The orgin of the LIGER!

Ligers Make a "Dynamite" Leap Into the Limelight
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0804_050804_ligers.html

Half lion and half tiger this animal really does exsist, though some still do not think so. This animal was on the limelight after the 2004 movie "Napoleon Dynamite". Fans ask "How are they really like?" This animal is bred from female tigers and male lions. They have shaggy manes and faint stripes, they can also roar like lions as well as chuff like tigers do. Ligers weigh about one thousand pounds and eat 50 pounds of food in one single meal.  "'For the most part they're really laid back,' said Jason Hutcherson, vice president of Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, Georgia." The drive through park is said to house 10 of the big cats which is the biggest number of these cats housed in one zoo. Since 1999 this zoo has bred these animals together and has produced 24 ligers. Not all of them turned out healthy though. 3 of 24 of those cubs had a so called "genetic disorder" which was just an excuse for the most part. "Accredited zoos frown on the practice of mixing two different species and have never bred ligers, says Jane Ballentine, a spokesperson for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, based in Silver Spring, Maryland"

Critique: I'm glad that this post had alot of good basic information about the breed of the liger though I wish it would go into detail more about the personality of the cat rather than the looks of it. I do however like how they zoom into the opposing side of the breeding, for example how they "frown upon it". It is good to know about the other side of the story rather than the one-sided information.

Impact: Of course I believe that breeding these two animals together is not exactly right but with my expirience of breeding dogs I have noticed that not all of 24 pups/ cubs usually survive. Liger or tiger I believe that not all of 24 would survive either way. A liger is my favorite animal therefore I'm not entirely against breeding them, but it would be better not to do it as often. Rather the zoos do it or not it's not a big deal to me.

55ft Snake??!!

55FT Snake Found in Malaysia
http://www.24x7funonline.com/2011/09/55-ft-snake-found-in-malaysia.html

It was said that two gigantic boas were found by workers clearing a forest for a new road. Apparently they woke up the snakes by trying to bulldoze a large mountain of earth. On the third dig one of the workers found blood in the soil. When they dug deeper they found the barely alive 55ft boa. When they came back after getting some help the large snake had died. The operator of the bulldozer was so sick that he couldn't even stand up. It was said that the digger was so tramatized that he was sent in an ambulance and later died of a heart attack. "The dead snake was 55ft (16.7m) long, weighed 300kg and was estimated to be 140 years old".

Critique: I wish their was more detail in the post about the snake, though the picture was great to see. I also wish that this article had some type of resource showing that the snake was not fake. All in all it seemed very realistic. The picture didn't look photoshopped in any way.

Impact: What to say.. I believe that this digger had it coming to him, he was destroying the snakes home and precious land for other animals just for a dumb road that they didn't need. On top of that he killed one of these beautiful snakes. Of course he didn't know any better and i'm not going to say that he deserved to die but mother nature works in mysterious ways. I wish they could of not killed the snake and of taken their pictures and left the snake alone. Now it's probably being examined and such for reasearch because this snake is ginormous. All I can say is K-A-R-M-A!

Melatonin Receptor Gene linked to Diabetes

Summary: Mutations in the Melatonin Receptor Gene have been said to severely increase your chances of getting Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is characterized by having an excess of blood glucose, and having an extreme lack or resistance of insulin. Most people who have Type 2 Diabetes have to inject themselves with insulin 3-4 times a day. It is the most common form of Diabetes and has affected over 300 million people in the world. Due to the obesity rate of the world, it has been predicted there will be 2 times more people who have Type 2 Diabetes by next year.

Impact: This study could lead to new ways to prevent or treat Diabetes.

Critique: I was very interested in this article because my step-dad has Diabetes.

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/01/30/biological_timekeeper_linked_to_diabetes.html

Researchers Visualize the Development of Parkinson's

Summary: In America, over 500,000 people have Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is a disease that makes you have no control of your motions or movement. Up until now, no one knew what Parkinson's was caused by, but recently a group of researchers observed a brain cell that may be causing Parkinson's disease.

Impact: We may be able to find a cure for Parkinson's.

Critique: I am glad they found this because they might find a cure now. I have family members with Parkinson's and it's so irritating watching them freak out.

