Saturday, December 11, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Lakes also feel global warming
As we all now, global warming has been affecting our planet for several decades, now. The temperature has been increasing everywhere on Earth. Some scientists have decided to measure yet another effect of global warming, and that is the heating up of the lakes around the globe.
Between the years of 1985 and 2009, scientists conducted an experiment, where special kinds of satellites measured the temperature of the surface of 167 lakes. Scientists discovered a schocking result. The lakes got warmer at the rate of 0.045 degrees Celsius per year. In some lakes, the hating up rate was as high as 0.10 degrees Celsius a year. Even though this might not seem like a very big number, it can be, because it can cause the algae in the lakes to start reproducing rapidly. A lot of algae can make the lake poisounous for the fish. Another fact that was discovered is that lakes get warmer faster in the northeren parts of the Northern Hemisphere. However, it was also found out that in the United States, the lakes in the south-western part, warmed more quickly, then the big lakes in the north. This is quite interesting, and also quite stressing, because you can't come up to a conclusion to where the lakes are warming faster.
Scientists also found out that in some regions, the lakes are getting warmere then the air around them. And, even though it is schocking, this can help scientists. How? Well, the scientists constantly take the air, and then measure it's temperature, to see how the global warming works, and to get a better idea of how the Earth is warming up. Now, that the scientists can also measure the temperature of the surfaces of lakes, that will help them get a clearer image of what we are doing to our planet. However, there are still people who are willing to help our planet, and that is why the United Nations Framework on climate Change, will be held this year from November 29 until December 10, in Cancun, Mexico. Representatices from different countries will come and discuss how the Kyoto Protocol has been doing. The Kyoto Protocol is a plan to help the Earth by making all the big polluters reduce the greenhouse effect, and the emmisions of CO2.
I think that it is good that they are having a conference about global warming, but that won't change anything. They need to go out there, and speak to people about it, and inform them on what they could do, to make even a slight difference. This is a problem on a planetary scale, and I find it really shocking that now, our lakes are getting affected, as well.
Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/67163/title/FOR_KIDS_Lakes%2C_too%2C_feel_global_warming
Author: Stephen Ornes
Date published: December 6th, 2010
Between the years of 1985 and 2009, scientists conducted an experiment, where special kinds of satellites measured the temperature of the surface of 167 lakes. Scientists discovered a schocking result. The lakes got warmer at the rate of 0.045 degrees Celsius per year. In some lakes, the hating up rate was as high as 0.10 degrees Celsius a year. Even though this might not seem like a very big number, it can be, because it can cause the algae in the lakes to start reproducing rapidly. A lot of algae can make the lake poisounous for the fish. Another fact that was discovered is that lakes get warmer faster in the northeren parts of the Northern Hemisphere. However, it was also found out that in the United States, the lakes in the south-western part, warmed more quickly, then the big lakes in the north. This is quite interesting, and also quite stressing, because you can't come up to a conclusion to where the lakes are warming faster.
Scientists also found out that in some regions, the lakes are getting warmere then the air around them. And, even though it is schocking, this can help scientists. How? Well, the scientists constantly take the air, and then measure it's temperature, to see how the global warming works, and to get a better idea of how the Earth is warming up. Now, that the scientists can also measure the temperature of the surfaces of lakes, that will help them get a clearer image of what we are doing to our planet. However, there are still people who are willing to help our planet, and that is why the United Nations Framework on climate Change, will be held this year from November 29 until December 10, in Cancun, Mexico. Representatices from different countries will come and discuss how the Kyoto Protocol has been doing. The Kyoto Protocol is a plan to help the Earth by making all the big polluters reduce the greenhouse effect, and the emmisions of CO2.
I think that it is good that they are having a conference about global warming, but that won't change anything. They need to go out there, and speak to people about it, and inform them on what they could do, to make even a slight difference. This is a problem on a planetary scale, and I find it really shocking that now, our lakes are getting affected, as well.
Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/67163/title/FOR_KIDS_Lakes%2C_too%2C_feel_global_warming
Author: Stephen Ornes
Date published: December 6th, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Ultimate Survival Unit reflection
1. Reflect on what has helped you in understanding the "big idea" of the unit. ( Big Idea: Students will understand the use and management of natural resources, the transformation of resources into human capital, goods, tools and machines as well as sustainable development of human society to maintain the delicate balance between man and the natural environment.) This has been a really fun unit for me, and when I look back at how much I knew at the beginning of the year, and how much I know now, it is just unbelievable. There are a lot of things that led to my better understanding of this unit. Firstly, there are the stories that Mrs. M read to us. They were the perfect start of the unit. They were short, and they told us in just a few minutes what we would be learning about, and what are animal adaptations, ecosystems, and biomes. I really liked the story about the little salamander, because it showed that there are a lot of factors in an ecosystem that we need to think about, and those include all the abiotic and biotic factors. Another thing that has helped me is the presentations we did as a group about different ecosystems. It showed me how ecosystems vary, and how different organisms have different adaptions to be able to survive in their ecosystem. I studied the ocean ecosystem, and I found it really fascinating. I can't believe that there are so much abiotic and biotic factors, and, even more, I haven't ever wondered how we affect the ocean, through our waste, and pollution. Another thing that has helped is Mr. Watts' visit. It showed me how animals in the Arctic live, as well as what resources are available to them, and how they fight the extremely harsh conditions to survive. Another part of the unit that has helped me was watching the movies. Some of the parts were really horrible and disgusting, but it just shows how we are treating our planet, and how we are not taking any care of it. If we want to keep our resources, we need to use them wisely, and extremely carefully, since nothing lasts forever. The movie that has helped we the most is "The Human Footprint", since it showed me how much we waste, by performing just daily tasks, and it also sparked some ideas to how I could reduce my footprint on the planet, and how I could be more eco-friendly. Through this unit I have learnt that every little bit helps.
2. Reflect on the unit question ( What is a necessity and how does an organism ensure survival of its species within its environment?) and how it relates to the unit title: Ultimate Survival.
