave majority of the people a ball to hold and a majority with a toy gun to hold. Each person was given photos of people holding objects, wearing ski masks, changing the person in the images different races and have the participants to guess if the person in the photo was in possession of a gun or not. It was then proven that more people holding toy guns thought people in the photos had a gun present than the people holding a rubber ball. “Beliefs, expectations and emotions can all influence an observer's ability to detect and to categorize objects as guns," Brockmole says. "Now we know that a person's ability to act in certain ways can bias their recognition of objects as well, and in dramatic ways. It seems that people have a hard time separating their thoughts about what they perceive and their thoughts about how they can or should act." Impact: This experiment done is very important. Learning new things about humans and medicine is important in helping us find ways to help humans in physical and emotional problems like this experiment tried to show. Understanding how the human mind works is the most important and basic step in having a healthy better future for people. Critique: I think this experiment was awesome. The people I this experiment sure were biased considering that they thought angry looking people or people with ski masks on definitely had a gun in possession. What I don’t know is how many people were being experimented on in this experiment and what time of day was it when the people took this experiment? This can affect the conclusion of Brockmole’s hypothesis thus, I’m not sure I can totally agree with him. Its weird how the human mind works sometimes! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120321152627.htm

evolution at work

If ever asked to give a brief summary of natural selection, I would say "Natural selection is when everyone from group A is better suited for the world than people from group B, then group B dies and everyone becomes a member of group A" The following video show this proccess at work, in which group B is filled with idiots, and this guy is from group B.

http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2010-08.html

Why he thought that was a good idea, I have no idea, but I do take comfort in the fact natural selection is going strong, it's not like the human race couldn't use a little bit of a pruning now and then, and hopefully everyone who watches jersey shore is next!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Changes in monkeys' social status affect their genes

Summary:

Well i guess humans are not the only ones that gets depressed when something bad happens in their life. A female scientist discovered that those who rank higher tend to be healthier. So just like the school! "Our study supports the idea that low social status can be bad for the body. But it hints at the idea that if you improve your social situation, your health improves." Says Jenny Tung.

Critque:

The more stuff we learn, the more we find more relations to us.

Impact:

Nothing!

Tiny hitchhikers attack cancer cells

Summary:

I dont know if this is a good thing or a bad thing? Well scientist found these little microsoptic bugs that feed on and kill bacteria cells.Our drug-loaded gold nanostars are tiny hitchhikers," said Teri W. Odom, who led the study of human cervical and ovarian cancer cells. "They are attracted to a protein on the cancer cell's surface that conveniently shuttles the nanostars to the cell's nucleus. Then, on the nucleus' doorstep, the nanostars release the drug, which continues into the nucleus to do its work."  says odem

Critque:

im glad they found these to help out cance victims.

Impact:

Many lives!

Somatic Cell

Summary: A somatic cell is generally taken to mean any cell forming the body of an organism.
Critique: Interesting to learn about the near infinite things that make up the human body.
Impact: Understanding humanities physical make-up is easier.

Higher Altitude of Islands Increases Their Number of Exclusive Species

Summery
New advances in animal studies show that the higher altitude of islands increase the number of spices that live there. Animals are going to places where the altitude is higher, because it is more secluded, and has more room for living.

Impact
Because of all the animals going to more deserted, and secluded places it allow for more living space for humans. It also is a great location for animals to go to not to be disturbed by humans.

Critique
I personally don't mind where the animals go. They can live where they want, but it is nice that there are in a more secluded space, so the humans can't destroy there living space for more man made things.

References: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120409133702.htm

Black flies may have a purpose after all!

Summery
Black flies drink blood and spread deceases, but a entomologist at a college for Agriculture and environment found a way to study how this insect sucks blood. By studying these flies, and how they drink blood, scientists can use the same tactic in the medical field. So the small annoying flies that you might find in your house can actually be helpful to the medical world.

Impact
Because these flies are helping scientists, the advances in the medical field could be increasing.