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/01/31/researchers_visualize_the_development_of_parkinsons_cells.html

Mouse to Elephant? Just Wait 24 Million Generations

Resource:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130171909.htm

Summary:

Scientists have made an astounding breakthrough in the world of evolution. A team of 20 paleontologists and biologists, led by Dr. Alistair Evans of Monash University's School of Biological Sciences, have discovered that it takes somewhere around 24 million years for a mouse sized mammal to evolve to the size of an elephant. This is the first time any team of scientists have measured the evolution rate in large scale mammals. They also discovered that it takes much less time in the sense of the decrease rate as compared to growth rates. It only takes about 100,000 generations for a large scale mammal to evolve to a size that would fit in the dwarf category. The team looked at 28 different groups of mammals ranging from the past 70 million years such as whales, primates, and elephants. They determined what animals to use by taking samples from different continents and ocean basins. They discovered that the evolution size of whales occurred at twice the rate when compared to large land animals. They feel that this is due to the fact that it's easier to be big and live in the ocean, the water can hold the weight and can be easier for them to find food. The scientists were very surprised by the findings, they didn't think it could occur so fast. That probably explains why mammoths and hippos lived on islands.

Critique:

I thought this article was very interesting. I didn't even know that a species could evolve to different sizes. It's crazy how a mouse sized animal can evolve to the size of an elephant, that's huge!

Impact:

I think this discovery will help scientists better understand evolution in animals.

Dog skull dates back 33,000 years

Summery:

So heres another cool story pulled out of the biology is cool hat, Some researchers found a 33,000 year old skull! The cool part is, its not a regular skull, its one of a dog! this skull was preserved in the Atai Mountains for that long. This was way back before the wolves were considered "Mans best Friend". It maybe had a little bat DNA as well due to the fact that it was discoverd in a cool little cavern in the side of the mountains. Now next time you look at your dog make sure you apricate that its not part bat as well.

Critque:

Just something to entertain.

Impact:

Impacts the way we see dogs!

Making Memories Last

Summery:

Have you ever had that moment where you wanted to tell your friends or family an amazing story you heard awhile back, but you just straight out frogot it? Well theres these things called sanisis which holds all are memorys together. well when one of them snaps you lose the great detail of that thing you were trying to remember. So these scientist are trying to find out a way to keeep these things together.

Critque:

It will help out the elderly with memory problems.

Impact:

It would impact alot of people. If they figure out a way to help this problem out, many people would want the precedure done to them.

Doctors Save Baby Born with No Blood

Reference: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/27/doctors-save-baby-born-with-no-blood/?intcmp=obinsite

Summary: Oliver, a baby in Britain was saved after being born with no blood in his body. Oliver almost bled to death when an extra vein was formed in his mother's womb, a rare condition called vasa previa. When the baby was born by emergency C-section he was extremely pale and doctors couldn't find a heartbeat for 25 minutes! After being given oxygen, a blood transfusion, and a gentle heart massage the baby lived. After 11 days of being in a special coat that chilled him to 91 degrees Fahrenheit to make blood flow away from his skin and to his brain and heart for that they could heal effectively, Oliver was able to be taken home to be with his family.

Critique: This is incredible. Modern medicine continues to get better and better. The tiny coat that lowered his body temperature sounds really cool.

Impact: They saved a baby!

4 Natural Cold and Flu Remedies

Reference: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/30/4-natural-cold-and-flu-remedies/

Summary: Many people go to the drugstore when they are sick, when they could try natural remedies instead. Eucalyptus oil is is the first of the remedies listed and is described as "the ultimate cold season decongestant." Fill a sink with hot water, add a few drops of the oil into the water, lay a towel over your head and breathe the vapors. This will open up clogged sinuses. The second remedy is ginger, which is great for stopping a sore throat. Break a piece off and grate or chop it into tiny pieces, then put it in a cup and pour boiling water over it. Let it sit for five minutes and then strain and drink it. If the taste grosses you out you can add honey. The next remedy is mint, and you basically do the same thing with it that you did with the ginger. This will help decongest sinuses. The last remedy described is umcka. It stops decongestion so take half a teaspoon of the syrup when you feel a cold coming on. The doctor also recommends rest, lots of fluids, and chicken soup.

Critique: I thought that this article was very informative. I already knew that ginger was good for stomach pain, but I didn't know it was good for sore throats. A lot of people are sick right now, so it's good that they are getting this information out there.