In my opinion, a necessity is something an organism/living thing needs in order to survive in its habitat. To ensure their survival, different organisms have different adaptations, whether they are predators or prey, whether they are producers, primary, secondary or tertiary consumers. Every living thing has its own role in the environment, and every species in the ecosystem depends on one another. The different roles that organisms play are called niche.
As I said above, in order to survive, organisms need their adaptions. For, example, a camel can go a long time without water, since it stores it in its humps. This is really good, since it lives in a dry, warm desert biome. Bears and some other animals hibernate during the winter, so that they do not freeze to death.
However, there are other necessities an organism needs. There is oxygen. No living things are capable of surviving without oxygen. They need it for their bodies to function properly. Without oxygen, not one of the body organs would work. Another necessity is food and water. Food gives organisms energy, and without energy, living things wouldn't be able to do anything, since their brain wouldn't function properly. All living things also depend on sunlight, since that is where the producers get their energy from, and all food webs starts from the producers.
The unit question relates to the unit title a lot, since without necessities that living things need, they wouldn't be able to survive. Also, an organism fights for its survival, by hunting and adapting to its environment.
3. How did the unit question allow us to view survival through The Area of Interaction: Environments:(FOR EXAMPLE: The effects of one environment on another, the roles our environments play in the lives and well-being of humankind, and the effects of our actions, attitudes and constructs, such as sustainable development and conservation.)
We are the ones who are affecting the environment around us, and our planet, in our fight for survival. But, that is the thing. We have gone way too far. Is everything we use, and everything we consume and waste necessary for the survival of our species? In the last few decades, we have deforested tons and ons of trees, and have polluted massive amounts of our oceans and air. We have wasted lots of food, and we have wasted lots of precious resources such as coal and oil. We have also started mass productions of food. Soon enough, this could lead to going over the Earth's carrying capacity. We are affecting our environment negatively, more and more, every single day. Just take a look at our human footprints. I hardly doubt that anyone got one planet or less. If we don't start making smart choices now, and if we don't tace care of our planet. our survival could be at risk.
4.What would you have liked to do more of? Less of?
I think that we should have done a bit less current events, simply becasue we would have more time to concentrate on the unit itself, and the homework connected to what we are currently learning. Also, maybe we could have had a little more written projects and posters, instead of always writing up reflections and thoughts on the Internet. We could have also done a litte more activities, including labs, since I think that this was a really good unit to do experiments in. This is because there are a lot of factors you can analyse and a lot of things to research. I would have also liked if instead of commenting on the blog posts, people could discuss it in class. I think this, because that way, people wouldn't take some of the criticizm too badly, and, also the people who wanted to comment could say more, and show simple ways to improve our writing.
5. In your point of view, how well did we investigate the unit question, concept, and area of interaction? Include this in your reflection as well and give specific examples to support your opinions.
I really enjoyed this unit, and I believe that Mrs. M taught it really well. Everything was thouroughly explained, and we had something for everyone to do. Whoever was a visual learner could look at diagrams, and the movies we watched. If you learned through listening, you could listen to all the presentations that we did, and learn something new from every single presentation. If you are a person who learns through reading, you could have read over the notes we took in class, and the notes we took from reading the chapters in the textbook. And, if you are a person who learns through doing, we had two diffexrent labs (the closed ecosystem, and the owl pallets).
2. Reflect on the unit question ( What is a necessity and how does an organism ensure survival of its species within its environment?) and how it relates to the unit title: Ultimate Survival.
In my opinion, a necessity is something an organism/living thing needs in order to survive in its habitat. To ensure their survival, different organisms have different adaptations, whether they are predators or prey, whether they are producers, primary, secondary or tertiary consumers. Every living thing has its own role in the environment, and every species in the ecosystem depends on one another. The different roles that organisms play are called niche.
As I said above, in order to survive, organisms need their adaptions. For, example, a camel can go a long time without water, since it stores it in its humps. This is really good, since it lives in a dry, warm desert biome. Bears and some other animals hibernate during the winter, so that they do not freeze to death.
However, there are other necessities an organism needs. There is oxygen. No living things are capable of surviving without oxygen. They need it for their bodies to function properly. Without oxygen, not one of the body organs would work. Another necessity is food and water. Food gives organisms energy, and without energy, living things wouldn't be able to do anything, since their brain wouldn't function properly. All living things also depend on sunlight, since that is where the producers get their energy from, and all food webs starts from the producers.
The unit question relates to the unit title a lot, since without necessities that living things need, they wouldn't be able to survive. Also, an organism fights for its survival, by hunting and adapting to its environment.
3. How did the unit question allow us to view survival through The Area of Interaction: Environments:(FOR EXAMPLE: The effects of one environment on another, the roles our environments play in the lives and well-being of humankind, and the effects of our actions, attitudes and constructs, such as sustainable development and conservation.)
We are the ones who are affecting the environment around us, and our planet, in our fight for survival. But, that is the thing. We have gone way too far. Is everything we use, and everything we consume and waste necessary for the survival of our species? In the last few decades, we have deforested tons and ons of trees, and have polluted massive amounts of our oceans and air. We have wasted lots of food, and we have wasted lots of precious resources such as coal and oil. We have also started mass productions of food. Soon enough, this could lead to going over the Earth's carrying capacity. We are affecting our environment negatively, more and more, every single day. Just take a look at our human footprints. I hardly doubt that anyone got one planet or less. If we don't start making smart choices now, and if we don't tace care of our planet. our survival could be at risk.
4.What would you have liked to do more of? Less of?
I think that we should have done a bit less current events, simply becasue we would have more time to concentrate on the unit itself, and the homework connected to what we are currently learning. Also, maybe we could have had a little more written projects and posters, instead of always writing up reflections and thoughts on the Internet. We could have also done a litte more activities, including labs, since I think that this was a really good unit to do experiments in. This is because there are a lot of factors you can analyse and a lot of things to research. I would have also liked if instead of commenting on the blog posts, people could discuss it in class. I think this, because that way, people wouldn't take some of the criticizm too badly, and, also the people who wanted to comment could say more, and show simple ways to improve our writing.