Critique
Can this new discovery also help remove cancer causing cells in the human body, kind of like the flies removed the blood form body's?

References: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120409133805.htm

Changes in Monkeys' Social Status Affect Their Genes

Rhesus Macaque!

Summary: According to a new study, a female's social status affects how her genes turn on and off. The study followed 49 female rhesus macaques. Those with a higher social rank tended to be healthier as long as their social status didn't decline. The experiment was done with females because males enter new social groups at adolescence to establish their rank order, while females don't leave their birth group and take on a rank similar to their mothers' status.

Critique: It's kind of hard to explain but this was a really cool article. It talked about how this was true for other species, like insects, fish, and honeybees- so I would like to know if the same is true for humans.

Impact: There isn't a large impact here, but it's extremely interesting.

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/04/09/changes_in_monkeys_social_status_affect_their_genes.html

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Coyotes Afraid of Wolves?


Summary:
                Who’s afraid of wolves? Surprisingly, coyotes. You would think they would fight for territory and food, but really, they don’t! Studies show that if coyotes enter wolf territory they leave asap, not wanting any fights or injuries.
Critique:
                Why won’t the coyotes fight for land? They are in packs after all.
Impact:
                With the coyotes not having land, that could force them into neighborhoods causing a bigger problem.

Big Advance Against Cystic Fibrosis

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405224843.htm

Summary:
Harvard stem cell researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have taken a critical step in making possible the discovery in the relatively near future of a drug to control cystic fibrosis (CF), a fatal lung disease that claims about 500 lives each year, with 1,000 new cases diagnosed annually.


Critique:
Is there any side affects to taking the drug?


Impact:
could save many of lives each year.

Scientists Redraw the Blueprint of the Body's Biological Clock

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405224456.htm

Summary:
The discovery of a major gear in the biological clock that tells the body when to sleep and metabolize food may lead to new drugs to treat sleep problems and metabolic disorders, including diabetes.


Critique:
Is there any bad affects to a human from taking the drug?


Impact:
this could help many people with sleep disorders, metabolic disorders, or diabetes.

Long-Term Studies Detect Effects of Disappearing Snow and Ice

Long-Term Studies Detect Effects of Disappearing Snow and Ice

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120406082844.htm

Summary- Regions of Earth where water is frozen for at least a month each year are shrinking as a result of global warming. Some of the effects on ecosystems are now being revealed through research conducted at affected sites over decades. Ecosystems are changing worldwide as a result of shrinking sea ice, snow, and glaciers. In high latitude regions where water is frozen for at least a month each year the cryosphere.

Critique- The ecosystems are changing in a result of shrinking sea ice, snow, and glaciers.

Impact- Where water is frozen for at least a month each year is shrinking which leads to global warming.

Amount of Coldest Antarctic Water Near Ocean Floor Decreasing for Decades

Amount of Coldest Antarctic Water Near Ocean Floor Decreasing for Decades

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403153850.htm

Summary- Scientists have found a large reduction in the amount of the coldest deep ocean water called Antarctic Bottom Water. Two oceanographers from NOAA and the University of Washington find that Antarctic Bottom Water has been disappearing at an average rate of about eight million metric tons per second over the past few decades. This is equivalent to about fifty times the average flow of the Mississippi River. Antarctic Bottom Water is formed in a few distinct locations around Antarctica. Where seawater is cooled by the overlying air and made saltier by ice formations.

Critique- The coldest deep ocean water is called Antarctic Bottom Water.