Impact: These will help people be able to treat their cold or flu without the side effects of drugs. If someone doesn't feel well enough to go to the drugstore immediately they might have some of these things laying around their house (but I don't know who has umcka syrup in their house because I have never heard of it until today).

NASA's 9th year on mars with Rover

NASA's 9th year on mars with Rover

Reference- http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/news/mer20120124.html

Summary- For what was supposed to be a three month mission, Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has been on Mars since 2004, and has a new mission today. But starting back in 2004, the rover landed in Eagle Crater where it discovered proof of an ancient wet environment. Then in 2008, Opportunity was driven into the Endeavour Crater, and for 3 years explored that crater until it got access to geological deposits from a previous time of Martian history. Since 2011, Opportunity has been at the rim of Endeavour, a segment known as Cape York, and found traces of high zinc content, which suggests the presence of water. Later, a hydrated calcium sulfate was identified, proving evidence of liquid water on Mars. Today, the rover is on an outcrop called Greeley Haven until the middle of the year to stay during the Martian winter. The next mission is to lead the rover to find clay minerals that have been indicated to be on the rim.

Critique- With the evidence that this rover and previous ones have collected, I think that the US is a step closer to achieving more and more on Mars.

Impact- I think that this new mission for the rover Opportunity will be of high interest in the future. New technology could lead the US to benefit from material on Mars.

Religion And Self Control

 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124113045.htm

Summary- People that are religious, researchers say that they have more self control. Some researchers tested people that have a religion and some people that don't. The way they tested it was they were given a sentence with 5 words to unscramble, the people that had a religion seemed to have more self control than the other people that tested their self control , gratification, and refraining from an impulsing response.

Critique- This was a  weird article that I read. But i guess this is a true statement of course because this was tested.


Impact- This made no impact on me.

Butterflies and Birds aren't able to keep up with Climate Change

Butterflies and Birds aren't able to keep up with Climate Change

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118111742.htm

Summary- Since 1992, butterflies are 135 kilometers behind the changing climate zones, and birds are 212 kilometers behind. This study conducted by European researchers proved that the northward shift of their environment, due to global warming, has these populations of species not knowing where to go. This may be because of the expansive use of European land causing difficulty to find areas for the animals.

Critique- I think that it's insane how this was all calculated in over 1.5 million hours by just thousands of volunteers!! Now we need to find out how to save the birds and butterflies so their populations don't drop due to global warming's effects on their habitats.

Impact- On a continental scale, 'climatic debt' is being acquired by whole groups of animals. Long-term effects of this study remains unknown, but we do know that the interdependence between these species may never be the same. 

Venom in Taipan helpful!?

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2006/03/06/taipan_venom_no_snake_oil.html

Summary: One of the worlds deadliest snakes called the Taipan which is only indigenous to Australia! The venom on the Taipan snakes causes blood clots in its victim and causes paralysis. Studies show that the Taipan's venom would help someone to rapidly stop excessive bleeding during vascular surgery and major trauma.

Critique: Thats cool the one of the worlds deadliest snake's venom can actually help people!

Impact: I think that this will help people who have excessive bleeding after their surgrey!

Worlds hottest chile pepper

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/10/27/worlds_hottest_chile_pepper_discovered.html

Summary: The worlds hottest chile pepper was found in Asaam, India. The pepper is called the Bhut Jolokia or when translated is the "ghost chile". To test how hot the chile is by SHU's (Scolville heat units). The ghost chile reached a whopping 1 million SHU's almost double the amount of the previous champ the Red Savina which only had 577,000 SHU's.

Critique: This is one hot pepper!

Impact: I think the ghost chile will change the way people see spicy food!

Multiple birth=Weight gain

Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126223605.htm

Summary: Women have been complaining for years that the more babies they have, the more difficult it is to loose wait. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati decided to test this theory. The experiments were done on mice and the results were clear. They proved that it is in fact true, women who endure more births have a tendency to struggle with their weight rather than women who have only had one child.


Critique: This article definitely makes me have compassion for the many women who are struggling with their weight dues to many births. I think this article was also very self-explanatory and the results could be easily preventable.

Impact: This article may change the minds of many women thinking about having more, or any kids. This may cause them to think twice about such a huge commitment.

Mind over Matter

Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127162753.htm


Summary: Many people have different perspectives on illnesses that they are diagnosed with. A new study has proven that a patients perspective on the illness can make a huge impact on their health. In fact, researchers even suggest that the mentality of one's illness can place them in lower health than the actual severity of the disease.