5. In your point of view, how well did we investigate the unit question, concept, and area of interaction? Include this in your reflection as well and give specific examples to support your opinions.
I really enjoyed this unit, and I believe that Mrs. M taught it really well. Everything was thouroughly explained, and we had something for everyone to do. Whoever was a visual learner could look at diagrams, and the movies we watched. If you learned through listening, you could listen to all the presentations that we did, and learn something new from every single presentation. If you are a person who learns through reading, you could have read over the notes we took in class, and the notes we took from reading the chapters in the textbook. And, if you are a person who learns through doing, we had two diffexrent labs (the closed ecosystem, and the owl pallets).
Owl prey analysis
1. Based upon the class data, rank the most frequently consumed prey for the class "owl population".The prey that the owl population feeds the most on is rat. This is followed by vole, and mouse. Then, it is birds, and finnaly shrew. The owl population doesn't consume insects.
2.A predator expends energy when hunting for food. Which is the more "energy expensive" cuisine, 35 insects at 1 g each or one 35 g vole?
For the owl, it would be the most energy efficient if it caught the vole. This is because to catch 35 insects, the owl would waste even more energy, then it would gain by eating them. As for the vole, it is just one organism, and it can be caught much more easily and much more simply then 35 organisms. I guess this is why you cannot find many insects in the owl's diet.
3.Based upon your data, suppose the shrew population seriously declined. Would it affect the areas owl population?
Personally, I think that nothing would drastically change for the owl population, as the shrew population is not their primary source of food. The owls would still have the mice, the birds, the voles, rats, and other animals to eat. The shrew declining could have an affect on THEIR prey, but I don't think it would have much harm to the owls themselves, even though the ecosystem would be disrupted.
4.Try to define the food-getting “strategy” for a predator.
Different animals have different hunting strategies, depending on their adaptations, and depending on which ecosystem they live in. Some predators have claws, which enable them to kill their prey. Others are extremely fast, and that is what enables them to cath their prey. Other animals have very good eye-sight, and can spot their prey really easily.
Overall, I really loved this investigation and I have learned a lot. Disecting was a relatively new thing to me, and I have gained much knowledge while analysing and studying the owl prey.
Indoor ozone stopper
There is a certain chemical on our Earth, called the ozone. This chemical can be both beneficial, and dangerous for the human race. It all depends on where it is located. If it is high up in the Earth's atmosphere, it is not harmful, since it protects us from the some of the really bad radiation that comes from the sun. However, when ozone is very close to us, it can be harmful, since it irritates our lungs. However, studies have shown that we do have a layer of protection against this kind of air pollution, and that is - our skin. Our skin has a lot of oils. When you mix the molecules of ozone, and the molecules of the oil of the skin, you get a chemical reaction. Ozone and oxygen are kinf of the same, but have their differences. Oxygen has molecules, and each molecule contains two atoms. Ozone has another extra atom, and that is why it behaves differently from typical oxygen. Ozone is poisonous, as well as protective and beneficial.
Scientists conducted an experiment, where they took the dust from rooms of 500 children. They found materials such as phtlate, and large amounts of cholesterol and squalene. Squalene is that fat on the skin, and it makes up 10% of it. The skin grows another layer every couple of weeks, and the bits of the old layer, fall off, and vecome dust.
The squalene covers everything, so all surfaces in the house can break the ozone as fast as skin can. This can prevent a lot of lung infections and diseases.
Link: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20100414/Note2.asp
By: Stephen Ornes
Date published: April 14, 2010
Scientists conducted an experiment, where they took the dust from rooms of 500 children. They found materials such as phtlate, and large amounts of cholesterol and squalene. Squalene is that fat on the skin, and it makes up 10% of it. The skin grows another layer every couple of weeks, and the bits of the old layer, fall off, and vecome dust.
The squalene covers everything, so all surfaces in the house can break the ozone as fast as skin can. This can prevent a lot of lung infections and diseases.
Link: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20100414/Note2.asp
By: Stephen Ornes
Date published: April 14, 2010
Island of Hope (report on an island in Fiji, called Kiobo)
Our world is suffering from global warming, and all the pollution of the rainforests, oceans, and air, all of which we need in order to survive. And, it is fascinating when you read about people who actually care about saving our planet, and who know about the disaster that is facing us, if we do not change our habits. It is fascinating to read about people who are trying to stop it.
On an island called Kiobo, in Fiji, people live like their ancestors lived many years ago. The reporter that went there writes how, while her family feasts on turkey, the Kiobo citizens drink coconut milk. There is no running water, hardly any power lines and electricity. There are no TVs, computers or video games. The clothes that are worn are completely hand-made, by the people wearing them. The food that the villagers eat are all locally grown. They eat the coconuts they grow, and the fish and lobsters that they catch from the ocean. Almost everything in this village is from the ocean. It is necessary for the people's survival. However, living from the ocean surrounding their island, has become very difficult for the people of Kiobo, especially in the past few years. Pollution and climate change is affecting Kiobo more then ever. Huge ships are scooping up tuna, lobsters, and clams in huge amounts every single day. The marine animals cannot multiply as fast as they're being killed. However, Kiobo people think that they could solve this problem.A region on the isalnd, called Kubalau, is trying to protect and take care of both life underwater, as well as the cultures above the water, or, on ground.
The people are trying to lure more tourists to visit the ocean, but taking care of them, and making sure that they do not polute it. With the money that they earn, the villagers will protect the underwater environment, their culture, and all the marine animals. Marine biologists are calling Fiji the "the beacon to the world". Next, the people of Kiobo and the Coral Reef Alliance took the reporter to a national park, called the Namena. This national park is underwater, and just like any other national parks, it has its rules and limitations. The national park doesn't allow huge boats to catch fish, even though the locals can catch fish and other marine animals here, since they do not fish out of greed, but because they need it for their survival. People in Kiobo respect the fish, and they do not hunt them in large quantities. The Kiobo people own the ocean around them, as part of their fishing grounds, that have been in their tradition and culture for centuries, and which are called Qoliqoli. The coral reef alliance will make sure that people who come to Kiobo respect the fishing grounds, and that they will treat the land and water the way the environment can handle. Kiobo people are also teaching their children how to respect the land and water around them, as well as know what makes their culture distinct. Also, they are training fish wardens, who try and prevent poachers from fishing illegally.