Impact- Antarctic Bottom Water has been disappearing at an average rate of about eight million metric tons per second over the past few decades.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Pythons Eating Rare Bird Eggs Pose Threat

Summary: Burmese pythons are creating problems in Florida. Now they’re not only eating birds, but the birds’ eggs as well! This isn’t really productive news to me because as soon as I thought about it, I realized that if the mother is gone, the babies won’t survive. Even if, by some miracle they hatch without the warmth of their mother, she’s not able to feed them. Thus, they die of starvation. (Wow, this is dark stuff.) Anyway, these pythons are able to eat the eggs whole. After the egg is completely in its body, the python flexes its body and crushes the egg, getting the nourishment from inside the shell. It then regurgitates the shell and moves on. (Again, dark stuff.) Scientists found the proof in two snakes they caught in an area where guineafowl and their nests resided. One python coughed up 10 egg shells (It was male) while the other only had two (This one was female.) Critique: I think snakes are cool. Like bees and sometimes sharks, they’ll leave you alone if you do the same. If you poke it with a stick, of course it will get mad and attack, but if you back away slowly and NOT scream and run, you won’t seem like prey or worse: an enemy. Now that I know they may in fact be the cause of a bug Blitzkrieg in the forseeable future, I'm more wary. This is a different kind of dangerous, folks. If bugs overpopulate the world, we can't just back away slowly. We have to hide underground and pray they don't find us. (More dark stuff! Good Lord, I wouldn't have done this article if I knew it would be this eerie to write about!) Impact: Well, all we need to picture is the onslaught of insects that would be the result of no more birds. Ew. While I’m sure bug researchers are thrilled to hear this, the rest of us would rather not get a fatal disease and die. Bugs really aren’t that bad if they’re not everywhere. If birds become less in number, however, we’re in trouble. The more bugs that carry disease, the more likely it is we’ll be the host of the illness next. As for me, myself personally, bugs already scare/gross the crap out of me – if I have to worry about diseases along with their creepiness, mark my words, I’ll go insane. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405224845.htm

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Mice moved to Denmark and Greenland from the Vikings!!!

Summary: On March 19, 2012, a huge team of researchers from the UK, USA, Iceland, Denmark and Sweden used techniques made to identify genetic similarity, or the relatedness of one population, or one individual, with another, to make a mouse colonization timeline. Modern samples of mouse DNA were collected and compared to ancient samples dating mostly from the 10th to the 12th century. Samples of house mouse DNA were collected from nine sites in Iceland, Narsaq in Greenland, and four sites near the Viking archaeological site, L'Anse aux Meadows, in Newfoundland. The ancient samples came from the Eastern and Western settlements in Greenland and four archaeological sites in Iceland. “Analysis of mouse mitochondrial DNA showed that house mice hitched a lift with the Vikings, in the early 10th century, into Iceland, either from Norway or the northern part of the British Isles. From Iceland the mice continued their journey on Viking ships to settlements in Greenland. However, while descendants of these stowaways can still be found in Iceland, the early colonizers in Greenland have become extinct and their role has been filled by interloping Danish mice brought by a second wave of European human immigrants.” Impact: This can be a break through! Learning that animals have spread by people long ago help us now keep learning more about how animals adapt to new surroundings. Just like finding a timeline of certain species of animal or even humans have and can help us learn our ancestors and races! Critique: I think this is pretty cool. If I learned about this and I lived in Greenland, I would love all mice to death because they came from Vikings!!! I already love the gerbil “Mustaches” or as I call him Van Halen so much!!! Kisses to you!! The only problem with thinking about animals migrating with humans is rabies or diseases they might bring!!! Oh my, another way we can be terrorized my terrorists!!! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120319094801.htm

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Eating Cruciferous Vegetables May Improve Breast Cancer Survival

Summary: Breast cancer survivors who eat more cruciferous vegetables may have improved survival, according to a new study by the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Shanghai Center for Disease Control. What is a cruciferous vegetable? Some examples are cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, bok choy, turnips, and other greens. The study followed 4,886 Chinese breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed with breast cancer (stage 1 to stage 4) from 2002 to 2006. As the women ate more of these vegetables their risk of death or cancer recurrence diminished.

Critique: I think that this is really cool. I know a lot of people who have gone through breast cancer so this is quite interesting. I would like to see more follow-up studies about this. The people studied were all Chinese, so I wonder if this would have different effects with different nationalities of people.

Impact: This can reduce risks of death and cancer recurrence for breast cancer survivors. I think that once someone goes through cancer they shouldn't ever have to go through it again so hopefully this will help them.