Critique: I think this article is very surprising. I would never have expected that the mentality of an illness can actual affect a patients condition. This makes me wonder what other crazy things result by the way us humans think.

Impact: I would assume that this article would impact mostly the people who have an illness currently. If it were me, i would be encouraged, after reading this article, to think Optimistically about the certain situation. Not only does it make you feel better emotionally but will also improve your health.

Detecting detrimental change in coral reefs

Summary: Dr. Dustin has been studying and collecting evidence to help document the decline of coral reefs globally. He uses a system called temporal texture monitoring, which is how coral reefs reflect light (as seen from satellite) over time. Dr. Dustin has been able to document "hot spots" in the reef showing significant decline.

Critique: Its wonderful that he found a way to document the decline in coral reefs, but the article doesn't give you information as to why.

Impact: Scientists can now develop a baseline map of the coral reefs today, and look at how environmental disasters effect them over time.

References:http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/01/27/detecting_detrimental_change_in_coral_reefs.html

6 Quick Ways To Lose Weight

Reference: http://healthytimesarticles.com/quickest-way-to-lose-weight/

Summary: There are many people that want to lose weight very fast.  But they can’t seem to find a way to lose weight fast.  Well here is six ways to lose weight fast.  One of things you should do is to start a fast.  When you fast foods that you love and eat a lot, it will help stop your metabolism for foods that you want to eat.  The second thing you can do is to do the lemonade diet.  The lemonade fast is where you drench yourself with just lemonade and maple syrup.  This basically is saying all you can have is lemonade and maple syrup.  You would lose a lot of muscle weight and some water weight.  Another one is the HCG diet.  All you do in this is drink alcohol water.  People trick there bodies to think they are pregnant which is nothing more than water.  Another way you can lose weight fast is by replacing real foods with proteins, shakes, powders, bars, and a meal.  Single food diets are also good.  You have the watermelon diet, the grape diet, and the banana diet.  All you do on these diets is eat one food for days or even weeks, it depends on how long you want to do the diet.  The last thing you can take to lose weight fast is taking thermogenic pills.  These pills jangle with your nerves.  So make sure to see a doctor before taking these. 

Critique: Losing weight can mean a lot to people.  Sometimes it is hard to stay healthy when you have eaten junk food for so long.  But what you have to do to stop yourself from eating so much junk food is to let go of the past and move on to the future. 

Impact: There is a time to eat junk food and a time to eat healthy.  Most of the time we need to eat healthy.  It is okay to eat junk food every now and then, but we really should eat healthy most of the time.         

A Healthy Way To Eat Fast Foods

Reference: http://healthytimesarticles.com/healthy-eat-fast-food/

Summary: Everyone knows how good fast foods can be.  Sometimes people have so much to do and so little time to make a meal.  And that is why they buy fast foods a lot.  But the problem is that these fast foods are not good at all.  People who constantly eat fast foods bring a risk of increasing their chance of having a stroke, obesity, heart disease, digestive problems, diabetes, and psychological problems.  However, there is a way to stop eating fast foods a lot and eat healthy.   Here is how.  The key thing is moderation.  So before going to work, pack yourself a lunch.  It is better than spending money. Sometimes it is hard to choose something healthy from a fast food place.  So come prepared and look at some health guidelines so that you know what to get instead of thinking of what you should when your there and you have the pressure of people waiting behind you.  You can find guidelines on the Internet.  Some people think the healthiest thing to get at a restaurant is a salad.  But it is not.  It is actually unhealthy because there are some unhealthy dressings and fried meat that are put on your meals.  So when ordering a salad ask for a dressing that is low fat, get grilled meat, and fresh vegetables.  When getting a sandwich watch out for high fat sauces, fried meat, and to much cheese.  Instead, get a sandwich and ask for the sauce to be on the side, grill your sandwich, and no cheese.  And finally, instead of having sugary sodas have water to stay healthy. 

Critique:  I love fast foods.  They are really good and helpful especially when you are in a hurry.  But it is actually really bad for us.  If you are one of those people that eat fast foods a lot and want to change your eating plan, just do what I said above, and you can start to go healthy again. 

Impact: Really all it comes down to is to not give into temptation.  You can be tempted to go buy a meal instead of saving your money and making something at home.  But it is time to change everything and become healthy.  