Some of the species that live in the ocean surrounding the Kiobo, are reef sharks, barracuda, hammerhead sharks, hawksbill turtles, corals, and many more.
My opinion of those people is that they're absolutely amazing. They are kind. and are trying to help the nature, even though they are not extremely rich. The fact that they're giving away most of the money that they earn to save the ocean, is absolutely astounding to me. I wish that in this world there are more like them, who are willing to help out planet, in any way possible.
Link: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20100203/Feature1.asp
By: Emily Sohn
Date published: February 3, 2010
On an island called Kiobo, in Fiji, people live like their ancestors lived many years ago. The reporter that went there writes how, while her family feasts on turkey, the Kiobo citizens drink coconut milk. There is no running water, hardly any power lines and electricity. There are no TVs, computers or video games. The clothes that are worn are completely hand-made, by the people wearing them. The food that the villagers eat are all locally grown. They eat the coconuts they grow, and the fish and lobsters that they catch from the ocean. Almost everything in this village is from the ocean. It is necessary for the people's survival. However, living from the ocean surrounding their island, has become very difficult for the people of Kiobo, especially in the past few years. Pollution and climate change is affecting Kiobo more then ever. Huge ships are scooping up tuna, lobsters, and clams in huge amounts every single day. The marine animals cannot multiply as fast as they're being killed. However, Kiobo people think that they could solve this problem.A region on the isalnd, called Kubalau, is trying to protect and take care of both life underwater, as well as the cultures above the water, or, on ground.
The people are trying to lure more tourists to visit the ocean, but taking care of them, and making sure that they do not polute it. With the money that they earn, the villagers will protect the underwater environment, their culture, and all the marine animals. Marine biologists are calling Fiji the "the beacon to the world". Next, the people of Kiobo and the Coral Reef Alliance took the reporter to a national park, called the Namena. This national park is underwater, and just like any other national parks, it has its rules and limitations. The national park doesn't allow huge boats to catch fish, even though the locals can catch fish and other marine animals here, since they do not fish out of greed, but because they need it for their survival. People in Kiobo respect the fish, and they do not hunt them in large quantities. The Kiobo people own the ocean around them, as part of their fishing grounds, that have been in their tradition and culture for centuries, and which are called Qoliqoli. The coral reef alliance will make sure that people who come to Kiobo respect the fishing grounds, and that they will treat the land and water the way the environment can handle. Kiobo people are also teaching their children how to respect the land and water around them, as well as know what makes their culture distinct. Also, they are training fish wardens, who try and prevent poachers from fishing illegally.
Some of the species that live in the ocean surrounding the Kiobo, are reef sharks, barracuda, hammerhead sharks, hawksbill turtles, corals, and many more.
My opinion of those people is that they're absolutely amazing. They are kind. and are trying to help the nature, even though they are not extremely rich. The fact that they're giving away most of the money that they earn to save the ocean, is absolutely astounding to me. I wish that in this world there are more like them, who are willing to help out planet, in any way possible.
Link: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20100203/Feature1.asp
By: Emily Sohn
Date published: February 3, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Gulf oil still a major issue, even 6 months later!
The hole that is causing all the oil to flow into the ocean is plugged, but the problems that this leak has caused are far from over.
But, let us rememberhow it all started. On 20th of April this year, the Deepwater horizon platform that drilled oil exploded. It slowly sank two days later. However, the long pipe that brought oil to the platform crumpled when the platform sank, and the oil started gushing out.
On July 15th, this year engineers plugged the hole that was causing so many problems. However this was no easy task. The hole was a mile underneath the surface of the water, and the cap that was supposed to plug it weighed about 75 tons. Between April 20th, and July 15th, about 4.9 million barrels of oil were wasted, and released into the ocean. That is enough to fill up 300 Olympic swimming pools. This oil spill is the biggest one in U.S history!
However, the problems are far from over. Some of the oil has reached the surface, but much of it has not. Scientists, government officials, and others are trying to figure out where all this oil went. In August one organization said that about 17 percent of the oil that leaked was immediately collected from the top of the well, before it had an opportunity to go into the water. Also, they said that 5 percent was burned, and 3 percent was skimmed and taken off the surface of the ocean. However, other scientists strongly disagree. One of those scientists, Ian MacDonald says that only about 10% has been taken out of the water, and that 10% could have evaporated. Some other scientists are studying and analysing the oil firsthand, from research ships that are floating around the Gulf. Those ships have mapped a giant cloud of oil floating beneath the surface. This cloud is as tall as a 50-story building, and a mile long. This cloud is expected to be around 3,000 feet beneath the surface of the water. Scientists were shocked with this discovery. This oil cloud could totally destroy some species of deep-ocean fish, but also, they do not understand how oil is still underwater. Oil is less dense then water, and, naturally, it would float to the top of the water's surface. Oil and water cannot mix.
One mathematician, Roberto Camassa, thinks he knows the answer to this mystery. He suspects that the tiny little microbes are eating the oil molecules. A lot of scientists agree with this theory, since lots of oil clouds are slowly disappearing from under the surface of the ocean.
However, we cannot rely on tiny microbes to solve the major eco disaster that we have created. It would take a very long time, and most of the marine life would have already die out. So we need to take the matter into our own hands, and fix the major eco disaster that we, ourselves, have caused.
Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63094/title/FOR_KIDS_Gulf_oil_finds_many_paths
Author: Stephen Ornes
Date published: September 7th, 2010
But, let us rememberhow it all started. On 20th of April this year, the Deepwater horizon platform that drilled oil exploded. It slowly sank two days later. However, the long pipe that brought oil to the platform crumpled when the platform sank, and the oil started gushing out.
On July 15th, this year engineers plugged the hole that was causing so many problems. However this was no easy task. The hole was a mile underneath the surface of the water, and the cap that was supposed to plug it weighed about 75 tons. Between April 20th, and July 15th, about 4.9 million barrels of oil were wasted, and released into the ocean. That is enough to fill up 300 Olympic swimming pools. This oil spill is the biggest one in U.S history!
However, the problems are far from over. Some of the oil has reached the surface, but much of it has not. Scientists, government officials, and others are trying to figure out where all this oil went. In August one organization said that about 17 percent of the oil that leaked was immediately collected from the top of the well, before it had an opportunity to go into the water. Also, they said that 5 percent was burned, and 3 percent was skimmed and taken off the surface of the ocean. However, other scientists strongly disagree. One of those scientists, Ian MacDonald says that only about 10% has been taken out of the water, and that 10% could have evaporated. Some other scientists are studying and analysing the oil firsthand, from research ships that are floating around the Gulf. Those ships have mapped a giant cloud of oil floating beneath the surface. This cloud is as tall as a 50-story building, and a mile long. This cloud is expected to be around 3,000 feet beneath the surface of the water. Scientists were shocked with this discovery. This oil cloud could totally destroy some species of deep-ocean fish, but also, they do not understand how oil is still underwater. Oil is less dense then water, and, naturally, it would float to the top of the water's surface. Oil and water cannot mix.
One mathematician, Roberto Camassa, thinks he knows the answer to this mystery. He suspects that the tiny little microbes are eating the oil molecules. A lot of scientists agree with this theory, since lots of oil clouds are slowly disappearing from under the surface of the ocean.
However, we cannot rely on tiny microbes to solve the major eco disaster that we have created. It would take a very long time, and most of the marine life would have already die out. So we need to take the matter into our own hands, and fix the major eco disaster that we, ourselves, have caused.
Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63094/title/FOR_KIDS_Gulf_oil_finds_many_paths
Author: Stephen Ornes
Date published: September 7th, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Reflection on "Our Human Footprint"
I have found this movie really fascinating, but also quite shocking, at the same time, as well. Who knew that we could produce so much carbon dioxide and so much pollution in just a few years of our life, through diapers and milk. I found it really sad that no one knows how much we waste, and how much we affect the planet. I had no idea, until now, that we have to waste so much crude oil and wood, just to make diapers for the toddlers. That is insane! The oil can be used for many other, more useful, purposes, such as powering cars, generating energy, etc. As for the wood, why would we deforest, just so we can make diapers? We ruin habitats, and we end lives, just so babies can keep clean. I find that horrible and inconsiderable for all the animals and plants.
But, this is just for the few first years of our life! As we get older, we keep on producing more, and more waste. This waste comes from groceries, clothes, beauty products, building materials for houses, medicines/pills, etc. All of this adds up 64 tons of waste, per person, per lifetime. That is an AWFUL amount of waste, for just one person. There are 6 billion people on the Earth, and this number is still increasing! Just imagine THEN how much waste we produce!
However, just a few simple changes can help our environment. Instead of throwing out cell phones away, we could recycle them. We could also recycle paper, plastic and metal more. Instead of using cement and concrete to make our houses, we could make a small part of the house out of eco—friendly materials. Some of them are bamboo, or recyclable materials such as aluminum and steel. Also, you could just decrease your house-temperature by 2 degrees in winter and wear a jumper, and increase it by 2 degrees in the summer and wear lighter clothing. This could stop 2 tons of carbon emissions a year!
Sustainability means “the capacity to endure”. In ecology it is also referred to as “the ability of biological systems to remain diverse and productive over time”. When I think of sustainability, I think of sustainable energy sources. Those are renewable energy sources that do not have very big affects on the environment, and do not cause greenhouse effects or pollution. Some of those sources are wind power, solar power, geothermal, hydrothermal, etc.
When my family and I calculated our human footprint, it showed us that, if everyone lived our lifestyle, we would need 5.3 earths. The biggest effect on this score was the amount of gasoline my family consumes, and the distance we drive each year. I feel terrible, and I think that there are a few ways we can reduce our footprint. Firstly, my parents could follow my sisters’ and my example, and walk to nearby places, instead of always driving. They could also ride the bike. I could also reduce my human footprint by changing some other impacts, such as food, fuel, etc. I could reduce the amount of animal-products that I eat. So, just eating less meat, would help to reduce a lot of food being thrown out, and it would help (even a tiny bit) stop mass food production. Also, my family could make a change by generating, even a small bit of our heat and electricity, by using renewable sources, such as solar panels, or wind turbines. This year, we could also take a holiday in Serbia, instead of going out of the country, and reduce the amount of gasoline we use, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions we cause.
This video opened my eyes, and it successfully got its point across. We are consuming much more then we need, and if we want to save our lives, and our planet, we need to stop. This movie is a wake-up call.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Algae classification
Algae are plants that usually survive under oceans, seas, ponds and rivers. They vary in size, shape and colour. Agricultural workers use it as fertilizers, some nations eat is as food and scientists use it to comprehend the marine food webs better. However, algae can be very dangerous, especially when it shows up as a red tide, a poisonous algae bloom, that kills many animals.
One of the other problems for many scientists and biologists is that algae is very hard to classify. Some types of algae can look the same, when in reality they are quite different. Algae can be a lot of different colours, as well, including red, brown, yellow and green. Some algae are giant, like the sea kelp, that can grow to over 100 ft in length. Some are tiny, and can only be properly viewed under a microscope (such as the phytoplankton). Also, you can find algae that is unicellular (which means that the whole algae is made up of only one single cell), and multicellular (made up of more then one cell).
