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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Reference: http://www.vitaminstuff.com/minerals.html

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

Reference: http://www.vitaminstuff.com/mineral-chromium.html

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.         

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.

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.

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.