Rap Music Powers Rhythmic Action of Medical Sensor

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126152129.htm

Summary:

            Acoustic waves from music, particularly rap, were found to effectively recharge the pressure sensor. Such a device might ultimately help to treat people stricken with aneurisms or incontinence due to paralysis.


Critique:
See if it could affect any other type of illness, or sickness in any way.


Impact:
Could lead to less deaths caused by this.

How Viruses Evolve, and in Some Cases, Become Deadly

Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126224526.htm

Summary:
            Researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) have demonstrated how a new virus evolves, shedding light on how easy it can be for diseases to gain dangerous mutations. The findings appear in the current issue of the journal Science.


Critique:
           Find what mutations are dangerous to us humans, and how to stop these from growing and getting people sick.


Impact: 
           could spread enough to where more and more people get sick.

Hiv Test

Summary A saliva test used to diagnose the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is comparable in accuracy to the traditional blood test, according to a new study led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University. The meta-analysis, which compared studies worldwide, showed that the saliva HIV test, OraQuick HIV1/2, had the same accuracy as the blood test for high-risk populations. The test sensitivity was slightly reduced for low risk populations. The study, published in this week's issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, has major implications for countries that wish to adopt self-testing strategies for HIV.

Critic: Well there is still no cue for hiv

Impact: This save money for hospital because instead on drawing blood you spit in cup

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/01/24/saliva_hiv_test_passes_the_grade.html

Saving the snow lions

Summary: The survival of the endangered snow leopard is looking promising thanks to Monash University scientists who have, for the first time, produced embryonic stem-like cells from the tissue of an adult leopard.

Critic: I wish we could do this for people

Impact : more snow lions

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/01/23/saving_the_snow_leopard_with_stem_cells.html

Asthma Rate and Costs from Traffic Pollution Higher: Much Higher Than Past Traditional Risk Assessments Have Indicated

Asthma Rate and Costs from Traffic Pollution Higher: Much Higher Than Past Traditional Risk Assessments Have Indicated

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125202759.htm

Summary- A research team led by University of Massachusetts Amherst resource economist Sylvia Brandt have revised the cost burden sharply upward for childhood asthma and for the first time include the number of cases attributable to air pollution. The total cost of asthma due to pollution is much higher than the past traditional risk assessments have indicated and there is growing evidence that exposure to traffic related air pollution is the cause of asthma and a trigger for an attack. Total addition asthma specific cost there due to traffic related pollution is $18 million per year. Almost half of it is due to new asthma cases caused by pollutions.

Critique- With the prices so high it will be hard for people with their money going out. The air pollution and the traffic pollution is probably the cause of asthma that starts the attack.

Impact- With the traffic pollution around it is just greater for people having a asthma attack.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126152129.htm


Summary- rap music or should I say the beat of rap music can have a good affect on people suffering from anuerisms and has paralysis. They say it's from the sound waves due to pressure . It has to reach to 200 to 500 hertz. They say that it only reaches the right sound waves sometimes and not all the time. If its not in the right range of sound the cantilever will stop vibrating. It can transmit data in radio signals.


Critique- I would say out of ten this article
Is around a 6 . It gets into detail and is a good topic of explanation.

Impact- this made an impact on me because I like to listen to rap but I don't have any of those diseases that they were talking about.

Walking while texting

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118173246.htm

Summary- Walking and texting is bad. Well that's what scholars say at stony brook university. They said that is the case for the young people of our generation. They have a test to a group of men and women and gave them a little test to complete while using their cell phones.They completed the test, then they asked if they would return in a week. The next week only one third of the participants completed it.


Critique- this is a good article if you are one of those big cell phone users. Read this article to read.


Impact- I don't want to Be one of those participants that failed. I'm gonna think about it now.

Oldest nesting site ever found

Summary: There recently has been a study where paleontologist Robert Reisz and professor David Evans with a couple of other researchers describes groups of eggs still with embryos and found near dinosaur footprints still in a nesting site. They are said to be old enough to have grown double the size. These people found up to 10 more nests on the site with each up to nearly 34 round eggs in the nest.  Reisz explains that these animals were from the Jurassic Period that dates back to 190 million years ago and are called the Massospondylus! The mother dinosaur is up to six meters in length and has been back to these sites multiple times by the evidence the researchers discovered. The children or eggs were six to seven centimeters.  They were found in South Africa on a cliff with sedimentary rock.  Some of these are found in the Royal Ontario Museum in display as one of the oldest fossils found.