Another really strange thing that makes algae extremely difficult to classify is the fact that some species of algae behave like animals, and others like plants. Most algae produce thier own food through a process called photosynthesis, but when algae lives very deep in the ocean, and there is no sunlight available, it can also feed off other organisms, including other algae. Because of all those diffculties, scientists suggest that we should stop calling algae, algae all together, but this name has been around for so long, it is too late to change.
However, scientists have come up with some amazing discoveries that could eventually help them when classifying algae. They believe that one of the first organisms on the planet is a type of bacteria called the cyanobacteria (sometimes known as the blue-green algae). Scientists say that this bacteria could perform photosynthesis, by using sunlight, coarbon dioxide and water. Many other organisms fed on this bacteria all the time. One of those organisms was an ancient ancestor of the green algae. However, when this anicent algae ate the bacteria, the bacteria didn' digest by the algae, it was absorbed by it! That is how the bacteria became a permanent resident inside the algae. So, the genes of the two species of prehistorical organisms mixed up, make up the genes that are essential for the algae the live on our Earth today.
I think that this opic is really interesting, and that scientists will keep on coming up with new discoveries and thoeires to make the precise classificaton of algae possible.
Link: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20100512/Feature1.asp
Author: Barry H. Rosen
Date published: May 12, 2010
One of the other problems for many scientists and biologists is that algae is very hard to classify. Some types of algae can look the same, when in reality they are quite different. Algae can be a lot of different colours, as well, including red, brown, yellow and green. Some algae are giant, like the sea kelp, that can grow to over 100 ft in length. Some are tiny, and can only be properly viewed under a microscope (such as the phytoplankton). Also, you can find algae that is unicellular (which means that the whole algae is made up of only one single cell), and multicellular (made up of more then one cell).
Another really strange thing that makes algae extremely difficult to classify is the fact that some species of algae behave like animals, and others like plants. Most algae produce thier own food through a process called photosynthesis, but when algae lives very deep in the ocean, and there is no sunlight available, it can also feed off other organisms, including other algae. Because of all those diffculties, scientists suggest that we should stop calling algae, algae all together, but this name has been around for so long, it is too late to change.
However, scientists have come up with some amazing discoveries that could eventually help them when classifying algae. They believe that one of the first organisms on the planet is a type of bacteria called the cyanobacteria (sometimes known as the blue-green algae). Scientists say that this bacteria could perform photosynthesis, by using sunlight, coarbon dioxide and water. Many other organisms fed on this bacteria all the time. One of those organisms was an ancient ancestor of the green algae. However, when this anicent algae ate the bacteria, the bacteria didn' digest by the algae, it was absorbed by it! That is how the bacteria became a permanent resident inside the algae. So, the genes of the two species of prehistorical organisms mixed up, make up the genes that are essential for the algae the live on our Earth today.
I think that this opic is really interesting, and that scientists will keep on coming up with new discoveries and thoeires to make the precise classificaton of algae possible.
Link: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20100512/Feature1.asp
Author: Barry H. Rosen
Date published: May 12, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Jellyfish smoothies
Even though this title probably sounds really wierd, actually it is not! Putting thousands of jellyfish in a blender and mixing them, is a way to source igredients for new solar power solutions that could help medical science and offer cheap energy. Scientists strongly believe that by squishing glow-in-the-dark jellyfish, they can use a green fluorescent protein to create very small fuel cells. Those cells can power nanodevices, that would be placed inside the human body, helping with blindness and cancer. While this is going on in U.S., in England, Cambridge, scientists have worked out a way to turn live algae into a biological solar cell, which can be used to generate power from alomost any body of fresh or salt water. By using organisms that get food through photosynthesis, and generating power out of them, has gotten scientists to running a digital clock. The major challenge is how to use the organisms as much as possible, without ruining and hurting all the proteins and nutrients within them.
I think that it is very useful to create power from those sources, because they do not create any pollution, such as greenhouse gasses, and global warming. However, I don't think that it is very nice to kill all those jellyfish. They deserve to live, and they shouldn't be slaughtered like that. If this kind of animal abuse doesn't stop, some organizations might take this discovery to the court. I honestly think that plants are the only type of living thing that those kind of experiments can be done upon.
I think that it is very useful to create power from those sources, because they do not create any pollution, such as greenhouse gasses, and global warming. However, I don't think that it is very nice to kill all those jellyfish. They deserve to live, and they shouldn't be slaughtered like that. If this kind of animal abuse doesn't stop, some organizations might take this discovery to the court. I honestly think that plants are the only type of living thing that those kind of experiments can be done upon.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Mr. Watts' visit reflection
I really loved how Mr. Watts discribed all those species as though they're like us! He used such discriptive words, and even some human characteristics, which just made the whole presentation seem so much more interesting. I find it fascinating that he went and analyzed all those amzing creatures. It takes great courage and determination to do that, I can just congratulate him for going this far. Over the course of his presentation I have developed curiosity for those animals, that are so cool, and it is really amazing that some people take the opportunity to go and see their habitat. I would love to have a chance to explore all those extraordinary creatures! The animals I found the most interesting are deffinitely leopard seals. I think that it is really cool that they are ever so gracious in the water, and are able to catch so much prey with no problem whatsoever. I also love the penguins because they just look so cute and vulnerable :). I also find it very useful how he explained in detail the whole algae process, and even described some of the most important foodwebs. I felt really relieved when I heard that most of the animals on the Arctic are not endangered. That it is really good, and we should deffinetely do something to make it stay that way.
Overall, I found this presentation really cool, and I appreciate the fact that Mr. Watts took the initiative to come and share all his findings with us.
Overall, I found this presentation really cool, and I appreciate the fact that Mr. Watts took the initiative to come and share all his findings with us.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Current events: "Haiti's ecosystems facing disaster"
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/09/10/haiti.biodiversity/index.html
In the past few months everyone has been talking about the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January, 2010. This island is facing an ecological disaster. Haiti's forests have some of the most endangered species living inside them. An area called Massif de la Hotte, is a home to 42 mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, who are considered threatened. Thirteen species of frogs, who are on the verge of extinction can only be found here. However, only 3 percent of Haiti's forests are here today, and they are disappearing at a shocking rate of 10% every five years. Those forests are being cut up by very poor Haitian people, who use the trees for firewood, and the land for crop growth. Some institutions tried to help by giving the local people employment, and starting the planting of trees again. Beside the frogs, there are also two species of endangered mammals that live only on the island. Those are:
-a solendon (a giant shrew)
-hutia (a long-legged guinea pig living in the trees)
I think that this is really sad, because we keep ruining the ecosystems, endangering thousands of species. I understand the needs of Haiti people, and I do think that someone should do something to help them. They should open more new jobs. I bet that if Haitian people had a job, they wouldn't even need to chop down the forests. Also, people could try to help by donating money to replant the forests, and help the many endangered species.
In the past few months everyone has been talking about the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January, 2010. This island is facing an ecological disaster. Haiti's forests have some of the most endangered species living inside them. An area called Massif de la Hotte, is a home to 42 mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, who are considered threatened. Thirteen species of frogs, who are on the verge of extinction can only be found here. However, only 3 percent of Haiti's forests are here today, and they are disappearing at a shocking rate of 10% every five years. Those forests are being cut up by very poor Haitian people, who use the trees for firewood, and the land for crop growth. Some institutions tried to help by giving the local people employment, and starting the planting of trees again. Beside the frogs, there are also two species of endangered mammals that live only on the island. Those are:
-a solendon (a giant shrew)
-hutia (a long-legged guinea pig living in the trees)
I think that this is really sad, because we keep ruining the ecosystems, endangering thousands of species. I understand the needs of Haiti people, and I do think that someone should do something to help them. They should open more new jobs. I bet that if Haitian people had a job, they wouldn't even need to chop down the forests. Also, people could try to help by donating money to replant the forests, and help the many endangered species.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Current events: "Pea-sized amphibians" :)
Scientists believe that they have found the smallest amphibian in the Old World (Europe, Africa and Asia), in the forests of the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. This creature was discovered by Drs. Indraneil Das and Alexander Haas. Dr. Das is also leading a scientific team, which is searching for lost amphibians, some of them which are believed to be extinct.
The tiny frog was found near the Gunung Serapi mountain, which is withing the Kubah National Park. The species was name afer the plant it depends on for survival, Nepenthes ampullaria, which lives in dark, shady places. The males vary in size and go from 10.6mm to 12.8 mm. The way those species reproduce is through laying eggs inside Nepenthes ampullaria, where the tadpoles grow, in the accumulated liquid.
Amphibians are one of the most threatened group of animals, with over a third of them in danger of being completely extinct. If this happened, it would be a complete disaster for human kind, because amphibians help us by eating insects that can spread diseases, and eat up crops.
I think that it is really cool that they have found a new species, and they should do everything they can to save them from being effected by things such as global warming, greenhouse effect, etc. The frogs seem really amazing, and I find it really interesting that they are so tiny. I was also really shocked when I found out that a third of the amphibians can get extinct. It is really sad to see all those animals dying, just because of us, and our careless ways of living.
The tiny frog was found near the Gunung Serapi mountain, which is withing the Kubah National Park. The species was name afer the plant it depends on for survival, Nepenthes ampullaria, which lives in dark, shady places. The males vary in size and go from 10.6mm to 12.8 mm. The way those species reproduce is through laying eggs inside Nepenthes ampullaria, where the tadpoles grow, in the accumulated liquid.
Amphibians are one of the most threatened group of animals, with over a third of them in danger of being completely extinct. If this happened, it would be a complete disaster for human kind, because amphibians help us by eating insects that can spread diseases, and eat up crops.
I think that it is really cool that they have found a new species, and they should do everything they can to save them from being effected by things such as global warming, greenhouse effect, etc. The frogs seem really amazing, and I find it really interesting that they are so tiny. I was also really shocked when I found out that a third of the amphibians can get extinct. It is really sad to see all those animals dying, just because of us, and our careless ways of living.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Survival video
Organisms have been on our planet for 600 million years. Over time, they developed and adapted to their surrounding. They developed survival techniques, that they use in every day life. Survival requires water, a solid amount of food, oxygen, a way to keep warm, and an ability to somehow defend from attack of other predators. Different animals use different ways to survive, depending on their ecosystems, environments, topography and climate.
The sea-turtle is capable of swimming over 2,000 miles to lay her eggs, and keep them safe. The little turtles hatch in broad daylight, and then make their way to the sea. However, not many of them survive, because on their way across the shore, some of them get eaten by birds, and other predators.
Foxes keep near humans. This is because, over time, they realized that humans can always provide them with food (chickens, etc.)
Some animals have the strangest ways of catching prey, camouflaging, etc. The puffer fish puffers up, and turns itself into a spiky balloon for defence. A snapper turtle, opens it's mouth to get fish, because the fish think that the turtle's tongue is a worm, so they come to eat it. Canadian great tree frogs, freeze themselves during the long winter, and then melt the ice, with the first spring sunrays.
A camel is a great example of adaptation and survival. It can drink up to nine gallons of water, without stopping and then can make it last for a very long time. It also has a store of fat on its back, that provides it with nutrients during the long journeys in the desert.
The sea-turtle is capable of swimming over 2,000 miles to lay her eggs, and keep them safe. The little turtles hatch in broad daylight, and then make their way to the sea. However, not many of them survive, because on their way across the shore, some of them get eaten by birds, and other predators.
Foxes keep near humans. This is because, over time, they realized that humans can always provide them with food (chickens, etc.)
Some animals have the strangest ways of catching prey, camouflaging, etc. The puffer fish puffers up, and turns itself into a spiky balloon for defence. A snapper turtle, opens it's mouth to get fish, because the fish think that the turtle's tongue is a worm, so they come to eat it. Canadian great tree frogs, freeze themselves during the long winter, and then melt the ice, with the first spring sunrays.