Impact: This discovery gave little evidence about the dinosaurs living in the past. But as one of the oldest fossils found, it helps us see how animals revolutionized physically and by way of survival. By having little evidence about the earliest life of the Jurassic Period, it helps biology very much in learning more about how our world works.

Critique: I think this discovery is so cool! I love history and love knowing how our nature and survival is well today by what happened in the past. This dinosaur finding can sooner or later help us know what dinosaurs looked like and make those non-believers of dinosaurs know they really do exist!  I so do hope that no one can end up bring dinosaurs back to life because I have had dreams about dinosaurs in my life… and it’s not pretty!!! Finding living things like this that are from a cajillion years ago should be cool to anyone!! Maybe not to some people who believe that we evolved from monkeys or that we were born from dust. Hardy Har Har.

"Ancient Dinosaur Nursery: Oldest Nesting Site Yet Found." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. Web. 25 Jan. 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123152505.htm>.

Miracle Tree Believe It

Summary: There has been a recent discovery (found January 24, 2012) that a substance in the so called miracle tree from their seeds cause the purification of water. This can help the 1 billion people without an irrigation system to be able to drink clean water for a super cheap price.  Stephanie B. and her colleagues studied this plant that grows near the equator to look for alternatives for helping diseases that are caused by dirty water. What Stephanie did was put an extract on the seeds to make the process cheaper to use the seeds for cleaning water. This can be helped with the so called “F sand” Stephanie thinks will be revolutionary.

Impact: This discovery could seriously be what helps 3^rd world countries be less in poverty. What the world needs now, are even better ways to keep things sanitary and keep people healthy and this could help this and even lead to fining plats that can clean food or cure a cancer. In places where water has diseases and parasites, these plants can purify the water and even prevent that too.

Critique: This is such a huge discovery!!! The mor we find life like this the more of a thrill I get! What can be learned and discovered even more if we just fount a actual miracle plant!!! But, as this could be endangered, there could end up being wars and deaths and again iraqian people bombing us and Obama and health care. But no seriously, this can sure be a good thing if the right hands can get on it. I just wish those plants don’t die fast!!!

"'Miracle Tree' Substance Produces Clean Drinking Water Inexpensively and Sustainably." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. Web. 25 Jan. 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118112005.htm>.

Unprecedented, Human-Made Trends in Ocean's Acidity

Unprecedented, Human-Made Trends in Ocean's Acidity

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120122152542.htm

Summary- Nearly one third of CO2 emissions due to human activities enters the world's oceans. By reacting to seawater CO2 increases the waters acidity. This may reduce the calcification rate of such marine organisms as corals and mollusks. The extent to which human activities have raised the surface level of acidity however is has been difficult to detect on regional scales because it varies naturally from one season and one year to the next. Also between regions and direct observations go back only 30 years.

Critique- With nearly one third of CO2 enters the world’s oceans is a big fraction of CO2. With it being difficult to detect on regional scales which just makes it hard for the researchers to do their work.

Impact- This effects the CO2 increase of the water acidity and that this may reduce the calcification rate of such marine organisms as corals and mollusks.

Back from the dead: Some extinct animals are deemed unextinct again

Reference:http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2105239_2105240_2105247,00.html?iid=hl-article-moreontime

Summary: This month, it was found that a subspecies of the giant tortises on the galapagos islands was found. These turtles were deemed extinct but may now have a hope. Here are some other animals that have come back from extinction:
~Miller's Grizzled Langurs
~Coelacanth
~Laotian Rock Rat
~Mountain Pygmy-Possum
~Worcestor's Button Quail
~Caspian Horse
~Wooly Flying Squirrell
~Bridled Nailtail Wallaby
~Javan Elephants

Critique: I never knew animals could come back from extinction! And each type of animal has a cool story behind it... Like the caspian horse used to be used in Persia 1000+ years ago, but was rediscovered. I think that is so awesome!

Impact: Maybe more animals that we think are extinct actually aren't!!!!

Are you an introvert? & why its a good thing

Reference: http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/26/shhhh-the-quiet-joys-of-the-introvert/?hpt=he_c2

Summary: An introvert is not the same thing as shy. Being shy is more of a fear of man/ anxiety problem. Introverts find socializing "draining" and would rather be alone or with a few people instead. There is an upside, however. They have the ability to focus for long periods of time which is a quality needed to be a musician, a scientist, or a business person. They are good listeners and think about things before they do them. They don't take as many risks either.