A camel is a great example of adaptation and survival. It can drink up to nine gallons of water, without stopping and then can make it last for a very long time. It also has a store of fat on its back, that provides it with nutrients during the long journeys in the desert.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Assignment about living things and their environment
Assignment
After reading the section on living things and the Environment in your textbook, apply your knowledge to answer the following questions in a new blog post on your blog. What needs are met by an organism's environment? What are the two parts of an organism's habitat with which it interacts? What are the levels of organization within an ecosystem? Why do you find different kinds of organisms in different habitats? Think about what will soon start happening within Belgrade. How do animals prepare for such a change?
Now, search for and embed a video showing a living thing in its environment. What would happen if we took away one or more of the living or nonliving factors in its environment? Which factors could they survive without?
Answers
1. There are a lot of needs met by an organism's environment. Firstly, the only environment that can meet those needs is the organism's natural habitat. It provides it with food. In it's natural habitat, the organism can find food, whether it's meat, plants or other microscopic beings. It can also find home. Some beings live in the trees, others in the bushes, the sea, etc. The habitat also provides the organism with oxygen and enough sun.
2. The organism interacts with other living organisms, as well as the physical environment. A biosphere is a place on Earth where organisms live. The biospheres consist of geographical areas, which are usually called biomes. A biome is a collection of a bunch of different ecosystems. Ecosystems include grasslands, rain forests, the ocean, etc., as well as different organisms, such as bacteria, amphibians, mammals, and many more.
3. Species; which is a population of the same kind of organisms, which are able to breed together.
Community; A group of different populations living in the same ecosystem, and somehoe interacting with each other.
Ecosystem; It is an area where climate, animals, plants and landscape continously interact with each other.
Biosphere; The largest unit of living systems.
4. Because not all organisms are capable of adapting to more then one environment. Let's take a salamander, for example. The salamnder is adapted to living in a dark, moist environment, and it would probably die in a desert, because it would get dehydrated.
5. Winter will come soon to Belgrade. Some animals prepare differently then others. Squirells, for example, are gathering nuts and grains to feed themselves through the entire winter season. Some birds are off, flying to warmer places, until winter is over. Bears (in the zoo, or bigger forests), are eating a lot more then usual, so that they have a thick layer of fat, to feed themselves of, during the long winter.
After reading the section on living things and the Environment in your textbook, apply your knowledge to answer the following questions in a new blog post on your blog. What needs are met by an organism's environment? What are the two parts of an organism's habitat with which it interacts? What are the levels of organization within an ecosystem? Why do you find different kinds of organisms in different habitats? Think about what will soon start happening within Belgrade. How do animals prepare for such a change?
Now, search for and embed a video showing a living thing in its environment. What would happen if we took away one or more of the living or nonliving factors in its environment? Which factors could they survive without?
Answers
1. There are a lot of needs met by an organism's environment. Firstly, the only environment that can meet those needs is the organism's natural habitat. It provides it with food. In it's natural habitat, the organism can find food, whether it's meat, plants or other microscopic beings. It can also find home. Some beings live in the trees, others in the bushes, the sea, etc. The habitat also provides the organism with oxygen and enough sun.
2. The organism interacts with other living organisms, as well as the physical environment. A biosphere is a place on Earth where organisms live. The biospheres consist of geographical areas, which are usually called biomes. A biome is a collection of a bunch of different ecosystems. Ecosystems include grasslands, rain forests, the ocean, etc., as well as different organisms, such as bacteria, amphibians, mammals, and many more.
3. Species; which is a population of the same kind of organisms, which are able to breed together.
Community; A group of different populations living in the same ecosystem, and somehoe interacting with each other.
Ecosystem; It is an area where climate, animals, plants and landscape continously interact with each other.
Biosphere; The largest unit of living systems.
4. Because not all organisms are capable of adapting to more then one environment. Let's take a salamander, for example. The salamnder is adapted to living in a dark, moist environment, and it would probably die in a desert, because it would get dehydrated.
5. Winter will come soon to Belgrade. Some animals prepare differently then others. Squirells, for example, are gathering nuts and grains to feed themselves through the entire winter season. Some birds are off, flying to warmer places, until winter is over. Bears (in the zoo, or bigger forests), are eating a lot more then usual, so that they have a thick layer of fat, to feed themselves of, during the long winter.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
KWL of living things
All living things are made up of one or more cells. There are two types of cells; animal and plant cells. The things that those two types of cells have in common are:
-the nucleus (the brain or "the control center of the cell")
-cell membrane (a wall that keeps the cell together, and controls what goes in and out of the cell)
-cytoplasm (the "goo" where most of the cell's activity takes place)
All living things also obtain and use energy. They use enerfy for warming themselves, moving/running, etc. All living things grow and develop. For some it takes less, for others more time, but eventually they all develop. All living thinhgs reproduce. Sopme species are born in eggs, some species are given birth to by their mothers, while plants reproduce through seeds. All organisms need to get their energy from somewhere. We get it from food, while plants use photosynthesis, a process of creating food using sun rays, water and sugar. And finally, all living things have to die. Some can survive for centuries, but they still need to face the end one day.
-the nucleus (the brain or "the control center of the cell")
-cell membrane (a wall that keeps the cell together, and controls what goes in and out of the cell)
-cytoplasm (the "goo" where most of the cell's activity takes place)
All living things also obtain and use energy. They use enerfy for warming themselves, moving/running, etc. All living things grow and develop. For some it takes less, for others more time, but eventually they all develop. All living thinhgs reproduce. Sopme species are born in eggs, some species are given birth to by their mothers, while plants reproduce through seeds. All organisms need to get their energy from somewhere. We get it from food, while plants use photosynthesis, a process of creating food using sun rays, water and sugar. And finally, all living things have to die. Some can survive for centuries, but they still need to face the end one day.
Monday, August 30, 2010
My goals for the first quarter
Um, for the begining of this school year, I don't really have any particular goals. I would just like to improve in the things I already know, but also learn new things and just explore science the best and most efficient way possible :)
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