Critique: This article was really cool. I never understood what an introvert was until I read this. I kind of realized I am one after I took this quiz on time.com... Here is the link for those of you who want to take it... http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/27/quiz-are-you-an-introvert-an-extrovert-or-an-ambivert/ I always knew I was kind of shy but not because of why people are usually shy. I just like solitude. Socialization IS draining. I slept over at a friends last night and came home and slept for three hours. But I'm happy. It's not like I'm dying to be popular or anything. I'm just and introvert, that's all.

Impact: Other people can read this article and realize they are introverts too!

Dew Is an Early Riser Because of Grasses’ Shape

Reference: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/science/study-explains-why-dewdrops-form-on-tips-of-grass.html?_r=1&ref=science

Summary: Anyone ever wonder why the dew stays at the tip of the blade of grass? No, well me either but apparently it’s because the shape of the blade.

Critique: I don’t honestly care about grass and I think it’s funny scientist took their time and money to figure that out.

Impact: It has no impact at all.

Toy Tiger Stops Traffic

Summary: A stuffed animal perched on the outside of a hotel in Houston stops traffic as everyone tries to catch a glimpse. Fire station came to find that the “tiger” was only a stuffed animal.

Critique: I don’t know who put that tiger on that ledge and if they did it on purpose but I’m sure it gave everyone a good laugh.

Impact: There really is no impact except the fact that this little toy set back Houston.

Graphene Supermaterial Goes Superpermeable: Can Be Used to Distill Alcohol

Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126100639.htm

Summary: Graphene is one of the wonders of the science world, with the potential to create foldaway mobile phones, wallpaper thin lighting panels and the next generation of aircraft. The new finding at the University of Manchester, gives graphene's potential a most surprising dimension graphene can also be used for distilling alcohol. Water evaporates through them as quickly as if the membranes were not there at all.

Critique: Good article, kinda interesting that graphene can distilling alcohol and how water evaporates through them as quickly as if the membrance were not there at all.

Impact: Possibly could help some the drinkers or others.

Rap Music Powers Rhythmic Action of Medical Sensor

Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126152129.htm

Summary: The bass rhythm of rap music can be a harnessed to power a new type of miniature medical sensor, designed to be implanted in the body. Acoustic waves from music particularly rap, were found to effectively recharge the pressure sensor. Such as a device that might ultimately help to treat people stricken with aneurisms or incontinence due to paralysis.

Critique: It was good and kind of interesting. i didn't know that rap bass rhythm can be a harnessed to power a new type miniature medical sensor.

Impact: Could help people in the future with aneurisms or incontinence due to paralysis and possibly other diseases or something on that line.

Tiny Crooners: Male House Mice Sing Songs to Impress the Girls

Resource: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126100633.htm Summary: Researchers from Vienna have recently found that male mice can sing, but since their voices are in the ultra sonic range humans can't hear them. So these researchers used high tech stuff to see if they could hear anything and it turns out that they found a lot of cool things. Male mice sing to atrack female mice and each male mouse has their own type of song. The males that can sing in wider ranges seem to atrack more females and the ones that don't sing in wide ranges don't seem to atrack as many females. Also the females can tell if some of the mice are her siblings or not because the brothers all have pretty similar voices, therefore the females can tell when they hear a male thats not related to them. Critique: This article was very cool because i would have never thought that male mice sing to atrack female mice, let alone even sang! I enjoyed reading this article and i would recommend it to anyone that likes to read about mice or wants to know a couple of new interesting facts. Impact: This doesn't really have an impact it was just something really cool to learn about.

How Viruses Evolve, and in Some Cases, Become Deadly

Resource: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126224526.htm Summary: Researchers have recently been looking at how viruses evolve and mutate into something worse and can become deadly. They first looked at a sickness called Lambda, it's not deathly to humans but they did notice that it mutated into something else and started to atack cells. They didnt really believe it at first so they kept watching it and they said that it happened every single time. The researchers also noticed that the bird flu had gotten very deathly for humans because it mutated into something that was very deathly. Hopefully they are going to keep an eye on these viruses and make sure that non of them get worse. Critique: This article was very interesting and really got me thinking which makes a good article. Impact: This article could have a huge impact if things get worse and sickness' keep mutating, so hopefully if that does happen doctors can find cures to make sure things don't get bad.

Chimpanzee's behavior

Resource: http://www.macroevolution.net/chimpanzees-behavior.html Summary: A lady named Pruetz has done a little research on how chimpanzee's interact with eachother. She came up with, chimpanzee's are good sharers, they share meat, tools, honey and a lot of other things. Though what she also realized is that the males usually share with the females, so she came up with the "food for sex" theory. Another thing that Pruetz came up with was the fact that humans might have learned how to share from the chimpanzee's. "There are aspects of human behavior, and I think that's interesting because it's not exactly the same, but it may give you an idea of how it [sharing among early humans] started," Pruetz said. "It's at least one scenario and how it could have come about in our own lineage." Critique: This article was very good, I just wish that it could have been longer and explained a little more about how chimpanzee's could have been the ones to show humans how to share or other taught us other things. Impact: The impact that this article has isn't really all that big, but it could be big because if humans did first learn traits from chimpanzee's there could be a big debate for religous reasons.

Electronic Skin

Summary: University of Illinois made a device smaller than a postage stamp. It sticks to skin like a temporary tattoo. The devices can be used by “patients, athletes, doctors, secret, agents, you.” The device is used to measure blood flow, muscle movement, electrical signals, and on top of that, it can send all of that information to a computer.
Critique: This is actually a cool device. To think that something that small can do that much is outstanding.
Impact: This can make lives of everyday people and doctors much easier.
Reference: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/337743/title/FOR_KIDS_Electronic_skin

Chemo Drug Drives Growth of Some Tumors

Summary: Scientists found that a chemotherapy drug that is designed to kill tumors can actually result in ovarian cancer. The immature cells are less than 1 percent of an ovarian cancer, but it only takes a few to restart a tumor. Researchers found a protein called Mullerian, which stops the growth of cancer stem cells. It is still not completely clear that the protein can stop all types of ovarian cancer.
Critique/Impact: This article can be useful to many cancer patients. It can help them decide on what treatments they want. This advancement will help with science technology and treatments.
Reference: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/337844/title/Chemo_drug_drives_growth_of_some_tumors

Spectacular Northern Lights From Solar Storm Wow Sky watchers

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/spectacular-northern-lights-solar-storm-wow-skywatchers-151006931.html;_ylt=Ak4OvYlNpVIkwtBXVnTtUYuHgsgF;_ylu=X3oDMTRmaWgybDRjBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YgU3BhY2VBc3Ryb25vbXlTU0YEcGtnAzM1ZTI1OWU4LTVhN2ItM2EwZC1iMTI2LTJjZDczOTRmZjVjMQRwb3MDMTkEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDMzc5NGZjYTAtNDc2Ny0xMWUxLTllZjctY2Q5MzZhNGYxMWVk;_ylg=X3oDMTJkbDM4amVvBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlfHNwYWNlIC0gYXN0cm9ub215BHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

Summary: A spectacular display of auroras lit up the far northern skies on January 24^th, in a supercharge light show captured on camera by sky watchers around the world. Some of the views from Sweden even said they felt like a kid on Christmas. The northern lights show was sparked by intense solar flare tat erupted from the sun late night on January 22^nd. The flare unleashed a wave of charged particles, triggering the strongest solar radiation storm since 2005, one of the NASA scientist said.

Critique- I think this would have been a really cool thing to experience, I’m bummed that I didn’t get to see it though.

Impact- I think that the impact of this event is positive because it is an unforgettable experience for most of the peopl

Failed Mars Probe Crashed Near South America Coast

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/failed-mars-probe-crashed-near-south-america-coast-180806769.html

Summary: Space junk experts have confirmed when and where the wayward Russian Mars Phobos-Grunt entered the atmosphere again and crashed to Earth. The Phobos-Grunt spacecraft fell from space ob January 15^th and crashed near the South American coastline. According to a European Space Agency it probably fell into ocean waters. It could have, however, landed on land, but there have been no conformation about it. There is a very low chance that there was any destruction caused by it.

Critique: My thoughts on this, well I think it is bad because the Phobos-Grunt was supposed to be on Mars. It also could have caused damage is it had landed on land.

Impact: The impact of this occurrence is negative because it could have landed on land and caused damage.